Tell Me I'm Not Alone On This.

Amongst my stamp collection I have several mint sheet binders that I filled in the 70's. I'll never get what I spent on them back. I know that. I probably knew that when I was buying them, yet was in denial. Another factor is once in a blue moon a new issue comes out that appreciates significantly in value, and I don't want to "miss out." Anyway, I figure that even if I started using them on my outgoing mail I'd never use them up before I left terra firma. Additionally, I feel it's almost sacrilegious to separate them. If I do, I'd use up a good portion of the front of the envelope because I'd be putting 6 or 7 large commemoratives on the envelope and I'm not sure there'd be room for the addressee and return address. So they sit. Oh well, maybe my 5 year old grandson will take an interest. Holding my breath.

You are not alone on this

You are not alone on this ( #2 )

Peter

You are definitely not alone. This stuff routinely sells at a significant discount from face at auction (like 75%) and then the seller usually pays a seller fee. YEOW.

I also had this "problem".

My solution was to volunteer to pay the postage for a mailing of one of my specialist society journal mailings.

I was told how much each issue would cost to mail ($1.68 as I recall). Fortunately it was printed nearby and they provided me with a nice group of the required 9" x 12" envelopes. I then spent several afternoons with a sponge and stuck stamps all over the envelopes. It took some time to figure out the combinations, and I tried to use a number of different stamp issues on each. I had stamps with face value from 4c or 5c up to 33c, and I split them up. I had a few left over that I stuck on extra envelopes for the next mailing.

Saved the organization a few dollars as well.

Now I have to buy the forever stamps when I need to mail something, which as we all know, is not very often.

Another solution is to donate the lot to the APS or another IRS-recognized charitable organization that will actually use the postage, and take a tax deduction for the undiscounted, full face value.

Part of the solution is to use the stamps as postage. Using #10 envelopes will allow you more room to use up lower denominations. You can use up more than you would think...especially if you are disposing of material on ebay.

Fascinating how one of the limiting factors in using old mint stamps is envelope size and its ability to accommodate all those 3 cent stamps!

I used mine up inherited from my father on larger envelopes. Rejected by the machines and hated by the postal clerks. Finally a post office clerk bought the remainders from me for face to put an end to the carnage.

Lol, and got face value!

That's a randy story, Redwood.

I purchased every new issue in sheets from about 1991 to 2000. I am happy to report that my ebay sales have now used them all up. I was lucky to make friends with my postal clerks, they would just hand me the canceler and trust that it all added up. And there was a lot of satisfaction franking a nice cover for the customer. If you are going to pay for shipping, it might as well be a neat cover.

I used to mail 1,000+ price lists on a regular basis in large envelopes. 2 ounces at first class rate. Used up lots and lots of 3c, 4c, 5c, 6c, etc stamps. I had accepted payment in mint postage at full face value. Spent hours licking, perhaps, 6,000-8,000 stamps per mailing. I probably had 150 mailings over the years. This would come to something like a million stamps (WOW!). I think I did my part to reduce the oversupply. I do have a large collection of plate block positions (1,000s) as a result (at face).

I can't think of any other option to saving them than to use them for postage which is what a lot of dealers do. Old sheets of common commemoratives can be purchased for less than their original post office price. That's how common they are. So, I wouldn't expect one of your descendants to do any different. You might as well be the one putting them on envelopes and packages. Or donate them to some worthy group and let them use them for postage. Either that or give them away to a stamp club -- or some budding stamp collector who might appreciate them. They can't be worth much.

Hi Howell1018, I buy a large amount for discount postage from a dealer friend of mine.

He buys lots such as yours, remove the bits and pieces he desires for resale at a profit.

I pay 65% of face value.

I do not know what he pays for lots like yours, but you can pretty much guess.

Stampmaster