Glossary Term

Philately

Philately is the collection and study of postage stamps, postal history and related items, including how stamps were designed, printed and used.

Also known as: stamp collecting, philatelist, philatelic

Philately is the collecting and study of postage stamps and postal history. A person who practises it is a philatelist. The field includes stamps themselves, but also covers, postmarks, postal stationery, proofs, essays and the history of how mail was carried.

Origin of the Word

The term was coined in 1864 by Georges Herpin, a French stamp collector. He combined two Greek words: philos (loving) and ateleia (exemption from charges or taxes). A prepaid stamp exempted the recipient from paying for delivery, so philately literally means “love of prepaid postage”. It replaced earlier terms such as timbromanie.

Collecting Versus Studying

Many people use “stamp collecting” and “philately” interchangeably. In practice:

  • Stamp collecting emphasises acquiring and arranging stamps.
  • Philately emphasises research — printing methods, paper, watermarks, perforations, varieties, rates, routes and history.

Most philatelists move freely between the two.

Major Branches

  • Traditional philately — the stamps of a country or issue, including printings, papers and varieties.
  • Postal history — how mail was carried, rated and marked.
  • Thematic (topical) philately — stamps on a subject such as birds, ships or space.
  • Aerophilately — airmail and flight covers.
  • Postal stationery — envelopes, cards and wrappers with printed postage.
  • Revenue philately — fiscal stamps used for taxes and fees.
  • Cinderella philately — stamp-like labels, locals and bogus issues.

Organised Philately

Philately has an organised structure of national and specialist societies, exhibitions, journals and expert committees. International competitive exhibitions follow rules set by the Fédération Internationale de Philatélie (FIP), founded in 1926.

Getting Started

New collectors can explore our beginner guides for practical advice on choosing a focus, identifying stamps and storing a collection safely.

Frequently Asked Questions About Philately

Where does the word philately come from?

It was coined in 1864 by the French collector Georges Herpin from the Greek 'philos' (loving) and 'ateleia' (exemption from tax or charge), reflecting the idea that a stamp shows the carriage charge has been prepaid.

Is philately the same as stamp collecting?

They are closely related. Stamp collecting can simply mean accumulating stamps, while philately usually implies study — of printing, paper, perforations, postmarks and postal history. Most enthusiasts do some of both.

What is a philatelist?

A philatelist is someone who collects and studies stamps and postal history. The term is often used for serious or specialist collectors, but anyone engaged in the hobby can use it.

Related Terms

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