Shipping Overseas Question

Hello, I had a question and any help would be appreciated. If I have to ship a few stamps overseas, what is the best method to wrap them up so they don't get damaged and what would be the best shipping method? I was thinking of using first class mail USPS but they had an option for sending it registered and I didn't know if that might be worth the extra money. Also, I was thinking of wedging the stamps between cardboard but I didn't know if that may do some kind of damage to the stamps. Thanks.

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Cardboard stiffener is a must and even some plastic to put the stamps in first to protect them. Some folks put them in a birthday or xmas card. Others use a part of an album page then plastic over that. Put some form of identification in there so the buyer knows its one hes ordered from ebay or whichever site you sold it to them from. Make sure the address is clear on the front and the envelope don't bend easily. Put DO NOT BEND and also AIRMAIL on it, send it USPS the cheapest airmail method possible. Be warned some countries are risky to send to so depending where your buyer is you may then want to send it tracked. Top rated ebay seller here years of experience posting international from Australia.

Just remember as soon as you use stiffener or mark it "Do Not Bend" the postage cost goes to at least $12.

Well, not in GB, I'm relieved to say!

If you use cardboard stiffeners, for heaven's sake- do not do as many ebay sellers do not plaster tape all over and around the cardboard. Usually one piece on each side will work.

One of the sellers sent me the stamps in a bubble envelope. Also, very important to have all stamps ad FDC and so, protected by plastic - one shipment arrived very wet, and the unprotected FDC's, while still unbent, developed fungi on them.

Great information from everyone, thank you I really appreciate it. Using very little tape with cardboard stiffeners was really helpful, I wouldn't want them cutting through the tape and ruin the stamp.

Rather than use cardboard stiffener, I use photo-mailer envelopes. Have not had one arrived damage yet, and just finished my first box of 100. I got them from Amazon for $26 or so for the box of 100. I got the ones that fit 8x10 photo's, so no problems with sheets of stamps or FDC's.

depends on how valuable they are but if you want to just pay first class rate you can put in a 102 or glassine then put that in a plastic baseball card holder.

A 6 x 6 inch Stayflat mailer will hold a black approval card like a mini Safe card with a sleeve and a half sized packing slip. It should weigh no more than an ounce even after mailing labels and stamps are affixed. Smaller 5 x 5 inch floppy disk mailers are below the minimum size allowed for square envelopes to foreign destinations. The one ounce rate is $1.36. A #6 envelopes with a 705 card and a stiffener and an invoice works quite well and is flexible enough to qualify for the normal one ounce first class rate of $1.15. Canada is a relative bargain because the $1.36 or $1.15 rates will pay for up to two ounces. I have not had problems with mail arriving wet except once to Romania.

Use the computer to print labels or envelopes go avoid any problems caused by hand written addresses. Avoid using 102 or 104 cards unless the card is in a glassine envelope or a plastic sleeve to keep the stamps from migrating out of the card.

Sometimes international mail, even to Canada, goes astray. Don't be surprised if delivery is up to a month late.