The Black Penny is the first stamp of the world issued by England in 1840. It depicts Queen Victoria. It is a line engraved printing, imperforated. Its price is not high, because it is not very scarce. You can have a good clean stamp with 4 good margins for around US $100,- Stamps with faults have low values.
England marked the beginning of stamps issues for all the world.
The first stamp of France was issued in 1849, 9 years after that of England. It represents Ceres, an allegoric figure of France. Subsequent issues would represent emperor Napoleon, with the same design. Here we see imperforated ceres stamps, perforated and imperforated Napoleon stamps each used differently.
The first United States stamps were issued in 1847. They represent Benjamin Franklin whose picture is also on the US $100 banknote, and George Washington whose picture is also on the US $1 banknote.
This set is very expensive, it commemmores the fourth centenary of the American Continent Discovery (1492-1892). It is also the first commemmorative set of the world, from 1c to 5$. Here you have the two highest face value, the most expensive ones.
Collection of stamps on cover where they have been used is very popular nowadays, specially if the cover is old, the stamps are scarce, and the usage is nice. A combination of some stamps on a cover may give it a high potential value. Here you have German States stamps stamped to England, the second one with french stamps taxed with additional value, and the third one frech stamps (Ceres) tied in January 1849, date of issue of the first french stamp.
This cover dates from thre beginning of the twentieth century, when Edward 7 was king of England (1901-1910). Beirut was ruled by the Ottoman Empire, but many european powers opened stamps offices to try to infiltrate through the Ottoman Empire. They issued stamps overprinted with the local currency used: 40 paras= 1 piastre. Here you have British stamps overprinted in piastre value, used in Beirut to Paris. Also you have a cover bearing stamps from Lebanon under french mandate, used in Beirut to Egypt by air mail.
Great Britain occupied and colonized many countries in the world, all of them issued stamp with the reigning monarch on it. India was one of the most important colony. Note the respectif monarch are Queen Victoria (the first one), King Edward 7 (the second one), King George 5 (the third and fourth ones) and King George 6 (the last 3). Note also the circular stamp dates and towns.
Great Britain also gave "protectrate" to many other countries gained after the two world war, they are basically small countries, and in many times rich petroleum countries like Kuwait and Bahrain. They used sometimes British stamps overprinted with their country names, but mainly they used Indian stamps which were found in quantities. Here you have overprinted Indian stamps note also the monarch and the country.
Cape of Good Hope (Former South Africa state) triangular stamps are very appreciated stamps, specially in multiples as here. Being in good condition with full margins is very rare. The used one is the rare 1 schilling in very fine condition.
The Ottoman Empire was an Islamic government ruling most of the Islamic and Arabic countries nowadays. From North and East Africa, from South and South West Asia, from Arabic Peninsula, from Middle and Near East, from Spain and Parts of South Europe, this was the Ottoman Empire. Beginning from 6 centuries, it ended in 1923. Many countries used the Ottoman Empire stamps, where you can find them stamped with the city name. Lebanon used his stamps as shown.
The small one is stamped Beirut in Arabic, (look closer).
Its issue date is around 1880. Good stamp.
Then we have a 20paras issue of 1892 stamped nicely in Beirut in 1900, cds in Arabic and French. The arabic date is the Hijra one.
You have also a nice pair used in Saida, South Lebanon.
For additional details, see the specialised section of Lebanese stamps in this page.
Here we have Ottoman stamps used in Syria, first we have a nice Ottoman commemorative stamp used nicely in 1917 in Damascus (we were in the World War 1), another older stamp also used in Damascus, the third one is used in Aleppo, North Syria.
Here we have Ottoman stamps used in Palestine, the two well known cities of Haiffa and Acre (Acca), also a pair used in Hudeida.
Lebanon as well as neighbors countries used stamps of the ottoman empire until the occupation from France. At first Lebanon used occupied territory stamps of Syria (TEO and OMF), then french stamps were overprinted Grand Liban, you know Lebanon as it is now did not exist. At first the overprint was only in French, then in French and Arabic, then Lebanon used its own stamps. For additional details, see the specialised section of Lebanese stamps in this page.
Umperforated stamps beginning from this century are considered errors. They are appreciated by collectors . They are either collected singly but with margins , or collected two by two showing clearly the umperforated region. Here you have Emir Bashir Shehab on stamps issued the proclomation of Lebanese independence in 1941.
Errors in stamps occur also. It may be the color, the picture reversed, the perforation, the overprint... They are very scarce and sometimes errors are intentional to be given for some personalities. Errors are very appreciated by collectors. Here you have a US air mail stamp with the aeroplane inverted (very scarce). Also you have a spectacular reversed overprint for an air mail lebanese block of four stamps (also very scarce). See Lebanese errors in Lebanese stamps section.
This century power countries tried their best to dominate most of the antarctic territory in the south pole. USA, Russia, England, Australia, France had part of this land incorporated to their respectif country. France used different stamps to design: "Terres Australes et Antarctiques Francaises". Of course their tirage is low, mainly collected by the respectif country but also many like to collect this thematic theme: Antarctica.
Aden now is an important town of Yemen. It was ruled and colonized by England after the defeat of the ottomans. Beginning from 1937, date of issue of this stamp and lower values Aden stamps remain in usage until late 60s, when it was divided into smaller emirates, (Seiyum, Hadramaut...). Then Aden stamps were replaced by those of Yemen. This stamp and all the set are appreciated by collectors.
You have there a nice Russian stamp pair tied in a nice way on piece. Old stamps on piece are better appreciated by collectors specially if the obliteration is well seen. Old multiple stamps are worth more, so if you have do not separate them.
Collecting Thematic Themes is very popular in philately. You have some who collect Animals on stamps, others trains, ships, personalities, planes, flowers etc... The Thematic theme may be more specific, for example not animals but a specific one: For example, Cats or Dogs or deeply more specific to species inside a category. The theme may refer also to the stamp form: triangular, rhombus, circle (Yes these kind of stamps exist). Here I choose for you the nice theme: Ships with nice high value stamps from Gibraltar, Falkland and Australia.
Most countries have issued in 1963, stamps to commemorate the freedom from hunger theme. It is believed than no man can die from starvation. Perhaps that is not true until today. The British Commonwealth of nations have issued similar stamp design as shown. Many collectors like to collect these themes. Here you have the stamps of Hong Kong, Tristan da Cunha and Gibraltar, three countries very collected by philatelists.
After the ending of World War II, many countries issued stamps to commemmore this happy event. The most expensive set was that of Switzerland (Its stamps are collected worldwide). Here you have the complete set used from 5c to 10FS, one stamp used on piece.