Personalized Stamps, How Do You Feel About Them?

I just read an article about personalized stamps. You could put your mug on a stamp or postcard and it would be used as a legitimate stamp.

http://www.news.com/Customized-stam...ml?tag=txt.1

The company is WeStampU and they send the stamps or post cards from Germany.

I am partial to the idea. Could these stamps ever become collectibles or are they cheapening the community? They seem like a great novelty.


Has anyone ever utilized this service?
I'm still debating it in my head.

Widens the field for collecting unusual stamps I would think...gives artists and unsung causes some public exsposure.

Hello Cynthia.....

I have mixed feelings about these things.......as an old-timer I wish all stamps still looked like the one issued before 1965.

But....I can see where some folks would find them attractive and it might just be a way to get more youngsters interested in collecting. With your own photo's, who could resist collecting something with your own family and pets pictured on it ?

Then again, it would be almost impossible to ever find a copy of all varieties.

Honestly, it doesn't matter what anyone else thinks, If you like them and want to collect them, no one can say it's not part of stamp collecting. They pay postage, therefore they are collectible.

I don't think they can or ever will be listed in an organized way - a catalog for instance - so they can't be part of organized collection.

That being said, however, there are no rules in collecting. If I only wanted to collect green stamps it would still be a collection and a value. These stamps would be collectable and could even be a stepping stone to get some more younger people into our hobby.

Here is a stamp that a freind of mine had made through Canada Post a couple of years ago. It's a picture of me and Cassidy, one the cats from work that likes to hang off me.

I thought it was a unique gift and I use the stamps for special letters.
I think there was 20 stamps on the sheet.

Dianne

Wow, that's awsome

Thank you for sharing. It is a great gift idea. I will keep that in mind for the holidays.

I had thought about getting some made with a picture of my Grandkids to give to them for Christmas, but I got lazy and didn't do it. It would certainly be a kick for them.

I am quite sure that the last time I was at the Post Office, there was a small cardboard display and pamphlets for doing the same thing. I didn't bother looking, so I don't know if it's the USPS or just someone working with them.

The only problem I could see from a collecting standpoint is that groups could create 1000's of stamps for an event and then people would chase after these. Who would keep track of this? For example, Super Bowl stamps, Inauguration stamps, Academy Award stamps, etc. THAT could get out of hand!

But if individuals want to do "souvenir" stamps, I think that's pretty cool.

We can order them through Australia Post as well, but I haven't yet. Maybe one day.

Steve

Hey guys

I don't think as this stamp as part of my collection but as a very thoughtful gift. I'm in the process of building my own Canadian album and using it as part of the cover page

Dianne

Here at Stamps.com you can create your own postage stamp.

I had an account with them some time ago. But due to printer problems and other things, I canceled the account. When you sign up you receive by mail the 'license' for use by mail.

http://photo.stamps.com/Store/?source=si00001331

mila_

Hello.....

From a collecting view point, the only thing that makes sense to me is to collect the different company's that are producing these items and collecting the different varieties of framework and face values. The image on them would almost have to be completely disregarded, because of the volume of possible varieties.

Hi Cynthia..myself I would not spend the money to get a personalized stamp but I have about 4 in my collection...sent by other stamp collectors who opted to make them.. I have them from Canada,USA and Switzerland !

At PhotoStamps you can get a free preview online.

I've also seen personalized stamps used for dishonorable purposes...there's good and bad in everything. Happy collecting!

Wow I just noticed that I have a Canadian airmail cover with a Dianne Earl stamp on it!