Specialization is probably the major trend of modern philately. In 1950, a highly representative collection of United States stamps from 1847-1947, the first 100 years, missing only stamps that are known in quantities of less than 1,000 would have cost the collector about $5,000— a decent piece of change, but even in 1950 not beyond the scope of the average serious collector. The same collection in 1980 cost well over 100,000. When a collector can’t afford to collect the stamps of an entire nation, the logical alternative is to restrict the subject even more. Today, we see collections of United States commemoratives, which are stamps issued to commemorate events (the first commemorative issue was the 1893 Columbian); or United States Bank Notes, a collection of United States stamps issued from 1870-1889, called Bank Notes because they were printed by various private bank note-printing firms; or any number of fine divisions. One of the great pleasures of specialty stamp collecting is the hunt: specialization restricts what you collect so that the hunt remains fun while at the same time proving affordable.
Specialization has become so narrow that collections of various specific interests have been created. One prominent philatelist collects stamped envelopes addressed by famous composers and authors. Another collects only stamps cancelled on his birthday, though wisely he requires only that the cancellation be correct for the month and day, not the year; otherwise, obtaining a new item for his collection would be a major event. Many people collect stamps relating to a favorite vacation spot or to countries of their natural origin. The degree of specialization that one wishes is entirely up to the collector. Philately has no rules and, at leas tin the Western world, collectors may collect whatever they want.
Covers
Stamp collectors refer to any envelope or folded letter sheet that has seen postal duty as a cover. In the pre-stamp period, covers bear postal markings and some form of rate marking to indicate the amount of postage due or paid. In the modern era, collectors have begun an active interest in first-day covers. Such covers bear a newly issued stamp and are cancelled on the first day that the stamp was valid for postage. Before 1920, first-day covers were generally not made intentionally and are very rare, commanding huge prices. Today, first-day cover collecting is an active part of philately, and such covers usually have ornately designed cachets on them. Cachets are printed designs related to the theme of the stamp.
Thematic Collecting
Over the last twenty-five years, thematic or topical collecting has grown greatly in popularity. A topicalist collects by theme, not by country. Boats, cats, dogs, even infectious diseases (such as stamps commemorating the effort to eradicate malaria), are popular themes. But the list is really as long as the imagination is fertile. Athletes very often collect stamps relating to sports, especially as their days of hustle begin to fade. The demand for equal rights for women has made the worldwide suffrage commemorative stamps issued decades ago very popular. For years, topicals were looked down upon by serious philatelists, yet most now maintain a topical collection of their own. But remember, there are no rules for philately at all. The entire world of collecting is open to you.