by Tom Tarabicos

Stamp collecting has been called the king of hobbies. Collecting little bits of paper and
mounting them into stamp albums or blank pages has been practiced by millions of individuals. From Kings and Queens, Presidents and CEO’s, wealthy and poor, young and old, the hobby of stamp collecting has influenced the lives of many over the last almost two-hundred years. It is an obsession with many collectors who pretend they are in it to relax. Although many hours of relaxation can be had, it is far beyond mere solace. Chasing the elusive stamp or completing a set can be compulsive to the point of exhaustion. Insanity arrives when this normal individual combines the hobby with a love for history. The mind is set into high gear and minutes become hours.

The love of history is shared by many. Some despise it as boring and tedious. I can only
pray for these lost souls who have no idea what they are missing and rejoice for those who embrace it with a passion. President Franklin Delano Roosevelt, an avid stamp collector is quoted as saying, “I owe my life to my hobbies, especially stamp collecting.” Roosevelt, who was debilitated by polio, felt that his love of stamp collecting helped him return to a normal life. Others who have embraced stamp collecting include Queen Elizabeth II, Prince Rainier of Monaco, Freddy Mercury of the band Queen, chess champion Anatoly Karpov and world’s largest Bond manager, Bill Gross, just to name a few. They all combined their love of history, geography, religion, people and politics with their passion for stamp collecting.

The happy soul who loves stamp collecting and history lives a storied life. There is a multitude of stamps from all over the world that commemorate historical events. We can literally pick up a stamp album and learn the history of a country by reviewing its issued stamps.

I feel that the most interesting way to learn history, especially Christian history, is through stamps. Stamps from around the world have been issued commemorating famous Christians throughout history. These include Martin Luther, Saint Augustine, John Calvin, Saint Paul, Ulrich Zwingli and Abraham Kuyper. Events are also commemorated such as celebrating the Reformed faith in South Africa, arrival of the Huguenots on the American colonial shore, Denmark’s Reformation and confrontation of Luther and Charles V at the Diet of Worms.

So get away from the TV and video games, relax and drift off into history. For those who admire Christian history this is the best avenue for introducing your children to its riches. “Here I stand, I can do no other.” Martin Luther comes alive 500 years later on a beautiful little painting. Visiting American Philatelic Society, www.stamps.org.
Enjoy.

Tom Tarabicos
Christian Historian & Stamp Lover