About Steve Schwartz

My father visited the United Nations building in New York in 1964 when I was 11 years old. While there, he purchased a few United Nations stamps for me. When he returned, I started collecting these stamps and he would teach me the stories behind each one. A few nights per week we would "play stamps" for about 30 minutes. When I wanted to buy more stamps for my collection, Dad would match the amount of money I was willing to spend from my allowance.

The postage stamp making the biggest first impression on me was the first 50 cent definitive issue. It had a picture of the UN building with the UN logo in the background. This began my education about the United Nations and what it stood for. Dad and I read the UN Charter, the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child, and also learned about the many UN affiliated organizations.

My interest in stamp collecting eventually led me to work for Kenin, Inc. (1969) - a science and hobby shop in North Miami Beach that sold stamps and coins, along with other hobby items. In 1970 I became the manager and worked there through 1975. In 1976 I went to work for the largest stamp dealer and stamp auction company in Florida (John McDaniel, Inc.) out of Orlando, Florida.

Not being satisfied with McDaniel's, in November 1977 I became a licensee with Sears, Roebuck & Company. My store was named the Sears Stamp & Coin Department and was located within a Sears store in an upscale mall in Clearwater Florida. I expanded to other Sears stores in St. Petersburg Florida and on Long Island in New York. I also opened a wholesale hobby supply business and a full hobby shop in Pinellas Park Florida. I stayed with Sears through January 2000 and then went on my own without the Sears name.

Early in 1994 I began to focus my efforts and studies toward PrePaid Telephone Cards for collectors. I wrote many magazine articles and am listed as a contributor to the 1995-1996 Hiscocks & Garibaldi Catalog which, through mid-1997, was considered to be the most acclaimed and comprehensive reference book for phonecards of the USA (400 color pages and thousands of listings).

After that, I became the Editorial Consultant for the 872 page, full-color MoneyCard Collector Reference Catalog of PrePaid Phone, Cash & Transit Cards issued in September, 1997 which became the industry standard. In 1999 I taught a workshop on collectibles for Intele-Card News Magazine. CollectorMagic.com is now the world's largest dealer of USA phone cards for collectors. We have no display, no walk in traffic, and are mail-order only.

In 1976 I became Lifetime Member #3 of the Florida Stamp Dealers Association (FSDA), and was also a member of the American Stamp Dealers Association (ASDA) - these organizations are considered the most prestigious professional organizations in the philatelic industry.