CultureJuly 15, 2026

philately

/fɪˈlætəli/

Definition

The hobby or study of collecting and examining postage stamps and related philatelic materials.

Etymology

Derived from the Greek words 'philos' (loving) and 'ateleia' (exemption from tax, referring to a stamp indicating prepayment of postage). It was coined in the 1860s to describe the formal study and collection of stamps.

In the news

The term appears in a headline describing an exhibition focused on the Monkey stamp, highlighting how stamp collecting remains an engaging cultural activity.

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