Ask MetaFilter questions tagged with stamps

Let's get philatelical

miss lynnster — Mon, 19 Jan 2009 13:22:31 -0800

About ten years ago I picked up an amazing collection of 114 (mint condition, plastic-sleeved) vintage first day issue stamps/envelopes at a thrift store. Been simplifying my belongings and I'm thinking it's time to sell them. Hey you stamp collectors... what are your recommendations? The person who put this collection together was METICULOUS. I mean, just absolutely anal retentive about their collection. This is why I bought it... even though I'm not a stamp collector I was impressed to my core by their effort and how much passion they clearly had for their hobby.

All of the envelopes are neatly typed to the same person in Colorado, all placed with love into slotted cardboard and sleeved in plastic. Each envelope is the customized first day of issue envelope, with the official stamp and first day of issue postmark. Most of the envelopes are United Nations, American history, government, or arts themed, dated from the mid-1950s to mid-1960s. Here are a few examples of the envelopes and stamps, although my envelopes have a typed address. Many of the them seem to be pretty obscure, I couldn't find their topics online.

Any tips? How should I go about making sure these go to a good home and get a decent price? I know a dealer would offer me less and I should probably get them appraised by a professional, yes? Or should I just hold onto them until the economy gets better? Thoughts please!

Hundreds and hundreds of stamps. What now?

Sijeka — Sat, 29 Nov 2008 07:42:20 -0800

I was going trough my late grandfather's belongings and found a box choke-full of stamps. Are they valuable? What should I do with them? The box contains hundreds and hundreds of stamps which are used (i.e I suspect he received a lot of letters and collected the stamps as they arrived). They are daed from the 1920s to the 1980s and originiated from a lot of different countries - from Peru to Morrocco, but mainly Europe.

My grandmother would like to know if they are worth anything, but there are so many of them, I don't see myself googling each and everyone of them (not sure it's even possible?). So my questions are:

1. Are stamps still valuable if they have been used?
and
2. Can I contact anyone for an appraisal? I live in London if that helps.

Can un-stamped stamps be reused?

nursegracer — Fri, 11 Jul 2008 18:47:56 -0800

Can you reuse postage stamps if the Post Office doesn't stamp them? I have gotten many items in the mail, especially large boxes with several stamps on them, that seem to have not been stamped with the Post Office mark. I know that the stamp from the Post Office invalidates a stamp for further usage but if they are not stamped at all, can they be used again? Do they have any mysterious way of marking the stamps that I cannot see but they will find if I were to try to reuse the stamps?

Why does the post office sell 42 cent stamps? Why do people buy them?

Flunkie — Mon, 02 Jun 2008 11:25:04 -0800

Why does the post office sell 42 cent stamps? Why do people buy them? The US Postal Service sells "Forever Stamps", at 42 cents apiece. These are supposed to be valid first class stamps forever, even if the price of a new first class stamp increases beyond 42 cents.

However, it also sells 42 cent stamps, at 42 cents apiece. If the price of a new first class stamp goes above 42 cents, these can only be used in addition with other stamps, making up the price difference.

Why do they sell 42 cent stamps?

I understand that the answer may simply be "Because people might buy them instead of Forever Stamps, and the Post Office makes more money, in the long term, if they do."

So why would people buy them?

Is there any reason, other than being a stamp collector, or reasons like ignorance or carelessness?

Postage Stamp Filter - Philippines to USA

stuboo — Sun, 13 Apr 2008 11:34:13 -0800

My wife wants to send stamps to a friend in the Philippines so the friend can write back easily. What type of stamps should she buy?

Can I use a rubber stamp image on my website?

karyys — Wed, 27 Feb 2008 05:57:02 -0800

Are there any copyright infringement issues to using a Rubber Stamp Image that I purchased on my website? I bought this rubber stamp that I would love to use the image on my website, but my friend says there are copyright issues. I say that I bought the stamp and the rights to use it as I want. I am not profiting off the image, and I won't claim it as my own.

If there are issues, would it be best to cite where the rubber stamp's company on my website or just leave it alone and not use it?

thanks

How long do "First Class" stamps work?

mkultra — Wed, 16 Jan 2008 19:32:32 -0800

I have U.S. postage stamps labeled as "First Class" (no monetary value), which are dated 2006. Will one stamp still get a letter to its destination?

Are all US postage stamps now self-adhesive?

Tube — Wed, 16 Jan 2008 19:08:09 -0800

Are all US postage stamps now self-adhesive? For some time now, all the postage stamps I've purchased are self-adhesive. This leads me to wonder if ALL currently manufactured US postage stamps are now self adhesive. Do other countries still make stamps that require moisture for adhesion? Is this a world trend?

And how many calories are in self-adhesive stamps, anyway????

Authoritative price guide for stamp collecting?

John Kenneth Fisher — Fri, 23 Nov 2007 10:55:28 -0800

I'm looking for an authoritative price guide for postage stamps, primarily US stamps from prior to 1960, similar to the Overstreet guides printed for comic books. There are a number of such stamps I would like to look up. Online would be great, physical guides that need to be purchased would be fine too. Thanks in advance.

Vintage Stamps for Face Value

bonheur — Tue, 25 Sep 2007 09:57:28 -0800

Where can I buy vintage, valid US postage stamps for face value or near face value? I like crafting my own greeting cards and mailing them to family and friends. I've pretty much exhausted the postage options currently available at the post office. I'd like to find vintage stamps (like, say, from the '60s and '70s) that are still valid postage, and use several at a time on the letters I send out (to, of course, total up to the current postage rate or a few cents over).
I've looked on eBay and elsewhere online, but it's hard to find usable vintage stamps for face value mixed in with "Stamp Collecting" stuff where a 1 cent stamp might cost $10 or much more.
I'm even willing to buy a "mixed bag" of older but still valid stamps from a stamp dealer-- but how? Who? Where? Please help!

Where can I buy cheap paper to make my own greeting cards?

moooshy — Mon, 13 Aug 2007 20:31:04 -0800

[Homemade Greeting Card Filter] I want to make greeting cards, for friends and family -- mainly for obscure holidays (and just to say hello!) But buying supplies at PaperSource is super expensive -- and stamps are not exactly cheap. Where do you buy specialty stock paper and other greeting card paraphernalia? [mi] I'm interested in cheap stock paper that might resemble the folded cards section on Paper Source. It's heavy, and bendable -- and comes in lots of colors.

I'd rather buy sheets of thick paper in different colors and cut them -- cheaper and more variety of shapes. Is there a place to bulk order paper?

Also, if you know of any cheap decorating tips or techniques for making really awesome greeting cards, please let me know. Specifically: stamps, glitter, beads, stickers, etc.

Buying stamps online

indyz — Thu, 21 Jun 2007 13:34:32 -0800

Where can I buy first class postage online? I need to be able to choose a custom rate (say, $1.57). Every item I mail is the same size and weighs exactly the same (DVDs in cases, in a cardboard mailer). In the past I have used the machine at the post office to purchase stamps 20 at a time (actually 5 at a time, 4 times, stupid machine). Due to my work schedule, getting to the post office during business hours is difficult. I only ship about 20 packages a month, so subscription services like stamps.com and postal meters aren't really options.

Is there anywhere online I can order first class postage in custom dollar amounts? I am willing to order up to 100 stamps at a time.

stamps as a memorial thank you

skillet — Tue, 08 May 2007 19:37:19 -0800

Stamps as part of memorial thank you... I received a thank you note from a family who had a memorial service recently. Included in the thank you was some postage stamps. What type of custom is that...is it a particular ethnic group (the family is asian) and why?

How is a postage stamp authenticated?

odinsdream — Mon, 13 Nov 2006 11:00:41 -0800

How is the authenticity of a postage stamp verified in the normal mail delivery process? When mail is delivered, how is a stamp validated? There are so many thousands of stamps from so many different years, all of which are valid postage. Combinations can be made of different stamp types and values. I assume the valuation is done through OCR or image-matching with known stamps. Verifying whether it's a real stamp, though, must be an additional step.

Why can't I print any picture at all on glossy sticker paper and cut it out with "stamp edge" scissors from an art store? Or, if I can, why do people buy stamps?

The point of this question is not to figure out how to fake stamps - it's to better understand how the mail system works, and was prompted by the recent FPP about the absentee ballot stamped with the alleged 100k stamp. Differentiating between rare stamps and very good counterfeits isn't really what I'm curious about; just everyday verification.

Selling Stamps to the PO

catcatwomanman — Sun, 08 Oct 2006 22:24:21 -0800

Ok, burning my question for the week with something really stupid yet I don't have the time to sit on the phone on hold or make the trip, so here goes: in the US, will the post office buy back your stamps at face value (and with no questions asked)?

$100? Can I pay you in Bugs Bunny stamps?

parmanparman — Fri, 29 Sep 2006 06:15:17 -0800

Are stamps a legal form of currency? I saw this ad in the back of a magazine that said, "in lieu of funds, subscribers can send stamps as payment." Although this may be a way to cover costs, I would have to send in the sum total of the subscription cost in stamps, as though I were paying with actual money. I know the mag wants at least something in lieu of cash.

But are there other places that willingly accept postage as a form of legal currency?

Is there law to back this up?

What is the government's position on stamps as a replacement for money?

Do I qualify for food stamps?

gilsonal — Sat, 02 Sep 2006 11:42:39 -0800

Food Stamp Filter: I'm a new graduate student in a 5 year program and my fellowship, while nice, precludes me from taking out any student loans. my mom suggested I look into food stamps, but I can't figure out if I qualify. Help! I'm a 22 year old Michigan resident, attending a Michigan school. My stipend amounts to 10,000 a year, or about 800 a month. My rent is 325 plus 30 for internet and 50 for phone.
My specific questions include:

Do fellowships count as income? It's technically gift money, I'm not working any hours for it. If so, my income would be $0

Does living with a roomate mean that I have to include her in my "household" or does that refer to households as far as single budgets?

I'm kinda feeling guilty about thinking about it, but lord knows I have another five years of schooling ahead of me and any less debt I can accrue would save me in the long run, and having money for food would definitely lessen anxiety about having enough money for bills and emergencies. My meds cost a ton in copays alone.

Any answers, suggestions or personal experience would help so much! Thanks.

Source for a custom self-inking stamp with Pantone ink?

livinginmonrovia — Wed, 02 Aug 2006 17:17:09 -0800

Does anyone know of an online source for ordering custom self-inking stamps with custom ink colors (Pantone match)?

Mailing books from home, cheaply.

craniac — Thu, 08 Jun 2006 13:41:06 -0800

I mail stuff all the time, usually books, and have to go to our terrible post office (long waits, willfully obstructionist employees, etc.) to mail a book via media mail. Yet I can't just weigh it at home and put stamps on it because the Unabomber had to ruin things for everyone, so there is no anonymous mailing of anything over a lb. or so. Furthermore, the postal kiosk, available 24 hours, won't even print out the $4.05 postage for flat fee priority mailing, let alone media mail postage. Does anyone know if Zazzle stamps meet the postal requirements for non-anonymous mailing? If so, that would be great.

Reusing postage stamps

Anonymous — Mon, 01 May 2006 18:39:43 -0800

Reusing postage stamps - How much trouble could you get it? As part of my business, I send out a lot of mail. I also get a lot of mail back, due to wrong addresses etc. To save money, I reuse the stamps I get back. You can cut the stamp off the envelope, erase the postmark and glue it onto another envelope. This technique has worked everytime I've done it, which is pretty much every day for many years.

So exactly how bad is this practice? Is there a significant chance of being fined or incarcerated?

Particulars: I'm in texas, I own the business in question.

What do these stamps look like?

scrim — Sat, 04 Dec 2004 16:15:47 -0800

ok, this has been bothering me ever since I first started using THOMAS and saw these on the day's record: exactly what would an autism awareness stamp or a school safety awareness stamp look like?

Photo Stamps experiences?

JoanArkham — Fri, 03 Sep 2004 05:02:03 -0800

Has anyone used Photo Stamps yet? [MI] I'd like to buy some as a gag gift for Mr. Arkham, but I'm wondering about the quality. Also, out of curiosity: how the heck do they keep people from counterfiting them?