Stamp collecting is enjoying an unlikely surge in popularity, with dealers reporting a sharp increase in sales.
The Royal Philatelic Society said it had noticed a significant rise in membership, while internet auction site eBay reported a 30 per cent rise in stamp sales in the last month alone.
Sellers and experts believe that as a result of the recession, the relatively inexpensive pastime of stamp collecting is becoming fashionable amongst young people for the first time in decades, replicating the transformation enjoyed by knitting in the last few years.
Stanley Gibbons, the world’s leading stamp dealership, said that customer numbers were up by almost a quarter as artists, designers and celebrities acknowledged the appeal of philately.
“Our customers generally used to be over 50 and male, but in the last six months the younger market has turned everything on its head,” a spokesman for the company said.
“It’s something you can start really cheaply. The basic materials are tweezers and a stock-book.
“We’ve hardly been affected by the recession, because it’s a hobby that’s driven by passion. If a stamp you’re looking for becomes available, you’re going to buy it whether there’s a recession or not.”
Celebrities professing ownership of a stamp collection include tennis player Maria Sharapova, pop star Sophie Ellis-Bextor and French president Nicolas Sarkozy.
