Today we are to tell you the interesting story of Bulgarian archaeologist and philatelist Konstantin Penkov who has been searching for the world’s most expensive and valuable post stamps. Konstantin managed to turn his hobby into his job. He started to collect post stamps when he was only a four year-old boy. Now Konstantin is a Chairman of the Sofia Philatelist Society Petko V. Karaivanov. Philatelists from all parts of Bulgaria are members of this association:

“My favorite post stamp is Canadian. In the 1990’s I saw such a post stamp for the first time. My cousin who lived in Canada sent me a postage stamp with a hologram depicting a space station. If a given post stamp becomes your favourite one it doesn’t mean it is expensive. We like some post stamps not because they are expensive, but merely because they have a sentimental value. Many people think that old stamps are usually expensive, but this is not true.”

Prince Alexander of Battenberg, writer Elin Pelin, theatre critic Matyu Makedonski, sports figure Ivan Slavkov, Simeon Saxe-Koburg-Gotha are only some of Bulgaria’s popular philatelists. Enzo Ferrari is famous not only for his automotive company, but for his largest collection of expensive post stamps. Here is the story of the world’s first adhesive postage stamp used in a public postal system the Penny Black, which was issued back in 1840.

“Sir Rowland Hill was the founder of the world’s first postage stamp. Of course, postal services existed much earlier. Once, Sir Rowland Hill saw the local postman delivering a post card to a young lady. She saw the delivery and handed it back to the postman telling him that she would refuse it, because she had no money to pay for it. Back then the fees were paid after the receipt of consignment. Sir Rowland Hill asked the lady why she did that and she told him that she communicated with her darling with letters quite often. Sir Rowland Hill learned that the young couple read their letters immediately and handed it back to the postman, thus avoiding paying postal fees. That is why Rowland Hill decided to campaign for a reform of the postal system and founded the post stamp”, Konstantin Penkov says.

A given postage stamp is expensive if it is a rare one or most of the post stamps of a given circulation are destroyed. For instance the Chinese post stamps destroyed during China’s Great Cultural Revolution are very expensive and valuable.

The post stamps depicting certain events such as royal weddings are also expensive. Post stamps with portraits of celebrated artists also attract the interest of the philatelists.

Is philately popular among the young Bulgarians?

“Some young Bulgarians are interested in philately. However, we must restore the connection between the young people and the older generations. Some young Bulgarians merely buy postage stamps from the local post office, but some take philately seriously”, Konstantin Penkov went on to say.

Although most people send their letters online, some still use paper envelopes and post stamps and are impatient to receive a paper letter in return. Philately remains popular in Bulgaria and abroad. Philatelists contend that this hobby is not for everyone, but it is never too late to discover your passion in post stamps.

English version: Kostadin Atanasov