Looking For Wartime Kiloware And Suppliers List

Hey fellow enthusiasts! I'm hoping you folks can help me find wartime era stamps in bulk so I can have the fun of sorting them out and finding what historical treasures lurk inside.
I'm not particularly looking for exceptionally valuable stamps. I'm mostly in this for the historical aspects of things. Ideally I'd be focusing on key periods, like WW1, WW2, Korea and Viet Nam. I'd go back to the American Civil War period as well, but I'm not sure if that's even feasible (did they even have a postage stamp system then? Still new to this...)

Do any of you know where I can buy stamps in bulk (besides ebay...ugh...) that are all from key historical time frames? I'd rather not be sorting out 2013 American flags from my 1940's Hitler and his wermacht commemoratives, if possible.

Welcome to the community.
It would probably be better for you to get into a local stamp club. I found many boxes of kiloware that way. Plus it will give you the chance to meet people with your same collecting criteria. I know there's a lot of knowledge and help out here from this community when you start going thru stamps.
I haven't seen any kiloware bundles for sale yet out here yet, but who knows.
Gary

Thanks Gar that's something I'll definitely look into. I'm currently living in a small town with a big WW2 through Viet Nam history, lots of vets here. there's no telling what I may find locally, I've just been unable (time-wise) to search through the various antique malls and other venues likely to provide those finds.

It may be a long shot, but I have a local actual book/magazine/media chain store named BAM <Books-A-Million> that actually stocks H.E. Harris albums and supplements, Showgard mounts,and low and behold....US and Worldwide unsorted, kiloware packs. They are relatively inexpensive....like $4 or $5 for 500 stamps on cut envelopes. Many of us remember these as being available in department stores back when we were "kid collectors". That could be a place to start. You would certainly find lots of Vietnam, Korean and some WW2 era stamps in those. Anything older would be very hit and miss, take a look at Civil War era stamp values (except for a certain 3 cent one) and you'll see that finding one in such a bag would be about 1 in a million. Also, try the "big" stamp dealers such as Mystic, they sell similar kiloware bags. Good luck. John

We have a Hobby Lobby store here, and it carries the 300-stamp bags of H. E. Harris stamps on paper as well. I think they are about $6.99 regular price, but you can print a 40% coupon from their website: http://shop.hobbylobby.com/weekly-offers/

I tend to think you would have more luck and/or better bang for your buck by checking into a local club. You may be able to visit with store owners/managers at antique stores, flea markets, consignment stores to let them know that you are interested in any stamps that come their way.

Yes, I'm starting to expand my search here to the antique stores and such. I've already raided Hobby Lobby's supply of the Harris bagged sets. The 300 mixed sets are a bit on the blah side but the 150 off-paper mixed sets have continually provided a steady stream of WW2 stamps, and so have the 300 mixed international bags.

It appears I may also be in possession of some civil war era stamps but will need to visually verify to make sure I'm correct, part of my collection being 30 minutes away from me at present. I'm hoping I'll be able to make local collector contacts soon, maybe get info on a local club or something. Only issue is with a full college schedule starting next week I'm going to be hard pressed for time.

Celticveil. If there are a lot of military in your area I'd take a different approach and put an ad in the paper for "old letters from overseas." Covers contain a whole lot more history and are fascinating.

Have to agree with Canada Stamp you should be looking for postal history .The first start should be is to purchase reference books that tell where units APO's and ships were invouled in military actions .I collect a few items but nothing important ,have a few things like British Troops in Egypt ,V-1 mail to England , Africa-Korp Parcel Post ,WW1 Red Cross mail .