If you read any philatelic literature from the 1930s and 1940s, the hobby was very popular among a large number of people? Why? Part of that reason is that we had a US President, Franklin Delano Roosevelt, and a British King, King George VI, who were very visible public figures. Both of them openly collected stamps and there are several publicity photos of the two engaging in stamp collecting activities. Stamp collecting was “cool” because you had these two world leaders who were both unabashed stamp collectors.

I mean no disrespect to other more recent high profile collectors. For example, Gary Burgoff (character Radar on the TV show, Mash) and Bill Gross (PIMCO founder) are stamp collectors. However, they don’t have the same appeal as FDR and King George VI.

We need someone who is very visible in the public. Someone who isn’t shy to admit that they collect stamps.

For example, Oprah Winfrey. She is very well known for her successful TV talk show. She’s very rich and one of the most successful people in media today. Does anyone know if she’s a stamp collector?

Who else? Maybe a movie star? Who are the best known actors and actresses in the movie theaters these days? Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie?

Does the current Preside, Barack Obama, collect stamps? Bill Gates, Warren Buffett, and so on.

You get my point. I think a big shot in the arm to the hobby would come from someone very, very visible to the public eye.