Mystic Stamp Learning Hub

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Want to start collecting stamps? Want tips on maintaining your collection? Start here.

Learn About Stamp Collecting

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  • The Story of America’s Duck Stamps

    Migratory Bird Hunting and Conservation stamps, more commonly known as “Duck” stamps, have been a cornerstone of American conservation since their debut in 1934. The program was born out of…
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  • Discover Civil War U.S. Revenue Stamped Paper

    Congress passed the Revenue Act of 1862 to raise money for the Civil War. This new act put a 2¢ tax on bank checks. While most paid the tax by affixing a 2¢ stamp to the check, Congress also authorized Revenue Stamped Paper where the stamp is printed right on the check, like this…
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  • The Roosevelt Small Die Proofs

    Roosevelt small die proofs are impression proofs of US postage stamps, painstakingly prepared by the Bureau of Engraving & Printing in the early 20th century. These proofs were bound into deluxe presentation albums, unofficially called “Roosevelt Albums” due to their distribution during Theodore Roosevelt’s presidency.
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  • Original Gum

    When collectors and dealers use the phrase “original gum”, they are referring to the adhesive coating applied to the back of a postage stamp at the time of its production, before the stamp was ever used.
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  • One Gift Card for All Your Mystic Purchases

    Mystic Stamp Company is excited to announce a new, more convenient way to give the gift of stamp collecting! Now, whether you shop online, by phone, or through the mail, the same gift card can be applied to any purchase.
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  • Stamp Designs Sketched by FDR

    Franklin D. Roosevelt, a passionate stamp collector and US president, played a remarkably hands-on role in stamp design during his presidency. He would sketch simple but imaginative designs and submit them for consideration.
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  • US Postal Service Reveals New Forever Stamp Design Honoring Former President Jimmy Carter

    The US Postal Service today announced it will issue a commemorative Forever stamp honoring former President Jimmy Carter, who died Dec. 29, 2024, at the age of 100. The Postal Service plans to release the stamp for purchase on Oct. 1 in Atlanta, on what would have been former President Carter’s 101st birthday.
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  • 2026 A Year in Stamps Calendar

    Brand-new for 2026, Mystic Stamp Company introduces “A Year in Stamps” wall calendar! Bring the joy and excitement of stamps to your daily routine with our history-packed calendar.  Calendars will…
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Frequently Asked Questions

Got a question that needs to be answered? You’ll find what you’re looking for here in our FAQ.

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This Day in History

Learn about the history of US stamps with a daily snapshot of this day in US stamp history.

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  • October 10, 2025

    Trans-Mississippi Philatelic Expo Issue
    On October 10, 1934, eager stamp collectors crowded the mezzanine of Omaha’s Hotel Fontenelle, waiting in line for the chance to buy a brand-new souvenir sheet featuring the majestic granite cliffs of Yosemite National Park. Released to commemorate the Trans-Mississippi Philatelic Exposition, the sheets sold out in less than an hour, leaving many empty-handed but cementing the issue’s place in stamp-collecting history.
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