This story begins in about 1972. I was attending the University of Minnesota and working part time for a stamp dealer in St. Paul, Minnesota. The dealer had a "stamp store" on Rice Street, just north of University Avenue, near the Minnesota state capitol. Working for a dealer is a great way to learn about stamp collecting and the many varieties of stamps available worldwide.

I had aquired an interest in stamps from my grandfather, and built my first "collection" in about 1958. It was a series of stamps pasted on ruled paper, held together with brass 'staples'. I still have it to this day. It was a mess - sorted by color, and pasted down with some sort of glue. I was lucky they were basically worthless stamps - they were certainly mishandled.

That brings me to the reasons for starting this web site. First, I want people to understand that stamp collecting is still a vibrant and interesting hobby, requiring little investment, and offering lots of enjoyment for young and old alike. Second, I want to make people aware of potential pitfalls for the intermediate collector. Third, I want to provide a list or resources for people to use to enjoy this exciting hobby to the fullest.