Keen collectors attend Streetly Philatelic Society's annual stamp fair
They can date back centuries and cost avid collectors thousands of pounds to buy.
From the Penny Black stamp, which was launched in 1840, to letters and envelopes sent in the 1700s, there were hundreds of collectables from the postal world which were available to see at the Streetly Philatelic Society's annual stamp fair.
The group, which meets three times a month, organised the event which saw 14 invited traders attend.
Among those at the event were valuer and trader Simon Collyer who was helping to assess the value of collections.
People were able to take along old albums for valuation. They could also buy items for their own collections.
How rare they are and the condition they are kept in can influence the price of adding pieces to a collection. A Penny Black, the world's first adhesive postal stamp can fetch anything from £15 to £250 depending on the condition. One from 1847 was among the stamps on show at the event.
Brian Hyner, who helped to organise the event, said traders were always on the lookout for rare items.
"There were millions and millions of Penny Blacks produced and used but millions haven't survived," he said.
It depends on their quality. You could buy a Penny Black that was used on a letter somewhere in England and was in reasonable condition for £40. When you start collecting something it gives you an aim. I am into collecting stamps and postal history but I have known people who collect matchbox labels."
