Where to get your stamps - #1 Approvals

When you start collecting stamps, what are the best ways to add to your collection?

In the next few weeks I am going to look at the different ways to get new stamps.

Something I have been doing for a while is buying stamps from approvals.

What does that mean?

Well, it means a dealer send you stamps on approval. Every few weeks I get sent an envelope with a lot of stamps in it! Normally there are hundreds of stamps from all around the world. They come on cards, album pages, first day covers and in packets. What I receive can vary. Sometimes I am sent thematic stamps, like transport or animals, and other times stamps are categorised by country. But I always get an interesting mixture.

I get my approvals from Robert Laidler, who is in Yorkshire. He has been sending me them for over two years and I am very pleased with them.

Here are some pictures from a recent sample that was sent to me. There was a lot more in the package but this gives you an idea of what to expect.

So I take what I want and send the rest back with payment.

I collect all kinds of stamps so I really like getting a mixture from different places, both old and modern. I never know what I'm going to get next so it's always a bit of a surprise and Robert always sends something a little bit different. He knows I am a young collector which is helpful and he knows I like older stamps because I have an interest in history.

I think most approvals work in the same way. Dealers send out stamps, you buy the stamps you want and you return the rest. You can tell the dealers what your interests are and that helps them send items that will fit into your collection. I don't get anything mega-valuable but I often get stamps that are unusual and interesting.

Sometimes dealers will send out a scan of more expensive stamps they have available to give you the option of viewing and paying for them if you are interested. Here is an example I got from Robert:

I usually don't spend more than £15 a time. But some people who have different interests may spend more.

I think approvals are a great idea. Here are the main advantages of approvals:

• Dealers send you stamps that fit in with your interests and your budget.

• You never know exactly what you're going to get.

• There's always good variety and always something new.

• You can look at the stamps before you buy them and check the quality.

• It's easy. You don't have to go searching for new stamps - you just get sent something every few weeks and pick what you like.

• The dealers are very friendly (well, Robert is anyway). You can ask questions about the stamps if you like.

• The variety in the approvals have helped me learn a lot about philately and postal history.

• Sometimes if you spend enough you get sent free gifts (Robert sometimes does this anyway even if I don't spend quite enough).
  

Another advantage is that the stamps always get sent to me in a large envelope covered in commemorative stamps, which also helps add to my collection.

Approvals are great for beginners starting to build up a collection, but I think they're also good for people who know exactly what they want.