Collecting Bank Notes, as it is known (Notaphily), is a most enjoyable hobby. Unlike coins and stamps where collectors number millions, far fewer individuals collect bank notes. In the U.K. There are an estimated 4,000 notaphilists. Globally, with changes in governments, emerging states, variety in denominations, inflation, deflation, etc., millions of bank notes are printed each day. The variety of bank notes, sheer volumes issued, quality and "types" can satisfy the most serious to the casual collector. As collectors we keep the financial history of the world safe for future generations. What is collecting bank notes all about? It is a hobby that gives you pleasure; it is about finding something that you like or adding to those that you already own or it is making a discovery (even if someone else has made the same discovery). You can, however, be assured that when you make your first purchase, you will be impressed with the beauty and quality of printing and will wish to carry on. There may be a specific subject that appeals to you - birds, reptiles, waterfalls, transport, military, errors, doctors may collect medicine, etc.,. You may have visited a country and been impressed by the notes you brought home with you; been given them by friends or relatives; seen an odd one for sale somewhere. You may start collecting English notes, Isle of Man, Jersey, Guernsey, Irish or Scottish because you use them and remember how they looked long ago, or military notes because you are an ex-soldier or perhaps you are interested in a particular period in history, ultimately you will join a hobby that has flourished and spread. Whatever area of the hobby interests you, you must look after your notes. Paper can be very volatile and certainly easy to make dirty/mark/fade/etc. - just handling a note can leave a greasy mark that is not necessarily detectable by the naked eye. Place your notes in an album/stockbook/storage box facility and you will be creating the right environment to continue safely adding to your collection. If you put them in individual archival wallets first, you will be able to view, move and handle them as many times as you like without any damaging consequences. |