5 vintage postage stamp resources on etsy
the ol’ postage stamp. on one hand, these little squares we stick on our letters and packages are as utilitarian as utilitarian gets. on the other hand, they are mini pieces of art or like the sprinkles on an ice cream cone to your addressed envelope. so it’s no wonder vintage stamps have re-gained popularity over the past couple years – they are charming, add an extra point of interest to an envelope, and have the potential to tell a story (if you so choose).
there is much to be said about the world of vintage stamps and i am by no means an expert on the subject. this post is merely a jumping off point to get your feet wet. if you do plan on using an assortment of vintage stamps on your wedding envelopes, make sure you let your stationer and / or calligrapher know as soon as possible so they can account for the correct postage amount based on the envelope size and weight and space needed on the envelope.
five awesome etsy shops to purchase unused vintage american postage stamps:
liz x vintage postage shop
loly x little postage house
jamie x send more mail
patrick x edelweiss post
brooke x postage stamp studio
another great place to search for stamps is ebay. simple search for unused vintage postage stamps, you’ll see pages and pages of listings to browse through. i especially like the lots of 100 when i’m not looking for anything in particular. it’s always a fun surprise to see what i get.
some other tidbits to know about stamps:
every year, scott publishing company releases the scott catalogue that lists all the stamps in the world that are considered valid for postal use. the numbering system, known as the scott number, is used to identify the stamp and provide additional details such as value, date of issue, and color.
if you’re looking to use vintage postage stamps for anything other than actual postage – like crafting, scrapbooking, styling, or props – consider looking for used or cancelled postage stamps since they cost much less.
keep in mind the face value of a stamp is how much value it has when being used to send mail – it’s the amount printed on the face of the stamp – but that doesn’t mean you’ll pay face value to purchase it. so when you’re purchasing vintage stamps, keep in mind the face value versus the listed price, as they will most likely be different.
as i mentioned, this is only the very tip of the iceberg when it comes to the world of vintage postage stamps. as always, if you have any resources or tips you’d like to share, please drop a comment!
until next time!
x
niki
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