Tools and Supplies

Where to Find Stamps
Ask family & friends, visit stamp clubs, swap with other collectors, look in second-hand shops. Attend Sydney Youth Stamp Group workshops.

Stamp Albums
Keep your stamps organised and safe. Older albums use stamp hinges to attach stamps to pages, while modern ones have plastic pockets. Never use glue or stick tape.

Stockbooks
These have clear plastic strips to hold stamps in place. They make it easy to move stamps around without damage.

Stamp Pages
Design your own pages and arrange your stamps by country, topic, or year. Store them in a binder for easy access.

Stamp Hinges & Mounts
These are small sticky strips used to attach stamps to album pages. Mounts are clear plastic holders that protect special or valuable stamps.

Tweezers (Stamp Tongs)
These help you pick up stamps without bending or getting them dirty. The rounded tips protect the stamp, unlike regular tweezers.

Recycled Envelopes
Old envelopes are useful for sorting stamps by country or theme. You can label them and keep your collection organised.

Storage Containers
Tins, small boxes, or plastic containers are great for keeping stamps safe before putting them into an album. Just make sure they’re clean and dry!

Stamp Catalogue
Catalogues, often found in local libraries, help identify stamps, explain when and why they were issued, and show their value.

Magnifiers
These help you see tiny details like printing errors and dates. Different magnifications (2x, 3x, or 8x) show different levels of detail.

Perforation Gauge
This tool measures the tiny holes along a stamp’s edges. Some stamps look the same but have different perforations, which helps collectors tell them apart.

Books & Magazines.
You can find them at libraries, second-hand bookshops. They’re great for learning about different stamps and their history.