Dear Dr. Map, What is a Cartophilatelist?
Cartophilately is the study and collection of postage stamps that show maps. Apparently maps are a very popular theme on stamps, and often have commemorative, political or historical interest. The online checklist at
www.mapsonstamps.com catalogs over 15,000 stamps relating to maps, cartography and cartographers. Some of them are mere sketch maps, others depict maps in all their cartographic detail, color, and glory. So organized are devotees of maps on stamps that they have their own society, the Cartophilatelic Society, founded in 1955. There is even a journal,
The New CartoPhilatelist , which publishes interesting information about maps on stamps. So quite simply, (and I'm not sticking this to you) a Cartophilatelist is someone interested in maps, as depicted on postage stamps.
Back to Articles