Mystic Stamp Learning Hub

Learn more about stamp collecting, take a dive into the history of stamps, or get any questions answered.

Generic selectors
Exact matches only
Search in title
Search in content
Post Type Selectors

Learn About Stamp Collecting

Frequently Asked Questions

Stamp News

This Day in History

About Mystic Stamp Company

Videos & Booklets

Top Stories and Guides

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

Learn About Stamp Collecting

  • 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.
    Read More

  • 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.
    Read More

  • 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.
    Read More

  • 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…
    Read More

  • Understanding Stamps Graded 98 or 100 by PSE

    Professional Stamp Experts (PSE) is a leading company in the field of stamp authentication and grading. SE uses a standardized grading system to evaluate the quality and appearance of US stamps.
    Read More

  • Private Die Proprietary Stamps

    Private Die Proprietary stamps are a special class of Revenue stamps. Unlike standard government-issued Revenue stamps, these were custom-designed and printed for individual companies, typically manufacturers of matches, medicines, perfumes, playing cards, and other proprietary goods.
    Read More

  • U.S. Postal Service Announces Holiday, Elie Wiesel Stamps

    The US Postal Service today announced its latest set of stamps celebrating the holiday season as well as a new issue honoring humanitarian Elie Wiesel. These designs are preliminary and subject to change.
    Read More

  • Washington Franklins

    Another area in which the United States outspecializes any other philatelic country is the Washington Franklin Series of 1910-1930.
    Read More

  • Civil War-Era Adversity and Patriotic Covers

    The American Civil War was not only a conflict of armies but also a clash of cultures and resources. Among the most poignant and collectible artifacts from this era are adversity covers and patriotic covers.
    Read More

Frequently Asked Questions

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

See All Frequently Asked Questions

This Day in History

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

Browse This Day in History
  • August 28, 2025

    Tom Thumb Proves the Power of Steam
    On August 28, 1830, the Tom Thumb steam locomotive raced against a horse-drawn car near Baltimore, Maryland. Though the contest ended unexpectedly, it proved to railroad executives and the public that steam power would revolutionize transportation.
    Read More