philatelist
UK: fɪˈlæt.əl.ɪst | US: fɪˈlæt̬.əl.ɪst
n. a person who collects or studies postage stamps
The word "philatelist" originates from French philatélie, coined in 1864 by French stamp collector Georges Herpin. He combined Greek phil- (φίλος, "loving") and atel- (from atelēs, "exempt from tax"), referencing stamps as proof of prepaid postage (tax exemption). The suffix -ist denotes a practitioner. The term reflects the romanticization of stamp collecting as a scholarly pursuit.
As a dedicated philatelist, she owns stamps from over 150 countries.
The philatelist carefully examined the rare 19th-century stamp under a magnifying glass.
Local philatelists gather monthly to trade stamps and discuss postal history.
His reputation as a philatelist grew after he discovered a misprinted stamp.
The museum’s exhibit was curated by a renowned philatelist specializing in colonial-era stamps.