我個人的理解,在傳統集郵和郵政史類,郵資是研究的重點之一,因此需要用到一些郵資正確的郵件,來鋪陳整個故事。但換作是當代,平信8元、限時15元、掛號28元……這些都是不證自明的史實。由於資訊發達,縱使過了幾十年,也都有案可稽,實在不需要靠集郵人士做一堆所謂郵資正確的封,來證明這類史實。簡單來說,用研究古代的方法,來研究現代,就是一整個怪。
至於專題集郵類,確實有以下的規定(節錄):
GUIDELINES FOR THE EVALUATION OF THE EXHIBITS OF THEMATIC PHILATELY
…
3.3 QUALIFICATION OF PHILATELIC MATERIAL
…
A short thematic description is necessary whenever the connection between the item and the theme is not self-explanatory. Items without a demonstrated relationship with the theme should be excluded. When selecting qualified material for the exhibit, preference and greater importance has to be given to:
genuinely carried commercial mail with relevant cancellations, as opposed to mere souvenir documents and any similar items which were created to please collectors, e.g. decorated FDCs (even when issued by the postal service), and maximum cards
genuinely carried items with correct postage and relevant thematic cancellations, as opposed to favour cancellations, often with underfranked postage, or, even worse, cancellations on stampless covers (“blank cancellations”) unless due to a free postage privilege
按照這個規定,在FIP專題集郵類別裡,郵資正確的郵件較為討好。
然而,並非所有國家的郵政都運作良好,很多國家根本沒有標準郵資,或沒有人知道標準郵資、不照標準郵資收費。不要說是非洲、拉丁美洲,你就去問中國大陸的郵政局,寄台灣明信片要多少錢,保證在不同的地方,就會得到不同的答案。
其次是,並非所有的郵局,都像台灣這樣備有各種面額的郵票。比方我有次去馬其頓,寄台灣的標準郵資是40元,結果除了首都集郵中心以外,其他郵局都只有12元或其倍數之郵票,實務上寄台灣都是貼48元。
因此FIP的規章,那是一個理想狀態。而且,一套郵票明明就有4枚,為了符合郵資,只貼3枚嗎?還是一枚一枚寄?這樣反而是削足適履。我是認為FIP的規章,參考可以,但若志不參展,卻老是奉那個為圭臬,集郵集了半天,恐怕不知道自己在幹什麼。
比方又有這樣一條規定:
documents with individual, differing addressees, as opposed to covers and cards received by the same addressee as a result of a subscription
結果一些郵友,整天想方設法地,在「創造」不同的地址,還要找不同的人來寫(筆跡不同)。搞了半天,到底是在集地址,還是在集郵?