Online philately given the stamp of approval

Some people collect stamps from one place, like the United States, France, Hong Kong or China. Others collect stamps that have horses on them, or buildings, or cars.

The great thing about stamp collecting is that you can collect what you want.

Philately, like many hobbies, is suited to the Internet. There are a number of Web sites linked to many others.

Stamp collectors and enthusiasts can also view high-resolution images of stamps from the comfort of their homes.

Of course, purists would argue there is nothing like seeing the real thing - or owning them, when it comes to a rare stamp.

But the Internet can not help but make these rare stamps accessible to millions more people and stimulate a broader interest in collecting them.