Mystic Stamp Learning Center

Every stamp has a story. Explore the history, learn the hobby, and get your questions answered.

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This Day in History

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Top Stories and Guides

  • Semipostals: Stamps With a Cause

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  • The Journey That Opened the American West

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  • Discover the Beauty of Bird Stamps and the Legacy of John James Audubon

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  • American Circus History on US Stamps

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  • Canada’s Diamond Jubilee Stamps: The First Commemorative Stamps of Canada

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  • What are Farley’s Follies? The Famous 1935 Stamp Scandal That Shook US Collecting

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  • St. Patrick’s Day: Irish History, Heritage, and Stamps

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  • 2026 New Issue Stamps

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New to Collecting? Start Here!

  • How do I Start Stamp Collecting: Our Fun Beginner’s Guide

    It’s easy to begin stamp collecting – simply start saving postage stamps. And check out this easy-to-follow beginner’s guide!

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  • How to Use Hinges and Mounts

    Hinges work well for used stamps, but mint stamps deserve mounts — they protect the gum while showing off both sides of your collection. Here’s how to use both.

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  • Basic Tools of the Stamp Collector

    The right tools make all the difference in stamp collecting — and most beginners don’t know what they’re missing. Here’s where to start.

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  • Nine Categories of U.S. Stamps

    Most collectors know commemoratives and definitives — but U.S. stamps span nine distinct categories, each with its own history. How many do you collect?

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Stamp Collecting News

  • August 24, 2026

    Postal Service to Honor Photographer and Activist Linda McCartney
    The US Postal Service will commemorate the art and life of Linda McCartney (1941–1998), a pioneering photographer and animal rights…
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  • June 29, 2026

    USPS Announces Additional Stamps for 2026
    The US Postal Service announced on June 29 several new stamp issues to be released later in this year. These…
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  • May 24, 2026

    Welcome Back to the Neighborhood, Mister Rogers
    Sunday, May 24, at the Boston 2026 World Exposition, the Postal Service announced the winner of its Stamp Encore contest:…
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  • May 12, 2026

    U.S. Postal Service to Honor Nation’s 250th Anniversary With American Icons Stamps Curated by Ralph Lauren
    The US Postal Service (USPS) announced on May 12th that it will honor the nation’s 250th anniversary with the release…
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  • May 1, 2026

    Barbie To Be Celebrated With New Stamps
    Barbie commemorative stamps will be released on July 11, during the 2026 National Barbie Doll Collectors Convention in Austin, TX….
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  • March 31, 2026

    USPS Announces Stamp Issues for World Stamp Show
    The US Postal Service announced on March 31 the stamp issues that will be premiered at the Boston 2026 World Exposition,…
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See More Stamp Collecting News

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
  • 2002 37¢ Duke Kahanamoku
    August 24, 2026

    Happy Birthday Duke Kahanamoku
    Duke Paoa Kahinu Mokoe Hulikohola Kahanamoku (also known as “The Duke” and “The Big Kahuna”) was born on August 24, 1890, in Haleʻākala, Honolulu, Kingdom of Hawaii.  Duke was a record-setting Olympic swimmer who helped popularize surfing outside of Hawaii.
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