Mail From A Stamp Company

Is it just me, or does it seem odd that a company that sells stamps uses meter mail on their outgoing letters?

What did you expect -- that Z Grill

Yes, it seems odd to me also. But I guess it's the nature of business.

However, the last several mailings I've received from them usually have a label in the top right that looks like a Mystic Stamp. I think someone has posted a scan of it here somewhere.

Also, see
https://goscf.com/t/12987

Kirk

They all do it (unfortunately). Ever see the ugly labels the US Postal Service puts on their mailings when you purchase stamps from Kansas City? All of them are promoting "stamp collecting" in their for-profit agenda, but don't use the stamps in their mailings ... a loss to the hobby, in my opinion.

Anyway, they have done it more than a half century ago, too. Here's an example from 1950. To this day, I still don't understand an organization such as "The Society of Philatelic Americans" promoting a cover like this on metered mail!

Kirk, not the Z grill, just the inverted Jenny

wt1, it's interesting that this isn't a new practice. It really does seem to defeat the purpose.

Does anyone collect things like this?

If you're referring to meters, I do collect them as a minor sideline. Nothing that extensive, but there are unlimited varieties out there and it has been mentioned that with the demise of stamps (on business mail anyway) this could be the collecting specialty of the future. Of course, true philatelists may challenge that comment, but the fact remains we now have self-stick postage, and spray-on cancels and self-stick envelopes, etc., etc., so the old-time postal collectibles as we know them from 30 or so years ago are fast becoming a rare thing in deference to all of this new technology.

We either collect it or it gets lost, as the fact remains true that it is indicative of today's postal history and if collectors don't bother with it, the next generation will certainly be seeking it out as a desired collectible in the future and be wondering why people today didn't bother much to collect it!

I'm delighted to report that my stamp club, the Oregon Stamp Society, still uses actual postage stamps on all their mailers.

I still get stamps on all my Society/Club mail. The only philatelic mail that arrives here with meters are from Royal Mail !

Oh yes, and the last letter I received from Philb!

Londonbus1

As does our stamp club. From what I have heard, the OSS sounds like a great organization.

I may not like it but its good business to use meters. Using meters is much cheaper than using stamps. There is a lot less labor involved in placing meters on an envelope than placing a stamp, even a self adhesive. Consequently, it make good financial cents to use meters. (yes, it was intentional ) They can run hundreds of envelopes through a meter machine in the same time it takes to place just a few stamps on envelopes, or packages for that meter.

I just got a mailer from Mystic today and it had all stamps. It had a full booklet page of 18 cent flags over purple mountains, plus 2 6-cent, plus a pair of 5 cent toleware coils. I just went back and looked at other Mystic mailers and I couldn't find a single one that didn't have stamps.

Maybe they just don't like you?

I own my own business and when I go to a stamp show I buy a couple hundred dollars of face postage in old stamps - usually at about a 20 discount. I read once that people are much more likely to open a letter with old stamps on it than a postage meter. But yes, we use the meter too especially for heavier mailings.

To stamp or not to stamp? - unfortunately the way of the world as we go forward is to do the most convenient thing time wise - smell the roses I say and "stamp"

I have wondered if collectors purchase stamps from Mystic, I have seen there ads in Linn's and consider there prices very high... just sayin





I can supply you with $200.00 MNH US postage at 25% discount off of face with 60's through 80's and I pay for the ride.

Just thumbing through a stock page and came across this cancellation which relates to this thread.

First, it's a bit uncommon to see a postmark on any metered mail to begin with; more uncommon still to see the cancellation promote stamp collecting!

Very funny, Cephus.

wt1--- I loved the "Collect Stamps" cancellation! By the way, if you would like the Mystic cover for your collection, I will send it to you. Otherwise, I'll just throw it in my box for the stamp club.

My two cents (in postage that is): I receive stamped mail, usually with older issues, from most stamp sellers I buy from - be they from ebay, Linn's ads or what have you ... I prefer stamped mail no matter where it comes from and always check the daily mail to see whether there are any unusual stamps on business letters. Alas, they're mostly metered letters or bulk rate indicia.