What is Philately?
Philately refers to the collecting of stamps and other postal matter as a hobby or an investment.
Why collecting stamps?
- Profitable
When stamps are withdrawn from sale from Post Offices and Philately, their value appreciates. You can buy stamps and resale them at a later date and make a profit.
- Educative
All stamps issued have relented literature of the pictures depicted on them and are sources of information for students.
- Informative
A person can learn or trace history of any country using that country’s stamps.
- No value stamp
There are some people who are making a living out of stamps. These are stamp designers, stamp journalists, stamp dealer and postal staff.
- Intrinsic value
Stamp collecting gives inner satisfaction, which is different from collector to collector.
- Leisure
Stamp collection provides a pleasant pastime.
Types of collectors
There are three types of collectors namely:
- Standing Order Customers
The customer is given specific and uniform sets of stamps from issues produced by the philatelic bureau.
- Ordinary Order Customer
The customer gives an order as and when required.
- Walk-in Customers
The customer walks in and makes purchases over the counter.
Products and Services
- The value block
It shows the total value of stamps on a sheet of that denomination and the serial number of the sheet.
- The cylinder or robot block
It shows the number and the types of colours used in producing the stamp.
- The imprint block
It shows the company and the country that has produced the stamp.
- The double bottom
This consist of the value, cylinder and imprint blocks (all three in one)
- First Day Covers
It is a special envelope affixed with a complete set of the stamps issued at the particular time.
- Miniature /Souvenir sheet
It is a sheet of stamps composed of all denominations of stamps in that particular stamp issue.
Associations that are working with Zimpost
There are two well-known associations that Zimpost works with and these are:
- Matebeleland Philatelic Association
- Mashonaland Philatelic Association