Using old postage stamps

misterthrifty

worbikeman wrote: »

1. Stamps with added half p are worth only the whole number value so ignore the half p as it is no longer legal tender. 11 and a half counts as 11p
2. The added 1p was a charity donation so ignore it and count only the larger amount.

Stamps are a collectable commodity and as such are traded on the open market like any other.

Decimal mint postage stamps have little or no collectable value more than face, not even unused presentation packs, prestige booklets, miniature sheets, etc. which originally retailed at more than face value.
Ask for DECIMAL MINT POSTAGE at any stamp shop they usually have packets made up into £50 or £100 which they sell at around 70% FACE VALUE depending how much you buy.
Stamp fairs and local dealers do the same, I have bought at 50% face but you may have to haggle or buy in bulk or trade your own collection. Find your local Philatelic Society and make enquiries about local stamp dealers.
This is for unused stamps MINT WITH FULL ORIGINAL GUM, not counting the half p's!
Unfranked stamps without gum are not legal to be re-used I don't recommend or condone it.
Selling your collection you might get 50% face if you are lucky but more likely less.

I am a stamp dealer, so anybody with any stamp-related questions I am more than happy to help:D

Sorry but you are wrong, the 1/2p on the stamp is still valid in combinations, this has been confirmed by Royal Mail on many occasions. The confusion arose when RM announced they wouldn't accept them about 3 years ago and then rescinded their decision after dealing with the complaints for a few weeks. Unfortunately there are even member of RM staf who don't understand this.

Incidentally you can also buy discount stamps from online dealers, just make a google search and you will find them, I used one to buy stamps to send out eBay sales and it even makes up for them adding 10% fees to the postage now.

Mr T

worbikeman

misterthrifty wrote: »

Sorry but you are wrong, the 1/2p on the stamp is still valid in combinations, this has been confirmed by Royal Mail on many occasions. The confusion arose when RM announced they wouldn't accept them about 3 years ago and then rescinded their decision after dealing with the complaints for a few weeks. Unfortunately there are even member of RM staf who don't understand this.

Incidentally you can also buy discount stamps from online dealers, just make a google search and you will find them, I used one to buy stamps to send out eBay sales and it even makes up for them adding 10% fees to the postage now.

Mr T

I got my info from an article in an issue of GSM magazine (which was probably over 3 years ago now, memory doesnt serve). The editor had written to the CEO of the Royal Mail at the time and the answer was that the half p portion was invalid due to it not being legal tender. Interestingly the old predecimal £1 stamp was still valid if you have any mint ones.
However, like you say, this was probably before the decision was rescinded.
I still ignore it on my shipments as I dont want them all coming back unsent!

zerog

misterthrifty wrote: »

Incidentally you can also buy discount stamps from online dealers, just make a google search and you will find them, I used one to buy stamps to send out eBay sales and it even makes up for them adding 10% fees to the postage now.

As long as the perforations are still intact, or they are stuck to the booklets.

misterthrifty

worbikeman wrote: »

I got my info from an article in an issue of GSM magazine (which was probably over 3 years ago now, memory doesnt serve). The editor had written to the CEO of the Royal Mail at the time and the answer was that the half p portion was invalid due to it not being legal tender. Interestingly the old predecimal £1 stamp was still valid if you have any mint ones.
However, like you say, this was probably before the decision was rescinded.
I still ignore it on my shipments as I dont want them all coming back unsent!

That's right, I believe you can use the 69 Machin £1, not sure about the Castles though.

The letters don't get returned, the recipient is charged for in-sufficient postage, £1.10 plus the difference in postage, as I found out recently and had to send a refund. It wasn't worth taking it up with RM but annoying nevertheless :mad:. It's the only one I have had in some years.

Black_Redstart

I've read through this thread with considerable interest, as I've been turning out a deceased relative's place and have come across a lot of old unused decimal stamps - especially 1/2p pale blue ones. Am I right in thinking that I could use these in multiples of 2 to make 1p now? Or does it only work with stamps that are more than 1p (i.e. those that can be rounded down)? It seems a shame to waste them.

[Deleted User]

Black_Redstart wrote: »

I've read through this thread with considerable interest, as I've been turning out a deceased relative's place and have come across a lot of old unused decimal stamps - especially 1/2p pale blue ones. Am I right in thinking that I could use these in multiples of 2 to make 1p now? Or does it only work with stamps that are more than 1p (i.e. those that can be rounded down)? It seems a shame to waste them.

You should be all right, even though you'd need a lot of 1/2 p stamps.

luxor4t

Black_Redstart wrote: »

I've read through this thread with considerable interest, as I've been turning out a deceased relative's place and have come across a lot of old unused decimal stamps - especially 1/2p pale blue ones. Am I right in thinking that I could use these in multiples of 2 to make 1p now? Or does it only work with stamps that are more than 1p (i.e. those that can be rounded down)? It seems a shame to waste them.

you could always use some on a letter to yourself as a 'test'.

oldone_2

luxor4t wrote: »

you could always use some on a letter to yourself as a 'test'.

A second class letter would need a hundred 1/2p stamps. An envelope large enough to take this number would be classed as a large letter which would need 138 stamps

RFW

Black_Redstart wrote: »

I've read through this thread with considerable interest, as I've been turning out a deceased relative's place and have come across a lot of old unused decimal stamps - especially 1/2p pale blue ones. Am I right in thinking that I could use these in multiples of 2 to make 1p now? Or does it only work with stamps that are more than 1p (i.e. those that can be rounded down)? It seems a shame to waste them.

Are they not worth more than that to a collector? I say that without any knowledge, but there can't be many unfranked ones around.

campdave

I buy unfranked stamps from a dealer to use as postage, you'd be surprised how many there are! I buy thousands at a time, and they show no sign of running out yet.

Definitives like the ones mentioned here where produced in such great number that they have no real value other than what's printed on them. However, if there are many stamps in the collection it may be worth a dealer looking at them in case there are some rare ones there.