Summary
The article “The Paradox of the Philatelic Business: Turning a Private Collection into a Professional Trade” examines a unique historical hobby that has remained relevant in many parts of the world. According to the author, money has always reshaped every aspect of human life (Grijp 1). For instance, money has always been “a crucial part in one of the common hobbies called philately” (Grijp 2). For very many centuries, many professional collectors used to be amateurs. The author shows clearly that such amateur collectors did not possess the best skills or competencies in philately.
However, such individuals managed to expand their collections despite some of the challenges affecting them. The same development is notable today, whereby more professional dealers continue to expand their philatelic collections (Grijp 2). The author also goes further to explain how philatelic collectors can be grouped into different categories. This argument shows clearly that scholars trying to understand the motivations behind this hobby should avoid the use of mono-causal, reductionist, and simplistic explanations (Grijp 3). Instead, they should “develop a configurational model characterised by economic, educational, emotional, sociological, and psychological motives” (Grijp 3). This study approach can be informative because the motivations behind this hobby are diverse in nature.
Presentation of the Article
The article indicates clearly that many professional dealers have always been motivated by the desire to transmit their ideas and skills to more people. As well, several factors are believed to motivate the majority of these professional dealers. The author also argues that many dealers have been guided by various educational goals. This fact explains why philately has remained a relevant historical practice for very many centuries. The author also encourages societies to support different hobbies because they have both educational and economic implications (Grijp 6). Future generations will benefit significantly from these aspects of different hobbies such as philately.
Works Cited
Grijp, Paul. “The Paradox of the Philatelic Business: Turning a Private Collection into a Professional Trade.” Material Culture Review 1.1 (2012): 1-13. Print.