Classic On Paper Question

I ran across an auction on ebay of 1919 - 1940 on paper. The one thing I noticed about the lot was that there were very few singles and a lot of coils or blocks.

Is is likely that someone mailed and collected these intentionally or have they just been sitting in a shoebox for 60+ years? How common is it to find stamps from this era on paper? I'm relatively new to ebay sorry for the dumb question.

Welcome to stamp Collecting Forum!

In answer to your question, I imagine there are quite a number of stamps on paper from the 1919-1940 generation in which you refer.

It is not at all unusual that there would be vast quantities of blocks and coil stamps to make up the required postal rates of that day.

One must remember that during the period in question:

1. There were few commemorative stamps available
2. Most people just didn't buy high value stamps for ordinary mail
3. Postage meters were still in their infancy, so few were in use during that period.
4. Post Offices had to apply stamps to parcels presented to them (again, no meters).
5. There was no FedEx or UPS alternatives, so the US Post Office was the only service available.
6. There was no e-mail or fax communication, so the majority of mailable items, whether envelopes or packages, had to be sent via the post office and with appropriate stamps affixed to prove payment of postage.

I can only imagine that collectors of that day, many of whom worked for businesses, saved the used postage stamps that appeared on their daily mail as stamps were virtually the only method of payment back then and they were used in massive quantities.

Hi davenumber40 and to SCF.

The lots you are talking about are what I look for in postal & public auctions. Being on paper the chances of being unchecked for most things is very high. In a most of these lots the name and address is the same on each piece. So the person who was in control of the mailing would collect all this amazing material on paper . Even the dates on the pieces back this up and I have had lots that have been collected over 20 years. The lots that include parcel post item are the best. Lots that come from a government department are amazing, even the paper was mailed. Some of my best finds have come out of these lots on paper.

Thanks guys. I ended up losing out on the lot but I've found a couple others that are similar. It's good to know that I'm on the right track.