Stamp Collecting Gaining Popularity With Youngsters?

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March 31, 2026

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Stamp Collecting Gaining Popularity With Youngsters?

An article in the Dutch national daily newspaper “Trouw” indicates that the hobby of stamp collecting seems to be increasing in popularity with young people in The Netherlands. Two 17-year-old hobbyists were quoted as saying ‘Every stamp has its own story. You get thousands of likes by showing them on Instagram.’ Many young people between the ages of 15 and 35 have turned their attention to postage stamps. On the Dutch section of the online auction platform Catawiki, no single collectible proved more popular in 2025 with tens of thousands being sold.

The Netherlands ‘Moving House’ self-adhesive minisheet 2001

One such young stamp fan is student Reinier (17). He is a member of a stamp club and has been collecting stamps since 2020. He discovered the hobby through his father, who collected postcards. “At first, I removed the stamps from the postcards that were damaged – that’s how my collection started.” Then he began searching online himself and now has more than a hundred thousand items.

The stamps he collects have a special theme – countries from the Soviet Union era, such as Ukraine and uzbekistan. “I find the design of these stamps beautiful. And online I can often buy a thousand stamps at once for ten Euros. They are often cheaper than stamps from, for example, Germany.”

Another youngster, Masis (17), said he has collected stamps since he was ten, together with his grandfather. “He was an avid collector and we went together to a youth association for collectors every Saturday.” As his collection grew, he decided to start exhibiting. “I enjoy the hobby as every stamp carries its own story and a history behind it.” to date he has around 200-300 stamps. He is more of a topical collector, with stamps related to singing. So, those with a musical note or a microphone on them.

Masis also won two prizes with this specific collection when he was 13. However, he is currently the only one in his circle of friends who shares the hobby. “Online, I do see that it is becoming increasingly popular, for example through social media.” However, Masis has not made any friends through his stamp collection, mainly because everyone was much older than him.

Unusual Subjects on Stamps – Sand Sculptures

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March 24, 2026

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Unusual Subjects on Stamps – Sand Sculptures

In 2021, during the COVID-19 epidemic period, the Bermuda Post Office issued a stamp set featuring the annual Bermuda Sandcastle Competition. It was founded in the 1990s by Nicky Gurret and is held annually at Horseshoe Bay on Labour Day weekend.

In 2017 Hannah Emmerson, a long-time contestant and previous winner, took over the competition. The featured stamps depict a variety of intricate and creative sand sculptures.

In the Lap of the “Crypto” Gods

Philately

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March 16, 2026

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The Netherlands’ PostNL issued the NL crypto stamp 4 – Hermes on September 18, 2025, in an edition of 15,000 pieces. The crypto stamp was released in collaboration with other national postal companies in Europe and was entitled “Mythical Greek Gods”. For previous issues, PostNL had already partnered with the postal companies of Austria, Luxembourg, Belgium and Portugal. As with the previous issues, the NL crypto stamp 4 – Hermes (the messenger of the gods and patron of commerce) features the value designation R for domestic registered mail up to and including 20 grams.

Athena, Goddess of wisdom and strategy, is seen on the Belgian stamp bearing the value indication 3 World of €9.00 for mail up to and including 100 grams with international destinations.

The Austrian stamp, showing the Goddess Hera (who represents unity and loyalty) bears the value €9.90 for letterbox parcels in Europe.

Luxembourg has Artemis (Goddess of the hunt and wild nature) and the stamp bears the value indication €10.30 for packages up to and including 10 kg within Luxembourg.

And the Portuguese stamp, depicting Poseidon (God of the sea) with the value of €9.90, can be used, among other things, for mail up to 500 grams with international destinations.

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They’re Supersonic

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March 10, 2026

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Great Britain recently issued these eight special stamps, presented as four horizontal se-tenant pairs, to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the supersonic aircraft Concorde’s first commercial flight on 21 January 1976. Striking photography showcases the iconic aircraft’s sleek and stylish design, from its distinctive wings to the signature “droop nose”. The Concorde had a delta wing design, which required it to take off and land at a very steep, nose-high angle. In this position, a fixed, streamlined nose would have completely blocked the pilots’ view of the runway. By making the nose adjustable, pilots could lower it to see where they were going during low-speed manoeuvres. The 1st Class stamp pairs show, from top to bottom:

Concorde flying overhead, 1985; Concorde celebrates ten years of service, 1985.
Concorde’s first British Airways livery, 1974; Concorde’s first UK commercial flight, 1976.
British pre-production Concorde rolled out, 1971;British pre-production Concorde in flight, 1974.
Concorde’s last British Airways livery, 1997; Concorde’s final commercial flight, 2003.

Recently Added to Stock

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February 24, 2026

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A small selection of stamps added to PostBeeld’s stock recently can be seen below. Please note: for each country featured in the article, there will have been many more stamps added to PostBeeld’s freestampcatalogue.com website.

This 2001 infrastructure souvenir sheet issued by Spain showcases major engineering and transportation projects in Spain and highlights the country’s investment in high-speed rail and modern highway networks. Spain’s national postal service, Correos, produced the commemorative stamp sheet mark the 150th Anniversary of the Ministry of Public Works.

The three Spain minisheets shown above form a three-year series (1998–2000) entitled “La Cartuja-Hierro del Bocado”. They were linked to the ESPANA 2000 World Stamp Exhibition held in Madrid in 2000 and promoted the world-famous La Cartuga horse breed.

Continuing the horse theme in 2002 Spain produced an issue o commemorate the World Equestrian Games held in Jerez de la Frontera.

Expo ’92, also known as the Universal Exposition of Seville 1992, was a major World’s Fair held in Seville in 1992. The theme was “Age of Discovery and it commemorated the 500th anniversary of Christopher Columbus’s voyage to the Americas. As seen here Expo ’92 stamp sets were issued featuring the innovative pavilions and infrastructure of the exposition.

And yet more horse stamps! The 1967 Aden-Kathiri State of Seiyun stamp sheet features the Spanish Riding School of Vienna and its world-renowned Lipizzaner stallions.

The following year Aden-Kathiri produced this sheet with the stamp featuring French artist Jacques-Louis David’s painting “Napoleon on Horseback Crossing the St Bernard Pass”.

This 2009 Albania Europa booklet was issued on December 11, 2009, and celebrated that year’s subject – the International Year of Astronomy.

To commemorate the 90th anniversary of its National Library, situated in the nation’s capital Tirana, in 2010 Albania issued the stamps seen above.

These Germany stamps depict the most successful zeppelin ever built – the LZ-127 Graf Zeppelin – which flew more than a million miles on 590 flights, carrying over 34,000 passengers without a single injury. In its nine years of service it made the first commercial passenger flight across the Atlantic, the first commercial passenger flight around the world, flew a scientific mission over the North Pole and made the first regularly scheduled transatlantic passenger crossings by air.

And here we have a mint never-hinged set of German Empire definitives with the portrait of Paul von Hindenburg.

German Empire 1936 Winter Olympic Games stamps issued in 1935 for the competition held in Garmisch-Partenkirchen, Germany.

Phosphor band definitives featuring historical buildings produced by Portugal in 1974.

From France in 2006, here we have a Marianne stamp with a personal “Timbres Plus tab.

This attractive set of stamps depicting a variety of circus acts was issued by France in 2008.

Unusual Subjects on Stamps – Fishing Lures/Flies

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February 17, 2026

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Unusual Subjects on Stamps – Fishing Lures/Flies

The latest in our series of unusual subjects on postage stamps features fishing hooks disguised as flies, other insects or small fish.

The superbly illustrated minisheet above show Zug Bug, March Brown, Durham Ranger, Colonel Bates and Black Gnat fish lures. You have to love the names! The subject led to four further issues from Transkei up to and including 1984.

In 1981 the stamps showed Wickham’s Fancy, Jock Scott, Green Highlander, Tan Nymph and Kent’s Lightning.

In 1982 the lures depicted were Blue Charm, Royal Coachman, Light Spruce, Montana Nymph and Butcher.

The 1983 stamps had the Silver Wilkinson, Alexandra, Kent’s Marbled Sedge, White Marabou and Mayfly Nymph lures.

The final set of Transkei fly fishing stamps showed Silver Grey, Ginger Quill, Hardy’s Favourite, March Brown Nymph and Kent’s Spectrum Mohawk.

In 1998 Post Canada issued six 45 cent stamps featuring the Cosseboom Special, the Coho Blue, the Dark Montreal, the Steelhead Bee, the Coquihalla Orange and the Lady Amherst.

USPS has featured fishing lures twice to my knowledge, the most recent being 2025’s fine stamps. They depicted Crankbait, Popper, Spoon, Spinner and Wakebait disguised hooks.

First Class Mail rate stamps produced by the US Postal Service in 1991. Royal Wulff, Jock Scott, Apte Tarpon Fly, Lefty’s Deceiver, and Muddler Minnow lures.

In this stamp issue from New Zealand in 1997, four species of trout were featured – on the 40c a ‘Rainbow Trout with Red Setter Fly’, the $1.00 stamp a ‘Sea-run Brown Trout with Grey Ghost Fly’, $1.50 ‘Brook Trout (char) with Twilight Beauty Fly’, and $1.80 ‘Brown Trout with Hare & Cooper Fly’.

Year of the Fire Horse

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February 7, 2026

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The Chinese New Year begins on February 17th this year, 2026 being the year of the Horse – to be precise the Year of the Fire Horse. Horse is the 7th animal in the 12-year cycle of the Chinese Zodiac signs, coming after the Snake and before the Goat. Recent years of the Horse include 2014, 2002, 1990, 1978, 1966, 1954, and 1942. It is associated with the earthly branch sign of wu.

China 2026 [Photo by Jiang Dong/chinadaily.com.cn]

The China National Philatelic Corporation has issued a series of Year of the Horse postage stamps. Above is a sheet incorporating stamps for issue in China, Hong Kong and Macao.

This miniature sheet from Åland captures horse life at an Åland stable. The inspiration for the edition is Stall JoY in the village of Samuelstorp in Hammarland, the only Åland stable to offer equine-assisted therapy for children and adults with functional disabilities.

The special stamp featured on the Liechtenstein Horse Year issue was designed by internationally renowned Hong Kong artist Dr KAN Tai-keung.

The 2014 France “Year of the Horse” stamp was issued by France’s La Poste to celebrate the Chinese New Year which fell under the sign of the Wood Horse.

Zambia’s 2002 “Horse” minisheet featured Tang Dynasty pottery and porcelain figurines.

2002 was the year of the Water Horse in the Chinese zodiac, representing energy and a spirited nature. Here we have a stamp sheet from Guyana.

Indonesia produced the above superb special folder in 2014.

At time of writing PostBeeld has three of the above minisheets from Singapore, mint never hinged, in stock.

Above, a Hong Kong Year of the Horse booklet, and below an attractive minisheet – issued in 1990.

Above is a stamp booklet issued by Macao in 1990.

Two of the offerings from China in 2014 – a minisheet and below a Year of the Horse stamp booklet.

While the zodiac cycles every 12 years, the Fire Horse year appears just once every 60 years, making it especially rare. This sheet, issued by Japan in 1965 for the 1966 Year of the Horse, depicts an artist’s impression of the Firs Horse.

Black Heritage – Part 18

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January 27, 2026

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The subject of 2025’s Black Heritage stamp series is Allen Toussaint (1938–2015), an American musician, songwriter, arranger and record producer. He was an influential figure in New Orleans rhythm and blues music from the 1950s to the end of the century. Toussaint was described as “one of popular music’s great backroom figures.” Many musicians recorded his compositions. His songwriting resonated with musicians across genres, leading him to collaborate with icons like Paul McCartney, Elvis Costello, and more. Today, Toussaint’s legacy lives on in the vibrant music of New Orleans, the artists he inspired, and the timeless catalogue of songs he helped bring into the world. He was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1998. He was a producer for hundreds of recordings – possibly the best known are “Right PLace, Wrong Time”, by long-time friend and New Orleans musician Dr. John, and “Lady Marmalade” by Labelle.

U.S. Postal Service 250th Anniversary

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January 21, 2026

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Issued in 2025 to celebrate a major U.S. Postal Service anniversary, the minisheet “250 Years of Delivering” is a superbly illustrated pane of 20 interconnected stamps representing the ubiquitous presence of USPS throughout the years — and the vital role the postal system has played in connecting Americans since 1775.

The 250th anniversary Benjamin Franklin stamp seen here is a modern interpretation of an 1875 reproduction of the very first U.S. stamp from 1847, which also featured Franklin.

The 250th anniversary of Benjamin Franklin’s birth commemorative stamp above, issued in 1956, features painter Benjamin West’s portrait “Franklin Taking Electricity from the Sky.” This work depicts the story associated with Franklin, one of America’s Founding Fathers, as he looks toward the sky in an attempt to draw an electric current using a key.

Recently Added to Stock

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January 15, 2026

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A small selection of stamps added to PostBeeld’s stock recently can be seen below. Please note: for each country featured in the article, there will have been many more stamps added to PostBeeld’s freestampcatalogue.com website.

Vesak (or Wesak, Buddha Day) is the most sacred Buddhist festival – commemorating the birth, enlightenment (Nirvana), and passing (Parinirvana) of Siddhartha Gautama (the Buddha) all on the same day, traditionally the full moon in May. Celebrated globally, it involves temple visits, chanting, meditation, offering flowers/candles, releasing caged animals to symbolise liberation, and performing good deeds to honour the Buddha’s message of compassion and peace. The stamps above and below, from Sri Lanka, were issued to celebrate Vesak.

The portrait on this fine stamp set from Suriname depicts Wilhelmina, Queen of the Netherlands from 1890 until her abdication in 1948. She reigned for nearly 58 years, making her the longest-reigning monarch in Dutch history, as well as the longest-reigning female monarch outside the United Kingdom.

And here we have a fine 1948 definitive set with the portrait of Wilhelmina’s successor, Queen Juliana (1909-2004). In 1948 Suriname was a colony of the Netherlands. Queen Juliana reigned from 1948 to 1980.

Just added is a great selection of butterfly stamps, seen here some from Algeria and the Central African Republic.

Also many beautiful bird stamps, such as these from St.Vincent (1974) and the Cayman Islands (1975) – all mint, never hinged.

For horse lovers we have these beauties from Yugoslavia, issued in 1969.

Above is a quite rare set of airmail definitives. In 1947 the island of Curacao was part of what was then known as the Netherlands Antilles – a group of islands in the Caribbean Sea.

Saint Pierre and Miquelon is a French archipelago twenty-five kilometers south of the Canadian island of Newfoundland. Above and below are stamp strips showing panoramic views of two bays on the archipelago.

The French Southern and Antarctic Territories 2025 (TAAF)

And here is a great five-stamp minisheet of French Southern and Antarctic Territories (TAAF) stamps – produced to celebrate the 70th anniversary of the TAAF. The territory includes the Crozet Islands, the Kerguelen Islands, and the Saint Paul and Amsterdam Islands in the southern Indian Ocean near 43°S, 67°E, along with Adélie Land, the sector of Antarctica claimed by France.