Postage Stamp Articles : An Introduction to Postage Stamp Collecting by Mathieu D.

Stamps are used by millions of people daily yet few of us give them any thought. We take them for granted, seeing them as mere functional objects. It is true that they are functional objects but not only. Ask any stamp collector and he or she will tell you that a stamp is a lot more than that. In the case of used stamps, a lot of them tell a story and reflect the period and mood of the country in which they were issued.

Let us backtrack for a while and talk about the history of stamps and how they came about. It is commonly accepted that stamps were first introduced in the United Kingdom in 1840 with the penny black stamp. It was a revolution of sorts since it meant that the sender had to pay the postage fee and not the recipient like before. Shortly after the two pence blue stamp was issued. On thing to note is that the United Kingdom is to this day the only country whose name does not appear on its stamps.

As you know, stamp collecting is a very popular hobby throughout the world. Some people prefer to collect brand new stamps while others prefer to collect used stamps that actually served their purpose. Some of course do not discriminate and collect both. There are a lot of different types of stamps. Some stamps are issued for collecting rather than postal use. Let us have a quick look at the type of stamps available and their characteristics.

First is the definitive stamp. This is simply your regular stamp in any denomination that you can buy at the post office. These stamps often feature symbols of the country of issuance. They usually begin at the smallest unit of currency and can go up to fifty to a hundred times the usual postage rate. Collectors are looking to collect every denomination of a definitive series.

The commemorative stamp, like its name suggests, is a stamp issued to commemorate an important event, person or location. A few of these are usually issued each year, the first day of issues normally taking place where in the location associated with the person or event.
Pictorial stamps, also referred to as simply pictorials, are stamps depicting a representative landscape of the country of issuance.

Revenue stamps are stamps that were not intended for mail (although some stamps could be used both for revenue and postage) but for collecting taxes and fees. These stamps actually predate the postage stamps. Revenue stamps are issued by the finance ministry.

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Postage Stamp Articles : The Many Different Kinds of Postage Stamps by Ling T.


Postage stamps were first issued in Great Britain in 1840. The practice soon became common all over the world to show that the postage had been paid on a piece of mail. A stamp is a sticker attached to the top right hand corner of an envelope or package. Since stamps are in different denominations, if a piece of mail is larger or heavier than a standard size letter, several stamps may need to be attached. In order to send any mail through the postal service, you must buy these stamps and affix them to the mail. You can buy envelopes with the stamps already attached or you can buy sheets or rolls of stamps from which you select the ones you need.

Stamps are not always rectangular in shape. There are triangular and circular designs available and even pentagonal. The first countries to use adhesive stamps, which were invented by an English schoolteacher, Sir Rowland Hill, were Sierra Leone and Tonga, which were actually in the shape of fruit. The stamp used by Bhutan is very unusual in that it contains the national anthem on a playable record. The most common material used for issuing stamps is paper, but some have been embossed with gold and in Switzerland, one type of stamp was made from lace.

There are different types of stamps that are used to denote that postage has been paid. These are:

* Airmail Stamps: The word airmail appears on the stamp and they are usually larger than the regular stamps for envelopes. Like the regular stamp they do give the name of the country and the price paid.

* Coil Stamps: These are stamps that you can buy through a vending machine. You tear off a stamp from the coil when you want to use them.

* Commemorative Stamps: these are stamps issued by countries to commemorate a special event that occurs in the country. There may be several of these in any one year, but they are only available in limited quantities.

* Definitive Stamps: These are the main stamps used by a country and are printed and reprinted in large quantities. They are available in many different denominations that would be needed to make up the postage needed to send mail.

* Express Mail Stamps: These are stamps used for mail that needs to arrive in a very short time. There are usually envelopes for such a purpose that contains the postage necessary.

* Military Stamps; The Armed Forces of countries have their own official stamp to use on mail that they send.

* Official Stamps: Only government agencies and bureaus are allowed to use these stamps that are issued by the governments of all countries.

When new stamps are issued, stamp collectors can buy miniature sheets or souvenir sheets that contain only a small number. At various times there have been people depicted on definitive stamps, as well as animals, birds, buildings and events. However, the main stamps used for everyday use contain a number that denotes the price of the stamp.


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Postage Stamp Articles : The Many Different Kinds of Postage Stamps

Postage stamps were first issued in Great Britain in 1840. The practice soon became common all over the world to show that the postage had been paid on a piece of mail. A stamp is a sticker attached to the top right hand corner of an envelope or package. Since stamps are in different denominations, if a piece of mail is larger or heavier than a standard size letter, several stamps may need to be attached. In order to send any mail through the postal service, you must buy these stamps and affix them to the mail. You can buy envelopes with the stamps already attached or you can buy sheets or rolls of stamps from which you select the ones you need.

Stamps are not always rectangular in shape. There are triangular and circular designs available and even pentagonal. The first countries to use adhesive stamps, which were invented by an English schoolteacher, Sir Rowland Hill, were Sierra Leone and Tonga, which were actually in the shape of fruit. The stamp used by Bhutan is very unusual in that it contains the national anthem on a playable record. The most common material used for issuing stamps is paper, but some have been embossed with gold and in Switzerland, one type of stamp was made from lace.

There are different types of stamps that are used to denote that postage has been paid. These are:

* Airmail Stamps: The word airmail appears on the stamp and they are usually larger than the regular stamps for envelopes. Like the regular stamp they do give the name of the country and the price paid.

* Coil Stamps: These are stamps that you can buy through a vending machine. You tear off a stamp from the coil when you want to use them.

* Commemorative Stamps: these are stamps issued by countries to commemorate a special event that occurs in the country. There may be several of these in any one year, but they are only available in limited quantities.

* Definitive Stamps: These are the main stamps used by a country and are printed and reprinted in large quantities. They are available in many different denominations that would be needed to make up the postage needed to send mail.

* Express Mail Stamps: These are stamps used for mail that needs to arrive in a very short time. There are usually envelopes for such a purpose that contains the postage necessary.

* Military Stamps; The Armed Forces of countries have their own official stamp to use on mail that they send.

* Official Stamps: Only government agencies and bureaus are allowed to use these stamps that are issued by the governments of all countries.

When new stamps are issued, stamp collectors can buy miniature sheets or souvenir sheets that contain only a small number. At various times there have been people depicted on definitive stamps, as well as animals, birds, buildings and events. However, the main stamps used for everyday use contain a number that denotes the price of the stamp.

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Postage Stamp Articles : Do You Know Where To Buy Postage Stamps ? by Mike Selvon

Catalogs are a safe bet, whether you want to buy postage stamps, sell or appraise your collection. Stamp collecting and trading has captured America's heart and millions of collectors for over a century.

For the every day collector who can't wait for the next auction, a Scott's catalog can fill the void in one's collection. Additionally, the APS, Stanley Gibbons, Kenmore Stamp and the US postal service offer catalogs for your enjoyment.

Scott's Catalogue is a world-renowned philatelic reference for people who want to buy postage stamps and sell or appraise their collection. Annual subscriptions for this 5,000 page pamphlet cost as little as $18.97 for six months or as much as $98.97 for three years. Subscribers can choose between print or online, or even receive both for a small price! The Scott's Catalogue numbering system is how most collectors categorize their collections, so it's not uncommon to refer to an "Inverted Jenny" simply as "C3a."

The American Philatelic Society has a database of over 270,613 items that you can search by country, type, keywords, Scott Catalogue number, country and its type, country and keyword, its type and keyword, or Stamp ID number. You needn't be a member to browse, but if you'd like to buy postage stamps or get personal stamp information, you must become a member. Membership fees go toward publishing their monthly journal and costs range from $11.75/year to $38, depending on when you register (July - September is best).

The first Stanley Gibbons catalogue was published in 1865 and since then, they've been a leading resource for collectors looking to get postage ones from Great Britain or elsewhere, with the exception of the United States. You can find a $181,575 first day black cover from Great Britain (1840), an unused 1847 one from Tobago for $8,070, or 1 1913 "kookaburra" one from Australia for $80.

This is the place to find a rare stamp or special gem for your collection. It should also be noted that in addition to the free online catalogue, Stanley Gibbons also offers personal, web-based stamp "My Collection" organization where you can keep an online database of your collection.

Kenmore Stamp Company from Buffalo, NY has been in operation since the 1930s and offers a wide array of them from $10-20, Pope John Paul II and Lord of the Rings souvenir sheet types to $195, first Trans-Atlantic crossing / Zeppelin flight covers, $3,900 red-brown 5 cent Franklin imperforates and mint 10 cent Washington blacks for $16,000! This is a great place to acquire them, whether you're a beginner or expert philatelist.

The United States Postal Service puts out an annual catalog where you can find all the commemorative and press sheet stamps put out each year. At Shop USPS, you can order the full catalog or just browse a few categories. Buy 20 Marvel comic ones for $8.20, a 79-cent Gerald Ford one or an uncut Star Wars press sheet for $18.45.

There are decent prices for first-time collectors. Whether you'd like to purchase postage stamps with pop culture themes as gifts or collectibles, you can find them here.

Many people buy postage stamps through legitimate catalogs to safeguard their investments and receive some sort of guarantee of authenticity. However, beginners might find it more advantageous to collect stamps online through an auction site like eBay, where bids start as low as one cent.

Trading stamps through catalogs isn't free, which is why other internet sites seem to have such an enormous selection on hand.

About the Author
Mike Selvon has some great stamp collecting articles for the hobbist, where you can find out more about places to buy postage stamps. We appreciate your feedback at our stamp collecting values blog.

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Postage Stamp Articles : History Behind The Postage Stamps Of Canada by Frank Vanderlugt

Introduction

The discovery of Canadian stamps in 1851 brought a drastic change in the economy of Canada. The first Canadian stamp exhibits a picture of a "Beaver" which was designed by Sir Sandford Fleming. The cost of the stamps was used to vary from half a penny to twelve pence.

The old stamps were present without any perforations but later, the stamps were provided with perforations so that they can be easily separated out from a sheet of 100 stamps. These stamps were generally used in the provinces like Ontario, Quebec, Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Alberta, and in the northern territories.

After the discovery of stamps, Canada started using its own currency that is dollars and cents instead of the currency of British. Therefore, the prices of the stamps also got changed accordingly.

It has been seen that the pictures of the King or Queen of England are often seen over the stamps of Canada because of its good relations with England. Not only this, they are also famous for the display of beautiful pictures of wildlife and landscapes of Canada over them.

Postal History Of Canada The various researches and studies have shown that the postal history of Canada is segmented in four major epochs in the following manner:

1. French Control: This period lasts from 1608 till 1763 which began with the dispatching of couriers and letters by the means of boat. In 1734, a proper postal system was established when a road was built between the two major territories of Montreal and Quebec. The post houses were constructed at a distance of 14 km.

2. British Control: The period of British control lasts from 1763 to 1851. Its control came over with the capturing of Montreal in 1760 and led to the establishment of military postal system in order to start up the postal services from Quebec to Montreal and from Montreal to Albany. It also gave rise to the development of civilian post. This period led to the introduction of a complicated structure of rates of mail which is dependent upon the distance to reach the destination.

3. Provincial Control: The control of the province over the postal services began from 1851 to 1868. It was in this period when the first stamp of Canada was designed in the values of 3d, 6d, and 12d. Out of which the 6d comprises of a picture of Prince Albert, whereas the 12d exhibited the portrait of Queen Victoria. But the change was observed in the late 1850s with the eruption of new values of ½d, 7½d, and 10d in which the first two values were exhibiting Victoria and the last one was depicting Jacques Cartier.

4. Dominion of Canada: It came into existence in 1867 and is still prevalent in Canada, which led to a new series of stamps depicting a profile of Queen Victoria. The range of these new stamps was from ½¢ to 15¢ out of which most of them were designed over the wove paper and some were printed over the laid paper. The establishment of the American Bank Note Company in 1897 set up a contract of printing the stamps and this contract lasted till 1923. The design and value of the stamps kept on changing because of the certain issues like Maple Leaf Issue, Scroll Issue, Arch Issue, etc.

About the Author
frank j vanderlugt owns and operates http://www.Postage-stamps-2007.com Postage Stamps

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Postage Stamp Articles : Buying Postage Stamps Is Easier Than Ever by Frank Vanderlugt

Buying postage stamps is something that most of us do from time to time. Thankfully, it's become easier than ever to get the stamps you need regardless of where you are or what time it is. In addition to the many places that sell postage stamps, you can also purchase stamps online and download the postage that you need to use immediately.

Many people have had the experience of needing to mail something and not having the correct postage on hand. In the past, this meant that either you had to delay mailing the item or you had to visit a post office in order to get it mailed. If what you need to mail is important and time sensitive, this can create huge problems for you.

If you want, you can still purchase postage stamps at the post office. Depending on the circumstance, this may be a convenient option for you if you live or work near a post office or have to mail other items. Many grocery stores, pharmacies, and other retail shops also sell postage stamps. This means that you can pick them up when you're running other errands.

Want to have your stamps delivered to your home? You can mail in a request for stamps to the post office or you can purchase stamps online and have them shipped to you. Both of these options create an easy way for you to get you stamps, without even having to leave your home.

Buying stamps online is a great option if you collect stamps. You can get special edition stamps from the post office or connect with other stamp collectors to find new and unusual ones. As with other online purchases, you should make sure that you're dealing with a reputable dealer and that you have recourse if the stamp doesn't arrive or isn't what was promised.

The internet has also made it possible for you to buy and download postage for quick and easy mailing. To do so, you need to visit an authorized provider for online postage. You can contact the United States Postal Service for information on providers for this service.

With online services, you can print the postage on your own printer. You can print directly onto the envelope or postcard that you're mailing or you can print the postage onto a label or sticker. This option works great for small businesses or others who need to do a lot of mailing. It'll also work for the individual who just occasionally needs to send something as well.

Buying postage stamps online has never been easier. With a printer, you can print postage at home which makes buying postage convenient and quick. You can also still buy stamps the traditional way at the post office or other retailer. With all the options, you can choose the options that are most convenient for you.

About the Author
frank j vanderlugt owns and operates http://www.Postage-stamps-2007.com Postage Stamps

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Postage Stamp Articles : Buy Postage Stamps Online by Frank Vanderlugt

It is easier than ever to buy postage stamps online. Whether you want to avoid going to the post office, want to collect stamps, or want to create unique postage stamps with your own photos, you can easily purchase stamps online. Many love how easy it is to get stamps at home without having to leave the house.

For some individuals, getting to the post office during regular business hours can be difficult. You may want to avoid long lines or the hassle of getting to the post office when you need to mail a letter or package. Many mailing facilities, including the postal service, are now giving people the option of printing shipping labels and stamps at home and having their packages picked up from home.

If you want to buy postage stamps online, head to the United States post office website and look at the different options. You can purchase first class stamps and have them delivered to you your home. If you need to immediately ship a package or letter, you can buy postage online and print the stamps or mailing label yourself. This makes buying stamps online so easy to do.

Other individuals like to collect different kinds of stamps. The internet makes collecting stamps easier than ever. You can search many different sites to find unique stamps for your collection whereas in the past, you had to visit local stores or travel to collecting events.

You can buy new special stamps at the post office website, look for already issued ones, or even find unique used stamps with postmarks from exotic locales. Collectors love that they can connect with other collectors from all over the world to learn more about stamp collecting and find different stamps for their collections. If you're looking to add to your collection, search for stamp collecting websites that have forums or ads where you can find different stamps.

Maybe you want to create your own stamps to send to friends and family for special occasions like holidays, weddings, or birthdays. You can now create your own unique postage stamps online by visiting a website selling personalized photo stamps and uploading your photos. You can use almost any photo you want, within reason, to create your personalized stamps.

Many people like to create personalized postage stamps of their kids, grandkids, pets, wedding pictures, vacation photos, or any other meaningful photo that they have. Rather than using boring first class stamps or ones with no meaning for the individuals, they like to use stamps to show off their interests, families, and photography skills. Just imagine how much fun it is for grandparents to receive a card with their grandkids' pictures on the stamp.

You'll never be left needing a stamp again when you buy postage stamps online. Whether you just need to mail a package, want to create a special stamp with your own photos, or wish to add to your stamp collection, you'll find a wide range of stamps available online to fit your need.

About the Author
frank j vanderlugt owns and operates http://www.Postage-stamps-2007.com Postage Stamps

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Postage Stamp Articles : Rare Postage Stamps by Frank Vanderlugt

So, you have a few rare stamps. Do not assume rarity automatically equates to the stamps being valuable. This is not necessarily the case.

Let's discuss rarity first. What makes a stamp rare? It could be the stamp was part of a limited run. Perhaps there is something wrong with the actual print job, such as it being off center. It may not be perforated even though it was suppose to be. These "errors" are often considered rare and therefore valuable.

The most important consideration when determining the value of a rare stamp is its condition. Rare stamps in mint condition are worth more to collectors. Stamps that are torn or faded in color may not be worth anything. The closer the stamp is to its original condition, the more valuable.

Keep in mind that the original US postal stamp design did not include perforations. Therefore, an old stamp without perforation may be valuable because of its rarity alone.

Another factor in determining a rare stamp's value is its age. The older the stamp and the better its condition, the higher its potential value. This is particularly true if the stamp is rare in addition to be old.

A final factor to consider when determining a rare stamp's value is whether or not it was used as postage. If the stamp was used for postage, it will have a cancellation mark across its face. These stamps are less valuable than unused stamps. In addition, stamps with light cancellation marks have higher values compared to stamps with darker cancellation marks. In fact, old postage stamps with dark cancellation marks may have no value.

All of these factors must be taken in to consideration as a whole when determining the value of a rare stamp. A stamp from a limited run in 1890 that is in mint condition and never used may have a higher value than an 1870 definitive stamp in good condition with a light cancellation mark.

It is fairly easy to determine a preliminary value of a stamp. You can go to your local library and look at a stamp catalog. You may have to do some research in order to locate the exact stamp you have.

You can also conduct your research online. If you decide to use the internet, make sure the site you are looking it is legitimate. It could be someone who intends to lowball you when giving you an estimate so they can purchase the stamp from you at a rate much lower than its actual value.

The best way to determine the actual value of a stamp is to take it to several experts for opinions. Make sure the experts are credible. You want to visit an actual stamp dealer who makes his living buying and selling stamps. He will have a good sense of the actual value of any stamp you present.

About the Author
frank j vanderlugt owns and operates http://www.Postage-stamps-2007.com Postage Stamps

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Postage Stamp Articles : Creating the Best Personal Postage Stamps by John Hinkley

Personal postage stamps have become exceedingly popular in the last several years. They are easy to create online or at a non-Internet store. There are many uses for personal postage stamps and virtually everyone seems to be enjoying these for their mailings. Here are some tips for creating the best personal postage stamps.

Select a Theme

Select a theme for your personal postage stamps. If you are celebrating a certain occasion, you will want the theme of the stamps to match the occasion. For example, if you are sending out baby shower invitations then you would want your stamps to have a baby theme to them. You wouldn't want someone milking a cow for the stamps on your baby shower invitations.

Select a Photo

You can browse through your photos on your personal computer or even find non-copyright photos on the Internet to use for your personal postage stamps. Do not take photos that someone else owns. You will want to use public domain photos or your own photos. Choose between two and five photos that go with the theme you selected. This will give you freedom to experiment to find out which photo looks the best for your mailings.

Crop Your Photo

Remember that the photos are going to be small. You do not need all of the background items in the picture. To show off the photo the best, open it in a photo editing program on your computer and crop the focal point of the photo. Save the new image to use on the online shops for personal postage stamps.

Now is a good time to check the photo for blurs or minor blemishes and fix those. You will also get a feel for how it will look as a small image and decide which one of the several you selected is going to work best for your mailings.

Upload Your Photo

Once you have selected and cropped the best photo for your theme, it is time to upload the photo. This will be the perfect time to see how it is going to look. Select a Border

Stamps look nicer if they have a border. Make sure to pick out a border that compliments the theme and the colors that will be used for the stamps.

Separate Value Area

Make certain to choose a company that will print the value of the stamp separately from the personal postage stamps. You do not want the stamp value on top of your picture or crowding the photo in the space provided to print.

Quality Ink

You will have the best personal postage stamps that are printed with quality ink. Select an ink that will not easily bleed and ruin the picture.

Quality Paper

Just as the ink is important, the paper quality is also very important. Printing your personal postage stamps on sheets of low quality paper will ruin them. Even though you want to try and save money, do not cut corners on the quality of materials you use for these stamps.

Receive discount personal postage stamps for free. Tons of articles, news, reviews, and incentivized discounts for personal photo stamps and online stamps alike.

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Receive discount personal postage stamps for free. Tons of articles, news, reviews, and incentivized discounts for personal photo stamps and online stamps alike.

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Postage Stamp Articles : Benefits When You Print Your Own Postage Author: Craig Thornburrow

Developed in conjunction with the United States Postal Service™, Print stamps is a software-based service that allows you to calculate and print USPS postage right from your PC, with no additional hardware required, mind you. they even keep track of all your postal spending using your client codes and can even recommend optimal delivery methods, formats and more.

The free software provided will connect you via internet to your Postage Account. When you print your own postage, the postage amount will be deducted from your account. There's never a surcharge. The only thing you have to do is pay a monthly fee to use the service and its many time-saving features.

Some of these features include:

The ability to import delivery addresses automatically from your MS Outlook and many other popular address books and contact management software. You can add or edit addresses anytime and even print your own postage directly from MS Word, Outlook and Corel WordPerfect.

A digital scale to weigh your envelope or package, and then input the weight into your postage.

Calculate and print the exact postage along with an estimate of the delivery time of all available USPS services. They use the USPS database to validate your delivery address to ensure fast, accurate delivery. They can even send an email to the recipient to inform them that the package is on its way.

With the option to print your own postage, it can help you to save time, save money, increase your efficiency, have more control of your mailing and shipping, create a more professional appearance, and utilize more advanced, powerful shipping features. More of these features and benefits include:

If you want to save time, you will be able to calculate and print postage 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, eliminate long trips to the Post Office, print addresses and postage in one simple step, and verify addresses automatically.

For saving money, you can save 80% over the cost of a postage meter, print exact postage every time and never overpay, and client billing codes to track spending.

For increased efficiency, you can send Certified Mail® & Return Receipt® without USPS forms; get help with choosing the best delivery method, print addresses from Microsoft Word™ documents, and import from your PC address books.

To get a more professional appearance, you can get rid of sloppy, handwritten addresses, add graphics and logos for a more customized look, and simply make your mail and packages look more official.

Whether or not you send mail everyday or every so often, the benefits if you print your own postage are obvious. Simply apply your postage and hand the mail piece to your postal carrier or drop it in any post office mailbox.

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/online-business-articles/benefits-when-you-print-your-own-postage-388646.html

About the Author:
Craig Thornburrow is an acknowledged expert in his field. You can get more free advice on print postage and review of postal scales at http://www.printingpostage.com

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Avoiding Personalized Postage Stamp Scams By James Hinkley

You can find many online shops that offer personalized postage stamps for all of your mailing needs. These sites will offer you additional postal services as well as many offers and deals. The trick is to make sure that you avoid the online shops that are actually scams. Unfortunately with the advancement of technology, there are some people out there that just want your money without delivering you any product.

Credit Card by Telephone

You have found the perfect Internet site to create your personalized stamps of the new house you just bought. All of your house warming party invitations are written and addressed. You have filled out all the online information, uploaded your photo of your new house and are ready to finalize your order to print your sheet of personalized stamps.

Ideally this would be how everything should work. Yet, after all the time you just spent and the excitement building you are told that you need to pay for the order by phone. Once the order is paid for, you will be able to instantly print your personalized stamps.

This is an online shop that you should leave as quickly as you can log off the website, close your browser and clean your cookies from your Internet cache. No reputable company is going to ask for your credit card information by phone. Additionally, if they have their site developed enough for you to print your personalized stamps instantly after payment, they would not need to process orders by phone only. This is a major scam that you should have red flags raise the instant you see the message for finalizing your order.

Processing Fee

We all know the current rate of a traditional postage stamp that you can print online or purchase at the regular post office. Of course if you are going to create personalized stamps you expect to play slightly more. After all you are using their programs and web server. Reputable companies are going to list very clearly on the website the amount per stamp and per quantity. Often, you can get deals for ordering more than one sheet at a time. This is all that you should have to pay them.

Some companies try to back end the customer with processing fees. Clients are tricked into paying processing fees because they assume that is part of the additional price to make the stamps personalized. If any processing fees are added to the shopping cart when you pay for your order, you are being scammed. You should not pay the fees and should leave the stamp shop for a more reputable company.

Membership Fee for Personalized Postage Stamps

Some of the online photo and personalize stamps service companies offer more than just stamps. They will provide you with bulk mailing, postal meters, postal scales, ink cartridges, printing paper supplies, envelopes and even more. While these services are all wonderful and a great advantage to someone that has their own business, you do not need all of this stuff just for personalized stamps to go on envelopes for special occasions.

These companies are not being dishonest but are really catering to the business person instead of the average consumer. Instead of paying a membership fee for all of these additional services, there are plenty of reputable online services that will help you create and print personalized postage stamps without any membership fees.

About the Author:
Receive discount personalized postage stamps for free. Tons of articles, news, reviews, and incentivized discounts for personal photo stamps and online stamps alike: http://DiscountStampsOnline.com

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How to Take Care of your Postage Stamps Collection by Dave Poon

Apart from being a fun and great hobby, collecting postage stamps can also be considered an important and financially rewarding leisure pursuit. For one, there's very good money in keeping and selling commemorative or rare postage stamps. Also, stamps may be small and simple but they stand for a piece of history, a certain individual and a country. Hence, it's important to value every postage stamp.

There are a number of ways to take care of these valuable collectibles. First off, you can buy a waterproof stamp album. Make sure that you buy enough pieces so as to accommodate your entire collection. Alternatively, you may want to purchase a stock book with small pockets you can insert the stamps into. Choose an album that has enough space for each stamp. Let the stamp "breathe". Besides, it would also look better if each and every stamp gets "featured". Keep the album off a busy desk and keep food, cigarettes, lighters, matches and drinks at bay. Avoid accidents! Secondly, don't use your fingers in handling stamps. Experts of philately (the study of stamps) say that any outside matter such as a fingerprint can decrease the stamp's value. This is why experts discourage the mere use of fingers to take a stamp off an envelope. They reckon that the best way to take it off is to let the stamped envelope undergo a process called "steaming". Ask where you can buy a pair of flat bladed stamp collector's tongs. Use this to transfer each stamp. Avoid using the regular pair of tweezers! The tweezers' sharp points may damage the stamp.

Thirdly, avoid using both sides of an album page. Doing this allows the stamps on one side to come in contact with the stamps on the other side of the page. Don't let that happen since it may decrease the value of the stamp. Fourthly, use inserts for the album. Place them in between pages to further keep the stamps from coming in contact with each other. An ideal insert can be as thin as onion skin paper. Don't hesitate to ask the local school supply store which inserts are usually bought by stamp collectors. Fifthly, purchase stamp mounts or clear plastic sleeves with gummed surface. Use these to handle the precious stamps that are still in mint condition. The mounts can help protect the stamps since the gummed surface can maintain the adhesive on the back of the precious stamp. Lastly, never let your stamps get in contact with direct sunlight. This can cause discoloration and can also melt the adhesive on the back of the stamp.

Preserve your stamps by following these steps. Your collection deserves nothing but proper care.

About the Author
Jeff Dodd loves to view and collect Postage Stamps. Come visit us at http://www.totalstamps.com.

Source: http://www.goarticles.com/cgi-bin/showa.cgi?C=571791

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Photo Postage Stamps - Great Innovations in Stamps by John Hinkle

Photo postage stamps arent such a new idea; its been around for years! The USPS (United States Postal Service) briefly suspended the use of such a stamp due to security concerns. There are certainly a number of reasons that the USPS would want to abolish all photo stamps, for example in the height of the anthrax scares a stamp with a scull and cross bones plus the word Anthrax caused a sorting office to shut down for several hours. Although custom photo stamps are legitimate, perhaps getting rid of them would put people off trying to get away with counterfeit postage stamps!

The USPS decided that it would allow another phase of a pilot program allowing companies to sell their customers photo postage stamps. The first stage of the trial was a huge success; however the USPS wants to make sure that these custom postage stamps arent just a fad.

What is a photo postage stamp? Photo postage stamps allow people to put a photo of pretty much whatever they want to on their stamp. There are however exceptions, you cannot for example put pornographic or disturbing images onto your photo stamp.

Photo stamps are useful for:

Weddings Births Anniversaries Business Logos Any Special Occasion Internet pranksters - screening photo stamps for validity Being able to put an image of anything you want onto your stamps is very exciting for most people; however some internet pranksters just take things too far. Some people have tried to order stamps with people like Slobodan Milosevic on them, as these could cause public outrage its important for the organizations that are permitted to produce photo postal stamps to have proper screening processes in place.

Along with controversial figures, the other things that must not be allowed on postage stamps are pornographic images, and also certain religious symbols. Copyright is a tricky subject; technically you should only use material on a stamp that you own the rights to, or have permission to use. Other than this and advertising, the images can be of pretty much anything.

The company that supplies the postage stamps are personally responsible for screening, this is nothing to do with the USPS. The vendors themselves should reject the images that break the strict rules set down by the USPS. The USPS is able to find out which company generated the stamp by looking at the information encoded in the stamps barcode, therefore any company not screening images properly could find themselves losing the rights to print postage.

Where can I get my photo postage stamps? There are three main custom stamp vendors in America , www.stamps.com , which has been a key contender ever since the postal services first trial. Endica are also permitted to produce stamps. Pitney Bowes the popular franking machine manufacturer has realized that photo stamps trespass into their industry, and so they are grabbing hold of this opportunity with both hands and refusing to let go!

Photo stamps are a worldwide phenomenon! Photo postal stamps arent just popular in America , theyre popular worldwide! England has one of the oldest postal services in the world, but even so the Royal Mail is adopting online photo postage stamps. Currently in England you can only buy the stamps directly from the Royal Mail (the equivalent of the USPS), but only time will tell as to when they will adopt the same personalization.

About the Author
Visit Discount Online Stamps to view the latest articles and cash back rebates on all photo stamps and online postage stamps

Source: http://www.goarticles.com/cgi-bin/showa.cgi?C=458649

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Buy Postage Stamps by Tony Robinson

OK so you got mail - to post that is! You obviously now need to buy a postage stamp? Well the obvious place to go would be the Post Office - but have you ever though that this is not the only place to purchase them from?

Depending on exactly what you need you may be able to buy your postage stamps online. A quick search on www.google.com shows there are over 3 million sites for the search term buy postage stamps so looking closely at some of these sites will show you the procedure on buying stamps online.

One site I found - stamps.com allows you to buy postage stamps and print them off on your own printer!

Instead of going to the post office - have a look for the blue-and-red U.S. Postal Service logo at grocery stores, drugstores and mini-marts. Also look for stores that specialize in mail and shipping services. Swing by the ATM machine and buy stamps while you make deposits or withdrawals. You can even go to USPS to simply have stamps mailed to your home.

If you want cheaper stamps - You can even get stamps for below the face value! Buy them in a greater quantity from a dealer. They have so many they actually reduce the price below what the stamps originally were worth (sometimes), especially if you have $25 or more to spend all at once on a whole bunch.

Ebay.com is also a great source to buy postage stamps. Research carefully to find both new and uses postage stamps as well as special and hard to get stamps. When searching ebay, mix up your search terms such as postage stamps, stamp collections, first day of issue stamps and so on. This will give you a wide range of stamps to choose from.You could even begin your own little business by trading and buying and selling postage stamps.

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Collectible Postage Stamps by Tony Robinson

Humans are notorious for collecting and hoarding. Many people have collections of some sort - be it collecting coins, cars, dolls, china, art work and a myriad of many many other collectible items. Stamp collecting is no exception. The art of stamp collecting is known as Philately

Collectible postage stamps aren't necessarily the highest dollar value - or most valuable stamps. Virtually all stamps will feature something that appeals to a stamp collector, instantly making the item a collectible. Whilst most collectors aspire to own stamps worth large sums of money, many who enjoy the hobby simply collect and/or purchase stamps they find visually interesting.
The obvious source for finding stamps is a post office, but shopping for collectible stamps at such a location barely scratches the surface in terms of what's available. By using the Internet, you gain access to stamps from around the world. One of the best internet resources for a stamp collector is eBay, the world's single largest marketplace.

An east strategy to begin a collection is to ask family and friends to collect the stamps off mail they have received. remember to ask them not to try to take the stamp off the envelope - leave that task for yourself top do properly.

Some of the most popular collectible postage stamps feature images of pop culture icons. Disney characters, Elvis Presley, and Princess Diana have all been honoured with their own postage stamps. For those new to the world of philately, these celebrity stamps make the ideal starting point. They feature familiar faces we all know and love, and many of them are available at economical prices. You may also choose an event such as the olympic games as a theme for your first collection - think of where your own interests lay - and follow that interest. For example - you may be interested in flowers, animals or cars - so you could use those themes as the theme for your first collection.

Of course on eBay, you'll find thousands of auctions for collectible stamps, ranging from affordable celebrity-themed stamps to the extremely valuable. The auction website is also a wonderful place to find stamps from countries other than your own. By using Find-Your-Item.com, you can effortlessly discover new stamps to add to your collection. eBay has been designed with efficiency in mind and is completely free for shoppers to use. Simply input a few keywords to begin your collectible stamp quest, or browse by category to view the full range of stamps up for auction on eBay.

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Photo Postage Stamps - Great Innovations in Stamps by John Hinkle

Photo postage stamps arent such a new idea; its been around for years! The USPS (United States Postal Service) briefly suspended the use of such a stamp due to security concerns. There are certainly a number of reasons that the USPS would want to abolish all photo stamps, for example in the height of the anthrax scares a stamp with a scull and cross bones plus the word Anthrax caused a sorting office to shut down for several hours. Although custom photo stamps are legitimate, perhaps getting rid of them would put people off trying to get away with counterfeit postage stamps!

The USPS decided that it would allow another phase of a pilot program allowing companies to sell their customers photo postage stamps. The first stage of the trial was a huge success; however the USPS wants to make sure that these custom postage stamps arent just a fad.

What is a photo postage stamp? Photo postage stamps allow people to put a photo of pretty much whatever they want to on their stamp. There are however exceptions, you cannot for example put pornographic or disturbing images onto your photo stamp.

Photo stamps are useful for:

Weddings Births Anniversaries Business Logos Any Special Occasion Internet pranksters - screening photo stamps for validity Being able to put an image of anything you want onto your stamps is very exciting for most people; however some internet pranksters just take things too far. Some people have tried to order stamps with people like Slobodan Milosevic on them, as these could cause public outrage its important for the organizations that are permitted to produce photo postal stamps to have proper screening processes in place.

Along with controversial figures, the other things that must not be allowed on postage stamps are pornographic images, and also certain religious symbols. Copyright is a tricky subject; technically you should only use material on a stamp that you own the rights to, or have permission to use. Other than this and advertising, the images can be of pretty much anything.

The company that supplies the postage stamps are personally responsible for screening, this is nothing to do with the USPS. The vendors themselves should reject the images that break the strict rules set down by the USPS. The USPS is able to find out which company generated the stamp by looking at the information encoded in the stamps barcode, therefore any company not screening images properly could find themselves losing the rights to print postage.

Where can I get my photo postage stamps? There are three main custom stamp vendors in America , www.stamps.com , which has been a key contender ever since the postal services first trial. Endica are also permitted to produce stamps. Pitney Bowes the popular franking machine manufacturer has realized that photo stamps trespass into their industry, and so they are grabbing hold of this opportunity with both hands and refusing to let go!

Photo stamps are a worldwide phenomenon! Photo postal stamps arent just popular in America , theyre popular worldwide! England has one of the oldest postal services in the world, but even so the Royal Mail is adopting online photo postage stamps. Currently in England you can only buy the stamps directly from the Royal Mail (the equivalent of the USPS), but only time will tell as to when they will adopt the same personalization.

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Postage Stamps Collecting by Tony Robinson

STEP 1: Before you start your new collection, decide on a theme that you are interested in and want to collect. Themes can vary from such topics as Sports, Countries, Flora and Fauna through to topics such as flags, pop idols and royalty. Now you can start by going to your local post office and purchase new stamps.

STEP 2: Take used stamps off your old mail. Note that it's sometimes more valuable to collect the entire envelope rather than stripping off the stamp because of a unique postmark date. There are a lot of people who collect "First Day of Issue" stamps and envelopes. You may also be interested in these types of collections.

STEP 3: You should also ask friends and family for their old stamps. Consider asking businesses to keep their envelopes and stamps for you also. Their saved envelopes also can be valuable.

STEP 4: Widen your postage stamps collecting areas to purchase stamps from dealers, who are often listed in newspaper classifieds and offer stacks of assorted stamps.

STEP 5: Order stamps through the mail or via Web sites, either by approval or by want list. "Approval" is when a dealer sends you assorted stamps and you choose which ones to keep. A "want list" is when a dealer checks his or her stock and quotes prices for specific stamps you want to collect. EBay is a great resource to continually buy and sell stamps. I also suggest surfing the internet to find good stamp sites that even offer a collector forum where you can chat with other collectors with similar interests to yours.

STEP 6: Once you are more experienced and know what you are looking for and the associated prices you can bid at stamp auctions or philatelic exhibitions. Take the time to look through the merchandise and make educated deals.

STEP 7: Trade with other fellow stamp collectors. Do this by meeting other stamp traders at shows, auctions and stamp clubs.

STEP 8: Once you have a postage stamps collection you need to arrange them in some sort of logical order. You may arrange them in your stamp album in date order, price order or whatever system you decide to follow.

STEP 9: Display and continue to build up your Postage Stamps Collection

Helpful tips and techniques.

Store your stamps where they will be safe and not damaged. A cardboard box or simple shoebox will do starters.

To assist your postage stamps collecting, check the prices of stamps in the most current price guides, such as the Scott Catalogue or the Blackbook Price Guide. Follow the instructions printed at the beginning of the guide for more information on examining and handling a stamp.

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How to Take Care of your Postage Stamps Collection by Dave Poon

Apart from being a fun and great hobby, collecting postage stamps can also be considered an important and financially rewarding leisure pursuit. For one, there's very good money in keeping and selling commemorative or rare postage stamps. Also, stamps may be small and simple but they stand for a piece of history, a certain individual and a country. Hence, it's important to value every postage stamp.

There are a number of ways to take care of these valuable collectibles. First off, you can buy a waterproof stamp album. Make sure that you buy enough pieces so as to accommodate your entire collection. Alternatively, you may want to purchase a stock book with small pockets you can insert the stamps into. Choose an album that has enough space for each stamp. Let the stamp "breathe". Besides, it would also look better if each and every stamp gets "featured". Keep the album off a busy desk and keep food, cigarettes, lighters, matches and drinks at bay. Avoid accidents! Secondly, don't use your fingers in handling stamps. Experts of philately (the study of stamps) say that any outside matter such as a fingerprint can decrease the stamp's value. This is why experts discourage the mere use of fingers to take a stamp off an envelope. They reckon that the best way to take it off is to let the stamped envelope undergo a process called "steaming". Ask where you can buy a pair of flat bladed stamp collector's tongs. Use this to transfer each stamp. Avoid using the regular pair of tweezers! The tweezers' sharp points may damage the stamp.

Thirdly, avoid using both sides of an album page. Doing this allows the stamps on one side to come in contact with the stamps on the other side of the page. Don't let that happen since it may decrease the value of the stamp. Fourthly, use inserts for the album. Place them in between pages to further keep the stamps from coming in contact with each other. An ideal insert can be as thin as onion skin paper. Don't hesitate to ask the local school supply store which inserts are usually bought by stamp collectors. Fifthly, purchase stamp mounts or clear plastic sleeves with gummed surface. Use these to handle the precious stamps that are still in mint condition. The mounts can help protect the stamps since the gummed surface can maintain the adhesive on the back of the precious stamp. Lastly, never let your stamps get in contact with direct sunlight. This can cause discoloration and can also melt the adhesive on the back of the stamp.

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Personalized Wedding Postage Stamps by merchant-phil

Personalized Postage Stamps for Your Wedding Do you need something extra for your wedding to be perfect make your own custom postage stamps fast and easy.

And get your perfect postage stamp made by you now.

What are the possibilities? Whether you have a wedding to announce, a new baby in the family or a photogenic pet, PhotoStamps are a fun and easy way to add a personal touch to everything you send in the mail! PhotoStamps can help you grow your business by showcasing your business logo, announcing new products, or advertising upcoming events. You can also give them as unforgettably unique gifts, or keep them and frame them so you and your family can treasure your PhotoStamps for years to come!

Are these real? Yes, PhotoStamps from Stamps.com are valid U.S. Postage, based on a technology called PC Postage. Stamps.com, the company behind PhotoStamps, has been a United States Postal Service approved provider of PC postage since 1999. When PhotoStamps first launched in 2004, it was the first ever customized postage product in the United States. To date, over 32 million PhotoStamps have been sold! Click this link--->>> http://stamps.merchant-phil-thestore.com

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Creating the Best Personal Postage Stamps by John Hinkley

Personal postage stamps have become exceedingly popular in the last several years. They are easy to create online or at a non-Internet store. There are many uses for personal postage stamps and virtually everyone seems to be enjoying these for their mailings. Here are some tips for creating the best personal postage stamps.

Select a Theme

Select a theme for your personal postage stamps. If you are celebrating a certain occasion, you will want the theme of the stamps to match the occasion. For example, if you are sending out baby shower invitations then you would want your stamps to have a baby theme to them. You wouldn't want someone milking a cow for the stamps on your baby shower invitations.

Select a Photo

You can browse through your photos on your personal computer or even find non-copyright photos on the Internet to use for your personal postage stamps. Do not take photos that someone else owns. You will want to use public domain photos or your own photos. Choose between two and five photos that go with the theme you selected. This will give you freedom to experiment to find out which photo looks the best for your mailings.

Crop Your Photo

Remember that the photos are going to be small. You do not need all of the background items in the picture. To show off the photo the best, open it in a photo editing program on your computer and crop the focal point of the photo. Save the new image to use on the online shops for personal postage stamps.

Now is a good time to check the photo for blurs or minor blemishes and fix those. You will also get a feel for how it will look as a small image and decide which one of the several you selected is going to work best for your mailings.

Upload Your Photo

Once you have selected and cropped the best photo for your theme, it is time to upload the photo. This will be the perfect time to see how it is going to look. Select a Border

Stamps look nicer if they have a border. Make sure to pick out a border that compliments the theme and the colors that will be used for the stamps.

Separate Value Area

Make certain to choose a company that will print the value of the stamp separately from the personal postage stamps. You do not want the stamp value on top of your picture or crowding the photo in the space provided to print.

Quality Ink

You will have the best personal postage stamps that are printed with quality ink. Select an ink that will not easily bleed and ruin the picture.

Quality Paper

Just as the ink is important, the paper quality is also very important. Printing your personal postage stamps on sheets of low quality paper will ruin them. Even though you want to try and save money, do not cut corners on the quality of materials you use for these stamps.

Receive discount personal postage stamps for free. Tons of articles, news, reviews, and incentivized discounts for personal photo stamps and online stamps alike.

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