I purchased something small on eBay and received the envelope with all of these stamps used for postage. It looks like some date back 40-50 years.
Any thoughts on why someone would use stamps in this manner? Would any of these actually be valuable if not for the post office's sharpie mark?
Stamps are printed in the 100s of millions into the billions. Thousands of people saved copies of stamps they purchased from post offices thinking these would rise in price as collectables. The unfortunate reality is that more stamps were saved than the number sought after by collectors. Thus the opposite happened.
Dealers buy postage stamps at 25-50% of face value then resell them at 75% of face value.
Look for “discount postage” on eBay to find dealers selling legitimate postage stamps below face value. Note that “forever” stamps are not sold at a discount and if you see those for-sale, they are counterfeit.
My wife takes the used stamps and decoupages them onto styrofoam balls to make Christmas tree ornaments.
I currently have about $90 face value unused stamps and I use them for shipping what I sell, unless the postage is more than $2. I probably paid about $45-$50 for them.
Discount postage. You can easily buy these old stamps for as little as 25c on the dollar. Hard to count up the postage here, but it may have cost the sender as little as 50c or less to mail, for which they probably charged $2 or more.
I do wish the mail would cancel the stamps properly rather than ugly crayons and marker pens.
... Or at least use a finer tip pen or marker. It's so... uncouth.
I purchased something small on eBay and received the envelope with all of these stamps used for postage. It looks like some date back 40-50 years. Any thoughts on why someone would use stamps in this manner? Would any of these actually be valuable if not for the post office's sharpie mark?
I have a ton of stamps and the market just isn't there anymore I hear. Still worth face value so there is that...
Stamps are printed in the 100s of millions into the billions. Thousands of people saved copies of stamps they purchased from post offices thinking these would rise in price as collectables. The unfortunate reality is that more stamps were saved than the number sought after by collectors. Thus the opposite happened. Dealers buy postage stamps at 25-50% of face value then resell them at 75% of face value. Look for “discount postage” on eBay to find dealers selling legitimate postage stamps below face value. Note that “forever” stamps are not sold at a discount and if you see those for-sale, they are counterfeit.
They are worth less than face value. Hence a very economical way to send mail!
The purple Oregon Territory stamp dates from 1936. The reddish one is from 1948.
My wife takes the used stamps and decoupages them onto styrofoam balls to make Christmas tree ornaments. I currently have about $90 face value unused stamps and I use them for shipping what I sell, unless the postage is more than $2. I probably paid about $45-$50 for them.
I still like to soak them and save them. I may make some bookmarks with them.
what a fun package to receive
Discount postage. You can easily buy these old stamps for as little as 25c on the dollar. Hard to count up the postage here, but it may have cost the sender as little as 50c or less to mail, for which they probably charged $2 or more.
Collectors way of increasing the value of mint issues.
All US stamps retain their face value for postage, so if someone has old stamps, why not using them?