Israel Post’s tribute to stamp collectors. The Postal Service has issued a nostalgic stamp series comprising three stamps. The unique series is dedicated to the hobby of stamp collecting and its various aspects – from the first steps of young collectors to the professional activities of veteran collectors and the operations of the postal service itself.
The new series is both a tribute and an attempt to bring many, including young and veteran collectors, closer to stamp collecting, which for years was a way of life. Evidence of this can be seen in the numerous stamp shops that once sold stamps to collectors and children, spread along Allenby Street in Tel Aviv, most of which have now closed, alongside weekly columns in the press about newly issued stamps and stories about philately.
The series’ stamps showcase the rich world of stamp collectors and the historical and cultural significance of the hobby of stamp collecting in Israel and worldwide, sometimes creating a fascinating and moving picture of reality over many years and shedding light on cultures and dramatic events.
The hobby of stamp collecting, which was once almost common in every home during the early decades of the state, became a special way to remember and reflect on the country’s history and roots, with stamp albums telling both Israeli and international stories from Israel’s early days and its connections with the diaspora.
Even today, the institution of stamp collecting continues to exist and is preserved in Israel, with thousands of collectors following the ongoing Israeli stamp issues. Some are subscribers to the Postal Service and receive new sheets first, alongside early inspection of the first-day releases.
Among the collectors are also subscribers abroad, who make sure to follow each new stamp from their locations overseas. The new stamp series, comprising three stamps, honors the collectors and the hobby, reflecting Israeli culture and life in the country since the establishment of the state.
The first stamp depicts children picking up stamps and arranging them in an album. At the center of the design is one of the most famous stamps in the history of Israeli philately – the 1949 Misna stamp, with a girl looking at the Israeli flag through a magnifying glass.
A flaw in the printing plate caused the letter E to appear as C, making the country’s name in English read as “ISRACL” instead of ISRAEL – a detail that turned the stamp into a unique and sought-after collectible item. The second stamp depicts visitors at a stamp exhibition examining displayed items.
The display boards feature items from the collection of the late Zvi Alexander, now preserved at the Alexander Museum of Postal and Philatelic History. The items illustrate the activities of the postal service in the Jewish settlements in Israel during the Ottoman period. The third stamp is dedicated to the Postal Service of Israel, established in the early days of the state, responsible for issuing Israel’s postal stamps.
Alongside issuing stamps for daily use, the Postal Service also maintains relations with stamp collectors in Israel and worldwide, including through special collector items, such as “My Stamp” sheets, which allow personal design of stamps and the imprinting of a unique message.
The hobby of stamp collecting developed significantly already during the period between the two World Wars and reached its peak after the Second World War. Over the years, collecting has become an activity spanning generations – from beginner collectors to specialized collectors engaged in research, printing techniques, and the postal history of stamps.
Some even display their collections in competitive philatelic exhibitions in Israel and worldwide.