The Spellman Museum library houses an extensive collection of philatelic literature, including thousands of books, catalogs, audiovisual media, and periodical titles. The collection is international in scope and includes resources about stamps and postal history, as well as the history of philately and related subjects. All visitors to the museum are welcome to use materials on site during regular museum hours.
The Spellman Museum also has extensive worldwide collections and exhibits of stamps and postal history available to members and researchers for reference and study. Consultation on library resources and museum exhibits is available by appointment.
Ways to use the library:
Want more? Email the librarian: library@spellmanmuseum.org
Enjoy leisure reading.
We house current national and international periodicals as well as society journals available for review. We welcome members and friends to enjoy our library’s rich collection.
Identify a stamp or stamps in your collection.
In addition to current Scott catalogs, we have over 15 shelves of general and specialized catalogs from other nations, including the various worldwide Stanley Gibbons and Michel catalogs. These resources are helpful for identifying specific stamps.
Research.
Whether you are preparing an exhibit, or researching your own collection, the library has helpful books. Our collection includes books on exhibiting, postal history and postal rates, specific stamp series, and types of stamps such as revenues, postal stationery, fakes and forgeries, perfins, precancels, and postage dues from the U.S. and abroad. We also house the collection of the Eire Philatelic Association, which is available for loan to its members and to museum members.
Finding library material:
A growing number of our library holdings, including the periodical collection and many of the Spellman library’s books and AV resources, are listed in the online Philatelic Union Catalog. Our library also has a card catalog which lists many books that are not yet listed in the online catalog. In both, if searching for a specific author’s works, make sure to search by the author’s LAST NAME first.
The Philatelic Union Catalog includes the holdings of the American Philatelic Society’s Research Library and the Smithsonian’s National Postal Museum Library, as well as several other North American philatelic libraries. Links to these libraries’ websites are included in the Philatelic Union Catalog.
The Global Philatelic Library is another useful resource of the listings of publications held by philatelic libraries in Europe and Australia. Postmark collectors and other researchers are invited to visit the Postmark Collectors Club Museum in Bellevue, OH.
Borrowing library material:
Most books and audio-visual resources in the Spellman Library may be borrowed for up to four weeks by museum members and its trustees, staff and volunteers.
Unable to visit us? Borrow by mail.
Museum members who are unable to borrow books in person may request books by mail. In order to cover costs, please plan on the following costs:
$10 preparation fee.
$3 for the first book.
$1 for each additional book.
Please plan to return books within four weeks of receipt, in a secure container, and with postal insurance.
Please allow a few days to process and ship your request.