Philately, the study of stamps, differs from stamp collecting, although both hobbies appear synonymous with each other. Not all philatelists, however, collect stamps, and many collectors hoard rare stamps without caring about the tiny details behind each commemorative adhesive stamp. Building a complete stamp collection may require basic training in philatelic literature to evaluate its value in its current form. Stamp collectors will hoard stamps for their historical value and unique geographic aspects. Some collectors will gain interest in many different subjects depicting various events, ships, animals, and authority figures, such as kings, queens, presidents, and dictators. Some countries create limited runs of stamps to generate an income stream based on contributions from stamp collectors. For example, postage stamps produced by these countries far exceed the actual demand for services; however, the imaginative and current designs attract stamp collectors for additions to an ever-expanding stamp album. The most valuable stamps can be found at conferences, private meetings organized by philately organizations and associations, garage or estate sales, auction houses and online auction sites. Some popular tools used by philatelists and stamp collectors include: stamp pliers, a powerful magnifying glass, and a perforation gauge. American Philatelic Society: Frequently Asked Questions: A nationally recognized organization focused on philately and stamp collecting. This website includes the history of stamps, types of stamps, characteristics of stamps, various procedures for valuing, buying, and selling stamps, and other pertinent information about the hobby of stamp collecting.University at Buffalo: P.... .. middle of paper . .....New York State. The Federation of New York Philatelic Societies organizes conventions and shows, assigns judges and officers, and publishes a monthly philatelic newspaper covering area issues. Texas Philatelic Association: The Texas Philatelic Association unites philatelists from the State of Texas through conventions and shows, publishes a monthly philately newspaper and assigns roles of judges and officials to govern the club. Ukrainian Philatelic and Numismatic Society: The Ukrainian Philatelic and Numismatic Society seeks to unite collectors of Ukrainian postal materials, such as stamps, coins and medal collections. Germany Philatelic Society: The German Philatelic Society aims to promote interest in philately, philatelic research and to organize philatelic conferences and meetings with the aim of preparing and distributing philatelic literature.