Question About Cutting The Stamped Stamp From Envelopes

Hi Everyone,
This is my official first question!!!
I have a bunch of Stamped/Embossed envelopes fron late 1800's to early 1900's. The embossed or stamped stamp have been cut out of the envelope. (See attached image). My question is:
Is it ok to cut out the stamped or embossed stamp from the envelope, like you would soak off a regular postage stamp? Or, since the stamp is "Stamped" right into the envelope, it is better not to cut out the stampe from the envelope? Basically, I'm wondering if the cut stamps are now worthless?
Dave


*** Moved by Staff to a more appropriate forum. ***

Best to leave it on cover as a complete piece of postal history.

Basically the value goes pretty well to zero when removed from cover. Cut squares were popular long ago, to mount in albums and to save space and cancellations.

People still collect cut squares and while entires are valued more than cut squares, hardly all cut squares "pretty well to zero when removed from cover" and entires take up a lot more space. Regular stamps are also valued more on cover than soaked off, but more people collect soaked stamps than covers.

I certainly would not cut these out from the larger envelope if it was still present. But as one of the people who is still collecting cut squares, and checking for the die varieties of them, I wouldn't call these worthless. Maybe their cash value is tiny, but they can still be an interesting collection just as they sit.

Eyesonwall, did not mean to imply that no one collected cut squares. While they are still quite collectable, I do believe entires are generally more favored these days. And as values go, there are some cut squares that command a better price but most common and some more recent ones are of little value, unless there is a variety or cancel of interest.

And a welcome to Durwood!

Background: The majority of my collection is soaked, up until the prevalence of self-adhesives, at which time I switched to trimming the stamps off envelopes with a few millimeters of border.

However, in regards to postal stationary, I strongly prefer saving the entire cover. Naturally I stumble across many partial envelopes or cut squares. In that scenario, I do not trim any further.

Again, that is my personal practice. I save for the fun, not the monetary value. Each collector can enjoy his or her collection as they see best.

Do any of you save entire envelopes when receiving stamps from sellers? Often, stamp sellers adorn the envelope with nice and interesting postage.

Drwatson, I keep ALL my envelopes with stamps no matter what. One never knows what is lurking there
By the way, please check where you post. This thread is about printed pre-stamped envelopes, not regular stamps

Peter