Writing about old postage stamps is a way for me to highlight the greatness of my Grandad's stamp collection. My Grandad had a great passion for old postage stamps. He would subscribe to newsletters and had an unblemished history of getting First Day Covers.

It wasn't just a hobbie for him. His old postage stamps were his passion. A passion that has gained some interested with me. It was when I was a child that I was more interested. When his old postage stamps arrived in the post I would go to his house and would help them mount them into his albums. First Day Covers easily went into a sleeve. Individual stamps are harder. There was a correct place for them to go.

Although I wish I could, I don't really rememeber it. My familly tell me all the time about how much I liked it.

I can really remember collecting football stickers as a teenager more. I remember that unlike other kids I didn't like sticking mine into the albums. I had the album to know when I had all the stickers... I still don't.

His old posage stamps collection was always going to be passed onto me because of my interest. Recenctly I spoke to myNan to see it I could have the stamp collection be brought over to my house so I could investigate it more. So I now have the old postage stamps at my house.

I bought a book from Amazon about old postage stamps. This was to help me catalogue his collection, give it a proper record. It took a few nights for me and my girlfriend to go through the entire collection and tick off the each stamp in the book.

That gave me an idea of the value of old postage stamps. I wanted to know for a number of reasons. I needed to know for insurance reason plus I want to see if I could increase the value of the stamp collection. This is not me wanting to sell his collection. I would not want that at all. If it was valued at £1miliion then I wouldn't sell, it is something to be treasured.

Most stamps don't have much value and some appeared to have lost their face value which was a bit disappointing. The volume of the stamps did mean that it worked out at quite a bit. But the individual costs mean that I myself will be able to add to the collection.

So what determines the value of old postage stamps? What underwrites every market? Supply and demand. Supply and demand not just for the individual old postage stamps but for stamps in general.

What then influences supply? The age of the old postage stamps do because not many of them are likely to have survived. Also the higher value of old postage stamps tend to be rarer because not many of these would've been bought in the first place.

Real scarcity really adds to the value of old postage stamps and often this scarcity comes from errors in production. As production was stopped early on if an error was noticed they are quite rare.

In recent years, the demand for old postage stamps has increased through investors being in the market for alternate was to increase their wealth. All collectable are in demand from antiques and wines to old postage stamps.

Like anything the condition of the old postage stamps are a factor in their value. It is really important that you keep your stamps in a safe place because the better the condition of your old postage stamps the higer the value.

If an old postage stamp has been used it will also affect its worth. Old postage stamps may be worth more if they have been used.

The stamp used to cancel the old postage stamps can have a big influence on the value. The stamp has a higher value the more unqiue it is. This is why First Day Covers that have an unusual stamp used for cancellation have higher values.

So when you are thinking about the value of old postage stamps you need to think in terms of supply and demand. So if the latest stamp issue is really popular now, it doesn't then mean that it will worth a lot in the future. Old postage stamps that were once very popular like special events are unlikely to maintain their value because there will be a lot of supply.

There are quite a number of places where you can buy old postage stamps. A place that it is becoming more rare is stamp shops. It is very rare to find a stamp shop today. I think that is because like a lot of areas retail has moved towards the internet.

If you do come across a stamp shop then you are likely to be able to buy a bag which contains 1000 unsorted old postage stamps. There isn’t likely to be anything in there of great value but is a good place to start postage stamp collecting.

You may not be able to find stamp shops but there are often local dealers for old postage stamps. You should be able to find these on the internet. They are likely to do mail order and offer free valuations for your stamp collection.

Look out for stamp fairs in your area. Each year there are a number of large stamp fairs usually held in exhibition centers. Make sure you keep an eye on the local paper for upcoming events. Stamp fairs are a great place to buy old postage stamps as well as meeting other who are into postage stamp collecting.

Another popular way to buy old postage stamps is in auctions. There are 2 different sorts of auctins, you have the auctions conducted via the post as well as those where you bid against other collectors in a room.

Where you are bidding against other people, while great fun, you can get carried away. This is something that you need to be careful with and you should set a maxiumn price you are willing to pay beforehand.

If you think that with postal auctions, you won't know what other offers are being made so you will probably put if a bid that reflects its value to you. The problem with postal auctions is that you don’t get to see the old postage stamps before you bid.

Old postage stamps are now being bought on the internet. If you have a look at Ebay you will see thousands of stamps. Because of the way technology is these days, the pictures give you a real detailed view of the condition.

Although most sellers can be trusted it is always best to view their feedback history.

Old postage stamps have recently become of interest to me. My Grandad was a serious collector of them and since I have inherited his stamps collection, it is now my responsibility to move the collection forward.

I have started to add to the old postage stamp collection now. When I was looking for First Day Covers I can across one for Sharpe. Sharpe is one of my favourtie TV shows so that decided to get that one. This was my initial piece to the collection.

I then decided to get First Day Covers for my close family with their names and addresses on. I can then you it to outline a story. Once I have all the family in there I will buy them as and when their names and addresses change, and even new additions to the family.

I know that my Grandad liked old postage stamps from Christmas. I like old postage stamps about castles and that is something that I want to add into the collection.

The plan is that I will add a whole album to the collection at least. Once I pass it to the next generation then they will have to add an album to it. I think that over time that this will become something that will become extremely valuable to the family and I hope that this website will be around then too.

It feels good being involved at the start of such a tradition and brings my Grandad's passion back to life. I am doing this for him, a tribute if you like.

I bought my old postage stamps album from the Royal Mail. I am quite upset at the quality difference between it and the albums that my Grandad has used. But I guess that is how it goes these days! I showed my Nan and she seemed to like it though. My additional album will now be quite different which when I think about seems a good thing. It will be interesting to see how that evolves over time too.

I just hope that I can do his old postage stamp collection justice.