| Lots of people collect stamps. Even Queen | | | | Collectors are drawn to this hobby and the time |
| Elizabeth herself has an enormous stamp collection | | | | and money involved for different reasons. It could |
| and the Palace continues to build this. Getting | | | | be a passion for collection of skillfully crafted |
| children interested in stamp collecting is a great | | | | replica cars in miniature. It could be an investment |
| way to develop an interest and appreciation of | | | | with the hope the collection will increase in value; |
| history. | | | | or some other urge to collect these miniature |
| The first British postage stamp was the Penny | | | | models of motoring perfection. Once you start on |
| Black, issued in 1840 during the reign of Queen | | | | the collection route you may not be able to stop. |
| Victoria. The Penny Black was issued as a way | | | | You may want to expand your activities into |
| for people to pre-pay for their postage at a set | | | | restoration and the building of cars from kits. This |
| rate. Believe it or not, the Penny Black was only | | | | could become an addiction. No matter what your |
| printed for one year. The problem was that the | | | | age, collecting model cars can become an exciting |
| stamps were cancelled (or stamped by the post | | | | hobby. Some enterprising individuals have even |
| office) in red ink, and the Royal Mail found that a | | | | turned it into a business; and its growing audience |
| lot of stamps were being re-used. The red ink | | | | now includes the female gender, especially former |
| used to cancel them was also relatively easy to | | | | tomboys who loved playing with model cars in |
| remove; hence sneaky people did this and used | | | | their childhood are revealing a passion for |
| the stamps again and again, thus depriving the | | | | collecting Diecast model cars. |
| Royal Mail of their revenue. | | | | |