Types of Stamp Cancellations & Postmarks: Part II
What in the world is a "favor cancel?" And how is a favor cancel different from a philatelic usage, since they're both for stamp collecting purposes?
Favor Cancels:
Favor cancels are applied by post office works at the specific request of a stamp collector. The cover or stamps that are favor canceled are never mailed. Favor canceled stamps are different from CTO stamps in two ways, even though neither type is ever used in the mail: The difference is intent. The post office sells the stamps intending that they be used in the mailstream. The stamp collector intentionally asks for the cancellation, never intending the stamps or cover to actually be mailed. The post office cancels the stamps or cover as "a favor."
Many First Day Covers (FDCs) fall into the favor cancel classification.
Philatelic Usages:
Philatelic usages result when someone mails an envelope intending that the recipient receives a collectible stamp, group of stamps or a specific collectible stamp usage. Although the mailer's decision of which specific stamps are used to mail the envelope revolves around stamp collecting rather than just the delivery of a mailpiece, unlike favor cancels and many FDCs, philatelic usages are in fact mailed. People sending mail with philatelic usages are usually stamp collectors, friends or relatives of a stamp collector, or stamp dealers. Used stamps from some tiny island countries would probably never be seen by a collector were it not for philatelic usages.
Friday, May 29, 2009
Thursday, May 28, 2009
Types of Stamp Cancellations & Postmarks: Part I
Precancels vs. Cancelled-to-Order (CTO) stamps:
Some stamp collectors may be a bit unclear about the difference between these two types of cancelled stamps, so we thought we'd give a bit of information about both of them. The key difference is that precanceled stamps are actually used on the mail.
Precancels:
Precanceled stamps are stamps that are cancelled before they're used on the mail. We know this might not make much sense, since stamps normally are cancelled after the mail they're on arrives at the post office for processing. But precancels were used in order to make mail processing faster - since the stamps were already canceled, the canceling process at the post office was bypassed.
Precancels were applied in one of two ways, either printed on the stamp or handstamped using a rubber stamp. In the US, precancels were printed by the federal government (usually called Bureau precancels, after the Bureau of Printing and Engraving), printed locally by local post offices, or handstamped at local post offices (not surprisingly, these latter two types are called local precancels). In the US and Canada, precancelled stamps were used for first class mail, parcel post and bulk mail. Some larger companies used them as a substitute for perfins - a security device to stop their employees from using the stamps for their personal mail or to sell. Precancels were generally used in other countries to mail newspapers.
Thousands of different precancels and varieties exist, and collecting precancelled stamps is both challenging and rewarding. Catalogs and lists of town precancelled stamps are readily available.
Canceled-to-Order (CTO) Stamps:
CTO stamps have been canceled by the issuing country's postal authority before their sale and are usually sold to stamp dealers for a reduced price. The stamp dealers then sell them to stamp collectors, often passing on their savings in the form of reduced prices. CTO stamps are not valid for postal use. They generally still have their full original gum, and the cancellations are almost always very neat and clear; often just a corner of the stamp is canceled so that the stamp design is not impacted. Many people collect CTO stamps because of their lower cost, and in fact the catalog prices for the stamps of some countries is for canceled-to-order stamps rather than postally used (which have a higher catalog value and cost more).
Many beautiful topical stamps are mainly available in CTO form. Don't turn your nose up at them, because they can be a way to inexpensively build a beautiful stamp collection.
Precancels vs. Cancelled-to-Order (CTO) stamps:
Some stamp collectors may be a bit unclear about the difference between these two types of cancelled stamps, so we thought we'd give a bit of information about both of them. The key difference is that precanceled stamps are actually used on the mail.
Precancels:
Precanceled stamps are stamps that are cancelled before they're used on the mail. We know this might not make much sense, since stamps normally are cancelled after the mail they're on arrives at the post office for processing. But precancels were used in order to make mail processing faster - since the stamps were already canceled, the canceling process at the post office was bypassed.
Precancels were applied in one of two ways, either printed on the stamp or handstamped using a rubber stamp. In the US, precancels were printed by the federal government (usually called Bureau precancels, after the Bureau of Printing and Engraving), printed locally by local post offices, or handstamped at local post offices (not surprisingly, these latter two types are called local precancels). In the US and Canada, precancelled stamps were used for first class mail, parcel post and bulk mail. Some larger companies used them as a substitute for perfins - a security device to stop their employees from using the stamps for their personal mail or to sell. Precancels were generally used in other countries to mail newspapers.
Thousands of different precancels and varieties exist, and collecting precancelled stamps is both challenging and rewarding. Catalogs and lists of town precancelled stamps are readily available.
Canceled-to-Order (CTO) Stamps:
CTO stamps have been canceled by the issuing country's postal authority before their sale and are usually sold to stamp dealers for a reduced price. The stamp dealers then sell them to stamp collectors, often passing on their savings in the form of reduced prices. CTO stamps are not valid for postal use. They generally still have their full original gum, and the cancellations are almost always very neat and clear; often just a corner of the stamp is canceled so that the stamp design is not impacted. Many people collect CTO stamps because of their lower cost, and in fact the catalog prices for the stamps of some countries is for canceled-to-order stamps rather than postally used (which have a higher catalog value and cost more).
Many beautiful topical stamps are mainly available in CTO form. Don't turn your nose up at them, because they can be a way to inexpensively build a beautiful stamp collection.
Friday, May 22, 2009
Gum & Stamps: Part II
Our last post got us thinking about some of the problems stamp collectors encounter with self-adhesive stamps. These little nightmares (for stamp collectors, stamp users love them) can wreak havoc in a stamp collection.
We've already posted about the difficulty many stamp collectors have when they try to soak used self-adhesive stamps, so we won't go into that again right now. But do you remember the first self-adhesive stamps issued by the United States? If they were kept on their backing paper (instead of being used in the mail) their gum bled right through the stamps, onto their face.
That's not good. And who knows what will happen with all the much more recent self-adhesive stamps that are being issued by countries all over the world. For them, it's much too soon to tell whether their gum will move through the stamp paper and to the face of the stamps or to the edges of the backing paper. But the only way to prevent it is, once again, keeping your stamps in a cool, dry place. And even that might not work with self-adhesive stamps. So once again, is it time to consider collecting only used stamps?
Our last post got us thinking about some of the problems stamp collectors encounter with self-adhesive stamps. These little nightmares (for stamp collectors, stamp users love them) can wreak havoc in a stamp collection.
We've already posted about the difficulty many stamp collectors have when they try to soak used self-adhesive stamps, so we won't go into that again right now. But do you remember the first self-adhesive stamps issued by the United States? If they were kept on their backing paper (instead of being used in the mail) their gum bled right through the stamps, onto their face.
That's not good. And who knows what will happen with all the much more recent self-adhesive stamps that are being issued by countries all over the world. For them, it's much too soon to tell whether their gum will move through the stamp paper and to the face of the stamps or to the edges of the backing paper. But the only way to prevent it is, once again, keeping your stamps in a cool, dry place. And even that might not work with self-adhesive stamps. So once again, is it time to consider collecting only used stamps?
Gum and Stamps: Part I
Problems with Gum Toning:
Some stamp collectors have been encountering problems with toning of the gum on some of their mint stamps. Toning is a condition where the gum darkens or becomes discolored and is usually caused by excess heat or humidity, or by acid paper. The stamps of some countries have always been a little prone to gum toning, which is sometimes called tropicalization. Those countries include Italy, France and the French Colonies, Portuguese Colonies, and several African countries. Many of the stamps will tropical gum (toned gum) are from the period between World War I and World War II, and as the stamps from that period age over time, the problem may affect more and more of them.
Reports from stamp collectors that are experiencing gum toning seem to indicate that the problem mostly occurs with stamp collections that have been stored undisturbed (i.e., left alone) for long periods of time in hot and/or humid locations. The toning may be the result of excess or long-term heat and humidity, from the stamps being printed (possibly) on acid paper, or a combination of both factors.
The moral of the story? Make sure your stamps, especially your mint stamps, are always kept in a cool, dry place. And if you collect stamps from the countries and time period where toning is becoming a problem, consider collecting only used stamps.
Problems with Gum Toning:
Some stamp collectors have been encountering problems with toning of the gum on some of their mint stamps. Toning is a condition where the gum darkens or becomes discolored and is usually caused by excess heat or humidity, or by acid paper. The stamps of some countries have always been a little prone to gum toning, which is sometimes called tropicalization. Those countries include Italy, France and the French Colonies, Portuguese Colonies, and several African countries. Many of the stamps will tropical gum (toned gum) are from the period between World War I and World War II, and as the stamps from that period age over time, the problem may affect more and more of them.
Reports from stamp collectors that are experiencing gum toning seem to indicate that the problem mostly occurs with stamp collections that have been stored undisturbed (i.e., left alone) for long periods of time in hot and/or humid locations. The toning may be the result of excess or long-term heat and humidity, from the stamps being printed (possibly) on acid paper, or a combination of both factors.
The moral of the story? Make sure your stamps, especially your mint stamps, are always kept in a cool, dry place. And if you collect stamps from the countries and time period where toning is becoming a problem, consider collecting only used stamps.
Legendary Stamp Collectors - Freddie Mercury (of all people!)
Who would ever have guessed that the late Freddie Mercury, lead singer of the famous British rock group Queen, was a stamp collector?
His interest in philately began when he was still a young boy in India, long before he changed his name from Farrokh Bulsara to Freddie Mercury. Freddie, whose parents were both Indian, was born in Zanzibar. His father, who worked in the British Colonial Office, collected British Commonwealth stamps and inspired his son to follow in his stamp collecting footsteps.
Rather than trying to acquire valuable stamps, Freddie chose each of the stamps in his collection based on their design and color - in other words, based on whether they were pleasant to the eye. He carefully placed them in his stamp album in beautiful arrangements. By the time of his death in 1991, his stamp collection was substantial although not of great value in and of itself. After his death his father sold his own and Freddie's stamp collections to raise money for an AIDS charity, the Mercury Phoenix Trust.
Who would ever have guessed that the late Freddie Mercury, lead singer of the famous British rock group Queen, was a stamp collector?
His interest in philately began when he was still a young boy in India, long before he changed his name from Farrokh Bulsara to Freddie Mercury. Freddie, whose parents were both Indian, was born in Zanzibar. His father, who worked in the British Colonial Office, collected British Commonwealth stamps and inspired his son to follow in his stamp collecting footsteps.
Rather than trying to acquire valuable stamps, Freddie chose each of the stamps in his collection based on their design and color - in other words, based on whether they were pleasant to the eye. He carefully placed them in his stamp album in beautiful arrangements. By the time of his death in 1991, his stamp collection was substantial although not of great value in and of itself. After his death his father sold his own and Freddie's stamp collections to raise money for an AIDS charity, the Mercury Phoenix Trust.
Acid-Free Paper in Stamp Album Pages
Acid-free paper used for stamp album pages. It's something no one in "the good old days" ever concerned themselves with, or even thought about. But most, if not all, commercial stamp album publishers emphasize the necessity of the acid-free paper they use.
Is acid-free paper really needed in stamp albums? Like many things in life, it all depends. It doesn't really matter for most stamp collections unless they're stored in hot, humid locations with very little air circulation. The grandchildren who inherit your stamp collection may notice some darkening on the edges of the pages if you use acid paper, but you'll be long gone before anything bad happens, as long as your collection is properly stored in an appropriate location.
Although damage from acid paper is possible if you store your stamp collection in a hot and humid attic or for long periods of time in a tropical climate without air conditioning, proper storage can usually prevent it. Store your stamp albums vertically (upright), not laying on their side. This allows them to "breathe," with air circulating among the pages. Don't keep your collection anywhere that's hot and humid, or you'll be taking a chance.
Acid-free paper used for stamp album pages. It's something no one in "the good old days" ever concerned themselves with, or even thought about. But most, if not all, commercial stamp album publishers emphasize the necessity of the acid-free paper they use.
Is acid-free paper really needed in stamp albums? Like many things in life, it all depends. It doesn't really matter for most stamp collections unless they're stored in hot, humid locations with very little air circulation. The grandchildren who inherit your stamp collection may notice some darkening on the edges of the pages if you use acid paper, but you'll be long gone before anything bad happens, as long as your collection is properly stored in an appropriate location.
Although damage from acid paper is possible if you store your stamp collection in a hot and humid attic or for long periods of time in a tropical climate without air conditioning, proper storage can usually prevent it. Store your stamp albums vertically (upright), not laying on their side. This allows them to "breathe," with air circulating among the pages. Don't keep your collection anywhere that's hot and humid, or you'll be taking a chance.
Friday, May 15, 2009
Stamp Albums & Glassine Interleaving
Glassine interleaving is large sheets of glassine material that have been cut to the proper size and then punched to fit into stamp albums. If you use a stamp album that has album pages printed to hold stamps on both sides, front and back, then interleaving is an almost essential stamp collecting tool, needed to protect your stamps. Although albums with two-sided pages are less expensive, they have one major drawback: if your stamp albums aren't stacked properly, opened and closed very carefully, or if the pages aren't turned very carefully, they can significantly contribute to damaging your stamps.
Here's how this can happen. If you stack your stamp albums on top of each other, or if you simply place one on a table laying flat (horizontally) every time you move an album its spine shifts a little bit, causing the pages to slide back and forth against each other. The stamps on those pages naturally slide back and forth too, and when there are stamps on facing pages, they can tangle up, causing perforation damage, creases and even torn stamps just by leafing through the album. It's even possible that some minor amounts of printing ink used on the stamps might rub off onto the facing stamps, potentially discoloring them. Glassine interleaving will prevent both of these problems.
Even if you store your stamp albums vertically - as you always should - stamps on facing pages can easily become tangled and damaged, just by virtue of opening and closing the album or by not being careful enough while turning its pages. Interleaving will help prevent this from happening too.
But many (perhaps most) stamp collectors don't use interleaving in their stamp albums, even if they have double-sided pages. Although interleaving definitely has its positive points, it has a bad side too. First of all, because interleaving involves adding additional pages, a fully-interleaved stamp album will be almost double the thickness and weight of the same album without interleaving. You'll need twice as many binders (which can be expensve), and you'll need twice as much room to store your collection. It also takes a lot of time to dis-assemble a stamp album and insert interleaving between every page. And glassine interleaving, although not terribly costly, is an additional expense. It also darkens with age, and after around 20 years it may well need to be replaced.
Before you decide to interleave or not, consider this information and what type of stamps you collect. If you only collect very inexpensive stamps interleaving probably isn't worth the bother or expense. But if you collect more expensive stamps, you may just want to consider either interleaving your double-sided stamp album or, alternatively, migrating your stamp collection to single-sided album pages, which don't need interleaving and just may, in the long run, be cheaper.
Glassine interleaving is large sheets of glassine material that have been cut to the proper size and then punched to fit into stamp albums. If you use a stamp album that has album pages printed to hold stamps on both sides, front and back, then interleaving is an almost essential stamp collecting tool, needed to protect your stamps. Although albums with two-sided pages are less expensive, they have one major drawback: if your stamp albums aren't stacked properly, opened and closed very carefully, or if the pages aren't turned very carefully, they can significantly contribute to damaging your stamps.
Here's how this can happen. If you stack your stamp albums on top of each other, or if you simply place one on a table laying flat (horizontally) every time you move an album its spine shifts a little bit, causing the pages to slide back and forth against each other. The stamps on those pages naturally slide back and forth too, and when there are stamps on facing pages, they can tangle up, causing perforation damage, creases and even torn stamps just by leafing through the album. It's even possible that some minor amounts of printing ink used on the stamps might rub off onto the facing stamps, potentially discoloring them. Glassine interleaving will prevent both of these problems.
Even if you store your stamp albums vertically - as you always should - stamps on facing pages can easily become tangled and damaged, just by virtue of opening and closing the album or by not being careful enough while turning its pages. Interleaving will help prevent this from happening too.
But many (perhaps most) stamp collectors don't use interleaving in their stamp albums, even if they have double-sided pages. Although interleaving definitely has its positive points, it has a bad side too. First of all, because interleaving involves adding additional pages, a fully-interleaved stamp album will be almost double the thickness and weight of the same album without interleaving. You'll need twice as many binders (which can be expensve), and you'll need twice as much room to store your collection. It also takes a lot of time to dis-assemble a stamp album and insert interleaving between every page. And glassine interleaving, although not terribly costly, is an additional expense. It also darkens with age, and after around 20 years it may well need to be replaced.
Before you decide to interleave or not, consider this information and what type of stamps you collect. If you only collect very inexpensive stamps interleaving probably isn't worth the bother or expense. But if you collect more expensive stamps, you may just want to consider either interleaving your double-sided stamp album or, alternatively, migrating your stamp collection to single-sided album pages, which don't need interleaving and just may, in the long run, be cheaper.
Thursday, May 14, 2009
Choosing the Best Stamp Album
All right. You've begun your stamp collection, accumulating stamps wherever you find them, and maybe even making a stamp purchase or two. But right now, all your stamps are in a shoebox. What's a new stamp collector to do?
It's true, a shoe box will provide storage. But it's not the safest way to store your stamps, and it's not exactly the way you'd like to display them, either. Shoeboxes hold a ton of stamps, but when you use a shoe box, you run the risk of damaging your stamps: creases, bent corners, perforation damage and the like are all too common in shoebox collections. Your stamps will lose value as well as much of their beauty. Stamp albums are the solution, providing safe storage as well as a beautiful way to present your stamp collection.
Many types of stamp albums are available. You can begin with a "beginner's stamp album," but you don't need to stick with it forever: if you and your stamp collection require it, you can graduate from a beginner album to a nicer, more comprehensive stamp album. Your beginner stamp album may even consist of homemade album pages in a spiral or three-ring binder, but we suggest one of the albums printed by commercial album publishers: the paper used for the album pages is heavier in weight and better able to support the stamps without ripping, tearing or becoming dog-eared.
If you're buying a commercially-made stamp album, don't be misled by claims that any particular stamp album is "the best:" what's best for you may be a lot different from what might be best for a very advanced stamp collector. Good but inexpensive beginner stamp albums are available; most feature stamp illustrations to show you where to mount the stamps, and some even provide additional information about the stamps.
Keep in mind, while selecting a stamp album, that some types may present problems. The most notable of these problems is caused by double-sided album pages, meaning albums where stamps are intended to be mounted on both sides of each page, front and back. When the album is closed, the stamps on the front of one page have a tendency to become tangled with the stamps on the back of the facing page, and they may even tear off the page when pages are turned or the book is opened or closed. It's best to buy a stamp album designed for stamps to only be mounted on one side of each page. But these can be more expensive, so you may be forced to use a doubled-sided album for your collection. If that's the case, invest in some good-quality interleaving or plastic sheet protectors: they'll prevent stamps from tangling.
Your stamp album should consist of quality, fairly heavyweight, acid-free paper: flimsy paper just will not stand up, and an album made of lightweight pages will end up not being a whole lot better than a shoebox. If you have a specialty stamp collection or you just don't like the way commercially-printed stamp albums look, you can make your own stamp album pages, but make sure you use acid-free paper to protect your stamps from discoloration caused by chemicals in the paper itself.
Choosing the best stamp album is an individual decision, and you're the only person who can decide which one is best for you. But think before you buy, don't jump at the first album you see. But don't be too concerned if you make the wrong decision or if you decide to "upgrade" later - you can always use your album for temporary storage or for storing your duplicate stamps. Any stamp album is better than a shoebox!
All right. You've begun your stamp collection, accumulating stamps wherever you find them, and maybe even making a stamp purchase or two. But right now, all your stamps are in a shoebox. What's a new stamp collector to do?
It's true, a shoe box will provide storage. But it's not the safest way to store your stamps, and it's not exactly the way you'd like to display them, either. Shoeboxes hold a ton of stamps, but when you use a shoe box, you run the risk of damaging your stamps: creases, bent corners, perforation damage and the like are all too common in shoebox collections. Your stamps will lose value as well as much of their beauty. Stamp albums are the solution, providing safe storage as well as a beautiful way to present your stamp collection.
Many types of stamp albums are available. You can begin with a "beginner's stamp album," but you don't need to stick with it forever: if you and your stamp collection require it, you can graduate from a beginner album to a nicer, more comprehensive stamp album. Your beginner stamp album may even consist of homemade album pages in a spiral or three-ring binder, but we suggest one of the albums printed by commercial album publishers: the paper used for the album pages is heavier in weight and better able to support the stamps without ripping, tearing or becoming dog-eared.
If you're buying a commercially-made stamp album, don't be misled by claims that any particular stamp album is "the best:" what's best for you may be a lot different from what might be best for a very advanced stamp collector. Good but inexpensive beginner stamp albums are available; most feature stamp illustrations to show you where to mount the stamps, and some even provide additional information about the stamps.
Keep in mind, while selecting a stamp album, that some types may present problems. The most notable of these problems is caused by double-sided album pages, meaning albums where stamps are intended to be mounted on both sides of each page, front and back. When the album is closed, the stamps on the front of one page have a tendency to become tangled with the stamps on the back of the facing page, and they may even tear off the page when pages are turned or the book is opened or closed. It's best to buy a stamp album designed for stamps to only be mounted on one side of each page. But these can be more expensive, so you may be forced to use a doubled-sided album for your collection. If that's the case, invest in some good-quality interleaving or plastic sheet protectors: they'll prevent stamps from tangling.
Your stamp album should consist of quality, fairly heavyweight, acid-free paper: flimsy paper just will not stand up, and an album made of lightweight pages will end up not being a whole lot better than a shoebox. If you have a specialty stamp collection or you just don't like the way commercially-printed stamp albums look, you can make your own stamp album pages, but make sure you use acid-free paper to protect your stamps from discoloration caused by chemicals in the paper itself.
Choosing the best stamp album is an individual decision, and you're the only person who can decide which one is best for you. But think before you buy, don't jump at the first album you see. But don't be too concerned if you make the wrong decision or if you decide to "upgrade" later - you can always use your album for temporary storage or for storing your duplicate stamps. Any stamp album is better than a shoebox!
Wednesday, May 13, 2009
Low-Cost Stamp Collecting
If you're a beginning stamp collector or even just considering starting a stamp collection, you might be worried about whether the stamp collecting hobby is too expensive for you. And since you're just beginning, you may not even be sure whether it will appeal to you. So ease into stamp collecting gently and cheaply. If you decide you like it, there'll be plenty of time for you later to add to your collection by purchasing expensive stamps if your budget permits.
Surprisingly, stamp collecting is a hobby you can pursue with any kind of budget, from only a buck or two a month up to millions of dollars spent in one purchase. But even if you don't have any extra money at all, you can still collect stamps.
Used stamps can be just as collectible - and in many cases more so - than mint, unused stamps. And used stamps offer more challenge, too. Assuming you have the financial resources, you can pretty much buy whichever mint stamps you want, either from your local post office, a country's postal administration or a stamp dealer. Finding postally used stamps within your budget is a bit more challenging, and as a result, a bit more satisfying, at least for me. More challenging because you won't be able to buy a single used stamp at any post office or through any postal administration in the world. And many stamp dealers only offer expensive used stamps. Good luck finding the more common, relatively cheap used stamps at a stamp shop - for almost all stamp dealers (with one exception) they're just not worth the bother. You might be able to find them in a stamp mixture, but with one exception, you won't be able to buy specific, individual, inexpensive used stamps. The Stamp People, which sells even inexpensive individual used stamps and sets, is an exception to that rule.
Not all stamp collections contain just mint stamps. Some of the finest stamp collections in the world feature used stamps. Used stamps also have value, and they may cost you nothing or next to nothing. Many stamp collectors focus their collections on used stamps.
Here are eight ways to inexpensively begin or continue a stamp collection:
Save the stamps you receive on your mail. They come at no cost to you. If your friends and relatives send you too much mail using common definitive stamps, just ask them to use different stamps - hopefully commemorative stamps - on the mail they send you. It won't cost them anything extra, and it will greatly increase the variety of free stamps you receive.
You can also ask your friends, relatives and neighbors to accumulate the stamps they get on their mail and then give them to you. Most people just throw them away and they'll be happy to do you a favor.
If you know someone who works in a business, they may be willing to save the stamped corners of incoming mail envelopes for you.
If you know any stamp collectors, they may have thousands of duplicates. They may be willing to part with them, either for free or for a very low price. Established collectors are frequently happy to help new stamp collectors this way - it helps the ongoing future of the hobby. They may (or may not) also be willing to divulge information about the sources of their stamps.
Approval companies frequently advertise free stamps and even free stamp catalogs, but these are almost always accompanied by stamp approvals, the subject of an earlier post here. When this happens you'll receive the free stamps that were advertised, but you'll also get another assortment of stamps which you may either purchase or return, sometimes at your expense. Read the fine print on the offer so you know what will be required if you order.
Join a stamp club in your area. The members may have inexpensive stamps you can afford, and they're a great source of information too.
Trade your duplicate stamps for other stamps that you don't have. Trading can be done with your buddies in person, or it can be done through the mail. If you leaf through stamp magazines, you'll probably see a number of ads from people who want to trade stamps of their country for stamps of your country.
Ask your friends and relatives to give you stamps, stamp albums and other stamp collecting accessories as your birthday and Christmas or Hannukah presents.
Those are my eight ways to inexpensively collect stamps. But if you think about it, there may be more.
If you're a beginning stamp collector or even just considering starting a stamp collection, you might be worried about whether the stamp collecting hobby is too expensive for you. And since you're just beginning, you may not even be sure whether it will appeal to you. So ease into stamp collecting gently and cheaply. If you decide you like it, there'll be plenty of time for you later to add to your collection by purchasing expensive stamps if your budget permits.
Surprisingly, stamp collecting is a hobby you can pursue with any kind of budget, from only a buck or two a month up to millions of dollars spent in one purchase. But even if you don't have any extra money at all, you can still collect stamps.
Used stamps can be just as collectible - and in many cases more so - than mint, unused stamps. And used stamps offer more challenge, too. Assuming you have the financial resources, you can pretty much buy whichever mint stamps you want, either from your local post office, a country's postal administration or a stamp dealer. Finding postally used stamps within your budget is a bit more challenging, and as a result, a bit more satisfying, at least for me. More challenging because you won't be able to buy a single used stamp at any post office or through any postal administration in the world. And many stamp dealers only offer expensive used stamps. Good luck finding the more common, relatively cheap used stamps at a stamp shop - for almost all stamp dealers (with one exception) they're just not worth the bother. You might be able to find them in a stamp mixture, but with one exception, you won't be able to buy specific, individual, inexpensive used stamps. The Stamp People, which sells even inexpensive individual used stamps and sets, is an exception to that rule.
Not all stamp collections contain just mint stamps. Some of the finest stamp collections in the world feature used stamps. Used stamps also have value, and they may cost you nothing or next to nothing. Many stamp collectors focus their collections on used stamps.
Here are eight ways to inexpensively begin or continue a stamp collection:
Save the stamps you receive on your mail. They come at no cost to you. If your friends and relatives send you too much mail using common definitive stamps, just ask them to use different stamps - hopefully commemorative stamps - on the mail they send you. It won't cost them anything extra, and it will greatly increase the variety of free stamps you receive.
You can also ask your friends, relatives and neighbors to accumulate the stamps they get on their mail and then give them to you. Most people just throw them away and they'll be happy to do you a favor.
If you know someone who works in a business, they may be willing to save the stamped corners of incoming mail envelopes for you.
If you know any stamp collectors, they may have thousands of duplicates. They may be willing to part with them, either for free or for a very low price. Established collectors are frequently happy to help new stamp collectors this way - it helps the ongoing future of the hobby. They may (or may not) also be willing to divulge information about the sources of their stamps.
Approval companies frequently advertise free stamps and even free stamp catalogs, but these are almost always accompanied by stamp approvals, the subject of an earlier post here. When this happens you'll receive the free stamps that were advertised, but you'll also get another assortment of stamps which you may either purchase or return, sometimes at your expense. Read the fine print on the offer so you know what will be required if you order.
Join a stamp club in your area. The members may have inexpensive stamps you can afford, and they're a great source of information too.
Trade your duplicate stamps for other stamps that you don't have. Trading can be done with your buddies in person, or it can be done through the mail. If you leaf through stamp magazines, you'll probably see a number of ads from people who want to trade stamps of their country for stamps of your country.
Ask your friends and relatives to give you stamps, stamp albums and other stamp collecting accessories as your birthday and Christmas or Hannukah presents.
Those are my eight ways to inexpensively collect stamps. But if you think about it, there may be more.
Tuesday, May 12, 2009
Nicknames of Some Famous Stamps
Some stamps are so well-known or so beloved that they've been given nicknames over the course of time. Here are just a few of them. There are many more.
Some stamps are so well-known or so beloved that they've been given nicknames over the course of time. Here are just a few of them. There are many more.
- "Baby Zeppelin" or "Baby Zep," the US 50¢ green Graf Zeppelin airmail stamp, US Scott # C18
- "Basel Dove," the first issue of Basel (in 1845), a canton of Switzerland, picturing a dove
- "Beaver" or Beavers, early issues of Canada (1851-1859) that of course picture a beaver
- "Black Jack" or Blackjack, the early 2 cent US issues picturing Andrew Jackson (there are several of them)
- "Cape Triangle," the triangular-shaped 1853-1864 issues of the Cape of Good Hope
- "Chalon Head," one of the many stamps of British Empire countries picturing a specific portrait of Queen Victoria. Named after
- the portrait's artist Alfred Chalon. Canada, the Bahamas, Grenada, Natal, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island,
- Queensland, Tasmania, and perhaps most famously, New Zealand all produced Chalon Heads
- "Hawaiian Missionaries," the first issues of Hawaii in 1851-1852
- "Hermes Heads," the 1861-1882 Greece stamps picturing the Greek god Hermes
- "Inverted Jenny," US Scott C3a. This 1918 airmail stamp features an airplane that was unintentionlly-printed upside-down. One
- of the most prized errors in philately
- "Penny Black," the 1840 1 penny black issue of Great Britain. Considered to be the first adhesive postage stamp
- "Penny Red," the 1841 1 penny red issue of Great Britain. Similar in appearance to the Penny Black but a different color.
- "Posthorns," Norway's long-running series of stamps picturing a post horn
- "Saint Louis Bears," 1846 postmaster provisional stamps issued by the Saint Louis, Missouri US postmaster picturing three bears
- "Treskilling Yellow," Sweden's famous, unique three Skilling Banco color error
Buying Stamps at Wholesale Prices - Stamp Kiloware and Stamp Mixtures
When I first began collecting stamps I bought all of my stamps in low-priced mixtures. Either on-paper kiloware or off-paper stamp mixes, I didn't care which. Most of the time, those stamp mixtures I bought as a kid didn't have much in them that had any significant value, but I always hoped that there might be a nice find or two. And even when all the stamps in a particular mixture were pretty common (which didn't always happen, sometimes I did find some nice stamps worth a few bucks each), they sure did fill in a lot of holes in my stamp collection.
Filling in the "missing links" in a stamp collection is one of the main purposes of buying wholesale-priced kiloware and stamp mixtures. Sometimes those pesky holes are very common stamps that should be very easy to find, but just aren't. And sometimes you'll find nicer stamps even in a low-priced mixture: one or two of these can more than pay for the whole bunch.
If you collect used US or used foreign stamps, there's no cheaper alternative than buying stamp mixtures. Generally you'll get better mixtures when you pay more per ounce, but even high-priced mixtures are far cheaper than buying stamps individually.
Compare the mixtures you receive from different dealers - good stamp dealers will provide good quality and a lot of variety at a reasonable price. There are stamp mixtures being offered today that have good stamps in them, so shop around. When you find a stamp dealer that sells mixtures that you like, buy more from that dealer.
When I first began collecting stamps I bought all of my stamps in low-priced mixtures. Either on-paper kiloware or off-paper stamp mixes, I didn't care which. Most of the time, those stamp mixtures I bought as a kid didn't have much in them that had any significant value, but I always hoped that there might be a nice find or two. And even when all the stamps in a particular mixture were pretty common (which didn't always happen, sometimes I did find some nice stamps worth a few bucks each), they sure did fill in a lot of holes in my stamp collection.
Filling in the "missing links" in a stamp collection is one of the main purposes of buying wholesale-priced kiloware and stamp mixtures. Sometimes those pesky holes are very common stamps that should be very easy to find, but just aren't. And sometimes you'll find nicer stamps even in a low-priced mixture: one or two of these can more than pay for the whole bunch.
If you collect used US or used foreign stamps, there's no cheaper alternative than buying stamp mixtures. Generally you'll get better mixtures when you pay more per ounce, but even high-priced mixtures are far cheaper than buying stamps individually.
Compare the mixtures you receive from different dealers - good stamp dealers will provide good quality and a lot of variety at a reasonable price. There are stamp mixtures being offered today that have good stamps in them, so shop around. When you find a stamp dealer that sells mixtures that you like, buy more from that dealer.
Monday, May 11, 2009
Stamp Mystery Boxes - Days of Fun
Sometimes called stamp mystery lots, stamp box lots or stamp boxes, stamp mystery boxes delight stamp collectors throughout the world. Usually fairly inexpensive (sometimes very inexpensive), they provide a great deal of entertainment to collectors because their exact composition is unknown when they're purchased.
You never know what you'll get in a stamp mystery box, but that's their attraction. Often the stamp dealer who sells a mystery box to you won't know what's in it either - stamps and stamp-related material such as covers and souvenir sheets are tossed into a box until it's judged by the dealer to be the right size for what is paid for it, without regard for the value of its contents. This means that a stamp mystery box may contain material that's all pretty common, or it may contain some material that has a fairly high value. You never know.
Stamp forums are full of tales about collectors finding a very valuable stamp in a mystery box. I have no doubt that this does happen sometimes, because I began my stamp collection (many years ago) by buying mystery boxes and wholesale stamp lots. And I always found at least a few really nice stamps in them, as well as plenty of more common stamps to fill holes in my collection.
Generally available in a variety of prices, stamp mystery boxes provide hours of fun, and sometimes some great finds, for stamp collectors around the world. Visit The Stamp People to order a stamp mystery box in a size of your choice, and get days of delightful enjoyment in return.
Sometimes called stamp mystery lots, stamp box lots or stamp boxes, stamp mystery boxes delight stamp collectors throughout the world. Usually fairly inexpensive (sometimes very inexpensive), they provide a great deal of entertainment to collectors because their exact composition is unknown when they're purchased.
You never know what you'll get in a stamp mystery box, but that's their attraction. Often the stamp dealer who sells a mystery box to you won't know what's in it either - stamps and stamp-related material such as covers and souvenir sheets are tossed into a box until it's judged by the dealer to be the right size for what is paid for it, without regard for the value of its contents. This means that a stamp mystery box may contain material that's all pretty common, or it may contain some material that has a fairly high value. You never know.
Stamp forums are full of tales about collectors finding a very valuable stamp in a mystery box. I have no doubt that this does happen sometimes, because I began my stamp collection (many years ago) by buying mystery boxes and wholesale stamp lots. And I always found at least a few really nice stamps in them, as well as plenty of more common stamps to fill holes in my collection.
Generally available in a variety of prices, stamp mystery boxes provide hours of fun, and sometimes some great finds, for stamp collectors around the world. Visit The Stamp People to order a stamp mystery box in a size of your choice, and get days of delightful enjoyment in return.
Stamp Watermarks
Watermarks are images or patterns in stamp paper that look like various shades of lightness and darkness when seen. They are caused by variations in the thickness of the paper. Watermarks vary greatly in their visibility: some are very easily seen just by turning the stamp over or by holding it up to a light, while others are much more difficult to detect.
Because they can be hard to see, various tools to detect watermarks have been developed. Watermark fluid, which wets the stamp paper without damaging it or the stamp's gum, is the most commonly used tool. A variety of small light filters and other types of small tools are also used.
A watermark can be a key feature in identifying a stamp. Often the presence or absence of a watermark, or a specific watermark design, makes the difference between a rare, valuable stamp and a common stamp. Although stamps are generally not printed on watermarked paper now, watermarked stamp paper was in common use by much of the world during the 19th and early 20th centuries.
As a result, a stamp collector's ability to detect and identify stamp watermarks can make all the difference in the quality and value of his or her stamp collection.
Watermarks are images or patterns in stamp paper that look like various shades of lightness and darkness when seen. They are caused by variations in the thickness of the paper. Watermarks vary greatly in their visibility: some are very easily seen just by turning the stamp over or by holding it up to a light, while others are much more difficult to detect.
Because they can be hard to see, various tools to detect watermarks have been developed. Watermark fluid, which wets the stamp paper without damaging it or the stamp's gum, is the most commonly used tool. A variety of small light filters and other types of small tools are also used.
A watermark can be a key feature in identifying a stamp. Often the presence or absence of a watermark, or a specific watermark design, makes the difference between a rare, valuable stamp and a common stamp. Although stamps are generally not printed on watermarked paper now, watermarked stamp paper was in common use by much of the world during the 19th and early 20th centuries.
As a result, a stamp collector's ability to detect and identify stamp watermarks can make all the difference in the quality and value of his or her stamp collection.
Philately and Stamp Collecting
Philately is the study of postage stamps and revenue stamps, including their design, printing method, paper types, gum types and method of separation (perforations, rouletting or cutting). Let me emphasize: philatelists study stamps. Some philatelists are also stamp collectors, but others are not. For example, some philatelists study rare stamps without ever expecting to own them, either because they're expensive or because there just aren't enough copies in existence. In contrast, the goal of stamp collectors is the acquisition of stamps, not necessarily to study them.
Philately - the study of stamps - reveals that a pile of stamps that all appear to be the same may actually include stamps with different paper types or different watermarks, as well as stamps with perforation varieties and different shades of color. Stamp varieties may be intentional or accidental. And many stamp forgeries have been produced since postage stamps were first introduced in 1840: some forgeries are very good and only detectable by a serious philatelist.
Philately is the study of postage stamps and revenue stamps, including their design, printing method, paper types, gum types and method of separation (perforations, rouletting or cutting). Let me emphasize: philatelists study stamps. Some philatelists are also stamp collectors, but others are not. For example, some philatelists study rare stamps without ever expecting to own them, either because they're expensive or because there just aren't enough copies in existence. In contrast, the goal of stamp collectors is the acquisition of stamps, not necessarily to study them.
Philately - the study of stamps - reveals that a pile of stamps that all appear to be the same may actually include stamps with different paper types or different watermarks, as well as stamps with perforation varieties and different shades of color. Stamp varieties may be intentional or accidental. And many stamp forgeries have been produced since postage stamps were first introduced in 1840: some forgeries are very good and only detectable by a serious philatelist.
Sunday, May 10, 2009
Fast Facts About Stamps:
The 1993 Elvis stamp is the most popular US commemorative stamp ever printed, with an estimated 124.1 million collected. That's more than 124 million!
The same stamp is also the subject of many inquiries from would-be stamp sellers: "I have an Elvis stamp and I want to know how much it's worth...."
Sadly, with more than 124 million of them already in collector's hands, it's not worth much. If you have an unused Elvis stamp, use it on your mail (you'll have to add additional postage) because it will at least be worth its face value then. If you have a used Elvis stamp, it's only worth a penny or two.
The 1993 Elvis stamp is the most popular US commemorative stamp ever printed, with an estimated 124.1 million collected. That's more than 124 million!
The same stamp is also the subject of many inquiries from would-be stamp sellers: "I have an Elvis stamp and I want to know how much it's worth...."
Sadly, with more than 124 million of them already in collector's hands, it's not worth much. If you have an unused Elvis stamp, use it on your mail (you'll have to add additional postage) because it will at least be worth its face value then. If you have a used Elvis stamp, it's only worth a penny or two.
Saturday, May 09, 2009
A Beginning Collector's Guide to Buying Stamps
Stamps are sold to stamp collectors in several ways. All stamp dealers (at least in our 40-year experience!) sell individual stamps and stamp sets at a fixed price. But there are other ways to buy stamps for your collection.
Stamp Approvals:
Some stamp dealers (by no means all) will send you a selection of stamps in the mail. You pick the stamps you'd like to keep and then return the stamps you don't want along with your payment. Approval prices tend to be higher than what the stamps are actually worth, but buying stamps this way is convenient since you don't have to leave your home. You'll get a specified number of days to look over the stamps before you have to return them, sometimes up to three or four weeks. Approval companies have different policies for the number of days you'll have to decide which stamps to keep and which to send back, and also on which party (you or the approval company) pays for return postage.
Stamp Packets:
A "stamp packet" is a grouping of stamps which are all different, something like a miniature stamp collection. Stamp packets are usually filled with less expensive stamps, but if you want to fill spaces in an album and see a good variety of stamps, packets are hard to beat. Good stamp packets have good variety in their stamps: definitives and commemoratives, new and old issues, and few if any damaged stamps.
Stamp Mixtures:
Stamp mixtures are sometimes called "kiloware," although many stamp dealers reserve that term for on-paper stamp mixtures. Stamp mixtures are usually sold by weight -- per ounce or per pound, but it's possible to find stamp mixtures sold by the number of stamps that are included (such as 500 commemorative stamps). Most stamp mixtures are "on paper," meaning the stamps are still attached to pieces of the envelopes they were mailed on. You will have to soak these stamps off the paper, which can take some time but is quite an enjoyable, relaxing process. Stamp mixtures contain duplicates, sometimes hundreds of each type of stamp, but the better stamp mixtures only include one or only a few of each stamp. Stamp mixtures have several benefits, including an extremely low cost per stamp, a wide variety of postmarks, the presence of at least some very recent stamps, and duplicates that you can either trade with your buddies or sell. Without a doubt, stamp mixtures are the cheapest way to buy stamps for your collection.
Some stamp mixtures are sold already "off paper" and don't require soaking. These are more expensive than on-paper stamp mixtures, but since the stamps don't need to be soaked, they can be a timesaver. A pound of stamps off paper can have up to 6000 to 8000 stamps, depending on how many large stamps and how many smaller stamps are in the mix.
On paper stamp mixtures can run from between 100 to 150 or more per ounce, with the number of stamps varying with how much paper is still present and also the size of the stamps. Off paper stamp mixes contain between 200 and 600 or so stamps, also varying with the size of the stamps that are included (how many small and how many large: the more large stamps, the fewer will naturally be included in an ounce because larger stamps weigh more).
Stamp Auctions:
Stamp auction houses sell stamps, often just the most expensive stamps as the auction houses often use heavily illustrated and expensive catalogs. Some auction houses also sell entire stamp collections and wholesale stamp box lots. Be careful, though, because many auction houses add a 10% or even higher buyer's fee to the price you pay.
Stamps are sold to stamp collectors in several ways. All stamp dealers (at least in our 40-year experience!) sell individual stamps and stamp sets at a fixed price. But there are other ways to buy stamps for your collection.
Stamp Approvals:
Some stamp dealers (by no means all) will send you a selection of stamps in the mail. You pick the stamps you'd like to keep and then return the stamps you don't want along with your payment. Approval prices tend to be higher than what the stamps are actually worth, but buying stamps this way is convenient since you don't have to leave your home. You'll get a specified number of days to look over the stamps before you have to return them, sometimes up to three or four weeks. Approval companies have different policies for the number of days you'll have to decide which stamps to keep and which to send back, and also on which party (you or the approval company) pays for return postage.
Stamp Packets:
A "stamp packet" is a grouping of stamps which are all different, something like a miniature stamp collection. Stamp packets are usually filled with less expensive stamps, but if you want to fill spaces in an album and see a good variety of stamps, packets are hard to beat. Good stamp packets have good variety in their stamps: definitives and commemoratives, new and old issues, and few if any damaged stamps.
Stamp Mixtures:
Stamp mixtures are sometimes called "kiloware," although many stamp dealers reserve that term for on-paper stamp mixtures. Stamp mixtures are usually sold by weight -- per ounce or per pound, but it's possible to find stamp mixtures sold by the number of stamps that are included (such as 500 commemorative stamps). Most stamp mixtures are "on paper," meaning the stamps are still attached to pieces of the envelopes they were mailed on. You will have to soak these stamps off the paper, which can take some time but is quite an enjoyable, relaxing process. Stamp mixtures contain duplicates, sometimes hundreds of each type of stamp, but the better stamp mixtures only include one or only a few of each stamp. Stamp mixtures have several benefits, including an extremely low cost per stamp, a wide variety of postmarks, the presence of at least some very recent stamps, and duplicates that you can either trade with your buddies or sell. Without a doubt, stamp mixtures are the cheapest way to buy stamps for your collection.
Some stamp mixtures are sold already "off paper" and don't require soaking. These are more expensive than on-paper stamp mixtures, but since the stamps don't need to be soaked, they can be a timesaver. A pound of stamps off paper can have up to 6000 to 8000 stamps, depending on how many large stamps and how many smaller stamps are in the mix.
On paper stamp mixtures can run from between 100 to 150 or more per ounce, with the number of stamps varying with how much paper is still present and also the size of the stamps. Off paper stamp mixes contain between 200 and 600 or so stamps, also varying with the size of the stamps that are included (how many small and how many large: the more large stamps, the fewer will naturally be included in an ounce because larger stamps weigh more).
Stamp Auctions:
Stamp auction houses sell stamps, often just the most expensive stamps as the auction houses often use heavily illustrated and expensive catalogs. Some auction houses also sell entire stamp collections and wholesale stamp box lots. Be careful, though, because many auction houses add a 10% or even higher buyer's fee to the price you pay.
Friday, May 08, 2009
Last Few Days to Buy Forever Stamps For 42 Cents
May 10 (which is a Sunday) will be the last day United States postal customers can purchase the US Forever Stamp for 42 cents. The next day, May 11, the cost for first-class, one ounce postage increases by 4.76% (two cents) to 44 cents. But don't despair: if you've read our previous blog entries about the Forever Stamp, you know that the Forever Stamp can be used to mail a one-ounce letter regardless of the current price of a First-class mail stamp, and regardless of the original price you paid for the Forever Stamp.
On the same day, May 11, the United States Postal Service is introducing Forever Stamp envelopes. Postal customers looking to beat the price changes can order the envelopes by telephoning 1-800-STAMP-24.
Forever Stamps are available online at www.usps.com, by phone at 1-800-STAMP-24, and at many grocery stores, pharmacies, convenience stores and banks.
As stamp collectors and dealers, we hate the Forever Stamps. But as mailers, we love them.
May 10 (which is a Sunday) will be the last day United States postal customers can purchase the US Forever Stamp for 42 cents. The next day, May 11, the cost for first-class, one ounce postage increases by 4.76% (two cents) to 44 cents. But don't despair: if you've read our previous blog entries about the Forever Stamp, you know that the Forever Stamp can be used to mail a one-ounce letter regardless of the current price of a First-class mail stamp, and regardless of the original price you paid for the Forever Stamp.
On the same day, May 11, the United States Postal Service is introducing Forever Stamp envelopes. Postal customers looking to beat the price changes can order the envelopes by telephoning 1-800-STAMP-24.
Forever Stamps are available online at www.usps.com, by phone at 1-800-STAMP-24, and at many grocery stores, pharmacies, convenience stores and banks.
As stamp collectors and dealers, we hate the Forever Stamps. But as mailers, we love them.
Cinderella Stamps - Not A Fairy Tale, But A Collecting Specialty
Cinderella stamps are collectible items that are stamp-like adhesive labels, not usable for postage. Because there is no adhesive involved, and because they do pre-pay postal fees, the imprinted postage on postal stationery is not considered to be cinderella in nature.
Cinderella stamps usually resemble regular postage stamps, but they usually do not bear a denomination or a country's name, although sometimes a fictitious country's name or denomination may be present (for example, the Lundy stamps that bear a denomination in "puffins"). In some cases the name of the organization or cause being promoted or publicized is printed on Cinderellas.
Cinderellas are often collected in the same way as postage stamps. Many are common, but others were produced in very limited numbers and are quite scarce. Cinderellas are not normally included in stamp catalogs, although Scott's Specialized Catalog of U.S. Stamps and Covers does include Christmas Seals in a separate section.
Some of the Types of Cinderella Stamps
There are many different types of cinderellas, none of which have anything to do with the famous fairy tale. An incomplete list of cinderella stamps includes advertising poster stamps, local stamps and stamps issued by pseudo-countries that are not recognized in the postal and political world, court fee stamps, propaganda labels, Christmas Seals, Easter Seals and other charity labels, most telegraph stamps and decorative labels. Revenue stamps, although not used to pay postage charges, are generally not considered to be cinderella stamps.
More Detail on a Couple of Types of Cinderellas
Local stamps
Local stamps began to be printed soon after the invention of the adhesive postage stamps. Seen in many countries, many local stamps performed postal functions where the national postal service was lacking for some reason. But other local stamps are essentially nothing more than decorative labels. One example of a local carriage stamp that truly was used for postal purposes: the well-known Rattlesnake Island (Ohio) stamps, used because postal service wasn't available from the island to the mainland.
Other examples include the many offshore islands in the United Kingdom that issue local carriage labels. In some cases, these local stamps have a genuine use, paying for transport of the mail to the mainland by ferry; the regular British postal service - Royal Mail - takes over the delivery of such mail once it reaches the mainland. Other local stamps were (and are) produced simply to sell to collectors and tourists. Usually they are placed on the back of the envelope, with a conventional stamp on the front to pay for onward delivery by the official postal service. Islands for which such labels have been issued include the Summer Isles, Lundy, Staffa and the Calf of Man.
Political and propaganda stamps
Stamps issued by the various countries of the world often feature patriotic themes. Propaganda stamps differ in that they are unofficial stamps produced solely to promote or publicize a particular political agenda or ideology, or to create confusion or bad morale among the country's enemies.
Some stamps have been issued by breakaway governments or governments in exile, in both cases to give those governments a greater sense of greater legitimacy in the public's eye. But these stamps have no postal validity and must be considered to be Cinderella stamps.
Cinderellas are fascinating creatures to collect. Most are inexpensive and provide a lot of fun, but some are quite serious in their message. Give cinderella stamps a shot.
Cinderella stamps are collectible items that are stamp-like adhesive labels, not usable for postage. Because there is no adhesive involved, and because they do pre-pay postal fees, the imprinted postage on postal stationery is not considered to be cinderella in nature.
Cinderella stamps usually resemble regular postage stamps, but they usually do not bear a denomination or a country's name, although sometimes a fictitious country's name or denomination may be present (for example, the Lundy stamps that bear a denomination in "puffins"). In some cases the name of the organization or cause being promoted or publicized is printed on Cinderellas.
Cinderellas are often collected in the same way as postage stamps. Many are common, but others were produced in very limited numbers and are quite scarce. Cinderellas are not normally included in stamp catalogs, although Scott's Specialized Catalog of U.S. Stamps and Covers does include Christmas Seals in a separate section.
Some of the Types of Cinderella Stamps
There are many different types of cinderellas, none of which have anything to do with the famous fairy tale. An incomplete list of cinderella stamps includes advertising poster stamps, local stamps and stamps issued by pseudo-countries that are not recognized in the postal and political world, court fee stamps, propaganda labels, Christmas Seals, Easter Seals and other charity labels, most telegraph stamps and decorative labels. Revenue stamps, although not used to pay postage charges, are generally not considered to be cinderella stamps.
More Detail on a Couple of Types of Cinderellas
Local stamps
Local stamps began to be printed soon after the invention of the adhesive postage stamps. Seen in many countries, many local stamps performed postal functions where the national postal service was lacking for some reason. But other local stamps are essentially nothing more than decorative labels. One example of a local carriage stamp that truly was used for postal purposes: the well-known Rattlesnake Island (Ohio) stamps, used because postal service wasn't available from the island to the mainland.
Other examples include the many offshore islands in the United Kingdom that issue local carriage labels. In some cases, these local stamps have a genuine use, paying for transport of the mail to the mainland by ferry; the regular British postal service - Royal Mail - takes over the delivery of such mail once it reaches the mainland. Other local stamps were (and are) produced simply to sell to collectors and tourists. Usually they are placed on the back of the envelope, with a conventional stamp on the front to pay for onward delivery by the official postal service. Islands for which such labels have been issued include the Summer Isles, Lundy, Staffa and the Calf of Man.
Political and propaganda stamps
Stamps issued by the various countries of the world often feature patriotic themes. Propaganda stamps differ in that they are unofficial stamps produced solely to promote or publicize a particular political agenda or ideology, or to create confusion or bad morale among the country's enemies.
Some stamps have been issued by breakaway governments or governments in exile, in both cases to give those governments a greater sense of greater legitimacy in the public's eye. But these stamps have no postal validity and must be considered to be Cinderella stamps.
Cinderellas are fascinating creatures to collect. Most are inexpensive and provide a lot of fun, but some are quite serious in their message. Give cinderella stamps a shot.
US Postal Service Reports Huge $1.9 Billion Second Quarter 2009 Loss
The U.S. Postal Service reported that despite actions to reduce its costs and increase its revenue, it sustained a net loss of $1.9 billion during the second quarter (January 1 - March 31 2009).
The economic recession, as well as other factors such as electronic alternatives to letter mail (alternatives such as e-mail, instant messaging, texting and the like), continue to reduce mail volume and revenues generated by the U.S.P.S., and it is likely the U.S.P.S. will face a huge cash shortfall at the end of its fiscal year.
A significant amount of the Postal Service losses can be attributed to an unprecedented downturn in mail volume, which declined 14.7 % when compared to the same period a year ago.
The U.S.P.S. has suffered net losses from operations in 10 of the last 11 fiscal quarters, so the second-quarter 2009 loss is not a surprise. But this quarter's loss is several orders of magnitude larger than its losses in the past.
The U.S. Postal Service reported that despite actions to reduce its costs and increase its revenue, it sustained a net loss of $1.9 billion during the second quarter (January 1 - March 31 2009).
The economic recession, as well as other factors such as electronic alternatives to letter mail (alternatives such as e-mail, instant messaging, texting and the like), continue to reduce mail volume and revenues generated by the U.S.P.S., and it is likely the U.S.P.S. will face a huge cash shortfall at the end of its fiscal year.
A significant amount of the Postal Service losses can be attributed to an unprecedented downturn in mail volume, which declined 14.7 % when compared to the same period a year ago.
The U.S.P.S. has suffered net losses from operations in 10 of the last 11 fiscal quarters, so the second-quarter 2009 loss is not a surprise. But this quarter's loss is several orders of magnitude larger than its losses in the past.
Thursday, May 07, 2009
Stamp Catalogs - Essential Stamp Collecting Tools
Other than stamp tongs, stamp catalogs are probably a stamp collector's most essential tool. Catalogs help collectors identify their stamps and also give information on their value. And most stamp catalogs list and describe the stamp varieties and stamp errors that some stamp collectors take such pleasure in looking for.
Many different stamp catalogs are published throughout the world. Some are general catalogs, published in a set of several volumes, that cover the stamps of the world. Other stamp catalogs address the stamps of a single country. Naturally those catalogs generally provide more detailed information about that country's stamps than do the general catalogs.
There are many similarities among the general, worldwide stamp catalogs, although they may use different numbering systems and some are printed in different languages. What separates one from another is the level of detail provided, along with smaller considerations such as paper quality, color vs. black & white images, the type of binding (spiral-bound catalogs that lay flat are nice!), etc.
Many American stamp collectors rely on Scott catalogs and the Scott Specialized Catalog of U.S. Stamps & Covers is considered by most Americans to be the gold standard for catalogs describing US stamps. But there are many other catalog publishers.
Stanley Gibbons is the widely recognized expert for publishing catalogs of British and British Commonwealth stamps, although their catalogs cover the stamps of the entire world. Yvert et Tellier, Michel, Minkus, and H.E. Harris are other notable catalog publishers. And some postal authorities, including the U.S.P.S., also print stamp catalogs that identify and describe the stamps they issue.
Other than stamp tongs, stamp catalogs are probably a stamp collector's most essential tool. Catalogs help collectors identify their stamps and also give information on their value. And most stamp catalogs list and describe the stamp varieties and stamp errors that some stamp collectors take such pleasure in looking for.
Many different stamp catalogs are published throughout the world. Some are general catalogs, published in a set of several volumes, that cover the stamps of the world. Other stamp catalogs address the stamps of a single country. Naturally those catalogs generally provide more detailed information about that country's stamps than do the general catalogs.
There are many similarities among the general, worldwide stamp catalogs, although they may use different numbering systems and some are printed in different languages. What separates one from another is the level of detail provided, along with smaller considerations such as paper quality, color vs. black & white images, the type of binding (spiral-bound catalogs that lay flat are nice!), etc.
Many American stamp collectors rely on Scott catalogs and the Scott Specialized Catalog of U.S. Stamps & Covers is considered by most Americans to be the gold standard for catalogs describing US stamps. But there are many other catalog publishers.
Stanley Gibbons is the widely recognized expert for publishing catalogs of British and British Commonwealth stamps, although their catalogs cover the stamps of the entire world. Yvert et Tellier, Michel, Minkus, and H.E. Harris are other notable catalog publishers. And some postal authorities, including the U.S.P.S., also print stamp catalogs that identify and describe the stamps they issue.
"Stamp Out Hunger" Yearly Food Drive
Postcards that explain the annual "Stamp Out Hunger" food drive were delivered to homes throughout the United States earlier this week.
Sponsored by the U.S. Postal Service, the Campbell Soup Company, the National Association of Letter Carriers, Valpak, the AFL-CIO, Feeding America and the United Way, "Stamp Out Hunger" is the largest national food drive in the country.
Those wishing to donate food to the food drive are being asked to leave canned food next to mailboxes. The donated food will be picked up by letter carriers on Saturday (May 9) and then delivered to area food banks. Last year's food drive netted more than 73 million pounds of food throughout the country.
With today's economy being in such a sorry state and unemployment rates being sky-high, this food drive, always important, is even more needed this year, with food banks reporting that almost twice as many people are using their services as last year.
Postcards that explain the annual "Stamp Out Hunger" food drive were delivered to homes throughout the United States earlier this week.
Sponsored by the U.S. Postal Service, the Campbell Soup Company, the National Association of Letter Carriers, Valpak, the AFL-CIO, Feeding America and the United Way, "Stamp Out Hunger" is the largest national food drive in the country.
Those wishing to donate food to the food drive are being asked to leave canned food next to mailboxes. The donated food will be picked up by letter carriers on Saturday (May 9) and then delivered to area food banks. Last year's food drive netted more than 73 million pounds of food throughout the country.
With today's economy being in such a sorry state and unemployment rates being sky-high, this food drive, always important, is even more needed this year, with food banks reporting that almost twice as many people are using their services as last year.
American Philatelic Society Hit By Cutbacks, Trims Its Budget
Yesterday's APS press release announced immediate spending reductions of at least $200,000 for 2009, cutting back its staff (including elimination of its Executive Director and Public Relations Manager positions) and otherwise reducing employee expenditures.
Read the full press release by clicking here.
Yesterday's APS press release announced immediate spending reductions of at least $200,000 for 2009, cutting back its staff (including elimination of its Executive Director and Public Relations Manager positions) and otherwise reducing employee expenditures.
Read the full press release by clicking here.
Wednesday, May 06, 2009
Snap, Crackle and Pop - Soaking Self-Adhesive Stamps
Self-adhesive stamps (also called peel-and-stick stamps or pressure-sensitive stamps) are a modern type of stamp that has become amazingly popular. They're so popular, and so pervasive in the mailstream, that it's hard to imagine self-adhesive stamps ever going away. They're quick and convenient to use on mail because they don't need to be licked or otherwise moistened - just peel and stick!
Unfortunately, self-adhesive stamps have made life difficult if you're a member of the stamp collecting world. No matter what we do to get them to soak off, some self-adhesive stamps seem like they're stuck on their envelope or box forever. But because they're so popular, we're "stuck" with them, even though they make stamp collecting much more difficult.
There are several additional collecting challenges that are presented by self-adhesive stamps, including how to properly mount the stamps, how to properly store the stamps and how to effectively soak them off their paper.
If you store unused self-adhesive stamps on their backing paper (as they are bought from the post office) mounting them in a stamp album becomes a bit awkward because the stamp blocks provided on the album pages won't be the right size: backing paper left around the edges of the stamps, even if closely trimmed, makes the stamps bigger than the albums provide for. And even worse, if you leave unused self-adhesive stamps on their backing paper, you run the risk of the stamp adhesive migrating onto the edges of the front of the stamp.
But figuring out the answers to those problems is easy compared to figuring out how to effectively soak used self-adhesive stamps free from the paper they were mailed on.
Some used self-adhesive stamps aren't too much of a problem. They may require soaking for a much longer period, but eventually they'll detach and float free of their paper. Just be careful soaking those relatively easy stamps when they're on brightly colored paper - the long soaking times that are usually needed will increase the chances that the vividly colored inks from the paper will bleed onto the stamps.
You should soak used self-adhesive stamps as soon as you get them. The longer they're left on paper, the harder it will be to get them to detach and float off their paper. The adhesive seems to get stronger, not weaker, over time.
But the real problem children are what I call the "snap, crackle and pop" self-adhesive stamps, and it seems like the United States is producing more and more of them each year. You know the kind - no matter how you soak them (varying the water temperature, adding a bit of soap, longer soaking times, etc.) these things just will not come free. Or if they do, they're a wrinkly, crinkly, crackly mess that won't ever be flat when they're dry no matter how they're pressed. The recent 42 cent Bette Davis stamp from the US Legends of Hollywood stamp series is just one of many examples of this type of stamp. It's a shame, because some of these stamps are beautiful and many have a widespread appeal.
The snap, crackle and pop stamps - the ones that just will not properly detach from the paper they were mailed on - are making it quite difficult for used stamp collectors. The only solution I've found (for now, anyway) is to trim the excess paper away and not even try to soak the stamps, because soaking will essentially destroy them. I just collect them on-paper.
But I think some people may find a pot of gold at the end of the used stamp collecting rainbow. Lucky (or talented) stamp collectors who do manage to successfully soak these stamps without mangling them will probably be few in number. And that means that successfully soaked stamps will be few in number as well. Guess what that means for their future value? They'll be worth far
more than comparable-subject stamps that are much more easily soaked. So I guess these things aren't all bad for the stamp collecting hobby. It just seems that way right now.
Self-adhesive stamps (also called peel-and-stick stamps or pressure-sensitive stamps) are a modern type of stamp that has become amazingly popular. They're so popular, and so pervasive in the mailstream, that it's hard to imagine self-adhesive stamps ever going away. They're quick and convenient to use on mail because they don't need to be licked or otherwise moistened - just peel and stick!
Unfortunately, self-adhesive stamps have made life difficult if you're a member of the stamp collecting world. No matter what we do to get them to soak off, some self-adhesive stamps seem like they're stuck on their envelope or box forever. But because they're so popular, we're "stuck" with them, even though they make stamp collecting much more difficult.
There are several additional collecting challenges that are presented by self-adhesive stamps, including how to properly mount the stamps, how to properly store the stamps and how to effectively soak them off their paper.
If you store unused self-adhesive stamps on their backing paper (as they are bought from the post office) mounting them in a stamp album becomes a bit awkward because the stamp blocks provided on the album pages won't be the right size: backing paper left around the edges of the stamps, even if closely trimmed, makes the stamps bigger than the albums provide for. And even worse, if you leave unused self-adhesive stamps on their backing paper, you run the risk of the stamp adhesive migrating onto the edges of the front of the stamp.
But figuring out the answers to those problems is easy compared to figuring out how to effectively soak used self-adhesive stamps free from the paper they were mailed on.
Some used self-adhesive stamps aren't too much of a problem. They may require soaking for a much longer period, but eventually they'll detach and float free of their paper. Just be careful soaking those relatively easy stamps when they're on brightly colored paper - the long soaking times that are usually needed will increase the chances that the vividly colored inks from the paper will bleed onto the stamps.
You should soak used self-adhesive stamps as soon as you get them. The longer they're left on paper, the harder it will be to get them to detach and float off their paper. The adhesive seems to get stronger, not weaker, over time.
But the real problem children are what I call the "snap, crackle and pop" self-adhesive stamps, and it seems like the United States is producing more and more of them each year. You know the kind - no matter how you soak them (varying the water temperature, adding a bit of soap, longer soaking times, etc.) these things just will not come free. Or if they do, they're a wrinkly, crinkly, crackly mess that won't ever be flat when they're dry no matter how they're pressed. The recent 42 cent Bette Davis stamp from the US Legends of Hollywood stamp series is just one of many examples of this type of stamp. It's a shame, because some of these stamps are beautiful and many have a widespread appeal.
The snap, crackle and pop stamps - the ones that just will not properly detach from the paper they were mailed on - are making it quite difficult for used stamp collectors. The only solution I've found (for now, anyway) is to trim the excess paper away and not even try to soak the stamps, because soaking will essentially destroy them. I just collect them on-paper.
But I think some people may find a pot of gold at the end of the used stamp collecting rainbow. Lucky (or talented) stamp collectors who do manage to successfully soak these stamps without mangling them will probably be few in number. And that means that successfully soaked stamps will be few in number as well. Guess what that means for their future value? They'll be worth far
more than comparable-subject stamps that are much more easily soaked. So I guess these things aren't all bad for the stamp collecting hobby. It just seems that way right now.
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