Philately is a subject which, generally, is little appreciated outside its devotees, and tends to be equated to the more general hobby of stamp collecting. However, the study of the production and use of stamps and postal history is very actively pursued and has a not insignificant place in the recording of the economic, social and, in some instances, the political history of virtually every country of the world.

As a result of the lack of appreciation of the subject, the researcher sometimes finds difficulty in obtaining the necessary assistance and access to official and other records to enable him to find the information he requires. It is the intention of this paper to give some insight into the types of research work being undertaken and the various sources from which the required information can be obtained.