The Internet technology may even actually be a good thing to for the stamp collector. It may be a good way to meet people who share the same interests. It may even bring stamp collectors together.

Stamp collecting was once one of those phases every boy (and many girls) went through, along with a passion for dinosaurs (or horses) or an interest in space flight (I’m not sure what the feminine equivalent might have been for that).

Many of Gentleman’s commissions were not adopted for the final stamps. Sometimes, the proposed stamp issue did not take place. So, of the almost 1,000 sketches and pieces of artwork held in the Royal Mail Archive, most have never been seen before. A selection of this rich archive of unadopted stamp artwork is exhibited here for the first time.

Isn’t it sad that emails don’t have postage stamps? Well here’s something to brighten up an email with a bit of color and whimsy. Lick and stick one of these e-stamps onto an email by saving it to your computer and attaching it to the email.

However, with the advent of the Internet, things had definitely been easier for stamp collectors. With the arrival of stamp collection software programs made available for downloads, organizing stamps had never been so easy.

“I read the press release last week from HP indicating that it had become the first company to feature its corporate logo and other corporate images on legal U.S. postage from Zazzle, ushering in a new era for the United States Postal Service, and fitting a new branding opportunity for one of the world’s most recognized brands.”

I want my inventory program to provide a (preferrably visual) list of (all) issued stamps with basic set of details – leaving me only with the task of selecting what I have or don’t have and providing additional details. It would be also great if I could use any of the major catalogue systems for numbering. Sounds like a GREAT product, but…

The future will show if the digital stamp will be “adopted” too, like the machines were, eventually by a new category of stamp fans, who will possibly proudly call themselves Digital stamp collectors.

Many enthusiasts worry that the pastime may slowly fade in the blare of video games, satellite television and iPods. But for all its emphasis on paper, ink and glue, stamp collecting has found new life in the digital age.