Daniel Mallard is a stamp collector and YouTuber from Chicago, Illinois, whose channel Mallard Stamps is meant to help and encourage stamp collectors young and old! APS interviewed Daniel to learn more about how he became involved in the hobby and his future plans for his channel.
What is your impression of the Great American Stamp Show? - It was awesome. I have never been to a stamp show before, only heard about it from a few people who have been to a few. There are so many booths with so many stamps. One thing that also struck me was how kind and friendly all the dealers were. I am by no means an expert so I had many questions, and the dealers were very kind and insightful, always being there to help give me answers.
Talk about your appearance on Conversations with Philatelists - It was really cool to meet the guys in person. I had interacted with them a few times over social media but never in person. They are great guys who really invest their time and effort into the hobby. They were also very welcoming and encouraging to me. It was fun to be interviewed and be on their channel. I hope to do more videos with them in the future!
How did you become involved in philately / stamp collecting? - I inherited my grandfathers and fathers stamp collections when I was in 8th grade. I collected for about a year but then highschool and college got in the way. My grad school year of college I had some free time and picked it back up again and have not looked back since!
Who inspired you to collect stamps? - No one really inspired me. I have always been a collector of many things but stamps are something I have really stuck with.
What are some of your favorite stamps that you have collected? - I really enjoyed putting together my air mail collection. Finally getting the very last zeppelin stamp was very satisfying. I also enjoy collecting stamps with a backstory. For example: Graham Beck did a video on Latvia's first stamps that were actually printed on the back of old German maps.
What inspired you to start a YouTube channel? -Some of my friends were doing fitness YouTube channels and I bet that I could get more subscribers than they could, the rest is history.
Talk about your most popular video ( How to Identify Difference Between Flat Plate and Rotary Printing on Stamps) - Many people get into collecting because they inherited a stamp collection. Once they start doing research they learn the hobby can be really confusing. I was in the same boat when I started. I wanted to make videos on my youtube channel that I wished I had when I was new to the hobby. I made this video to try and simplify the details between flat plate and rotary printing. Dull it down so that a beginner can understand. I also know it's not only important to talk about the details, but also show them on camera for all the visual learners out there.
What is your favorite video that you have made so far? - I really do not have one video that is my favorite. I really do like opening grab bags with my subscribers because I never know what could be inside. On the other hand doing my random stamp searches is also super fun for the same reason.
Any advice for other collectors/stamp youtubers that are just starting out? - Do videos that you enjoy. Do not do videos for views, because ultimately you will burn out if you do not enjoy creating the content.
Who are some youtubers that you have worked with/want to work with in the future? - I would love to work with any and all philatelic youtubers. My passion is to really grow the hobby online while also creating useful content for regular people. I want to inspire the next generation of stamp collectors. Every youtuber has their own style, and each of those styles is more attractive to a certain group of people. We need to work together to reach any and all stamp collectors.
How do you see your channel evolving in the future? -The community that I have seen come together on my channel is special. We are all there to learn and grow as well as make friends. I love when I get a grab bag from a subscriber who I see commenting all the time on my videos because then I can help them with their collections, while they are also helping me with mine.