USPS Press Sheet Storage

I do not really care for press sheets but ended up with some that I need a way to store. Some were in tubes (have removed those trying get flat again) as well as flats. The press sheets vary dramatically in size thanks to USPS lack of any standard sheet size. Typical width is 32 inches wide and 40 inches long but there a few larger.

The question is how to store them. They do not store well on standard shelving unless one puts them back to back to increase depth so that is one idea.

I have an old computer desk that I could convert by adding plywood shelving in the knee pocket with drawer unit removed.

Ideas?

Search the internet for "artist portfolio cases." There are hundreds of different styles and sizes available. This would make your sheets portable, that is, you could get them out to look at, and then put them away again easily.

My brother was an "old-school" freelance commercial artist who had dozens of these cases to store his art and photographs. Before the days of computer graphics software, he would airbrush paint right onto color, poster-size, photographs. He would have stacks of these photographs stored in artist portfolio cases. Make a "sandwich" of press sheets between a stiff poster board top and bottom. Just an idea, perhaps you haven't thought about.

Linus

You could indulge in an architect's plan chest (something I've always wanted, although I'd have little practical use for one).

Why are they called "press sheets" rather than "sheets"?

I assume they are called press sheets since they are larger than what one calls sheets. A press sheets consists of multiple sheets.

In looking at what I have, I noticed a few were in large green boxes in sleeves. The mailing address on the carton was Amosadvantage so purchased from Scott. I did not find them on their website. They must have been very expensive and did not sell. I am sure the variation in size was a challenge.

Thank you. Odd-looking thing. Is that Double Indemnity? And are those six sections all attached to one another? They look more like a set of attached sheetlets than what one would normally call a sheet.

They are the printer's sheets as they come from the printing press, before they are cut into post office (counter) sheets. Hence they are called 'press sheets.'

As NSK mentioned, they're basically direct from the printer, before being separated into the individual panes/sheets that are generally sold over the post office counter. The US Postal Service started offering them that way, in limited quantities around 10 or 15 years ago (I'm sure someone will chime in with the correct year, because that might be off by a few years yet).

For current examples, you can check out the USPS web store:

https://store.usps.com/store/result...estid=131559

Currently, you can buy press sheets of most commemorative issues with or without die cuts - the ones without die cuts are also often described as imperforate. I buy some press sheets without die cuts on occasion to use as postage. I don't expect used modern imperfs to be especially rare or valuable at any point*, but they do end up as kind of a unique collectible for many collectors.

*Though one never knows how these things will be collected in the future, particularly if one starts chasing destinations on cover, etc. For example, there are some issues where I've sent mailings to ebay buyers franked with complete, se-tenant imperf sets addressed to countries like Slovenia and Estonia and others. Those may or may not end up being truly unique, but I can't imagine there will be very many of them. I'm not trying to create anything rare or valuable by using them, just giving buyers something different for their collection.

Watch the estate sales and buy a blueprint filing cabinet. They are quite reasonable on the secondary market as the old-time architects retire and the new ones do more online. Yes, it will take up some floor space, but they are great for posters, maps, prints/paintings, rocks/minerals, riker boxes of insects or political buttons, that large serving platter or table cloth for the dining room table. etc.

And they weigh a ton.

Mystic has been marketing these as special and even provided Mystic album pages for them.



My wife inherited a dress pattern cabinet (similar design) and it weighed a lot and I had to get it out of the basement all by myself with a dolly.

Here is one sent in a small tube. It is some variation of a booklet version.

I would not be surprised the tube packaging cost as much to produce as the stamps.

A roll file is an option if you don't mind leaving them in their tubes. For construction drawings I used either a roll file, hanger system or flat file. The flat file in construction/engineering is going the way of the Dodo. The hanger is not practical for stamps. Roll file might be the best bet.

https://www.amazon.com/Safco-Produc...6903133&th=1

I do not want to roll them. I noticed that if the sheet is die cut the stamps tend to want to lift off.

My near term is to convert an older computer desk to a bookcase to start. The boxes they are in (wha they were shipped in) take up a lot of space. Each box (most more like a giant a mailer) may have 2 or 3 press sheets so 75% of the volume is the shipping box.

Anyone who has examined a blueprint filing cabinet will find the drawers come out and the base is typically a separate piece. Quite modular. Yes, there is some overall weight, but it is relatively easy to deal with each of the several pieces.

That said, My intent was to present an option specifically designed to store large pieces of paper in a flat orientation, to note its versatility beyond stamps, and to identify an economical means of acquisition. If you like it, great. If you don't like it, suggest alternatives.

Disclaimer: I own zero press sheets.

If you find a wooden architect's chest, they shouldn't weight a ton (especially with the drawers removed for positioning), so you shouldn't need a Barbie or other dolly to help. And they're often aesthetically pleasing.

I own steel units. My comments were not meant to criticize a suggestion or make anyone feel bad. The alternative I offered is the vertical roll storage which has worked well for my engineering and construction offices. Lighter weight and smaller footprint at a lower cost but the items stay rolled.

I am not offended or saddened by other suggestions but maybe just a bit weepy.

LOVE the flat units too.

I have used the Itoya Art Profolio product for at least ten years.



I have perhaps 20 of these portfolios in different dimensions. Their largest size is 18" x 24", which is possibly not sufficient for some of the "press sheets".

I use them primarily to store oversized post office documents, primarily postmaster commissions, but several are dedicated to family portraits and family documents. They allow me to keep items organized more efficiently that I could with a map or drawing file (although I always lusted to own one ), however, they create a storage problem of their own because of the large size. My solution: they typically are stored piled in stacks on top of an old desk or chest of drawers in an unused bedroom.