Resources
Stamp Collecting Resources and Useful Organisations
Stamp collecting is supported by a well-established network of organisations and references: trade bodies that uphold standards among dealers, learned societies that advance knowledge, catalogues that identify and price stamps, and clubs, exhibitions and publications that bring collectors together. Knowing where to turn helps you collect with confidence and learn more. We are proud to be accredited by the leading trade and specialist bodies.
At a glance
The organisations we belong to
We hold three accreditations, and each represents a part of the hobby's framework. Our guide to why an accredited dealer matters explains why these memberships are a mark of trust.
Together they cover the trade, online dealing, and the specialist study of Great Britain stamps.
- The Philatelic Traders' Society (PTS). The principal trade body for stamp dealers, with a code of conduct and a guarantee of integrity for members. Our page on the PTS explains what it stands for, and you can verify our membership.
- The Internet Philatelic Dealers Association (IPDA). A body setting standards for dealers trading online, as our page on the IPDA explains; you can verify our membership.
- The Great Britain Philatelic Society (GBPS). A learned society for the study of Great Britain stamps, with research, a journal and an active membership, as our page on the GBPS explains. Visit the GBPS website.
Catalogues and references
- Stanley Gibbons. The standard British catalogue, whose SG numbers are used throughout the hobby. Our guide to using a stamp catalogue shows how to work with one, and our guide to SG numbers explains the numbering. Visit Stanley Gibbons.
- World catalogues. For worldwide material, catalogues such as Scott, Michel and Yvert are widely used, each with its own numbering and strengths.
- Specialist references. Beyond the general catalogues lie specialist works on particular countries, reigns and subjects, invaluable for deeper study.
Societies, clubs and exhibitions
Stamp collecting is a sociable hobby, and much of its life is in its gatherings. National and specialist societies, like the GBPS for Great Britain, advance knowledge through journals, meetings and research, and welcome members at every level. Local stamp clubs meet regularly across the country, a friendly way to share the hobby. And exhibitions and fairs, such as Stampex, the national exhibition run by the PTS, bring together dealers, societies and collectors under one roof. Joining in, in person or online, is one of the best ways to learn and to enjoy collecting.
Learning more, and getting help
Good resources, used well
Beyond organisations and catalogues, the hobby is rich in ways to learn: books and magazines, society journals, online forums and communities, and the guides on this very site, which cover identification, valuation, care, buying and selling in depth, as our beginner's guide and stamp collecting glossary show. And when you would like an expert opinion on your own stamps, we are always glad to help: our free valuation gives an honest assessment from clear photographs, at no obligation. Good resources, used well, make for a confident and rewarding collector.
Frequently asked questions
Trade bodies such as the PTS and IPDA, which uphold dealer standards, and learned societies such as the GBPS, which advance knowledge, along with local clubs, national exhibitions and specialist societies.
For British stamps, the Stanley Gibbons catalogue is the standard, with SG numbers used throughout the hobby. For worldwide material, Scott, Michel and Yvert are widely used.
Through national bodies and specialist societies such as the GBPS, and through local stamp clubs that meet across the country. Exhibitions like Stampex are also good places to make contact.
From catalogues, books, magazines and society journals, from clubs and exhibitions, and from the guides on this site, which cover identification, valuation, care, buying and selling. We are also glad to help directly.
Bodies, catalogues, societies, exhibitions
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Founder and stamp dealerLast updated June 2026