Editing Stamp collecting (section)

== Acquiring stamps ==
The main ways of acquiring stamps are through retail market stamp dealers who have online websites, or post on [[eBay]] or other forums, and conduct local stamp show dealer "bourse" events.  The way to buy wholesale is to attend auctions and there are many auction companies around the world that offer regular auctions, most lots sold at one advance over the underbidder no matter what the price.  These are called unreserved auctions.  Reserved auctions are the same except a minimum price or "reserve" is set to ensure the stamp does not sell below this level.  If during the auction there are no bidders for the lot at the reserve price then the lot will be left unsold in the auction.

Buying at auction takes knowing the market and what stamps are worth at both a wholesale market level and what they can be then sold for in a retail market.  Stamp values are heavily skewed to quality.  The same stamp can sell for drastically different prices due to quality.  The most sought after stamps are those that are fresh, have white non-toned paper, have no hidden faults like hidden creases or thins, do not have any repairs and have not been regummed with fraudulent gum.  Stamp pricing is also based on the look of the stamp, and the stamp that has an image that is very well centered will sell well.  Mint (not used) full original gum stamps that have never been hinged will always sell for premiums.  It is important to have certificates for rare and high quality stamps to certify they are fault free and genuine in all respects.  Foundations like the Vincent Graves Greene are well respected for certifying Canadian stamps.  They check for hidden faults like creases, tears and thins as well as lightened cancellations, repairs, reperforated perforations and re-applied (regummed) fake gum.

Stamp list pricing is set in various stamp catalogues.  For US and Canada stamps the standard catalogue is the Scott catalogue using Scott numbers.  For Canadian stamps there is a specialized catalogue called the Unitrade (which reflects more accurately the actual values of the stamps vs the Scott catalogue values), and for Great Britain and Commonwealth stamps most collectors use Stanley Gibbons catalogues. Typically stamps will sell at auction for a range of 10–30% of catalogue list price, but if the stamp is of the very top quality then the sell price may exceed the catalogue list price.  As with many [[collectable]]s with no inherent value, sell pricing is set by the market bidding on the item at the time.

Many collectors also ask their family and friends to save stamps for them from their mail. Although the stamps received by major businesses and those kept by elderly relatives may be of international and historical interest, the stamps received from family members are often of the definitive sort. Definitives seem mundane but, considering their variety of colours, [[watermark]]s, [[postage stamp paper|paper]] differences, perforations and printing errors, they can fill many pages in a collection.<ref>{{cite magazine |url=http://www.linns.com/howto/refresher/budget_20020819/refreshercourse.aspx |title=A limited budget can still mean unlimited fun |first=Janet |last=Klug |magazine=Linns Stamp News |year=2012 |access-date=11 May 2012 |archive-date=19 May 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120519212615/http://linns.com/howto/refresher/budget_20020819/refreshercourse.aspx |url-status=dead }}</ref> Introducing either variety or specific focus to a collection can require the purchasing of stamps, either from a dealer or online. Online stamp collector clubs often contain a platform for buying/selling and trading.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://colnect.com/en/stamps|title=Stamps on Colnect|website=colnect.com|access-date=2019-03-30}}</ref> Large numbers of relatively recent stamps, often still attached to fragments or envelopes, may be obtained cheaply and easily. Rare and old stamps can also be obtained, but these can be very expensive.

[[File:French stamp bourse pc Emile Boizot.jpg|thumb|Collectors and dealers at an outdoor French stamp bourse]]
Duplicate stamps are those a collector already has and are not required, therefore, to fill a gap in a collection. Duplicate stamps can be sold or traded, so they are an important medium of exchange among collectors.

Many dealers sell stamps through the Internet while others have neighborhood shops which are among the best resources for beginning and intermediate collectors. Some dealers also jointly set up week-end stamp markets called "bourses" that move around a region from week to week. One of the most well known bourses is the [[Carré Marigny]] in Paris.<ref name="condé nast">{{cite web |title=Carré Marigny |work=11 Filming Locations in Paris You Can Actually Visit |publisher=[[Condé Nast Traveller]] |year=2015 |url=http://www.cntraveler.com/galleries/2014-10-31/11-filming-locations-paris-you-can-visit/3# |access-date=13 August 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170612162009if_/http://www.cntraveler.com/galleries/2014-10-31/11-filming-locations-paris-you-can-visit/3 |archive-date=12 June 2017}}</ref> They also meet collectors at regional exhibitions and stamp shows.