January, 2007
Stamp Collecting Worksheet
Requirements for the Stamp Collecting merit badge:
- Do the following:
- Discuss how you can better understand people, places, institutions, history, and geography as a result of collecting stamps.
- Briefly describe some aspects of the history, growth, and development of the United States postal system. Tell how it is different from postal systems in other countries.
- Define topical stamp collecting. Name and describe three other types of stamp collections.
- Show at least ONE example of each of the following:
- Perforated and imperforate stamps
- Mint and used stamps
- Sheet, booklet, and coil stamps
- Numbers on plate block, booklet, coil, or marginal markings
- Overprint and surcharge
- Metered mail
- Definitive, commemorative, semipostal, and airmail stamps
- Cancellation and postmark
- First day cover
- Postal stationery (aerogramme, stamped envelope, and postal card)
- Do the following:
- Demonstrate the use of ONE standard catalog for several different stamp issues. Explain why catalog value can vary from the corresponding purchase price.
- Explain the meaning of the term condition as used to describe a stamp. Show examples that illustrate the different factors that affect a stamp's value.
- Demonstrate the use of at least THREE of the following stamp collector's tools:
- Stamp tongs
- Water and tray
- Magnifiers
- Hinges and stamp mounts
- Perforation gauge
- Glassine envelopes and cover sleeves
- Watermark fluid
- Do the following:
- Show a stamp album and how to mount stamps with or without hinges. Show at least ONE page that displays several stamps.
- Discuss at least THREE ways you can help to preserve stamps, covers, and albums in first-class condition.
- Do at least TWO of the following:
- Design a stamp, cancellation, or cachet.
- Visit a post office, stamp club, or stamp show with an experienced collector. Explain what you saw and learned.
- Write a review of an interesting article from a stamp newspaper, magazine, book, or web site (with your parent's permission).
- Research and report on a famous stamp-related personality or the history behind a particular stamp.
- Describe the steps taken to produce a stamp. Include the methods of printing, types of paper, perforation styles, and how they are gummed.
- Prepare a two- to three-page display involving stamps. Using ingenuity, as well as clippings, drawings, etc., tell a story about the stamps and how they relate to history, geography, or a favorite topic of yours.
- Mount and show, in a purchased or homemade album, ONE of the following:
- A collection of 250 or more different stamps from at least 15 countries.
- A collection of a stamp from each of 50 different countries, mounted on maps to show the location of each.
- A collection of 100 or more different stamps from either one country or a group of closely related countries.
- A collection of 75 or more different stamps on a single topic. (Some interesting topics are Scouting, birds, insects, the Olympics, sports, flowers, animals, ships, holidays, trains, famous people, space, and medicine, etc.) Stamps may be from different countries.
- A collection of postal items discovered in your mail by monitoring over a period of 30 days. Include at least five different types listed in requirement 3.
Stamp Collecting Worksheet
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