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The Miniature Worlds We Called Our Own
Nostalgic Journeys Through the Stamp Album of Childhood
Do you remember what it was like opening a stamp album? The subdued yet focused anticipation, the crisp, a little musty smell of the pages? For many, collecting stamps was a hobby but also a way of gaining access to a whole other world, a historical reference point — and a full-on nostalgia trip.
Remember those Saturday mornings? You had a new packet of stamps spread out on the dining room table like a world map. You dipped the stamp in a small bowl of water, watching in awe as the adhesive melted away and the tiny piece of paper with an image floated into sight. You felt the delicate grip of the stamp tongs and heard the soft click as the stamp was aligned in the square. This was the process of a die-hard philatelist.
Each stamp had a story to tell. The colorful image of a grand lion from Kenya took you on a journey to the African savanna. The Eiffel Tower, which made you dream of traveling to Paris. You learned about countries, leaders, wildlife, art… all in miniature stamp-sized art. At the time, you didn’t realize it, but you were building your museum of world culture, one stamp at a time.
There was also the thrill of the hunt. Something was exciting about receiving a letter from a long-lost relative…
