Thematic Philately is the art of collecting postage stamps, postal stationery, postmarks and other related philatelic material to illustrate a theme.
A thematic collection will generally consist of a wide range of philatelic material from a wide range of countries.
The collection should be organised in such a way that it tells an interesting story.
There are countless options available from the wealth of philatelic material that has been produced and still continues to be produced.
For some popular themes, such as "ships" or "birds", so many stamps have been issued that it has now become nearly impossible to complete.
Stamps for thematic collections are generally commonly available and inexpensive, it is just time consuming finding the stamps.
If you have reached a point in your collecting where you would like to exhibit it, then have a look at the
FIP Thematic Philately Commission website for suggestions on presenting your collection.
Specialist Societies for Collectors of Thematic Philately
GENERAL SOCIETIES
The British Thematic Association
was founded with the objective “To promote, encourage and assist the development of thematic philately”
Open to thematic collectors of all ages and at all levels. The BTA offers help and advice on all aspects of thematic philately.
Whether you are new to thematic collecting or experienced. Whether you want to collect for your personal interest or improve your competitive skills.
The BTA can help.
Thematics Queensland Thematics Queensland is a study group which aims to encourage and help everyone who is interested in thematic collecting and exhibiting.
American Topical Association The American Topical Association (ATA) was founded in 1949 and is now the largest philatelic society devoted specifically to topical stamp collecting.
Serving almost 3,000 members worldwide.
Indian Thematic Society The Indian Thematic Society was founded in 1981. Main aim of the Society is to promote thematic and topical philately in general but specially in India.
The Society publishes a quarterly magazine "ITS Stamp News", which is widely circulated not only in India but also in more than twenty other countries of the world.
Thematics Southern Africa Thematics SA is an organisation for stamp collectors who use themes as the basis for their collections
SUBJECT SPECIFIC SOCIETIES
Bicycle Stamps Club The Bicycle Stamps Club is a non-profit, all-volunteer association dedicated to sharing information about the thematic collection of
postage stamps depicting or related to bicycles, tricycles and unicycles and their derivatives.
Bicycle Philately This website is made for bicycle stamps collectors. You do not know what these are? Well - Bicycle stamps collectors are mostly both: philatelists and cyclists.
On rainy days, in winter and generally with increasing age the focus shifts more towards philately.
They belong to an endangered species with a large surplus of males. Their number is estimated to be 30 to 50 beings worldwide.
Bird Stamp Society The Bird Stamp Society was formed in 1986 to cater for the large number of collectors who specialise in bird stamps and relevant material.
Captain Cook Society Over 400 stamps have been issued world-wide relating to Captain Cook and the many places he visited.
Casey Jones Railroad Unit Covers everything rail-related on stamps - steam engines, diesel engines, rolling stock, rail bridges, streetcars, subways, trolleys,
funiculars, cog railways, etc.
Cricket Philatelic Society Member receives 4 quarterly Newsletters called "Wickets". The newsletter gives details of New Issues and discusses other interesting
topics on Cricket stamps - as well as holding an occasional Auction in which you can buy - or sell - a varying selection of Stamps and First Day Covers.
Exhibition Study Group The Exhibition Study Group consists of 100+ people who have a wide range of interest from the 1851 Great Exhibition onwards, from the stamps and
special postmarks used throughout this period, to advertising stickers, commemorative plates and other crested china ware, medals, post cards,
printed ephemera, books, etc. British Exhibitions, including and Philatelic Congress and Exhibitions, attract most attention, but a
few members are interested in Foreign Exhibitions...
Society of Olympic Collectors The Society of Olympic Collectors, founded in 1984, promotes and encourages the collection and study of Olympic memorabilia and collectibles.
Radio Philately
Railway Philatelic Group Are you a stamp collector? Are you interested in Railways? If the answer to these questions is yes, then the Railway Philatelic Group
is the organisation for you. With around 450 members worldwide, an Annual Convention, a quarterly Journal, an Exchange Packet and a twice-yearly
Auction, membership of the Group will enable you to make contact with other collectors who share your interests and passion for railways past and present.
The Scout & Guide Stamps Club The Scout & Guide Stamps Club was founded as the Scout Stamp Collectors Club (SSCC) in 1957 as a result of the increased interest created by the numerous
stamp issues commemorating the Baden-Powell Centenary and the Golden Jubilee of Scouting.
Scouts on Stamps Society International Scouts on Stamps Society International (SOSSI) is a nonprofit philatelic organization specializing in the collecting, study, and enjoyment of stamps and
other postal items celebrating the Boy Scout and Girl Scout (Guide) movements.
The Ship Stamp Society The Ship Stamp Society, founded in 1970, is anchored in Great-Britain, but gathers collectors on maritime thematic in the whole world.
Advanced collectors or beginners may enjoy to discover ships on stamps life.
Stamps on Stamps Collectors Club The topic of stamps on stamps is an interesting one in that it covers many different areas and avenues while still being true to the stamp topic.
The King George VI Collectors Society The Society was formed in 1960 by the late Frank R. Saunders. There are currently about 400 members living in 27 countries.
The main aim of the Society is to bring together all those interested in the stamps of the reign of King George VI.
Allegorical figures on stamps Allegorical figures are personifications, often female, of abstract concepts or emotional states
from Stampboards.com - Postage Stamp Chat Board & Stamp Bulletin Board Forum
Art on stamps from Stampboards.com - Postage Stamp Chat Board & Stamp Bulletin Board Forum
Art on Stamps
by Victor Manta Website is dedicated to the visual arts (painting, drawing, sculpting, pottery, tapestry, enamel) as they appear on stamps.
It provides information about new issues, offers a huge free database (as a free download and also on-line), an extensive art gallery...
Beards on Stamps from Stampboards.com - Postage Stamp Chat Board & Stamp Bulletin Board Forum
Beetles on Stamps
by Patrice Bonaforte Why a web site about beetles on stamps? To conjugate two of my passions: entomology and philately.
I am interested in Insects for a long time, more particularly in beetles (mainly long-horned beetles and ground beetles), and I collect stamps since more longer.
Catstamps.org - The Feline Philately The catstamps.org web-pages is an initiative to create a library of check-lists, scans and other information of relevance to collectors of wild and
domestic cats on stamps and other philatelic items. The initiative was started in 2006 by members of the Catstamps e-mail list.
Cat Stamps from Stampboards.com - Postage Stamp Chat Board & Stamp Bulletin Board Forum
Hockey on Stamps Over 250 stamps featuring the sport of field hockey have been issued by 115 countries since the first hockey stamp was issued by Japan in 1951 on
the occasion of the 6th National Athletic meeting at Hiroshima. This site includes stamps, miniature sheets, First Day Covers, Maxi and postcards,
hockey cancellations and Philatelic items relating to field hockey.
Show us your HORSES on stamps and stationery from Stampboards.com - Postage Stamp Chat Board & Stamp Bulletin Board Forum
Postage stamps and philatelic materials - FDCs, postcards, envelopes, pictorial postmarks, Maxi Cards - depicting horses and horse symbols.
Music stamps redux Music philately began with the issuance of some of the very first postage stamps in
the mid-nineteenth century: The inaugural issues of several European countries included images of post horns...
Opera on stamps from Stampboards.com - Postage Stamp Chat Board & Stamp Bulletin Board Forum
Owls On Stamps from Stampboards.com - Postage Stamp Chat Board & Stamp Bulletin Board Forum
Lovely orchids on stamps from Stampboards.com - Postage Stamp Chat Board & Stamp Bulletin Board Forum
Paleontology
by "Paleophilatelist" Catalogue of Paleontology related philatelic items, such as paleontologists, fossils, prehistoric animals, dinosaurs, early man, museums etc
Paleontology on stamps from Stampboards.com - Postage Stamp Chat Board & Stamp Bulletin Board Forum -
postings on the the subject of paleontology related stamps: paleontologists, fossils, prehistoric animals, dinosaurs, early man, museums
The Philatelic Sherlock Holmes Over a dozen countries have produced Sherlock Holmes-related postal offerings, beginning in 1972 with Nicaragua's 50th Anniversary of Interpol issue
Ships on Stamps Dedicated to the study of philatelic material pertaining to watercraft on stamps, to sharing knowledge, to encouraging the growth of the hobby and to
supporting the preservation of our maritime heritage. Collecting ships on stamps is an enjoyable way to vicariously travel the Seven Seas or the smallest
lake without investing in the cost of a boat.
Checklist of Postage Stamps about Music
published by the Philatelic Music Circle, 1974
Collect Railways On Stamps 3rd Edition
Published in 1999. Straightforward and easy to use, Stanley Gibbons range of thematic stamp catalogues. This third edition includes listings for more than 8000 stamps.
Collect Fish On Stamps 1st Edition
Published in 1999. Straightforward and easy to use, Stanley Gibbons range of thematic stamp catalogues. Lists more than 7600 stamps that depict over
1600 different species.
Collect Chess On Stamps 2nd Edition
Published in 1999. Straightforward and easy to use, Stanley Gibbons range of thematic stamp catalogues. This second edition covers nearly 600 stamps showing
chess or related subjects.
Collect Fungi On Stamps 2nd Edition
Published in 1997. Straightforward and easy to use, Stanley Gibbons range of thematic stamp catalogues. This catalogue covers approximately 1400 stamps which depict
around 575 different species
Malaria on Stamps