As a life-long stamp collector, I have had a hard time understanding the logic
to this ever since it was first announced.
Part of the value of a stamp collection (of NEW, unused stamps) is that they
would have value as valid postage at face value FOREVER. So, even if stamps
in your possession held very little extra value as collectible (which is most
stamps), they always held their value as postage and thus, would never be completely
"Worthless"
It just seems very odd for Royal Mail to have de-valued stamps. I do not think
it is a smart idea by Royal Mail, either.
It makes me wonder how many lifetime collections of NEW stamps have been swapped
and how much this has or will cost Royal Mail in the end.
I don't have any facts or evidence, but it seems to me that postage stamp
collecting is a dying hobby. I can only see this Stamp Swap as another big blow
to stamp collecting.
Collectors buying stamps and never using them for postage has ALWAYS been a profit
motive for postal systems around the world. It is a big part of why so many
fancy and commemorative type stamps get produced year after year. Stamps purchased
as collectibles and never used to send letters or parcels are pure profit. But,
again, part of the reason why people buy and hold onto NEW, unused stamps in
a collection is because they would never lose value. This idea seems dead now.
As a life-long stamp collector, I have had a hard time understanding the logic
to this ever since it was first announced.
Part of the value of a stamp collection (of NEW, unused stamps) is that they
would have value as valid postage at face value FOREVER. So, even if stamps
in your possession held very little extra value as collectible (which is most
stamps), they always held their value as postage and thus, would never be completely
"Worthless"
It just seems very odd for Royal Mail to have de-valued stamps. I do not think
it is a smart idea by Royal Mail, either.
It makes me wonder how many lifetime collections of NEW stamps have been swapped
and how much this has or will cost Royal Mail in the end.
I don't have any facts or evidence, but it seems to me that postage stamp
collecting is a dying hobby. I can only see this Stamp Swap as another big blow
to stamp collecting.
Collectors buying stamps and never using them for postage has ALWAYS been a profit
motive for postal systems around the world. It is a big part of why so many
fancy and commemorative type stamps get produced year after year. Stamps purchased
as collectibles and never used to send letters or parcels are pure profit. But,
again, part of the reason why people buy and hold onto NEW, unused stamps in
a collection is because they would never lose value. This idea seems dead now.
Just rediscovered an old photo of mine circa 1979/80.
As you can see there is a mention of a London 1980 exhibition catalogue, I was
there for the exhibition on their stand.
Incidentally it was during the Iranian embassy siege.
Had a great meal with some Kiwi dealers in the Serpentine restaurant in Hyde
park at the end of the exhibition, Auckland City stamps if I remember correctly.
Great days and as you can see, once a nerd always a nerd, proud of it.
If you collect stamps, then what difference does it make if they're still
valid postage? Do stamp collectors actually use old stamps to mail letters?
To me, the purpose of a stamp is to mail a letter. When stamps are kept indefinitely
as part of a collection, they lose that purpose (although they serve another
purpose as souvenirs).
Also, I reckon that even today, stamp collectors probably represent the minority
of overall postal customers. So, I don't think there's much of a profit
incentive for postal services to cater to collectors (although they do anyway
by offering different designs). Most people probably care more about the letter
inside the envelope than the stamp on the outside.
Furthermore, from a pure profit standpoint, it doesn't really matter whether
or not customers actually use the stamps after they buy them since they've
already been paid for.
I do agree with you though in that it is odd for Royal Mail to discontinue stamps.
At least in the United States, postage stamps keep their value indefinitely.
You can even use stamps that were made in 1860!
Perhaps the cost of maintaining backward compatibility outweighs the benefits
of allowing customers to continue to use old stamps. The article claims that
the new stamps will improve security and make deliveries more efficient.
I also agree that stamp collecting is a dying hobby, but then again, stamps are
not as common as they used to be. I can count on one hand the number of stamps
I have used in the past year.
That's cool though that you collect stamps. Mind sharing some pictures of
your collection?
The reason for it is because many stamps, especially on bubble mailers and small
packages, were not being voided and people reuse them. I doubt many people have
huge collections of non commemorative stamps as investments because they could
have been used in the future.
United Kingdom, England
USA, New York
