the Value of a Postage Stamp

What is the value of a postage stamp?

My dad is a philatelist which is just a fancy word for stamp collector. He has been collecting stamps for almost his entire life. Our local newspaper even wrote an article about him and his hobby. Here is the photo from that article.

Over the years my dad has acquired many stamps that vary in value. Lucky for me, I get the ones that he deems worthless. When I asked him what makes them worthless, he said it is because they are torn, bent, creased or just too common to be of any value at all. This may be true in the world of a philatelist but in my world...not so! The colors and designs of most stamps are beautiful and as for the creases...well...that just adds character!

I finally got around to making a necklace with a few of

my not-so-worthless stamps and wanted to share it with you.

I made the frames from brass washers that I purchased at a hardware store.

I hammered them for texture and then used E600 to glue handmade

copper rings and brass escutcheon pins to them.

I chose to use numbers because I have a thing for them...they're graphic and they just look cool! Besides, they were about the only area on the stamps that would be recognizable once placed inside the tiny frames. I lined the back of the frames with clear packing tape, used Modge Podge to glue the numbers into place and covered them with ICE resin.  I love how the resin magnifies the numbers! I wrapped copper wire around the escutcheon pins and wired each frame onto a strip of reclaimed green suede and then finished off the necklace with a copper chain and a handmade hook clasp.

What is the value of a postage stamp? I guess it depends on who you ask; but if you ask me, the value of these stamps are priceless because every time I wear this necklace it reminds me of my dad!

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