What Is Average Weight Of Single Stamp

what would be average weight of single Postage Stamp.
just curious.

An interesting question for which there is no one single answer.

A Google Search suggests that a postage stamp weighs approximately one gram, but that is approximate at best because that doesn't take into account the variables in a typical postage stamp.

For example, sizes of various stamps are quite different in dimension. Some ATM booklet stamps are made thinner to run through ATM equipment than other stamps. Stamps with water activated gum would (in theory) weigh less than a similar self adhesive stamp, as the adhesive adds to the weight, as does the plastic additives that are typically in self adhesive stamps that may not be in similar stamps with water activated gum.

Then you have to consider perforations. If the stamp has traditional perforations as you would find in a water activated stamp, some of the paper is removed by that process, so the stamp weighs less. If you're talking self-adhesive stamps with die cut perforations, this will not be applicable, so the stamp would weigh more.

Then, of course, you have to consider self adhesive stamps with and without backing paper attached. If you were to weigh a self-adhesive stamp in mint condition with backing paper, it would certainly weigh more than a used stamp with the backing paper removed.

There's also the consideration of oversized backing paper on a self adhesive stamps (such as the recently issued 45c Weathervanes, where the backing paper is larger than the stamp itself), so if you're weighing in on the "mint" stamp with backing paper, it will certainly weigh more than the same used stamp without the backing paper.

The surest way to get your answer is to select a given stamp and weigh one ounce of the same stamp and count out just how many stamps are there to get an exact answer.

Thanks wt1 :):)

I once took a blank cover with insert to the P.O. to get it weighed, so that I would know how to make the postage up (with commemorative stamps for cover exchanges). When I returned later, with 4 or 5 stamps in place on the cover and an airmail sticker, the extra "weight" took it over a postal rate band, and I had to add more postage.

Was trying to correlate Formula.

e.g.
16 Lbs paper sheet weight is 62200 mgms/10000Sq.cms.
18 lbs paper sheet weight is 67720 mgms/10000Sq.cms.
20 lbs paper sheet weight is 75200 mgms/10000Sq.cms.

Each Stamp Mass sqcms = Length x Width in cms

Extra Factors
gum weight per 10000 sqcms. Most of time is uniform.
Extra backing per 10000 sqcms. this will depend on what lbs of Paper.
(if used )
Loss by perforation

Wt1 is right app. 80 mgm to 170 mgms on average.

Checkout this link for another similar calculation:

http://ca.answers.yahoo.com/questio...01434AAKnBBf

Just for reference if buying kilo-ware.

ON paper, poorly cut = 80-100 per ounce
ON paper, close cut = 140-170 per ounce
OFF paper, large = 200-300 per ounce
OFF paper, medium or mixed = 300-500 per ounce
OFF paper, small = 500-600 per ounce


And did you know stamp weight is worth more than gold.

A Swedish "Treskilling" stamp circa 1855 recently surpassed a $331,000 stamp from the Chinese Quing Dynasty as the world's most expensive stamp. Interestingly, the stamp isn't even a perfect example of its kind - the value stems partly from its yellow color, and the fact that this is the only example of its kind ever found, says Paul Nelson, vice chair of the Postal History Foundation in Tucson, Arizona. The Treskilling, or Tre Skilling, as it is also known, should be green. It was last sold for $2.3 million in 1996.

At just 0.02675 grams, the Treskilling stamp is also considered the world's most valuable item by weight. This week, you can find the stamp in Islington, London, where it is on display at the Festival of Stamps. It is expected to fetch more than $7.4 million at auction on May 22 in Switzerland.

A used average size US commemorative weighs 1.1 grains, a MNH weighs 2.1 grains. There are 15.43 grains per gram, 28.34 grams per ounce and 437.34 grains per ounce.



So you think heavy cancels will throw off the number of stamps you would receive

Indeed,
Kiloware suppliers have been known to load
their supplies with stamps made from Granite Paper.

fredcdobbs nice to know apothecries' weight :)
after 40 years I heard this.
Use to write gr. dram. oz in compounding
medication in the clinic.
Nice Scale I like it.
1 grain = 64.8 mg

Thanks

Must admit I had to look that one up

So wiki has a picture of .......




believe it or not, a stamp with a scale and apothecaries.

What does 'average' mean in this context?

I think you can calculate it by dividing the weight of sheet to the number of stamp on that sheet. Or you can use a scale which have more accuracy that it can measure the weight of single postage stamp