Stamp collecting

Stamp collecting is generally accepted as one of the areas that make up the wider subject of philately, which is the study of stamps. A philatelist may, but does not have to, collect stamps. It is not uncommon for the term philatelist, correctly or incorrectly, to be used to mean a stamp collector. Many casual stamp collectors accumulate stamps for sheer enjoyment and relaxation without worrying about the tiny details. The creation of a large or comprehensive collection, however, generally requires some philatelic knowledge and will usually contain areas of philatelic studies.

Postage stamps are often collected for their historical value and geographical aspects and also for the many different subjects depicted on them, ranging from ships, horses, and birds to kings, queens and presidents.^[2]

Stamp collectors are an important source of income for some countries who create limited runs of elaborate stamps designed mainly to be bought by stamp collectors. The stamps produced by these countries may exceed their postal needs, but may also feature attractive topical designs that many collectors desire.

History of stamp collecting

Postage stamp collecting began at the same time that stamps were first issued, and by 1860 thousands of collectors and stamp dealers were appearing around the world as this new study and hobby spread across Europe, European colonies, the United States and other parts of the world.

The first postage stamp, the Penny Black, was issued by Britain in 1840 and pictured a young Queen Victoria. It was produced without perforations(imperforate) and consequently had to be cut from the sheet with scissors in order to be used. While unused examples of the "Penny Black" are quite scarce, used examples are quite common, and may be purchased for $20 to $200, depending upon condition.

People started to collect stamps almost immediately. One of the earliest and most notable was John Edward Gray. In 1862 Gray stated that he "began to collect postage stamps shortly after the system was established and before it had become a rage".^[3]

As the hobby and study of stamps began to grow, stamp albums and stamp related literature began to surface, and by the early 1880s publishers like Stanley Gibbons made a business out of this advent.

Children and teenagers were early collectors of stamps in the 1860s and 1870s. Many adults dismissed it as a childish pursuit but later many of those same collectors, as adults, began to systematically study the available postage stamps and publish books about them. Some stamps, such as the triangular issues of the Cape of Good Hope, have become legendary. (See Stamps of the Cape of Good Hope).

Stamp collecting is a less popular hobby today than it was in the early 20th century, but today it is estimated that about 25 million people enjoy the hobby in the United States, while worldwide the estimated numbers of stamp collectors is around 200 million. Tens of thousands of stamp dealers supply them with stamps along with stamp albums, catalogues and other publications. There are also thousands of stamp (philatelic) clubs and organizations that provide them with the history and other aspects of stamps. Today, though the number of collectors is somewhat less, stamp collecting is still one of the world's most popular indoor hobbies.^[4]

Queen Victoria's profile was a staple on 19th century stamps of the British Empire; here on a half-penny of the Falkland Islands, 1891.

Stamp collecting equipment

A few basic items of equipment are needed to collect stamps. Stamp tongs help to handle stamps safely, a magnifying glass helps in viewing fine details and an album is a convenient way to store stamps. The stamps need to be attached to the pages of the album in some way and stamp hinges are a cheap and simple way to do this, although some collectors prefer more expensivehingeless mounts if the stamps are valuable. Another alternative is a stockbook where the stamps drop into clear pockets without the need for a mount. Stamps should be stored away from light, heat and moisture or they will be damaged.

Stamps can be displayed according to the collector's wishes, by country, topic, or even by size, which can create a display pleasing to the eye. There are no rules and it is entirely a matter for the individual collector to decide.

• 

  A stockbook with clear plastic pockets is one of the safest ways to store stamps. Some collectors prefer a traditional stamp album.
 
• 

  Clockwise from top left: hinge-mounted stamp, stamp about to be hinge-mounted, stamp damaged by a hinge, stamp hinges.
 
• 

  A magnifying glass.
 
• 

  Stamp tongs with rounded tips help to prevent damage to stamps from skin oils and rough handling.

• Acquiring stamps

  
  

  Many collectors ask their family and friends to save stamps for them from their mail. Although the stamps received by major businesses and those kept by elderly relatives may be of international and historical interest, the stamps received from family members are often of the definitive sort. Definitives seem mundane but, considering their variety of colours, watermarks, paper differences, perforations and printing errors, they can fill many pages in a collection.^[5] Introducing either variety or specific focus to a collection can require the purchasing of stamps, either from a dealer or online. Large numbers of relatively recent stamps, often still attached to fragments or envelopes, may be obtained cheaply and easily. Rare and old stamps can also be obtained, but these can be very expensive.

  Duplicate stamps are those a collector already has and are not required, therefore, to fill a gap in a collection. Duplicate stamps can be sold or traded, so they are an important medium of exchange among collectors.

  Many dealers sell stamps through the Internet while others have neighborhood shops which are among the best resources for beginning and intermediate collectors. Some dealers also jointly set up week-end stamp markets called "bourses" that move around a region from week to week. They also meet collectors at regional exhibitions and stamp shows.

  
  

  

  

Fairy Tail

Fairy Tail (フェアリーテイル Fearī Teiru^?) is a Japanese manga series written and illustrated by Hiro Mashima. It has been published in Weekly Shōnen Magazine since August 2, 2006, and has been published by Kodansha in 39 tankōbon volumes; the individual chapters are being published intankōbon volumes by Kodansha, with the first released on December 15, 2006, and the 39th volume released on August 16, 2013. Fairy Tail follows the adventures of Lucy Heartfilia, a teenage wizard (魔導士 madōshi^?),^[1] who joins the titular wizards' guild and teams up with fellow guild member Natsu Dragneel as he searches for the dragon Igneel.

The chapters have been adapted into an anime series produced by A-1 Pictures and Satelight, which began broadcasting in Japan in 2009.^[2]Additionally, A-1 Pictures and Satelight have developed five original video animations and an animated feature film, Fairy Tail the Movie: Phoenix Priestess. The series ended on March 30, 2013.^[3] However, on March 4, Mashima announced on his Twitter account that the anime would not end yet, and that reruns of the anime will begin airing on TV Tokyo under the title Fairy Tail Best on April 4, 2013.^[4] On July 11, Mashima announced a sequel series of the anime has been greenlit.^[5]

The series was originally licensed for an English language release in North America by Del Rey Manga, which began releasing the individual volumes on March 25, 2008 and ended its licensing with the 12th volume release in September 2010. In December 2010, Kodansha Comics USA licensed the series from Del Rey, and has since continued its North American release.^[6] The Southeast Asian network Animax Asia aired an English-language version of the series for three seasons from 2010 to 2013.^[7][8] The anime has been licensed by Funimation Entertainment for an English-language release in North America.

Plot

Lucy Heartfilia is a 17-year-old celestial wizard who runs away from home to join Fairy Tail, a rambunctious wizards' guild whose members are famous for their overly destructive antics. Along the way, she meets Natsu Dragneel, a boy who is traveling the land of Fiore together with his partner Happy, a blue flying cat, in search of his foster parent, a dragon named Igneel who had disappeared seven years earlier. Lucy is soon abducted by a renegade wizard posing as the famous Salamander of Fairy Tail. Natsu rescues Lucy, revealing himself to be the real Salamander and a Dragon Slayer, a wizard with the abilities of a dragon. After defeating the imposter, Natsu invites Lucy to join Fairy Tail.

Lucy forms a team with Natsu and Happy, where they take on various missions. They are joined by ice wizard Gray Fullbuster and armored female wizard Erza Scarlet, who investigate the actions of an illegal "dark" guild Eisenwald. Later, Natsu and Lucy ignore the guild's rules to take on a high ranking "S-class" quest on Galuna Island, and are soon joined by Gray and Erza. Upon returning, the five discover that rival guild Phantom Lord has attacked Fairy Tail, resulting in war between the two guilds and Lucy being kidnapped; Fairy Tail eventually defeats the guild. The guild then crosses paths with Jellal Fernandez, Erza's childhood friend who is manipulated by Ultear Milkovich to revive the ancient dark wizard Zeref using the Tower of Heaven. Natsu defeats Jellal and the Tower of Heaven is destroyed. Two Phantom Lord members — Gajeel Redfox, a Dragon Slayer raised by the dragon Metalicana; and Juvia Lockser, a water wizard — join Fairy Tail afterward. Laxus Dreyar, the renegade grandson of the guild's master Makarov Dreyar, then attempts to take over Fairy Tail by setting up a battle royal, but is ultimately defeated and expelled.

Forming an alliance with the wizard guilds Blue Pegasus, Lamia Scale and Cait Shelter, Fairy Tail fights the dark guild Oración Seis who have revived Jellal. Wendy Marvell, a Dragon Slayer raised by Grandine and the sole member of Cait Shelter, joins Fairy Tail along with her flying cat Carla. Lucy, Natsu, and the others enter the alternate universe of Edolas when their guild vanishes due to Edolas' powers. The group encounters Faust, the king of Edolas who intends to bestow a limitless supply of magic for his universe by harnessing the magic and the people of Magnolia. Happy and Carla also discover their heritage as Exceeds sent to Earth-land as infants on the orders of their queen Chagot. Allying with the Exceeds and Faust's sonMystogan, Fairy Tail defeats Faust and restores their guild at the cost of Edolas' magical power being drained. The group returns to Earth-land together with the Exceeds, one of whom, Panther Lily, forms a partnership with Gajeel.

Several members of Fairy Tail, including Natsu, Lucy, and their allies, participate in an exam on their guild's sacred ground of Sirius Island in which wizards can advance to a higher rank and thus take part in more dangerous missions. During the exam, Fairy Tail is drawn into a battle against the dark guild Grimoire Heart; the dark guild is seeking Zeref, who has been living on the island. Aided by a reformed Laxus, Fairy Tail defeats Grimoire Heart, and Zeref kills the guild's leader Hades. However, the incident summons the black dragon Acnologia, which attacks the island. The spirit of Fairy Tail's founding master, Mavis Vermilion, protects everyone on the island from Acnologia's assault with a defensive spell, freezing them in time for seven years.

After the spell expires, the returning Fairy Tail members discover that their guild is the weakest in the kingdom. The guild participates in a tournament called the Grand Magic Games to decide the kingdom's strongest guild. Also participating in the tournament are Saber Tooth, the current strongest guild, and Raven Tail, a guild founded by Makarov's resentful son Ivan. Fairy Tail aids Crime Sorcière, a guild formed by an escaped Jellal, Ultear, and former Grimoire Heart member Merudy, in investigating a magical anomaly around the tournament arena. After defeating Saber Tooth and Raven Tail, Fairy Tail wins the Grand Magic Games. However, Natsu, Lucy and the others are drawn into a conspiracy involving the Eclipse Plan, which involves the use of the 12 Zodiac Gatekeys so that a person can travel back in time and destroy Zeref before he becomes a threat. Due to the machinations of the future aspect of Rogue Cheney, a Dragon Slayer and member of Saber Tooth, the Eclipse is used to bring dragons from the past through it instead. The Eclipse is destroyed during the battle between Natsu and Rogue, returning Rogue and the dragons to their respective time periods.

Setting

The world of Fairy Tail is populated by humans and numerous other races, including Exceeds, dragons, celestial spirits, and giant beasts. Earth-land(アースランド Āsu Rando^?), a vast peninsula, is divided into ten different countries: the Fiore Kingdom (フィオーレ王国 Fiōre Ōkoku), Seven (セブンSebun), Bosco (ボスコ Bosuko), Iceberg (アイスバーグ Aisubāgu), Minstrel (ミンストレル Minsutoreru), Midi (ミディ), Desierto (デシエルト Deshieruto), Joya (ホヤ Hoya), Bellum (ベラム Beramu), and the Pergrande Kingdom (ペルグランデ王国 Pergurande Ōkoku). Sin (シン Shin) and Caelum (カエルムKaerumu), two different islands, are also a part of Earth-land.

Fairy Tail is filled with anachronisms, like Lacrima (魔水晶 (ラクリマ) Rakurima^?), a crystalline substance that can be used in conjunction with magical spells,^[10] and can function as crystal balls for communication.^[11]

Magic (魔法 Mahō^?) is an ability occurring in every individual for some races in Fairy Tail, although only 10% of Earth-land's population use this magic.^[12] There are two categories of magic. Special-Ability (能力（アビリティ） Abiriti) magic allows a wizard to use magic from their bodies. Holder(所持（ホルダー） Horudā) magic allows a user to cast magic with items.

Production

After finishing his previous work, Rave Master, Hiro Mashima found the story sentimental and sad at the same time, so he wanted the storyline ofFairy Tail to have a "lot of fun [for everyone]". When originally creating the series, Mashima was inspired by magicians and wizards. He based Natsu's motion sickness on one of his friends, who gets sick when taking taxis together.^[14] When naming Natsu, Mashima thought western fantasy names would be unfamiliar to Japanese audiences. When writing individual chapters of Fairy Tail, Mashima takes a five-day process: on Monday, the script and storyboards are written. On Tuesday, Mashima writes rough sketches. From Wednesday to Friday, he finishes the drawing and inking on the chapters. Mashima usually begins new chapters after completing the previous ones.^[15] For the characters of the series, Mashima drew upon people he has known in his life. In establishing the father-son relationship between Natsu and Igneel, Mashima cited his father's death when he was a child as an influence. Mashima based the humorous aspects of the series on his daily life and jokes his assistants would make.

Media

Manga

Written and illustrated by Hiro Mashima, Fairy Tail has been serialized in the manga anthology Weekly Shōnen Magazine beginning on August 2, 2006. The individual chapters have been collected and published into tankōbon volumes by Kodansha since December 15, 2006. As of August 2013, there are 355 chapters and 39 tankōbon volumes. A special in Weekly Shōnen Magazine featured a crossover with Flunk Punk Rumble, released in 2008. The official fanbook, Fairy Tail+, was released on May 17, 2010 in Japan.

The series was licensed for an English-language release in North America by Del Rey Manga.^[17] The company released the first volume of the series on March 25, 2008 and continued until the release of the 12th volume in September 2010. After Del Rey Manga shut down,^[18] Kodansha Comics USAacquired the license and began publishing Fairy Tail volumes in May 2011.^[6] As of July 2013, 28 English-language volumes have been published.

Anime

A-1 Pictures and Satelight produced an anime adaptation of the manga. The anime, also titled Fairy Tail and directed by Shinji Ishihira, premiered onTV Tokyo on October 12, 2009.^[2] The series ended its run on March 30, 2013,^[3] with reruns to begin airing on April 4, 2013 under the title Fairy Tail Best.^[4] As of June 5, 2013, 41 DVD volumes containing four episodes each have been released.^[19] The Southeast Asian network Animax Asia aired the series locally in English.^[8] On January 18, 2011, British anime distributor Manga Entertainment announced on Twitter that the company would release the anime series in bilingual format at the end of the year.^[20] On April 21, 2011, they had confirmed that the first volume with 12 episodes would be released in February 2012;^[21]however, they later announced that the first volume would be released on March 5, 2012.^{[citation needed]} In 2011, North American anime distributor Funimation Entertainment announced that they had acquired the first season of the ongoing series.^[9] The series made its North American television debut on November 22, 2011 on the Funimation Channel.^[22]

On July 11, 2013, Mashima announced a sequel series of the anime has been greenlit.

Original video animations

Six original video animations (OVAs) of Fairy Tail have been produced and released on DVD by A-1 Pictures and Satellite, each bundled with a limited editiontankōbon volume of the manga. The first OVA, Yōkoso Fairy Hills!! (ようこそフェアリーヒルズ!!^?, lit. "Welcome to Fairy Hills!!"), is an adaptation of the mangaomake of the same name, and was released with Volume 26 on April 15, 2011. The second, Yōsei Gakuen: Yankee-kun to Yankee-chan (妖精学園 ヤンキー君とヤンキーちゃん^?, lit. "Fairy Academy: Yankee-kun and Yankee-chan"), is also an adaptation of the omake of the same name, and was released together with Volume 27 on June 17, 2011.^[23] The third, "Memory Days" (メモリーデイズ Memorī Deizu^?), was released together with Volume 31 on February 17, 2012,^[24] and features an original story written by series creator Hiro Mashima.^[25] The fourth, Fairies' Training Camp, is based on chapter 261 of the manga, and was released with Volume 35 on November 16, 2012. The fifth, Dokidoki Ryuzetsu Land (ドキドキ・リュウゼツランド Dokidoki Ryuzetsurando^?, lit. "Exciting Ryuzetsu Land"), is based on chapter 298 of the manga, and was released with Volume 38 of the manga on June 17, 2013. A sixth OVA, titled Fairy Tail x Rave Master (フェアリーテイル x レイヴ Fearī Teiru x Reivu^?), is an adaptation of the omake of the same name, and was released on August 16, 2013 with Volume 39 of the manga.

Film

An anime film adaptation of Fairy Tail, titled Fairy Tail the Movie: Phoenix Priestess, was released on August 18, 2012.^[27] It was directed by Masaya Fujimori, and its screenplay was written by anime staff writer Masashi Sogo. Series creator Hiro Mashima was involved as the film's story planner and designer for guest characters appearing in the film.^[28] To promote the film, Mashima drew a 30-page prologue manga "Hajimari no Asa" (はじまりの朝^?, lit. "The First Morning"), which was bundled with advance tickets for the film.^[29] The DVD was bundled with a special editionrelease of Volume 36 of the manga on February 13, 2013, and included an animated adaptation of "Hajimari no Asa" as a bonus extra.^[30] The film was aired on Animax Asia on March 23, 2013.^[31] Funimation has licensed North American distribution rights to the film.^[32] The English dub premiered at Nan Desu Kan on September 13, 2013, and will be released on Blu-ray/DVD on December 10, 2013.