Fun Facts and Philately

Junk: 06.28.07 Facts

These facts will range from the mundane to the boorishly insignificant, aiding our readers and writers in their plight to waste even more time and read even more feckless information.

Philately is simply the study of stamps. Here I pose a question: Why? and another: Who are these people? My source for this fact (Wikipedia) makes sure to state that this is a “distinct activity” from stamp collecting. The sheer impracticability of this hobby is not what’s most striking. Taken with [let's get technical] the “collection” of stamps, philately is the most popular hobby in the world today.

Question from Bill: “if I go to the dump, will I see ‘philatelists’ rummaging the garbage looking for stamps?” I don’t know. But I wouldn’t be surprised.

Next Week: “The third most popular hobby in the world”