A New collection!

[Terry Bond]

I discovered a new collection! Was at an antique mall a while back and while looking for some early auto postcards found the dealer also sold stamps. Not finding any cards I needed, I asked about stamps - no idea what possessed me, other than a couple of bucks burning a hole in my pocket, and was surprised with the education I got.

These are called "Poster Stamps." Much the same as when you get a greeting card in the mail at Christmas time, the envelopes are sealed with these non-postage stamps. They are just used to seal the envelope but were used for advertising purposes. If you had a business selling cars or parts, you'd mail something to your customers as routine business and use these to seal the envelope to advertise your being at the event. Seems they were used in Europe as well as the USA. I already had a few and added several to my collection that day. Since then, they've occasionally turned up on the internet, and I've got a couple of stamp dealers who are now sending me info when they have something interesting. It's not a really expensive item surprisingly. I think they'll look great mounted in a suitable picture frame, or two...or three...

Happy collecting-whatever it is!
Terry

[keiser31]

GREAT find!!!

[trimacar]

neat stuff- I recently saw the "garden pier" stamp somewhere, was it on ebay?

[Terry Bond]

I've seen that one on ebay before from several dealers. I'm getting a better feel for what seems to be common. Prices are all over the place on ebay. I've seen asking prices well over tenbucks. I'm not going to spend a fortune for them so we'll see how large the collection grows by end of the year. If I'm still finding some it's a good thing. That satisfies the need to collect. When you've got them all what do you do?

[rocketraider]

Terry, it's like a friend told me a few years back- "Lord help whoever has to settle your estate."

I'm of the opinion that I should collect things I like as long as I'm able to do it, before all I can collect is dust.

[Terry Bond]

You are right - too much fun right now to worry about what'll happen later. I'm sure most of it will be enjoyed over and over again by a lot of people when I'm done with it.
Terry

[Restorer32]

Another somewhat obscure automotive related stamp collectible is "perfs" or perforated stamps. Many companies including automobile companies bought regular postage stamps and had them perforated with the initials of the company as an anti theft device. Postage stamps always were an item that tended to disappear into employees' pockets and lunch pails. I have a few, including stamps perforated with an F for Ford as well as PMC for Packard. Been years since I've looked at them. Not sure how many varieties were available.

[Restorer32]

Also called "perfins" for perforated insignias.

[TheMoneyPit]

HMMMM - One more collectable to look for... That's an interesting one!