The Story Behind
the Stamp Stop
Meet the people who keep the hobby alive across many generations and collectors' interests.
Our History
America's Stamp Stop was founded in 1978 by lifelong collector and philatelic auction agent Karl Schaefer, beginning as a small store in Birmingham, Michigan. Karl, with his business partner Stan German, soon expanded, adding two more franchises to the business — one in Farmington Hills and another in Sterling Heights. Over the years, America's Stamp Stop moved around the Metro Detroit area, slowly becoming one of the last brick-and-mortar stores not just in Michigan, but in the country.
In 2006, Karl's son Todd Schaefer joined America's Stamp Stop as a full-time partner. Not long after, Todd made the decision to purchase their current location in Berkley, which was soon renovated to become the Stamp Stop that so many have come to enjoy today. The business grew tremendously in the following years, as the father-son duo became a leading name in Michigan for stamps and coins.
Nearly 50 years after America's Stamp Stop was founded, second and third generations of the Schaefer family are strongly involved with all operational aspects. Having grown up surrounded by fascinating material, Karl's grandchildren have become "accidental" philatelists.
The Schaefer family. Karl (to the left), his son Todd (middle), and Todd's daughter Sam (right).
The Schaefer family still upholds the initial values that Karl founded America's Stamp Stop on — integrity, being strong stewards of the hobby, and sharing the knowledge and technique that allow expansion of the hobby to future generations.
America's Stamp Stop store in Berkley, MI.
America's Stamp Stop team during the COVID-19 pandemic in 2021.
Todd and Karl Schaefer at the store.
Karl Schaefer, the founder
of the Stamp Stop
Karl Schaefer was born in Detroit, Michigan on March 29, 1930. When he was 12 years-old, Karl lived in Far Rockaway, New York and would visit consulates in Manhattan, providing secretaries and employees with cigar boxes, asking them to fill the boxes with any and all foreign mail stamps they might receive. Karl would collect the boxes, soak the stamps off paper, and neatly organize them on stock cards. Following a long summer of repeating this process many times, Karl traded the stamps to a Nassau Street dealer, receiving in exchange a mint and beautifully centered $5 Columbian.
After the end of WWII, Karl enlisted in the U.S. Army, joining the Signal Corps and being stationed in a communications bunker in Hawaii during what he would call "the War of the Pineapple Fields." When he returned home, he attended Michigan State College. Karl married in 1955, and entered the insurance business. Karl was an avid player of Monopoly, and was the Parker Brothers World Champion. In 1969 and 1971, Karl was the Ambassador for Parker Brothers at the World Monopoly Championship in British Columbia.
Karl worked as a philatelic auction agent in his spare time. Seeing an ever-growing market, he founded America's Stamp Stop in 1978 and found tremendous success — eventually growing to one store and two franchise locations. In 2006, Karl joined forces with his son Todd and soon after moved his business to the current location in Berkley.
In 2024, Karl passed away at the age of 94. He is remembered for caring deeply for his family and being liked by all, whether in his personal or business life. Karl brought a special energy to all his interactions, and we always aim to remember him as we continue his legacy at America's Stamp Stop.
Karl's 80th birthday at the Stamp Stop.