Page 1 of 2 12 LastLast
Results 1 to 20 of 22

Thread: Unwanted stamps - charities want them

  1. #1
    Senior Member Morgaine's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jan 2014
    Posts
    1,073
    Thanks
    632
    Thanked 386 Times in 254 Posts
    Rep Power
    12

    Default Unwanted used stamps - charities want them

    If you find yourself inundated with InCoWriMo mail and not enough space to keep the letters, please consider taking the stamps off the envelope (tear a section of the envelope around the stamp), and sending it on to charity. I shall hunt out some of the websites and charities willing to accept stamps (these then get sold on to stamp dealers by weight - kiloware).

    Great Ormond Street Hospital (in London, for children) - (link no longer works).

    http://usedstampsforcharity.weebly.com/ is a directory of some of the UK charities accepting stamps and the addresses (of the charities) to send to, e.g. Oxfam, RNIB (Royal National Institute For The Blind), RNLI (Royal National Lifeboat Institution), Cancer Research UK

    Macmillan Cancer Support

    An Australian directory https://www.givenow.com.au/otherways/stamps of some charities/community groups.

    Oxfam in Canada

    I'm sure there are charities in the US wanting stamps (google however doesn't want to show me them).

    [The Veterans National Stamp and Coin Club (the old link no longer works, another website mentions them - http://www.sellingyourstamps.com/?page_id=24)

    Holocaust Stamp Project (looks to have ended).

    Stamps for the Wounded (USA)

    Lions International Stamp Club, well for Australia, collects used stamps. Money raised in the case of Australia, goes to provide walking aids for disabled children
    Last edited by Morgaine; September 18th, 2023 at 09:58 AM. Reason: updated a link

  2. The Following 6 Users Say Thank You to Morgaine For This Useful Post:

    Chrissy (January 3rd, 2017), datainadequate (January 4th, 2017), fountainpagan (June 13th, 2019), grainweevil (January 4th, 2017), Jon Szanto (January 3rd, 2017), ThriveToScribe (February 3rd, 2017)

  3. #2
    Senior Member FredRydr's Avatar
    Join Date
    Sep 2012
    Location
    Carlisle, Pennsylvania USA
    Posts
    4,903
    Thanks
    1,395
    Thanked 6,379 Times in 2,500 Posts
    Rep Power
    18

    Default Re: Unwanted stamps - charities want them

    Quote Originally Posted by Morgaine View Post
    I'm sure there are charities in the US wanting stamps (google however doesn't want to show me them).
    I've sent an email to the American Philatelic Society not far from me here in Pennsylvania asking if they can share a list of such charities in the USA. I'll share the answer when (and if) it comes.

    Fred

  4. The Following 5 Users Say Thank You to FredRydr For This Useful Post:

    distracted_mom (January 3rd, 2017), Dreck (January 3rd, 2017), Jon Szanto (January 3rd, 2017), Morgaine (January 3rd, 2017), VertOlive (January 3rd, 2017)

  5. #3
    Senior Member FredRydr's Avatar
    Join Date
    Sep 2012
    Location
    Carlisle, Pennsylvania USA
    Posts
    4,903
    Thanks
    1,395
    Thanked 6,379 Times in 2,500 Posts
    Rep Power
    18

    Default Re: Unwanted stamps - charities want them

    Here ya go:

    Fred,

    ...[Personal yackety-yak deleted]....

    There used to be several charities that solicited used postage stamps to sell but most of them have disappeared. Today I am only aware of a few philatelic organizations such as Stamps for the Wounded and us, the American Philatelic Society, who welcome donations of used stamps to help with programming (as opposed to selling). Stamps for the Wounded distribute stamps to rehabilitating veterans, we use them for programs in schools, scout merit badge programs, and for youth areas at stamp shows.

    Ken Martin
    Chief Operating Officer
    American Philatelic Society
    Visit us at www.stamps.org

    Fred

  6. #4
    Senior Member Morgaine's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jan 2014
    Posts
    1,073
    Thanks
    632
    Thanked 386 Times in 254 Posts
    Rep Power
    12

    Default Re: Unwanted stamps - charities want them

    Thanks Fred, a little disappointing on the charity front. I've looked at the Oxfam US site - no mention of stamps there.

    The UK has quite a few charities and many people can name more than a few. Can anyone think of any US charities for various disease research charities, children's charities, overseas aid...?

    I think there is a stamp collecting for charity thing in Scandinavia (thought I read about it a handful of years ago).

  7. #5
    Senior Member VertOlive's Avatar
    Join Date
    Oct 2013
    Location
    Gulf of Mexico
    Posts
    3,886
    Thanks
    4,126
    Thanked 3,788 Times in 1,642 Posts
    Rep Power
    14

    Default Re: Unwanted stamps - charities want them

    I found a direct link for Stamps for the Wounded: http://www.angelfire.com/va2/ayrhill/SFTW.htm (This is a US charity)
    "Nolo esse salus sine vobis ...” —St. Augustine

  8. The Following 3 Users Say Thank You to VertOlive For This Useful Post:

    Jon Szanto (January 3rd, 2017), Morgaine (January 4th, 2017), ThriveToScribe (February 3rd, 2017)

  9. #6
    Senior Member writingrav's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jan 2012
    Location
    Philadelphia
    Posts
    2,191
    Thanks
    768
    Thanked 1,297 Times in 543 Posts
    Rep Power
    15

    Default Re: Unwanted stamps - charities want them

    This is all very helpful and I'm surprised we never knew about this before. I will be saving and sending my postage from now on.
    To continue to diminish the place of the handwritten in our lives is to diminish, in a small but real way, our humanity. Philip Hensher

    Dunno ergo sum

  10. #7
    Senior Member Morgaine's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jan 2014
    Posts
    1,073
    Thanks
    632
    Thanked 386 Times in 254 Posts
    Rep Power
    12

    Default Re: Unwanted stamps - charities want them

    I shall do a thread for my forum too at some point! Might help some if they don't have to send the stamps internationally.

  11. #8
    Senior Member grainweevil's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jan 2014
    Location
    Cornwall, UK
    Posts
    1,572
    Thanks
    269
    Thanked 885 Times in 461 Posts
    Rep Power
    12

    Default Re: Unwanted stamps - charities want them

    Saving stamps for charity is so ingrained at Weevil Towers I honestly didn't think to promote it. Good job, Morgaine.

  12. The Following User Says Thank You to grainweevil For This Useful Post:

    Morgaine (January 4th, 2017)

  13. #9
    Senior Member Morgaine's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jan 2014
    Posts
    1,073
    Thanks
    632
    Thanked 386 Times in 254 Posts
    Rep Power
    12

    Default Re: Unwanted stamps - charities want them

    One of my Dutch penpals gives the stamps to her grandmother for the church to sell for funds. I suspect some other churches around the world would also accept stamps.

  14. #10
    Senior Member Morgaine's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jan 2014
    Posts
    1,073
    Thanks
    632
    Thanked 386 Times in 254 Posts
    Rep Power
    12

    Default Re: Unwanted stamps - charities want them

    I have a slightly better list over on my forum. http://s-mail.proboards.com/thread/4...amps-charities

  15. #11
    Senior Member Morgaine's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jan 2014
    Posts
    1,073
    Thanks
    632
    Thanked 386 Times in 254 Posts
    Rep Power
    12

    Default Re: Unwanted stamps - charities want them

    Update, I will send tomorrow a letter to a company selling kiloware to stamp collectors. Their website mentions buying from charities so I am asking them if they can provide a list of some of them. They did mention on their website about Guide Dogs for Blinds being "stamp collectors" in various countries (but I have yet to investigate which countries).

  16. #12
    Senior Member Morgaine's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jan 2014
    Posts
    1,073
    Thanks
    632
    Thanked 386 Times in 254 Posts
    Rep Power
    12

    Default Re: Unwanted stamps - charities want them

    Quote Originally Posted by Morgaine View Post
    Update, I will send tomorrow a letter to a company selling kiloware to stamp collectors. Their website mentions buying from charities so I am asking them if they can provide a list of some of them. They did mention on their website about Guide Dogs for Blinds being "stamp collectors" in various countries (but I have yet to investigate which countries).
    I haven't had a reply...

    I'll have another search later for more charities worldwide.

  17. #13
    Senior Member Morgaine's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jan 2014
    Posts
    1,073
    Thanks
    632
    Thanked 386 Times in 254 Posts
    Rep Power
    12

    Default Re: Unwanted stamps - charities want them

    Found another good cause in the UK - Kicks Count (pregnancy charity - hoping to reduce stillbirth and neonatal deaths). They not only want stamps, but if you are able to get to one of their collection points in the UK, they'll accept plastics (bottles, packets, boxes) for recycling. https://www.kickscount.org.uk/blog/recycling

  18. #14
    Senior Member
    Join Date
    Apr 2013
    Location
    SFO USA
    Posts
    1,374
    Thanks
    13
    Thanked 1,112 Times in 573 Posts
    Rep Power
    12

    Default Re: Unwanted stamps - charities want them

    Any idea what these charities get for cancelled postage? I can think of only a few modern era stamps that might be worth something cancelled and mailed to a collector. Unused postage in low value issues (1c to 25c) is sold in bulk at or below par by all the major stamp brokers.

  19. #15
    Senior Member FredRydr's Avatar
    Join Date
    Sep 2012
    Location
    Carlisle, Pennsylvania USA
    Posts
    4,903
    Thanks
    1,395
    Thanked 6,379 Times in 2,500 Posts
    Rep Power
    18

    Default Re: Unwanted stamps - charities want them

    US postage has increased to such an extent that it has dissuaded me from paying the $8 to send the box of cancelled stamps to the charity that I had been sending routinely. It's only 60 miles away, but it might as well be 3,000.

  20. #16
    Senior Member Morgaine's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jan 2014
    Posts
    1,073
    Thanks
    632
    Thanked 386 Times in 254 Posts
    Rep Power
    12

    Default Re: Unwanted stamps - charities want them

    Quote Originally Posted by Farmboy View Post
    Any idea what these charities get for cancelled postage? I can think of only a few modern era stamps that might be worth something cancelled and mailed to a collector. Unused postage in low value issues (1c to 25c) is sold in bulk at or below par by all the major stamp brokers.
    No idea but is more than just pennies. For the stamp collector, they can buy kiloware (unsorted except perhaps by country/Christmas/ordinary/commemorative stamps still on paper of the envelope) from dealers (they get from the charities).

    One stamp dealer is Nordfrim and they sell kiloware obtained from various charities.

  21. #17
    Senior Member Morgaine's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jan 2014
    Posts
    1,073
    Thanks
    632
    Thanked 386 Times in 254 Posts
    Rep Power
    12

    Default Re: Unwanted stamps - charities want them

    Quote Originally Posted by FredRydr View Post
    US postage has increased to such an extent that it has dissuaded me from paying the $8 to send the box of cancelled stamps to the charity that I had been sending routinely. It's only 60 miles away, but it might as well be 3,000.
    How often did you send? Perhaps they could organise someone to collect from you, or you take to them?

  22. #18
    Senior Member FredRydr's Avatar
    Join Date
    Sep 2012
    Location
    Carlisle, Pennsylvania USA
    Posts
    4,903
    Thanks
    1,395
    Thanked 6,379 Times in 2,500 Posts
    Rep Power
    18

    Default Re: Unwanted stamps - charities want them

    Quote Originally Posted by Morgaine View Post
    How often did you send? Perhaps they could organise someone to collect from you, or you take to them?
    I used to send when accumulated weight reached 13oz/0.37kg, but even that weight has gone up to $6 first class mail. Over that weight must go Priority at higher rates, though flat rate boxes can be stuffed. I still cut and save stamps, and I probably have twice that weight in a box near my desk. I had been sending to the American Philatelic Society for their education program. (Perhaps if I was a stamp collector, there'd be more love.)

  23. #19
    Senior Member Morgaine's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jan 2014
    Posts
    1,073
    Thanks
    632
    Thanked 386 Times in 254 Posts
    Rep Power
    12

    Default Re: Unwanted stamps - charities want them

    Lions Club International has stamp clubs. Lions International Stamp Club, well, for Australia collects used stamps to sell on to dealers - money raised goes to provide walking aids for disabled children. Probably Lions Clubs elsewhere would also collect them.

  24. #20
    Senior Member Morgaine's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jan 2014
    Posts
    1,073
    Thanks
    632
    Thanked 386 Times in 254 Posts
    Rep Power
    12

    Default Re: Unwanted stamps - charities want them

    Some links broken more up-to-date version on my blog...

Bookmarks

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •