In today’s age, charities need all the help that they can get. There are so many good and worthwhile causes out there that it is inevitable that some charities struggle to raise the funds that they need to keep their services going. However, every so often there comes a tale of generosity that warms the heart. Children’s charity Pied Piper has recently received a first-class donation. Volunteer Mike Bennet is an avid stamp collector,
and he was sifting through a stack of goods donated to the charity when he stumbled upon a penny black stamp. Penny black stamps are not particularly rare, but they are highly sought after and can sell for a large amount of money when placed with the right auctioneer or dealer.
Britain’s first postage stamp was issued in 1840 under the reign of Queen Victoria. The 1d blacks revolutionised the way in which the masses were able to communicate with each other throughout the country. The receipt of a stamp collection by an anonymous donor will no doubt raise hundreds of well-needed pounds for the charity which works with sick and disabled children across the Gloucestershire region. Medical and sensory equipment is delivered by the charity to the young people who need it the most. Mike, who has sorted stamps for the Pied Piper for several years, said: “It was in a box of stamps donated to the Pied Piper which a lady had brought in from her attic. It’ll generate a lot of interest when we sell.”
Many people may not think of donating stamps to charity shops, but the fact is that the right ones can raise an awful lot of money. The number of people who search for penny blacks for sale is tremendous. One of the biggest problems that people have when it comes to deciding what to do with a person’s stamp collection, is the fact that they have no idea how much it may be worth. That is why it is a good idea to get in touch with a professional business that will be able to offer unbiased advice as to whether there are any gems within the collection.
Stamp collecting is a great activity and can be enjoyed by people of all ages. There is nothing quite like the thrill of exciting posts coming through the letterbox and unusual stamps on envelopes are always a treat to receive. Many collectors first started out by keeping the stamps that they received through the post themselves from friends and family. Keeping a scrapbook is a favoured activity by many young children, and it can sow the seeds of a hobby that lasts a lifetime.
The Pied Piper charity will no doubt put the money raised by the penny black to extremely good use. There will be a number of children and families who will be able to enjoy a brief amount of respite in a torrid time as a result of the donation from the mystery collector.
About the Author – Sarah Makinson is a freelance blogger who contributes to a range of lifestyle sites, including Sandafayre.
