philately
fih-LAT-uh-lee
/fɪˈlætəli/
The collection and study of postage stamps and postal history.
Refers to the scholarly study of stamps, watermarks, paper types, and postal markings, rather than just sticking stamps in an album.
The story behind the word. In 1864, French collector Georges Herpin wanted a more dignified term than 'timbromanie' (stamp madness). He combined the Greek 'philos' (loving) with 'ateleia' (exemption from tax). Why tax exemption? Because the introduction of the postage stamp meant the sender prepaid the fee, leaving the recipient 'exempt' from delivery charges.
Word relationships
- stamp collecting: Stamp collecting is the general hobby, while philately is the formal, scientific study of postal history and stamps.
Commonly confused with
- numismatics: Numismatics is the study of coins and currency, whereas philately is the study of postage stamps.
Word family
- philatelist (noun): A person who collects or studies postage stamps.
- philatelic (adjective): Relating to the collection and study of postage stamps.
Collocations
- interest in philately
- exhibition of philately
- study of philately
- world of philately
Example sentences
- "In his retirement, he turned his attention to philately, building a world-class collection of early British stamps." An obituary of a dedicated hobbyist.
- "The international exhibition of philately attracted thousands of collectors eager to see the rare Penny Black." A description of a specialized exhibition.
Memory hook
Think of 'Phil' who is 'late' with his 'letters' because he is too busy looking at the stamps on them. The love of postage stamps.
When not to use
Do not use for coin collecting, postcard collecting, or other paper hobbies that do not involve postage.
Fun facts
- The world's most valuable stamp is the British Guiana 1c Magenta, which sold at auction for $8.3 million in 2021.
Related words
Explore more words
ephemera, memorabilia, collection, stationery, archive, parcel
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