Collect it, stamp it:  should you go US or international?

Since that first "Penny Black" was issued the issuance of stamps grew in all countries and the collection of stamps has also increased, and there is no stopping it.  And because the number of stamps has grown in leaps and bounds - for the sake of convenience - collectors have limited themselves into single country collecting. 

Multiple country collecting

Collecting stamps from one country compared to collecting stamps from various nations is better as there is a lot more time and effort to have access to more stamps locally than internationally. 

For instance, it is a bit difficult to complete an Austrian stamp collection because of its rarity and only a few stamps are ever available.

The easiest and probably the most famous stamp to collect are those that come from one's own country. 

However it all depends on your own preference.  For instance, stamps from Austria began to be collected through a specific motif that a particular stamp or group of stamps have.  An example would be the collection of stamps as according to the pictures they have, such as flowers, dogs, trains, paintings, ships, buildings, weapons or women.

However, a beginning stamp collector or those that intend to collect on an average basis may do well to start gathering stamps from their own country. 

Stamps that are issued fresh hot of the post are very affordable.  Believe it or not, stamps that have just been released may be bought with no additional charge from any postal office right on the day of its issuance. 

Beautiful US stamps about beautiful US

If you are willing to collect stamps about the beautiful country that is the US of A, there are a set of stamps out there which showcase such. 
The Smoky Mountains of North Carolina, for instance are shown in the stamp issued by the United States Postal Service.  The stamp that costs a mere seventy-five cents shows the Great Smokey Mountain during sunset as photographed by David Muench from California, specifically in Santa Barbara. 

The breathtaking picture view also has portions of Tennessee and North Carolina.  This national park is best known for its diverse plant life as well as animal life as one will definitely see when he hikes along its eight hundred mile trail.

Another beautiful US landmark that has been immortalized in a stamp is the Yosemite National Park.  The stamp costs eight-four US cents and it features a picture of the valley gates of the Yosemite as photographed by Galen Rowell of California, specifically Emervville.

If you are a nature lover, or even if you are not, collecting the stamp will most probably make you one. 

Yosemite Park was established as such on the first of October in the year 1890.  The park boasts of a variety of natural features and geographical wonders such as meadows that stretch as far as the eye can see lakes, waterfalls, sequoias and monoliths that are made out of granite.  These granites are called half Dome and El Capitan.

Believe it or not, Yosemite has been designated as ninety five percent authentic wilderness.
Another US treasure found on a sixty three cent stamp is Utah's Bryce Canyon.  These stamps are all part of the Scenic Landscapes in America released by the US Postal Service. 

The canyon is beautifully photographed by Tom Till from the city of Moab, Utah.  Thanks to erosion, the Utah landscape developed spires now called as whimsical-looking hoodoos.  Bryce Canyon was recognized nationally as a monument in 1923. 

America's crops

Believe it or not, the crops grown in America are also featured in US stamps.  The following crops has been featured, beans, corn, squashes, chili peppers, sunflowers.

An artist named Steve Buchanan designed five of the stamps through the slides photographed by his wife.  Other crops featured were corn ears, chilies (both the red and green type), lima beans, pintos, squash, pintos, seeds and sunflowers.
 
All in all, collecting stamps is a worthwhile activity that anyone who has the perseverance, patience and passion to pursue could.  All it takes is a good eye for detail and a liking for anything and everything literally small.