C3a? What is C3a? C3a is an acronym for Collecting and Connecting Central Academy, the APS’ online learning tool where you can find videos, learning modules, and resources about many aspects of philately.
New to collecting or interested in a refresher? If so, there is content on the C3a learning platform with you in mind. As an APS member, you have special access to courses and videos as part of your membership. Titles that may be of interest to you include:
“Stamp and Cover Anatomy” – a five-part on-demand video series covering stamp similarities and differences, parts of a cover, identifying country of issue, cancellations & postmarks
“Tools of the Hobby” – a 6-part on-demand video series discussing the use of tongs, magnifiers, watermarking, soaking, hinges and mounts
“Using a Stamp Catalog” – a four-part on-demand video tutorial describing catalog formats and functions, deciphering a stamp listing, and steps for using a catalog to identify an item
“Introduction to Philatelic History” – a five-module on-demand course studying the world before stamps, the first adhesive postage stamp, the most famous U.S. postage stamp, the Universal Postal Union, and methods used to move the mail
“Introduction to Stamp Collecting” – a fee-based three-session on-demand video course to help you to discover the extensive variety of collecting areas, identify resources and supports to enhance your collecting efforts, and learn more about the tools important for every collector
“Care and Preservation of Philatelic Material” – a fee-based on-demand video that shares insights for caring and preserving philatelic materials
“Getting the Most Out of the Scott Catalogue” – a fee-based two-session on-demand course where you will explore the differences among different Scott catalogs and how to get the most out of the resources found in each when interpreting item listings
Interested in exploring an unfamiliar area of philately? The C3a learning platform has the right stuff to help those wishing to explore such brave new territories as precancels, first day covers, exhibiting, revenues, and postal history. How about delving into collecting countries around the world, such as India, Bermuda, Guatemala, Poland, Czechoslovakia, France, Belgium, Mexico, or Germany?
Don’t forget to continue to grow your knowledge in the area of stamp production. There are several fee-based on-demand videos and courses that focus on stamp technology: “Building Blocks of Stamp Production,” “Pressing Issues – Introduction to Printing Types,” “An Introduction to Color,” and “Stamps that Glow”.
APS members are finding the resources contained in the C3a learning platform to be of value to them. Comments we have received from C3a users include:
Presenters are very knowledgeable and share lots of practical information that will help me become a better collector.
It is relaxing to view video recordings from my comfortable chair with parts of my collection at my side.
The quality of the video courses is excellent; more in-depth than expected and easy to understand.
I can view videos at my convenience and refer to my C3a video library whenever I wish.