Dealmania!'s Rubber Stamp Guide

The popularity of Rubber Stamp Collecting really took off about 25 years ago. Stamps made by companies like Stampa Barbara of Southern California that went out of business are sought-after and very difficult to find.

Collectors use rubber stamps for a variety of purposes: making handmade greeting cards, scrapbooking, and writing old-fashioned looking letters.

Since the early 1980's, the creativity of the stamps has increased significantly as stamping companies hired established artists to draw designs for them. Many of the better known companies use full-time artists to design and make their own stamps on their premises.

Most stamps that you'll see for sale on eBay nowadays are made out of gum erasers that are dyed red, deeply-etched using a set of carving knives and other related tools, and industrial-strength-glued (or rubber cemented) onto a thin foam cushion (for ease of stamping- not to be confused with foam mounts, which are thick).

In case you haven't searched eBay in a while, there are thousands of active stamp companies and designers on the market today.

Dealmania Bargains and Gifts specializes in Stampa Barbara and Rubber Baby Buggy stamps.