Throw Away Stamps?

In the past year I have thrown away at least 8,000 stamps. Most were modern flag stamps but some were even 19th century. However, I have kept some faulty stamps that should be thrown away but they are the only one I have of a given issue.

If a stamp is torn or badly creased or thinned I'd throw them away than pass them on.

Destruction of stamps like these is my preference. It prevents the likes of them appearing for sale as "ANTIQUE" on ebay etc.



Value in good condition is probably 2 or 3 UK pounds and in this condition they are worthless.

I agreed that it is way overpriced and in bad shape but it would be a keeper in my album. I would consider that postmark, the 4 F's in the corners and the plate number. It may be the only stamp of it's type left in the world with that combination ???

Of course stamps from your country are unique in that way. Most others in that shape belong in the trash.

Scotzm - what have you got against Tunbridge Wells? You want to condemn to death a beatiful 820 duplex cancel because of the stamp it is attached to. Could ALL people who give blase advice about destroying stamps try to rememember that not all philatelists are interested in stamps!

As a young kid, I'd have been enthralled by that Penny Red, and loved to have it in my album. So my message is - don't throw them away, give them away to encourage youngsters.

Another thirteen and a half billion stamps similar to this exist... some even postmarked Tunbridge Wells.

"It may be the only stamp of it's type left in the world with that combination ???"
Around 320,000 would possibly exist with the 199 plate, position FF

As soon as you destroy a stamp, you destroy an aspect of postal history. This history can be recorded in a faulty stamp as well as in a so called "perfect stamp". Where do you draw the line between a faulty stamp and one that isn't. I find a lot of enjoyment in looking at a piece of paper that is over 100 years old (or many years less). It has a story to tell. I always wonder how many people have come in contact with this stamp. Yes, I'd like a stamp to be better preserved, but a rough old stamp might still be hiding a secret......and if it's older than me, "I dips me lid".

I never, ever throw away any stamp. Those which I come across which are badly damaged go into a box which I later use to make decoupage items. For example, cutting them up and adding them to lamp shades, clock-faces and turning them into philatelic promoting articles.
Don

I guess there is really no right or wrong answer here. I'll just decide stamp by stamp. Thank you everyone for your input.

Susan

Instead of throwing them away, the holocaust stamp project gladly accepts damaged stamps.

http://www.foxboroughrcs.org/studen...amp-project/

Phlatelia7 - thank you, I'll try to remember to set some damaged stamps aside to send them.