National Philatelic Collection (United States)

National Philatelic Collection
38°53′53″N 77°01′15″W / 38.8981°N 77.0208°W / 38.8981; -77.0208
LocationNational Postal Museum, Washington, D.C., United States
TypePhilatelic collection
ScopeNational
Established1886 (1886)
Branch ofSmithsonian Institution
Branches1 (within the National Postal Museum)
Collection
Items collectedPostage stamps, revenue stamps, and related items
Sizenearly six million
Access and use
Access requirementsA portion is on public display within the National Postal Museum. Access to the full collection may be restricted and require special arrangements.
Other information
Curator
(Position held by a staff member of the National Postal Museum)
Employees(Part of the National Postal Museum staff)
Parent organizationSmithsonian Institution
Public transit accessSmithsonian (Metro station)
Websitepostalmuseum.si.edu

The National Philatelic Collection is a collection of nearly six million postage stamps, revenue stamps, and related items, owned by the United States Government and managed by the Smithsonian Institution. It is housed within the National Postal Museum and a portion of the collection is on display in the museum's National Stamp Salon. The National Philatelic Collection is among the world's largest and most valuable stamp collections and, along with the Postmaster General's Philatelic Collection, is one of two stamp collections owned by the United States.