Finding Recent, Used US Commemoratives

Greetings all,

Recently, I unearthed a stock book full of used US stamps that I'd soaked off envelopes over the years, and looking through it made me want to jump back into casual US collecting (i.e., used only, hinges OK, although I do need to get/make an album for them - suggestions welcome!).

I've got a pretty good collection up through the early 2000s, but from there it really drops off. Part of the issue, I've realized, is that it's become really hard to get used copies of commemoratives on mail. It's a double whammy of sorts: more stamps being issued, and fewer people using them.

So does anyone have any thoughts or tips as to how I might go about getting used copies? (Other than ebay, of course!) Would I have success walking into certain types of businesses (i.e. banks? Writing to utility companies?) and asking for them?

Look forward to hearing your thoughts!

You are in the right direction, look for a company that gets lots of mail. The issues you will have to deal with is that putting stuff aside costs them time/money. Also, they will not want to give out customer information. to over come both of these you will have to develop a relationship with the people in the mail room.

gvol21, welcome to the forum. One of the best ways in my opinion is to become an APS member ( http://stamps.org ) and subscribe to their circuits. There is a very good choice of material to be had although it is not cheap if you look at postage and insurance.
Of course another option is to become member of a local club - sometimes they have circuits but usually also have swap meets.


Peter

I have decent luck asking my local dentist, loan company and other business to save envelopes for me and I pick them up once a month. They prefer to tear the corners off the envelopes so no client info ever gets to me.

Suggest you ask someone like that or friends who have a decent amount of incoming mail. The worse they will say is no.

Heck, I'll send you some. I've got a whole box of duplicates I don't know what to do with.

I still believe in using CURRENT US stamps for mailing.

When I buy items on ebay for my personal collection. I request that the seller send me the item(s) using current commemoratives and many will accomodate.

I also sell stamps, covers and postcards on ebay and make sure I always send a sold item using current US issues if practible). I get positive feedback for doing this.

I really don't like older stamps piled on top of each other to make up the rate that many stamp dealers use to send out items. Most of the time they are not properly cancelled and often are torn when going through the machines.

I use newer commemorative's on all my mailings just used up some Star trek on the last group. I encourage all I know to ask for commemorative's when buying stamps enough of the flags sorry I like the flags but I don't need two hundred of them. Always ask for commemorative's most postal employees enjoy digging them out to show people.

I get mine from the local university's department of independent study. I was surprised by how much submissions they still get by snail mail. I thought everything would be electronic by now.