What should I do with used postage stamps?

[crosses]

I was cleaning out the closet the other day and came across a large shoebox filled with used stamps that we must have collected over the years (I don't recall doing this, but the stamps are there, so we must have). Does anyone have a good idea what I should do with these? It seems a shame to just throw them out.

[Momtwo]

Re: What should I do with used postage stamps?

Unless they are rare and a dealer would want them, they probably aren't worth anything.

[miclason]

Re: What should I do with used postage stamps?

you could use them to decoupage something, if you like crafts, for example...

[PrincessPerky]

Re: What should I do with used postage stamps?

you could check and see if a school wants em.

[amomof4]

Re: What should I do with used postage stamps?

Throwing them away would work for me. Unless, of course, they're rare.

[mylannelfare]

used postage stamps

I am collecting used postage stamps for jewelry purposes.if anyone is interested in throwing away used stamps, i would greatly appreciate recycling them into jewelry!Thank you.

[disneysteve]

Unless they are rare and a dealer would want them, they probably aren't worth anything.

I agree. Most stamps are of little value, especially once cancelled. In fact, most mint stamps aren't worth more than face value even years later. One of my best friend's father was a major stamp collector and it was funny to look at his outgoing mail. He often posted it with stamps from 10-20 years ago. He would buy them in bulk at stamp shows for below face value and thus save money by using them for postage. And recipients thought it was neat when they got an envelope with all of these old stamps on it (since he might need 10 or more stamps to make the current postage rate).

[Frugal]

There's not a lot you can do. Unless the stamp is old or of rare value, most are worth next to nothing. I used to collect stamps about thirteen years ago or fourteen years ago, but stopped. They are worth next to nothing unless they happen to have only a few left, or if they are not used.

[snafu]

Stamps were a fun project for kids of older eras. They learned about different people/places depicted. Your grand kids might find stamps unique in 50-60 years since so much correspondence is instant and electronic. Are any of your stamps misprints? They may have value in the future. Creating a gift box or item of jewelry by decoupaging sounds brilliant.

[heffer]

Raising funds for COCOA (Churches of Christ Overseas Aid )

If you are having a job wondering what to do with used postage stamps - here in South Australia, Australia, a group of us raise funds for COCOA with used postage stamps (between A$10,000 &A$12,000 is raised each year throughout Australia.) They are soaked off the paper by us and onsold to philatelists around the world. COCOA is a registered charity with the Australian Government and has been in operation for over 80 years. Volunteers also give their time overseas eg. building houses and drilling for fresh drinking water. If you want to do something with your used stamps, please post them to Mrs. Heather Sowerby, PO Box 39, Nairne, South Australia, Australia 5252.

[Gary Barzel]

You can try selling them on eBay or craigslist, people that collect them may have an interest in them.

[jasminhatcher]

I would throw them out. You could look through them to check if there are any rare ones, but its unlikely and time is money, and by saving time, you’re saving money!

[mar1050]

Help me

:Please if you have spare stamps I'll pay your postage if you'll let me have thwm, I'm disabled and stuck in bed last Christmas I receiveda book to put the stamps in a a bag of used stamps, i had a ball sort and putting thm were they belong, don't throw them away please I could use them, TV gets so boring & I can only read one hour a day because of my eyes, I promise to send you your postage money back the same day I receive them, old or new it makes no difference I can use all the stamps anyone would be king-heartedd enoughto give me. Marilyn Lajoie 80 Hillview Dr Bangor ME 04401 mlajoie1@roadrunner.com

[csheer]

Help this school collect MILLIONS of stamps

Foxborough Regional Charter School in Foxboro, MA requests donations of any quantity of used postage stamps- US or foreign - for use in their Community Service Learning activity, the Holocaust Stamps Project.
In four years the school community has collected almost 3 million stamps, but they need 8,000,000 more stamps to reach their goal of 11 million stamps, one to honor every victim of the Holocaust genocide during WWII. Every stamp represents a life "thrown away", as used stamps usually are!

Google the HOLOCAUST STAMPS PROJECT for more info on the Project website, including photos and descriptions of the amazing 18" x 24" postage stamp collages being created by the students showing what they have learned about this period of history and the importance of speaking/acting against intolerance, prejudice, discrimination, and bullying.

[Lena]

I and friend run a directory of charities needing donations of used stamps, they sell them by the kilo, and can make use of any, or all. This is the updated list.


Used Postage Stamps For Charity - List of charities needing donations.!
Millions of people, young and old, are stamp collectors (philatelists), and philately is an educational and fun hobby.

Couple this with helping charities as well, keeping stamps out of landfill, and instead recycling stamps to collectors!!!!!
This is a webpage listing charities which collect used postage stamps to raise money for charity. Charities find used stamps, which they then sort, and sell on to collectors and philatelists, an excellent source of extra income, and you are helping save the environment and reduce waste by not binning them! What could be better?
Whether your stamps are recent or old, common or rare, wherever they come from across the world, every stamp can be saved!
The charities/ volunteers listed below collect used postage stamps for charities. Please send your used stamps to any of them,
all donations of stamps will be most gratefully received! PM me to add your charity to the directory list (make sure that you contact us from time to time to update the "address last confirmed" date. )

NOTE: Please ensure that adequate postage is applied to your package

(If underpaid, the Post Office charge the receiver £1 plus the underpaid dues) otherwise your donation may not reach the charity. There have been several reports recently that packages are being sent to the charities listed here with no/ vastly underpaid postage.
This then either costs the charity a lot of money to retrieve the packages, which makes it pointless sending a donation or means that your donation will not reach them anyway.

CHARITIES WHICH NEED YOUR USED POSTAGE STAMPS:
_____________
RNLI (Royal National Lifeboat Institution)
the society that pays for the lifeboats that mean hundreds of lives are saved each year around Britain's coast.
RNLI stamps, care/of Lara,
7 Speedwell,
Brixham
Devon,
TQ5 9MJ,
England
(please note this is not a head office address, but is simply a local unpaid volunteer. Please only send stamps,
no other correspondence. Receipt confirmations available upon request, please include a postal address for same!)
Please ensure correct postage is put on bulky envelopes, as we cannot afford to pay to retrieve them from the sorting office if insufficient postage is put on
International and UK postage stamps equally welcome.
Address Last Confirmed: November 2014
_____________
The South Devon Players theatre company
An awardwinning (and featured on national BBC TV) theatre company specialising in shows about local history, with a strong ethos of life- and specialist- skills building for members. Please send in envelopes that fit through a letter box thanks.
The South Devon Players
c/o Chestnut Community Centre
1-3 Poplar Close
Brixham
Devon TQ5 0SA
Address Last Confirmed: November 2014
________________________
Leukaemia CARE
How to donate used stamps
1. Cut the stamp off the envelope
2. Leave approximately 1cm of envelope bordering each stamp.
3. Please separate the stamps into British and Overseas (Jersey, Guernsey, Eire and Isle of Man are classed as overseas).
The value of a stamp does not matter, so different values can be grouped and sent together. Collected stamps should be sent to:
Leukaemia CARE
One Birch Court
Blackpole
East Worcester
WR3 8SG
Address Last Confirmed: November 2014
_______________________
Shooting Star Chase Children’s Hospice Care
We are a leading children’s hospice charity caring for babies, children and young people with life-limiting conditions, and their families.
Whether lives are measured in days, weeks, months or years, we are here to make every moment count. We support families from diagnosis to end of life and throughout bereavement with a range of nursing, practical, emotional and medical care.
Shooting Star Chase
Bridge House
Addlestone Road
Addlestone
Surrey
KT15 2UE
Address Last Confirmed: August 2014
__________________________
Post Pals
is a small charity run solely by volunteers who are dedicated to
making seriously ill children and their siblings smile by the sending of
cards, letters, little gifts, support and friendship.
Please send stamps to
Post Pals
C/O 9 Leicester Street
Bulkington
Bedworth
Warwickshire
CV12 9NQ
Address Last Confirmed: Feb 2014
________________________
Leukaemia and LYMPHOMA Association
C/O Sue and Bill Colloff
5 Ashley Road
Forrest Gate
London
E7 8PE
Address Last Confirmed: Jan 2014
_______________________________
Canine Partners
'At Canine Partners our mission is to assist people with disabilities to enjoy a greater independence and a better quality of life and, where possible, to help them into education and employment, through the provision of specially trained dogs for the disabled, whose well-being is a key consideration.
More than 1.2 million people in the UK use a wheelchair, and a significant number of those would benefit from a canine partner. We tailor make our dogs to each applicant’s individual needs, training them to help with everyday tasks such as opening and shutting doors, unloading the washing machine, picking up dropped items, pressing buttons and switches and getting help in an emergency. We train dogs for the disabled with even the most complex conditions including members of HM Armed Forces.'
It costs £5,000 to fund a puppy's first year of training
Please send all your stamps to
Canine Partners (Stamp Appeal)
31 Crofton Avenue
Timperley
Cheshire
WA15 6BZ
Address confirmed April 2013