The Blog

Notes from a mountain stamp shop.

Practical philately from Carolina Mountain Stamps — a family-run shop in Hendersonville, North Carolina, serving collectors for more than twenty years.

Used vintage postage stamps soaking in a shallow dish of water beside stamp tongs and stamps drying on a paper towel

Care & handling4 min read

How to Remove Stamps from Envelopes Without Damaging Them

October 2, 2026

Soaking stamps off paper is simple when you know the steps. Here is how to remove used stamps safely, and when you should leave them on the envelope.

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Vintage postage stamp on a perforation gauge beside a black watermark tray and magnifying loupe

Identification5 min read

Stamp Perforations and Watermarks Explained: How Collectors Identify Look-Alike Stamps

October 2, 2026

Two stamps can look identical and still be very different issues. Perforation gauges and watermarks are how collectors tell them apart.

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Antique letter with wax seal surrounded by vintage 19th-century style postage stamps and a fountain pen

Stamp history5 min read

A Brief History of U.S. Postage Stamps: From 1847 to Today

October 2, 2026

From two stamps in 1847 to thousands of designs today, here is how U.S. postage stamps evolved and why each era offers something special for collectors.

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Brass magnifying glass over vintage United States postage stamps including Washington and Franklin issues

Value & grading4 min read

How to Tell If Your Old Stamps Are Worth Anything

August 28, 2026

Rarity, centering, gum, errors, and plate blocks all affect what old stamps are worth. A practical guide from a family that has been identifying collections for 20+ years.

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Classic United States first day cover envelope with a cachet, commemorative stamp, and First Day of Issue cancellation

Covers4 min read

What Are First Day Covers and Why Do Collectors Love Them?

August 18, 2026

A first day cover is a stamp on an envelope cancelled the day it was issued. Here is why cachets, cancellations, and condition make collectors hunt for them.

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Open stamp album page with rows of vintage postage stamps and philatelic tongs resting on the page

Getting started4 min read

A Beginner's Guide to Starting a Stamp Collection

August 8, 2026

How to choose a focus, gather a few essential tools, find stamps, and store them so the collection lasts — from a Hendersonville shop that has helped beginners for twenty years.

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