philately

from WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006)

philately
    n 1: the collection and study of postage stamps [syn:
         {philately}, {stamp collecting}, {stamp collection}]

from The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48

Philately \Phi*lat"e*ly\, n. [Philo- + Gr. 'ate`leia exemption
   from tax; cf. frank to send free.]
   The collection of postage stamps of various issues.
   [1913 Webster]