Your Philatelic Mail

I toss them since I don't collect used and pretty much anything they might have, I almost certainly have already. Unless they're throwing on classic U.S., into the bin they go.

It depends- if they use current stamps they are saved as postal history.

I feel postal history will be the main growth area of the future- look at what some Australian decimal covers are fetching. Common stamps selling for lots of money on cover, properly used.


Any out of period with CDS or machine cancel is soaked- if it has a spray cancel then I just bin it.

Promote philately. I cut them out closely and put in Kleenex boxes based on denomination (commemoratives 22c and below, 25c and up, and definitives). When they get full I pull out large handfulls of the 22c and below and definitives and give to friends' children along with an older philatelic magazine and an APS referral card.

I keep the 25c and higher commemoratives as I think they will be more valuable someday (see what these lots sell for on ebay). The 80c and higher I separate and eventually soak and place in stock books. Of course, nice in period usages I keep the covers intact.

That philatelists throw any stamp away is beyond my imagination when such good could be done with minimal effort. I was once the little kid who received garbage stamps. It is what kept me involved and today collecting is an integral part of my hobby.

I never remove a stamp from the envelope, being a thematic collector I feel that the value of a stamp on envelope is much higher than its value when it is removed from envelope.
I keep envelopes with stamps of my topic and give envelopes on other topics to collectors who collect them, if the envelope is damaged or is super sized then I may remove stamps from envelope to save the space..
When ever I exchange stamps with fellow collectors I request them to send me covers on my topi and try to send them envelopes using stamps on their topic.. I normally explain to the collectors what I prefer to have in my collection this way..
http://ourelephantss.blogspot.in/20...-part-1.html
http://ourelephantss.blogspot.in/20...-part-2.html

I can't believe any member here simply throws them away. That doesn't make sense, and it doesn't exactly confirm a love of the hobby. I throw the unwanted items in a copy-paper box, and when kids visit, they get a free scoop. What happens next depends on the parents.

I keep them intact. There are a few covers that I plan on soaking, but I never get around to it. I hate soaking.

Yeah, I've got a few $5 words, like my stamps. But also like my stamps, most of my words are minimal c.v.

My thanks to everyone who has participated in this poll/thread so far. A lot of good discussion here, and it seems folks are all over the map. it also seems that quite a few, like me, tend to hold on to these covers uncut, for a variety of reasons.

I am glad to have this thread to go back to from time to time and get some additional perspective on what to do with my leftovers. I know that forums do not appreciate posting the same message in more than one place. However, I am very curious to know whether the results of this poll would be the same if it were run in a part of the site frequented mostly by people who prefer the more modern material. I don't know how much partitioning like that really takes place here, but my intuition tells me that there would be some differences, especially in the matter of swapping. Not sure.

Anyway, thanks.

I save philatelic covers. They can be an art form in its own right. I can't believe that stamp dealers are all just saving money by using up extra and damaged stock rather than using the envelope to advertise and to amuse the buyer.

I usually use modern issues for mailing, but on occasion when I get my hands on older mint U.S. I've used them for postage just to amuse myself as it's fun and you can make one "purdy" cover. Sometimes you just need that three cent stamp to make the rate too. In the past I've used older stamps to "break in" postal clerks who previously wanted to count the postage on every cover. I don't cheat the USPS and I use the correct postage amounts, but I hate wasting everyone's time. Just use a mix of A-H rate stamps, non-denominated Christmas issues, some of the decimal issues from the Transportation series, a few mixed fractionals and some other odds and ends will nip that in the bud.

As for those folks who throw used stamps from their mail away, how about if you save them for youth groups and/or charity? The latter can get you a small tax deduction. Stamp for the Wounded through the Lions Club is one organization that takes donations of stamps. Boys Town is another. I'm sure the APS knows more. Or you can take them to a local stamp club as I'm sure someone there will appreciate them.

I can only speak for myself. When I say I toss certain ones, I basically mean damaged ones. To me, damaged modern stamps have no collectible value. Even when I first started collecting I tossed out torn or damaged stamps I got on mail. I do keep all sound stamps though, whether preserved on covers or soaked and sorted. If I was a new collector starting out, I would be kind of discouraged if someone handed me their secondhand, damaged stamps.

I do find it kind of irritating however when dealers make a point to say they use commemoratives on their mailings, as some kind of incentive, only to find that they only use damaged stamps. Not exactly promoting their business or stamp collecting IMHO.
I still do a fair amount of bill paying using the mail system. I use a mix of modern and old commemoratives and definitives. Whatever I have that will make the postal rate without plastering the entire front of the envelope. I have no idea if they will ever make it into a collectors hands or not, or just be thrown away when received.

I tear the corner or entire front off. I put them in a cigar box and have been saving them for years. My grandson is in the Cub Scouts and will shortly be exposed to the stamp collecting bug. I'll give him the boxes and he can trade them with his friends. I tried to get him involved earlier and he was just too young.

These modern stamps can more accurately be called labels. JMO, and kids love labels so it should go over well.

Art

Am I hearing that people save 46 cent forever flag stamps? I live in a large apartment complex 250+ and in the main lobby there is an attractive bucket for used stamps. If it's a commmerative, current, and I have it I put them in the pail. I look from time to time and my stamps are missing so someone enjoys them. But I do draw the line with justice forever flag stamps.
Tom

I keep them, for now I have not decided if I want to soak them or keep them intact. I would never throw away a stamp, I would give them away before throwing. Even if it was to a local thrift shop or something of that sort. Although at this time I don't have very many duplicate stamps at all to give to any one. :o)

If you want me to save them for you I will. Happy to do it for you.
Tom