Halloween is here and for philatelists, the spooky season can bring about some unique fears. Ready for us to send shivers down your spine? Get into the Halloween spirit as we consider the scariest things a philatelist might encounter. Goosebumps pending…
A ghost steals one of your stamps!
The fear of losing a treasured stamp is one that every philatelist can relate to. Be aware of ghosts who walk the day and night this Halloween. They might be looking for one of your stamps or covers… it might be the reason they cannot cross over...
If a ghost steals a stamp, what do they do with it? Do ghosts keep albums? Do they exhibit? Are they members of a Ghost Stamp Society? It’s not worth thinking about. We’re scared. Maybe do that thing where you put talcum powder down outside your stamp room so you can see the foot prints of any invisible beings approach...
Pumpkin juice
The dreaded words… water damage. It is an absolute horror story for a philatelist. The thought of a rogue splash or an unexpected Halloween thunderstorm finding its way to a stamp collection is enough to cause nightmares. But at this time of year, with all those pumpkins being carved, pumpkin juice and seeds flying all over the place, there is a heightened risk of water damage and staining. Keep your albums as far away as possible from pumpkins.
Catastrophic Fire
People put candles inside of pumpkins on Halloween. Are they mad? Are they not thinking about the terrifying risk to us philatelists? A philatelist's worst nightmare is perhaps the thought of their entire collection being consumed by a devastating fire. All the years spent meticulously curating and preserving rare finds could vanish in mere moments, leaving nothing but ash and memories in its wake. We'll say it again, keep all things pumpkin away from all things philately.
Spiders
Is it just us or are spiders everywhere at Halloween? Pests pose a significant threat to stamp collections, many thriving in dark, undisturbed environments. With so many legs and eyes and a penchant for feeding on paper and adhesives, we don't think people understand just how terrifying the sight of all of these spiders and cobwebs are at this time of year to us philatelists. Stay vigilant people, do not let any tiny, destructive invaders near your collection.
Trick or treat!
Is there any other day of the year when the front door is opened quite so frequently? What a nightmare! Prolonged exposure to direct sunlight or harsh artificial lighting can cause fading of the ink and degradation of stamps. Ultraviolet rays can break down the chemical structure of inks and adhesives, leading to loss of colour vibrancy and potential separation of stamps from their backing. Stop it! The horror! Keep your stamps away from the front door. Don’t let them trick you!
Mouldy monsters
All these ghouls stepping out from their tombs on Halloween... It’s just not funny. The idea of mould creeping into one's collection is sending a chill down our spine. Mould thrives in humid environments and can quickly spread from one stamp to another, leaving behind unsightly stains and unpleasant odours. Odours! We feel faint. Do not take your collection to a cemetery this Halloween. It’s not worth the risk.
Blood
Keep an eye on your pointy tweezers. Look for signs of them being possessed. You don’t want them stabbing you, or worse, stabbing one of your stamps. Perhaps lock them away for Halloween night.
And the greatest fear of all?
Missing out on an item you’ve seen online, or in auction. Don’t get distracted by all of this Halloween spookiness. Stay focussed. Buy well, bid strong. Channel your inner Devil. *evil laugh* Expand your collection while everyone else is shaking in their boots/ eating candy.
Look for the Shield for protection against any nasties. All of our members comply with the PTS Code of Conduct.
Happy Halloween from the PTS and Stampex.
What other frights might be in store for philatelists this Halloween? Comment below to help your fellow collectors avoid a scare!
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