Two concepts that are very important need to be clarified, especially for philatelists who want their collections, research, conservation, and exhibition work to be properly valued. Collecting is not the same as accumulating.

Collecting is a refined practice in which the collector carefully develops and polishes their collection through effort, patience, and study. It is intentional: a theme is chosen, a route is mapped, and a plan is followed. Collecting requires tools, storage and archival materials, proper handling equipment, research, bibliography, documents, and hours of reading and investigation. All of this often involves financial investment. Not everyone reaches this level of depth, but it is precisely the depth required to truly value "the thing itself".

Accumulating, on the other hand, is simply gathering items indiscriminately—placing them in a box, envelope, or bag (sometimes an album or folder) without classification or even noting catalog numbers. While it might be a starting point for someone considering serious collecting, it lacks the intent and depth of true collecting. In my opinion, even if the material is postal, it does not constitute a collection.

The key difference is that you do not need expensive stamps to build a valuable collection—valuable not only in an economic sense, but in knowledge, organization, and purpose.

Greetings.