The Double Geneva is a rare Swiss stamp that was issued by the City of Geneva in 1843, making it the second-oldest stamp of continental Europe after the Zurich.

The Act of Congress of March 3, 1845, (effective July 1, 1845), established uniform (and reduced) postal rates throughout the nation, with a uniform rate of five cents for distances under 300 miles (500 km). However, Congress did not authorize the production of stamps until 1847, so postmasters made provisional issues. Prior to this time, rates were high and based, not on weight, but on the number of sheets in a letter. Any letter sent to a destination of 300 miles or less would cost 5¢ per half ounce. Any letter sent to a distance over 300 miles would cost 10¢ per half ounce. Letters for local delivery were charged 2¢.

Coin collecting was started only as a hobby for most people, however you can hear what other people say (or you probably have heard yourself) about news of people cashing in on their old coin; and that encouraged more people to go on a coin-collecting streak. If you are one of those people who want to invest in coins, here are several places to start your collection.

The Alexandria Postmaster Provisional, known as the "Blue Boy", was issued by postmaster Daniel Bryan in 1847. On November 24, 1847, James Wallace Hooff used this specimen to send a love letter to his forbidden lover and second cousin, Jannett H. Brown of Richmond Virginia. The two, who lived within blocks of each other, were looked down upon for their

Coin collection is not just about having as many coins as possible. More important than the number of coins is the quality of those coins. This quality is measured by the coins’ grade and the grade is measured using a scale from zero to seventy (seventy being the highest point grade). Doctor William Shelby introduced this point scale in his work “Penny Whimsy”.

When collecting coins, one thing to consider is how to organize and take care of coins. Collectable coins can be antiques, ancient coins or limited editions. These coins come from many countries and are generally high in value. A collector must learn to keep and take care of them to keep the same appearance and value.