More than €5 million worth of stamps were put on display at the 34th annual stamp exhibition, Stampa 2005, which was attended by hundreds of collectors, dealers and members of the public in the RDS, Dublin, yesterday.
Among the predominantly male visitors to the exhibition was John Greer, a lifelong stamp enthusiast who last year purchased a rare stamp for €20 which later turned out to be worth over €4,000.
Mr Greer confided to The Irish Times that he was celebrating again yesterday after purchasing a stamp, also thought to be worth thousands of euro, for just €15.
"I can't believe it," he said of his rare version of a green ha'penny Harrison three line coil 1922 Saorstát Éireann stamp. "It is perhaps not as valuable [as last time]. But as far as I'm aware, only three others are known about. This is the fourth."
Others at yesterday's event were also selling stamps worth thousands of euro. For example, Roy Hamilton-Bowen, a Frankfurt-based dealer, was selling another Irish stamp, dating from the foundation of the State, for €18,000.
According to Michael Kelly, secretary of Stampa 2005, while some 80 per cent of stamp collectors are male, the hobby is becoming increasingly popular with younger children of both sexes. This is largely attributable to the participation of schools, with school-based stamp clubs springing up all over the country.
"There are more females coming into it, it seems to have skipped a generation," he said. "What's happening is that grandfathers are bringing their grandchildren into it, and they are developing an interest from this.
"Stamps teach children loads of things, including history, geography, art and archaeology."
About 2,000 people are expected to attend the event, which is supported by An Post and runs until tomorrow.
Members of the public are also being offered the opportunity to have any old stamps in their possession valued by dealers from all over the world.
Speaking in the RDS at the unveiling of four stamps issued by An Post to commemorate the 50th anniversary of Ireland's UN membership, Defence Forces Chief of Staff Lieut Gen Jim Sreenan recalled that 86 Irish peacekeepers had died on UN service.
"Their sacrifices and the sacrifices of their families are remembered as we commemorate this anniversary," he said. "Ar dheis lámh Dé go raibh a n-anamacha."