A Variety of Stamps For the Avid Collector

Collectors have a wide variety of stamps to choose from since almost every country in the world issues stamps in number of different types and formats. Collectors may choose to create their collection to reflect their personal interests so that it shows their own unique identity.

Some individuals collect commemorative stamps that are issued to remember a special event or individual, which are only available for a limited time. The first commemorative stamp issued in the United States celebrated the landing of Columbus in the New World, which was issued in 1869. Another type of stamp is the Se-tenant, which are two or more un-separated stamps that have different designs or values. These types of stamps are usually part of a commemorative set of stamps, such as the 1987 issue of Flora and Fauna.

Airmail stamps is type of stamps that were issued from by the United States from 1918 until 1993 for any item that was delivered by air. In this type are the extremely popular 1930 Zeppelin stamps, which were withdrawn from the market after only forty-one days. This is the reason these are the most sought after airmail stamps available with the exception of the twenty-four cent Inverted Jenny error airmail stamp of 1918.

Stamps that have been surcharged, overprinted, or inscribed with an extra charge with the addition to the postage fee with the intention of obtaining funds for a variety of charities are known as semi-postal stamps. The United States has issued only two types of these stamps, which include the Heroes of 2001 that raised funds for the victims of the 9-11 attack and the 1996 Breast Cancer Awareness stamp.

Coil stamps are long coiled strips of stamps that are used in affixing machines or are sold in vending machines, which have straight edges on two opposite sides and perforations on the other two. A coil line pair of stamps is a pair of stamps from a rotary coil that show a colored line that causes a gap where the printing plate was joined. A small book that contains stamps is known as booklet stamps, which are extremely convenient are are often sold through vending machines. Booklet panes are panes of stamps that are cut and printed to be sold only in these booklets. Booklets stamps usually contain at least two of these panes.

Stamped envelopes are a special type of envelope where the postage stamp has been either embossed or preprinted onto the envelope. Collectors will collect these as either entires or as cut squares where the stamp is cut out of the envelope where a square has been shaped from the margin. A postal card is stationary that has been issued by the post office and is similar to a postal envelope that has a stamp that has been preprinted or embossed onto the card.

In 1934 Congress authorized Federal Duck stamps to license hunters as a type of revenue to help maintain waterfowl life within the United States. Sales of these stamps were offered to collectors in 1935, who prefer them in mint condition. These stamps are attached to hunting licenses and issued by each state individually. Federal Duck Stamps are one of the most popular collectible stamp with collectors.

Revenue or tax stamps are attached to any documents, stock certificates, playing cards, tobacco, etc. that shows a required government tax has been paid. Definitive stamp are regular stamps that are used for regular postage and used for a number of years.

Victor Epand is an expert consultant about rare coins, stamp collections, and rare collectibles. Follow these links to find the best marketplace for: collections, stamp types.

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US Photo Stamps

What do George Washington, the bald eagle, the US flag, a heart-shape, and Elvis Presley all have in common?

They have all been featured on US postage stamps at one time or another.

But did you know that you can design your own US photo stamps? Contrary to common belief, we aren't stuck with only the limited selection of stamp designs offered by the US Postal Service. Yes, you can design your own custom stamps, and you can print your own stamps. Right from your own printer, from the comfort of your own home or office, instantly!

The US Postal Service has approved the printing of your own customized postage stamps at home as long as you purchase your postage online through one of their authorized dealers.

All you need, in order to print out your own US photo stamps are the following:

- A computer with Internet access

- A metered weighing scale

- A printer (color is optional, black and white is okay)

- Adhesive label printing paper

Whether you take a picture with a digital camera, design it your own graphic, your own logo, or download an image of the Internet, creating your own US photo stamps is very easy. Once you design what your stamp looks like, the next step is to weigh your package or envelope on the weighing scale. Then you input all the information about your shipment directly online: the sender and recipient's mailing addresses, the weight of the package, the delivery method (first class, priority mail, express mail, or media mail), any delivery options (certified mail, delivery confirmation, or insurance). Then you pay for the stamp online (or the value of the stamp gets deducted from a prepaid balance). Finally, your print it out and affix the adhesive label to your package.

That's all there is to it. It doesn't get any simpler than this!

Sign up for a 4-week risk-free trial and you can start to print your own postage online today!

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Christmas Postage Stamps

As the holiday season approaches this year, you will no doubt be sending out holiday greeting cards to your friends, family, loved ones, and colleagues.

No doubt, you will also be shopping around for Christmas postage stamps. But have you ever thought about designing your own Christmas postage stamps, to reflect your personality, and your own personal touch? Perhaps Santa Claus, Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer, Frosty the Snowman, or a Christmas tree just don't reflect the message you wish to convey when you send out your holiday greeting cards. Perhaps there aren't any postage stamps that really reflect the message you want to convey.

Perhaps you want to include a photograph of people, places, or things that mean something to you or to the people you are sending your greeting cards to. Perhaps you want to include your own custom greeting, quotation, or other text on your postage stamps.

Well, the freedom to design your own Christmas postage stamps is indeed possible, thanks to the United States Postal Service! All you need are:

- A computer with Internet access

- A printer (color is preferable but black and white can work just as well)

- A metered weighing scale

- Adhesive printer label paper

Whether you take a picture with a digital camera, you download pictures off of the Internet, scan them into your computer, or design them yourself using any graphic designing software, you can create your own custom stamp designs, pay for your postage online, and print out your stamps, which you can then affix to your envelopes or packages.

Sign up for a 4-week risk-free trial and you can start to print your own postage online today!

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Custom Photo Stamps

George Washington. The United States Flag. A heart. The word love. A flower. A deceased celebrity.

These are some of the images that you think of when you think of traditional US postage stamps.

But wouldn't it be nice if we could create our own custom photo stamps? Wouldn't it be nice if you could place your own photograph, logo, or any other graphic design or text on your stamps?

It sure would grab your recipient's attention, wouldn't it? It would definitely create a good first impression. Your envelope or package would stand out from among the rest.

Whether it is for business or for pleasure, custom photo stamps can make a significant impact.

Get creative! Express yourself! Set the tone of your mailer.

After all, they say that a picture is worth a thousand words. Your stamp itself can convey a message before the recipient even opens the letter.

One thing that is for sure: Your recipient will take your mail more seriously if they are able to connect with you and relate to the image that is depicted on your stamp.

Custom photo stamps are perfect for holiday greeting cards, wedding invitations, birthday invitations, thank you cards, graduations, and most any other occasion.

They can add a certain spice, a certain flavor, a certain pizazz to your mailers to set the mood in your recipient's mind before they ever open up your mail.

Custom photo stamps are also perfect if you are a business that is sending out advertisements to potential customers on your mailing list. They can also be used if you are sending general correspondence to your vendors, customers, leads, employees, or business partners. Put your company logo or slogan on your stamps to give your correspondence a degree of professionalism.

Sign up for a 4-week risk-free trial and you can start to print your own postage online today!

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Rubber Stamps - Advice to Help Choose the Right Product For You

Many of you may have used rubber stamps before either while crafting or in the office. Rubber stamps are pieces of rubber that can be carved and molded into an image or pattern. The rubber can be mounted onto a stable block and then the ink is coated onto the design and then pressed onto some sort of fabric or paper so the colored image is transferred.

There are three basic types of stamps. These are listed below;

1) Regular Rubber Stamps

These are the basic kind that are used with a separate ink pad. They are easy to get hold of and cheap to buy. However they may be messy if not used properly. This type is ideal for crafters since you can own a variety of designs to decorate almost anything. However, these stamps are also perfect for office workers. The stamp does not need to be replaced only the inkpad when it runs out, which is another advantage.

2) Self-inking Stamps

These are mechanical stampers with an internal stamp pad attached. The stamp hits the internal inkpad using a swivel action between each use. The advantages of this type of stamp is that they are quick and easy to use making multiple stamping a breeze perfect for anyone working in an office where stamps are used on a regular basis. These are re-inkable and very reasonably priced. However, when the inkpad runs out you will need to buy the whole stamp. Brand names that you may have heard of include Ideal, Trodat, or Cosco.

3) Pre-inked Stamps

This type of stamp has dye impregnated onto the design. These pre-inked stamps can be split into three types. These are polymer gel pre-inks, the latest in technology flash stamps, and the laser engraved vulcanized rubber stamps. These types of stamps are a lot more expensive but are ideal for offices that use the same stamp over and over again, since they are durable
and long lasting, cheap to re-ink, and made to the highest quality.

Stamping is considered to be a fantastic hobby where people can collect different designs while others enjoy the designs they can make with the stamps. These decorative stamps can be used on letters, greetings cards, banners, and other similar things to add that personalized touch.

The techniques involved in the art of rubberstamping are varied and you can find whole websites devoted to this subject. In fact there are even clubs that you can join so you can get together with others to make things and share techniques and even their stamps!

Nicky Whatmore writes for http://www.rubberstamps1.com and has been stamping for many years.

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How To Emboss With Rubber Stamps

If you like to use rubber stamps to personalize cards and letters then you will love to emboss using rubber stamps. This technique adds extra elegance to your cards, letters, and artwork.

It’s not difficult to learn how to emboss with rubber stamps. The materials that you need to start are simple and inexpensive to obtain. But the results are astounding. You obviously need rubber stamps, but also an embossing ink stamp pad, embossing powder, an embossing heat gun, and of course something to stamp on.

The first thing you do is stamp your design onto the material you are using with a slow drying pigment ink pad. Make sure that the entire stamp is covered with ink. Don’t rock the stamp when you place it onto your paper since this may blur the lines. You need to press down all over the stamp to ensure that the design is completely transferred and you get the perfect image.

Once the image has been transferred sprinkle embossing powder onto the image and then gently tap off the excess and remove any stray flecks from the paper with a dry paintbrush. This embossing powder comes from ultra fine to tinsel as well as in a variety of colors as does the pigment ink. The powder also comes in different compositions such as metallic powder in gold, silver, or bronze, and glitter powder. This adds a rich color to your artwork and looks really effective. For these metallic powders to really stand out, you can use them with clear ink, or if you use colored ink you can produce effects such as tinted copper.

The final step to produce thermal embossed art is to use your heat tool to direct hot air onto the embossing powder, which will melt and produce the thermal embossed effect in the shape of the image that you stamped. The best way to do this is to use a heat gun as this creates the most even, glossy effect. Around the home you can try to use a toaster or oven but you will have to be careful not to scorch the material you are using. It is therefore worth investing in a proper heat gun, especially if you plan to emboss a lot.

Since there are so many different colors and compositions of ink and embossing powder to use, you are able to personalize each piece of artwork. For example, if you wish to celebrate a friend’s wedding or the christening of a child you might want to use pearlescent powder, which produces a beautiful pastel effect. However, a card for a child’s birthday may need to be bright and colorful so you may wish to use metallic and glitter effect embossing powders to produce a dramatic but fun result.

The more you emboss using rubber stamps the more you will create a unique style with the colors of ink and type of embossing powder that you use. After all, the fun part of crafting is not being afraid to experiment so that you create your own unique artwork!

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Home Made Foam Stamps - Customized Layouts

Foam stamps are one of the most effective and decorative photo techniques available. Stamps range in size, themes and colors. Almost every scrapbook or photo layout can be finished out with the help of foam stamps, because they put those finishing touches on the page. For those that want to venture out for customization or creativity, they can try their hand at making their own foam stamps. Not only is this a more cost effective method it also provides a unique and prideful layout. Read on for how to create your own homemade foam stamp quickly and professionally.

Foam stamps are relatively easy to make with only a few craft store materials. Almost any pattern can be made into a stamp. By purchasing craft foam the desired pattern can be traced onto the foam. In order to cut the pattern out it is best to use an Exacto knife. Any nicks or uneven edges will show when used on the craft itself, so nothing but straight edges. Taking great care through the cutting process is imperative to have a good finished stamp. After cutting the pattern out it can then be mounted on a glass block or wooden one, whichever is preferred or handy. Spray adhesive or glue is the best way to attach the foam stamp onto the block, and can be purchased from any craft store.

Making personalized foam stamps allows the scrap booker to add their own creative touch. From a personalized theme to text, it is possible when you make your own. This is also a more inexpensive way to scrapbook, they are cheap to make, custom and look just as good as the store bought stamps!

Lisa is the owner of Modzy.com, the #1 online scrapbooking supplies store. Find thousands of scrapbook products and low prices everyday at http://www.modzy.com

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Stamps Collecting has Never Been So Easy

Collecting stamps has been a popular pastime ever since there were stamps to collect. Collecting stamps has never been easier and collecting isn’t just for the gray-haired gentleman who spends his days poring over his stamps.

When collecting stamps, it’s important to have at least some definition of what you’re hoping to achieve. Some people collect only historical stamps. That is, they’re only looking for the old, rare stamps that are highly sought and prized by collectors. This is a noble goal, but probably not much fun for those without the finances to make those rare purchases. If you’re simply looking for a great hobby, start searching for unusual stamps or collect stamps postmarked in other states and/or countries.

Take a look at some ideas that can help you get your stamp collection off to a good start, or give your current collection a real boost.

Don’t keep your stamp collection a secret. While Great-Aunt Margie isn’t likely to want to sit down and hear the history of every stamp in your collection, letting her know that you’re a stamp collector could be the best move you’ve ever made. She may have a stash of letters in her attic from that special beau who wrote to her from Europe during World War I! Or she may have the letters her grandmother sent back home during her trek across the country in a covered wagon. And she just may remember to mail you a postcard from her next trip to a foreign country. The most unlikely people may be the ones to help you expand your collection, so let family and friends know that you’re collecting stamps.

The Internet can be a very useful tool for those collecting stamps. All you really need to do is find an online forum for stamp collecting and start trading stamps with others creating collections similar to yours. In most cases, you’ll be able to send a letter and the recipient will send one back to you – instantly adding stamps to your collection. Because this is a relatively inexpensive request, you may also get people to send you stamps who aren’t looking for a return letter.

Another idea for collecting stamps that works well for youngsters is to simply be looking for those unusual, strange or “cool” stamps. Your post office will likely have a good selection and you can let your child help you choose each time you need a new book of stamps. Take one off to add to the collection and see how many great stamps are available. Don’t forget that the postal service will also let you create your own stamps with photos you upload to their website!

Collecting stamps can be a great way to connect with your child, and can create a hobby that will span a lifetime.

Bob Benson is the founder of Stamp Collecting online. You can check out our website at http://www.stamp-collecting-supply.info

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Asian Poker Player Stamps Mark At The Asian Poker Classic

Asians are proving to be tough opponents to more established poker professionals from around the world.

The Main Event of the Asian Poker Classic held in Goa, India drew to a close on Monday, 5 March 2007. It was reportly won by Danish poker player Carl Hostrup (USD320,000). Second place was taken by Samuel Lehton (USD165,000) from Sweden.

But Pranav Bathija (USD97,000) from India showed that Asia too was going to have a share of the USD1,000,000 guaranteed pool. He came third in the said event.

He also showed that one can pick up poker fairly quickly - Bathija learned the game by playing for free at online poker site http://MaharajaClub.net. After learning the basics, Maharajah Club identified Pranav as a new player worth sponsoring for Asian Poker Classic.

Bathija played against 143 other poker players from around the world to take his share of the tournaments $1,000,000 prize pool after three days of play at the Intercontinental Grand Resort in Goa.

Bathija was quoted as saying, "This win will do great things for poker in Asia… If I can learn poker in just four months and place third in an international poker tournament, then I’ve proven that it is very possible to be a successful poker player in India".

This third place finish follows the second place finish of day-trader Joshua Pang at the Asian Poker Tour in Singapore, behind Tony G. In the Phillipines' Pan Asia Poker Tour, the top ranked locals were Alan Escano and Derick Hernandes, coming fifth and sixth respectively.

The performances of Bathija and Pang should be seen in the context of the presence of a number of top poker pros like Mel Judah, Lee Nelson and Tony G in the said events.

The success of the players should spur more people to take up the game in this region. The time will come when a local takes first place at one of these tournaments as well.

Published At: www.Isnare.com
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Stamp Collecting For Beginners - Collecting Stamps For Fun

Stamp collecting is great for all ages. Not only is it great for the older generations, but for the kids as well. You can learn and enjoy different kinds of information from every stamp. You can also profit a lot from stamps, if you know what you're doing or just happen to stumble upon a rare, expensive stamp.

Many consider stamp collecting as a fun activity not only for older people but also for kids. It provides a person the pleasure of collecting different types of stamps that he may find in ordinary binders or through his received mail. Some people consider it an exciting hobby. For a beginner, he may be fond of compiling different kind of stamps from his album until he realizes that he could specialize in collecting the these stamps.

It is indeed a fun hobby because a person may enjoy and learn different kinds of information from collecting stamps. A stamp features everything that may come into every person’s mind from places, persons, sports, historical events, cars, and many more. He may find it rewarding in the future for having enough compilations and albums where he may display and exhibit his collection.

He may also realize that he may profit from these items. There are special stamps that may feature an important event or a person. The price value of these special stamps can be expensive depending on their rarity and the limited versions of the releases. They can be similar to other commodities where a collector may find a dealer that can provide the possible price value of a particular stamp.

A better option for him to profit more from his collection is to find stamp collectors that may show interest in some stamps that he may also be possibly collecting. He may advertise his collection in newspapers and magazines that conduct special advertisements for rare and special stamps. He may also make use of the Internet in joining auction sales for his stamps. He may also be ensured of an updated value of the stamp by comparing the offered value from current advertisements from the Internet.

The price value can vary depending on the production and supply of the item. The increasing number of collectors that specializes from those rare stamps and limited edition stamps may motivate him to be more competitive in finding these items. There is also an increase on the price value because of this high demand.

Nevertheless, they are more than just earning and profiting. Most stamp collectors consider it as a fun hobby. He may never compare the pleasure he feels every time he find those stamps that interested him. There could be many reasons why people collect stamps. In addition, one good reason they may answer is that it is fun and can give satisfaction of accomplishing something.

It is also helps a person to be informed on different things. Most of these items feature insights about the landmarks and history of a country. This is one reason why it very popular and famous among other collections. A person can never get over the enthusiasm of learning and discovering new things. If he would like to pursue this hobby of being a stamp collector, here are some few things to keep in mind.

1. He should know what things that interest him. He may start finding for collections that can have special meanings or importance to him. He may have the option of choosing from simple stamps that he may receive from mail and postcards from binders.

2. He may join clubs and gatherings to interact with people. He might be able to meet people that are collecting items as well. He may ask the person that may have some collections related to these stamps. In this case, he may be able to trade some of his stamps in replace of that particular stamp.

3. He needs to make sure that he knows how to maximize his time in places where he travels. He may find places that he can possibly find stamps with the theme that he collects.

4. He may access some sites in the Internet that can provide information on where and how to look for rare and special stamps.

5. He may continue doing this hobby for as long as he is having fun. There are many topics and themes to choose from. A collector will not be limited on a certain topic.

A stamp collector should always remember to take importance of the things that makes him fulfilled and pleased. He should take proper care to these kinds of items. Stamps are very sensitive. They are only pieces of paper but they have significant value and importance.

Stamp collectors should be careful with everything involving this hobby. They should be extremely delicate with all the stamps themselves as well as when dealing with other people in trading, selling, or buying stamps. They can easily get scammed, but you can also get really good deals.

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When Document Authenticity Counts: Professional Seals And Professional Stamps

Many professionals – such as engineers, real estate appraisers, interior designers, land surveyors and architects – are required to sign, stamp and/or seal documents to show they were produced by a registered or licensed professional in that field. The purpose of a seal or stamp is to ensure that the professional is licensed to practice that profession in a particular state under its laws and regulations.

Typically a seal or stamp is affixed to documents which are prepared under the professional’s direct supervision and for which they are responsible. Below are a few examples of when a professional seal or professional stamp is used:

Engineer Stamps and Seals

Most states require that an engineer be licensed or registered and each registration or license is valid only in the state in which it is granted. By stamping or sealing a document (e.g., drawings, calculations, plans, etc.) a professional engineer is taking responsibility for the information in the document and is certifying that he or she is licensed in the state.

Land Surveyor Stamps and Seals

Documents produced by a surveyor may be used by title companies, land owners and lending institutions to determine property boundaries. A professional surveyor’s stamp or seal shows that they are registered in a particular state and that the plans follow that state’s regulations and laws.

Architect Stamps and Seals

To work as an architect, these professionals are required to obtain specialized education and work experience to become licensed. They stamp or seal all drawings, plans and other specs to show they are licensed or registered by a particular state. In some instances, architects are required to have a seal for the architecture firm as well as for the individual architect.

Requirements for Stamps and Seals Vary by State

Licensing or registration is performed by individual states because different states have different laws and educational requirements for practicing a profession. Subsequently, each state has different regulations for what is to be displayed on a professional seal or stamp – and these regulations vary between professions in the same state. For instance Iowa’s architecture seal must have a diameter of 1 3/4 inches, include the name of the architect and the words “Registered Architect” along with their Iowa registration number and the word “Iowa”. In South Carolina, an architect seal is also circular and 1 3/4 inches in diameter. South Carolina also specifies that the outer circle contain the words "State of South Carolina" at the top and "Registered Architect" at the bottom with the name of the architect, their business location, and their registration number in the center. Thankfully, most states provide examples of how a seal or stamp should look.

When purchasing a professional seal or professional stamp it is important that the seal or stamp meets the guidelines set forth by your state for your profession. Some retailers keep up with each state’s requirements so that professionals order the correct item needed. Working with one of these retailers can ensure the right information is included in the correct layout for the stamp or seal.

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Old US Postage Stamps Price Guide

Thousands of people are avid stamp collectors. Even though this hobby may not seem the most interesting to everybody, stamp collecting is a great hobby. Those who are into collecting stamps know it can be a very entertaining hobby that can be quite time consuming. There are many reasons to get into stamp collecting. It can be exciting to find the different stamps that have been issued throughout the years. It can also be a thrill to collect special edition stamps or find stamps that were misprinted. Another reason that stamp collecting can be exciting is because many old stamps can be worth quite a bit of money. However, it can be difficult to know what old stamps are worth. Fortunately, an old US postage stamps price guide can help you know what your stamp collection is worth.

Benefits of Stamp Price Guide

A stamp price guide not only will let you know what the price of stamps are, but it will also offer other benefits as well. An old US postage stamps price guide will let you know all the stamps that are available and what special edition stamps have been issued over the years.

Stamp guides will also have interesting articles about stamps and stamp collections. A lot of great information can be gained from these guides. Many times the articles themselves alone are a reason to purchase the stamp guides.

Where to Find Stamp Price Guides

There are many different places you can find stamp guides. Collector stores that specialize in collecting stamps are a great place to start. You may find that your local collector store has several different stamp price guides. You can ask the salespeople at the store which guide they would recommend as well as what the differences between the guides are.

Stamp price guides are not as common in retail stores, but you may find some that carry them. Your favorite bookstore will have stamp price guides available as well. If you are part of a stamp collectors club, the other members may know a good place to find stamp guides.

The Internet is a great place to find stamp guides. There are several special collectors sites that sell stamp price guides. As well, there are hundreds of stamp collecting discussion forums on the Internet. These sites will help you find a place to purchase a stamp price guide.

An Essential Tool

An old US postage stamps price guide is an essential tool for any stamp collector. The information found inside this guide can help you learn more about collecting stamps and learn how much your collection is worth. Check out the places discussed above and see if you can find an old US postage stamps price guide so that you can get even more out of your stamp collection today.

Robert Grazian is an accomplished niche website developer and author. To learn more about postage stamps visit Stamp Collecting Sales Site for current articles and discussions.

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Tips For Trading Your Stamps

A great way to add variety, value, and interest to your collection is through trading stamps, which will even allow collectors to save money and eliminate any unwanted stamps within their collection. The most important part of trading stamps is by trading stamps with friends or trusted associates for sale and secure transactions.

Begin by deciding what stamps you would like to add to your collection and what stamps you are willing to trade to get those particular stamps. These particular stamps could be stamps that you have duplicate copies of or stamps that do not fit within the type of collection. There may also be stamps within your collection that you have lost interest in.

Locate other collectors of stamps who are interested in trading themselves by asking friends or by looking in through the classified ads in newspapers and magazines based on stamps. On special websites you may even be able to find message boards and forums that will give you assistance with other stamp websites, clubs, or shops that may offer the opportunity to trade with.

Be sure to take precautions to ensure you accomplish safe trades by doing an Internet search on any unknown trader you plan to work with, because there are a variety of trading scams and the individuals who try to pull these off are identified on numerous web sites. Also do not be embarrassed to ask for letters of references from individuals they have traded with in the past if you are considering trading with an unknown source.

Be extremely wary of any trades that may seem to be too true to believe. For instance, if a trader offers a stamp with a high market value for the exchange of a stamp of lower value, because this stamp may be a forgery or a fake. Always look for the exact values of stamps in stamp catalogs. Never send stamps with a high value nor more than fifty stamps in the first transaction with an unknown trader.

Follow the general rule that the trader who makes the initial contact is always the one to send their stamps first. A good faith agreement between traders is always advisable to ensure trades are handled satisfactory and also to ensure that your stamps will be returned. Always send your stamps through registered mail, which will help to ensure there is appropriate tracking for your package in case they get lost.

Condition of the stamps you are trading for is an extremely important factor. If a stamp has never been hinged and has it original gum with no flaws and has superb centering, then if it is a stamp you want for your collection inspected it further. If the unknown trader has said that the stamp is mint, then that stamp should have never been used nor hinged or mounted. Most stamps do have some type of monetary value, and here again condition is the most important factor when considering trading for them. Stamps that are in the very finest condition are called a VF stamp, which means that the stamps may be slightly off center and they may have never been used either.

Victor Epand is an expert consultant about rare coins, stamp collections, and rare collectibles. Follow these links to find the best marketplace for: rare coins and trading stamps.

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Rubber Stamps : 10 Great Tips For Making Multiple Cards

You know the feeling. The kids have tons of demands, vacation is just around the corner, that big project at work is eating all of your free time. How will you ever make those handmade cards for the big party, or mail the invitations for the guests at the big wedding? What started out as a great idea for some very special cards has turned into a stressful project. These ten simple steps will maximize your time and free up your creativity when making multiple cards for any size project.

1. Determine and plan your cardmaking schedule. Do you want to set aside a few hours or just 30 minutes at a time? Pick a design suitable for the available time. Make a simple "assembly line" schedule to maximize the time you have to spend on the project.

2. Work on individual elements, individually. It may sound silly, but working on one element of the cards will retain the "look" of the cards while creating a "unity" among them. Start by stamping all of the impressions, then work on cutting out all of the backgrounds, folding all of the paper, tearing all of the sheets simultaneously. You don't want to spend too much time on any one card.

3. Have a party! Kids and relatives love to involved. Make the work fun and don't be overly concerned about the smaller details of the project. You will ultimately put all of the individual components together, giving you plenty of time to add any special touches. Working together with other people will also add a new level of uniqueness to your cards.

4. Stop writing. One of the most frustrating tasks of mass producing cards is hand writing messages. Find "handwriting fonts" available online, at your nearest craft supply store, or your local computer store. Sign the finished card or pen in any details or RSVP information as you would with a store purchased card.

5. Use a paper trimmer. If you need a fast way to make background frames or trim down embellishments, scissors just won't cut it! Stacking paper in 5-10 sheet groups and trimming all at once will provide perfect multiple shapes. Often, your scraps can be stacked in such a way to trim them into useable pieces with a trimmer. Rotary trimmers will also allow you to add perfect "scalloped" edges to the base of the card(s).

6. Punch It. Remember your time is valuable. Whether it's a heart, circle, flower, even a fork and spoon, your local craft store will have a perfect punch for the card. Cutting out shapes by hand is tedious and rarely looks well. Circles can be particularly difficult.

7. Stamp, Stamp, Stamp. When placing stamped images on a card, use one stamp at a time and make as many impressions as needed. Don't clean stamps or switch colors until all of the cards have been stamped. This keeps your ink pads from becoming "mixed" and makes the impressions uniform.

8. Avoid difficult embellishments. I am sure that rows of bows, lines of brads, or glued dots would look wonderful on each card. Finding a simpler alternative will save you hours. Paper tears, taped bows, even stylish stickers can be just as attractive without the hours of difficult handy work.

9. Customize backgrounds. If you absolutely must have a "look" provided by a stamped background, make a "master" copy on white paper EXACTLY how it should look. Scan the paper design into a computer at 300 dpi. (If you're already confused, spend a minute with the scanner manual.) Print onto colored cardstock or paper. When done properly, no one will even notice!

10. Have fun…with a budget. These are the two biggest factors when mass producing cards. You don't want to get partway through the project only to realize you have far overspent your intended budget. That special patterned paper and those cute hologram stickers can max out the cost of the cards. Alternatively, when the project simply becomes a duty, it is unlikely you will ever finish. Remember to always plan lots of time. After all, this is by far the greatest hobby in the world!

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Online Postal Stamps Save Money

Did you know that you can save money with online postal stamps? From the comfort of your home you can print postal stamps and labels that you need for all your shipping needs. The good news is that you can take advantage of the online postal stamps services to save you and your business money.

Online postal stamps can save you money if you have a home based business or your company has a great deal of shipping and postage. The majority of these company offer postal meters. They want you to be able to meter your items from your home or even the office.

For new business owners that would like to use meters it can be a challenge because finances are often tight. With the online postal stamps services many will provide a free postal meter or one at a greatly reduced price. Before you ever send your first piece of mail from your company you are already saving money.

How many times have you had documents to mail and were unsure of the postage amount? You did not want to go stand in line at the post office to get the envelope weighed. Instead you put several postal stamps on the package and hoped that you had enough to cover the weight. More than likely, you just paid too much for postage. Using online postal stamps services will save you money because you will never over-pay postage again because you did not know how much it weighed.

Often there are ways to save money on the type of shipping that you select. There is a different rate for overnight, express, bulk, bulk media, and so forth. The online postal stamps services will specifically let you know what options are available to you when you put in the dimensions and weight of items. Again, you will not be stuck over-paying for shipping and save money in the long run.

It can be beneficial to your company presence to print a company logo next to the stamp area on packages and envelopes. Yet, if you use a regular offline company to process your mail and handle your metering, adding something as simple as a company logo or holiday text can become quite expensive. Using the services of a company that handles online postal stamps can save you tremendous amounts of money and still provide you with the services that you both need and desire.

As you can see the use of online postal stamps can save you and your company a great deal of time as well as money. The biggest advantage is that you will not be over paying for postage or spending money on gas for repeated trips to the post office. Nor will you be spending money on employee wages for them to stand in line for hours a week at the local post office when they could be doing other business related tasks for you and your company. You can also save money on mail processing services with the online postage stamps types of companies.

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Rubber Stamps – Advice To Help Choose The Right Product For You

Many of you may have used rubber stamps before either while crafting or in the office. Rubber stamps are pieces of rubber that can be carved and molded into an image or pattern. The rubber can be mounted onto a stable block and then the ink is coated onto the design and then pressed onto some sort of fabric or paper so the colored image is transferred.

There are three basic types of stamps. These are listed below;

1) Regular Rubber Stamps

These are the basic kind that are used with a separate ink pad. They are easy to get hold of and cheap to buy. However they may be messy if not used properly. This type is ideal for crafters since you can own a variety of designs to decorate almost anything. However, these stamps are also perfect for office workers. The stamp does not need to be replaced only the inkpad when it runs out, which is another advantage.

2) Self-inking Stamps

These are mechanical stampers with an internal stamp pad attached. The stamp hits the internal inkpad using a swivel action between each use. The advantages of this type of stamp is that they are quick and easy to use making multiple stamping a breeze perfect for anyone working in an office where stamps are used on a regular basis. These are re-inkable and very reasonably priced. However, when the inkpad runs out you will need to buy the whole stamp. Brand names that you may have heard of include Ideal, Trodat, or Cosco.

3) Pre-inked Stamps

This type of stamp has dye impregnated onto the design. These pre-inked stamps can be split into three types. These are polymer gel pre-inks, the latest in technology flash stamps, and the laser engraved vulcanized rubber stamps. These types of stamps are a lot more expensive but are ideal for offices that use the same stamp over and over again, since they are durable and long lasting, cheap to re-ink, and made to the highest quality.

Stamping is considered to be a fantastic hobby where people can collect different designs while others enjoy the designs they can make with the stamps. These decorative stamps can be used on letters, greetings cards, banners, and other similar things to add that personalized touch.

The techniques involved in the art of rubberstamping are varied and you can find whole websites devoted to this subject. In fact there are even clubs that you can join so you can get together with others to make things and share techniques and even their stamps!

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Creating Rubber Stamps: Not All Methods Created Equal (part 3 Of 3)

Welcome back to “Creating Rubber Stamps: Not All Methods Created Equal.” In parts one and two of this three-part series, the advantages and disadvantages of the laser-engraving and photopolymer rubber stamp-making processes were discussed. In this final installment, you will learn how to make custom rubber stamps and art stamps from the comfort of your very own home!

When making stamps at home, a chemical or non-chemical process can be used. Whether chemical or non-chemical, for homemade rubber stamps and art stamps, a flat eraser will become the artist’s palette. To use a non-chemical process, take a pen and outline on the stamp the image to be etched. Using a sharp item, such as a box cutter, steak knife or linoleum cutter, etch away the non-inked eraser so that all that is left is the raised image that the rubber stamp will impress. If you are not confident in your drawing skills, you may want to use a piece of tracing paper and trace the image you would to place on the rubber stamp. Once the image has been traced, flip over the tracing paper and rub the outline onto the stamp. A pin, fork, or other hard surface can also be used to make indentations of the traced surface. This may not give the most precise image; however, it will provide some guidance for artistically-challenged individuals.

If more precise guidance than tracing paper is preferred, a chemical process can also be used. First, a clear black-and-white photocopy of the image will be needed. Wet the image with acetone using a cotton swab or ball, and press the dark side of the image on the eraser. As acetone is highly flammable and may irritate skin, stay in a well-ventilated area and make as little contact with the chemical as possible. Remove the paper from the eraser; the ink will have transferred to the rubber eraser. Using the box or linoleum cutter, carve away the non-inked areas of the eraser; this will create a rubber stamp out of the raised surfaces.

After the rubber stamp has been carved, you may want to mount it on a piece of wood or other hard surface. This will promote the longevity of the stamp and keep it from suffering too much “wear and tear” while stamping. Mounting the eraser will also help the user to stay away from the ink while stamping. Another advantage of using a mounted stamp is the guarantee of a hard surface and quality impression with every imprint.

Although making a stamp by hand is an attractive option, it requires extensive hand-customization and allows little room for error. If the carver makes a mistake, they must adjust the image for the mistake or, in a worst-case scenario, start completely over. In addition to the extensive time required, there are also costs that must be incurred for each stamp created. For example, to create a 1” x 1” wooden-mounted stamp, the costs would be approximately:

$0.75 1” x 1” wood block
$0.50 rubber eraser
$6.00 Small utility knife and/or linoleum cutter
$2.00 acetone
$9.25 TOTAL

In comparison, the average cost for a 1” x 1” stamp online is $4.00-$6.00. While the carving tools and acetone may last for quite a while, the other costs, lack of precision and hassle-factors may prove incentive enough to purchase stamps from an online or retail store.

Whether you’re laser-engraving, creating photopolymer molds, carving rubber stamps by hand or shopping for rubber stamps online, take the knowledge from this three-part series to make your decision! If you are looking for the precision of laser-engraving, the economy of photopolymer, or the homemade look of erasers, each stamp-making method has something to offer. Remember that, when it comes to art stamp and rubber stamp customization, the possibilities are endless!

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Creating Rubber Stamps: Not All Methods Created Equal (Part 2 Of 3)

Welcome back! In part one of this three-part series, the advantages and disadvantages of laser-engraved rubber stamps were discussed. As discussed in the first article, although laser engraving has a high start-up cost, its quality and efficiency are second to none. In this segment, you will learn the benefit and fallbacks of a photoengraving stamp-making method.

Making a rubber stamp through a chemical or photopolymer process will also require significant start-up costs. Depending on the equipment capabilities, quality, or size, a photopolymer stamp-making kit may cost anywhere from $400-$4000. This process requires a significant amount of labor and tends to have a higher turnaround time.

The first step of the photopolymer process involves creating a negative of the image to be engraved. To begin, create or obtain a completely black graphic on a completely white background. If the graphic has colors, save or convert it to a monochrome or two-color format. A simple graphics editor, such as Paint (which automatically comes with a Windows OS) will allow the user to “Save As” and choose a “Save as type” as “Monochrome Bitmap.” This will convert the colored graphic into a black-and-white bitmap file. Once the image is completely black and white, using a graphics editor (again, Paint will work), invert the colors. This will create a white image on a black background.

Turnaround time for a rubber stamp will vary greatly, as this variable is contingent on the creation of a metal plate. If you are creating stamps for fun, you will need to have enough graphics to fill both a metal plate and a matrix (mold) board. The metal plate and matrix board can be made on a partial board; however, this is not an efficient use of materials and may make for uneven molds and/or stamps. If maximum efficiency is desired, enough graphics will need to be obtained to create a full metal plate. Additionally, the photopolymer process does not allow small businesses to make custom rubber stamps efficiently, as these rubber stamps tend to be made for a one-time order and the mold is no longer needed.

Depending on the materials at hand, the metal plate may need to be made by an engraving company. Once the metal place has been engraved, it is placed in a machine with the matrix board and, with a combination of heat and pressure known as vulcanization, the matrix board is made into a mold. The rubber is cut to the size of the mold, placed in the vulcanizer, and creates a rubber stamp through a similar process of heat and pressure. Be warned: as a mold is put under heat and pressure every time a rubber stamp is created, it may only last for 40-60 stamp vulcanizations.

After the rubber has been pressed, it can be cut into individual stamps. As the rubber is quite thick, most stamp enthusiasts agree regular scissor are not sufficient. Kai Scissors are a considered an essential tool in the arts and crafts world. These scissors can be found at crafts stores or on the web, and Kai Scissors makes 15+ styles and sizes of scissors. Mounting foam is also needed to ensure the block the stamp is mounted on does not come in contact with the surface to be stamped. Once the rubber and mounting foam have been cut, the stamps are glued to a wooden mound and are ready to impress!

We have discussed laser engraving, photoengraving, and one last stamp-making method is yet to come! Next, learn how to make rubber stamps, without any special or expensive equipment, from the privacy of your own home!

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Creating Rubber Stamps: Not All Methods Created Equal (Part 1 Of 3)

Whether you’re a rubber stamp rookie, dabbler, or seasoned veteran, you’ve undoubtedly wondered how to make your own rubber stamp. When creating a custom rubber stamp, there are many methods that can be used; in this three-part series, you’ll learn the pros and cons of several different stamp-producing methods.

No matter the method, if you are looking to become a rubber stamp vendor, good luck. It would be easier to find Osama bin Laden’s cave than to find a wholesale vendor for stamp mounts and cases. Besides their clandestine status, wholesale vendors may also have a minimum purchase requirement or different price breaks for quantity. When starting out as a small business, it may be best to buy cases and mounts from a local arts and crafts store.

If you’re serious about creating high quality rubber stamps, the best technology to use is a laser engraver. Though they may cost thousands of dollars, many high-end engravers can create a stamp as precise as 1000 dpi. Laser engravers are optimal for high productivity and quality rubber stamps, and items like graphics or small text are easily achieved. Laser engravers are less messy than other rubber stamp-making methods, and advanced alignment technology creates little waste.

Laser engravers are not labor intensive; hundreds of stamps can be programmed to engrave at once. The speed of engraving for one square inch of rubber stamp is approximately 60 seconds. While this may seem slow, a laser engraver will make deeply engraved “cut lines” while it is etching. A cut line engraves so deeply that no actual cutting or special scissors are necessary for the rubber; simply push on the etched item when the engraving is complete. These cut lines will save a large amount of time that would be otherwise allocated to tedious cutting and hand customization.

Once the rubber stamps are finished etching, remove them from the laser engraver and soak them in water for 5-10 minutes. This allows the rubber dust and resin to be easily cleaned with an item such as a toothbrush. The washing of the rubber is imperative; without cleaning the rubber, residual dust from the engraving process may impede the quality of the impression. After the rubber is clean, wipe it dry with a paper towel or hand towel. At this point, you may leave it unmounted or adhere it to a wood block, pre-inked, or self-inking device.

Now that you have learned one of the many stamp-making methods, stay tuned! Exciting information about making stamps at home is yet to come!

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Stamp Collecting Books

Stamp collecting books is one of the best ways to read up more about stamps and learn more about it. You can learn about the history about the stamp and also find the minute details about the stamps.

Reading books about stamp collecting is one of the best ways to find new things about the stamps that you have in your album. This is something that keeps the stamp collector going. The stamp collector would want to find out more about the stamp and if he is lucky, he may find something new about the stamp by reading the stamp collecting books.

Most stamp collecting books can be found in the library. You can borrow them from the library. However, some books can be bought at a bookstore. It would be easier to find these books in a big bookstore and online. If you do not know the title of the book, you do not need to worry.

Firstly, all you have to do is to go on the internet. You can go to Google and type in 'stamp collecting books'. The search results should tell you what kind of books they offer and if you are interested, you can even purchase them online. It is very simple. You can have a list of your favorite books in no time.

Sometimes, you may have trouble finding stamp collecting books. Another alternative is to find stamp collecting encyclopedia. Most libraries have a large range of stamp collecting encyclopedias. It would be very easy to find one. If you are trying to locate a particular title, you should approach the librarian.

Most stamp collecting books will tell you the history of a stamp. Sometimes, they include information about rare stamps. Getting more knowledge of these stamps will further make stamp collectors appreciate the stamps and learn the value of the stamp.

If you are a serious stamp collector, you should be reading up books on stamps collecting. If you need to read up and find out more about the stamps you have collected, head down to the library or simply get on the internet to find out more about the books that are available.

Learn more about stamp collecting today! It is a great hobby that will appeal to both adults and kids. Find out more about stamp collecting by visiting our website NOW ==> http://www.stampcollectinghobby.net

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Stamp Collecting 101

Stamp collecting refers to the act of collecting postage stamps and postage stamp related objects, including envelops or packages that have stamps on them, which are known as covers. Stamp collecting is one of the most popular hobbies in the world, with more than 20 million people in the United States alone collecting stamps as a serious hobby. In some countries, stamp collecting is an important revenue source because there are a variety of different elaborate stamps which are run specifically for stamp collections. The stamps that these countries produce exceed the countries' postal needs, making it easy, if not relatively expensive, for collectors to find the stamps that they want for their collections.

Some stamp collectors have even taken to philatelic investment, which involves studying rare stamps based on the rising prices of these stamps. Rare stamps are popular as tangible and portable investments, mainly because they are so easy to come by, and even easier to store properly.

Collecting stamps does not actually require any equipment, but many stamp collectors invest in a small number of truly essential items so that they may better preserve, store, inspect and display their stamps. Some of the most common stamp collecting pieces of equipment includes glassine envelopes and humidity, light and heat free boxes which are an easy and cheap way to store stamps. Stamp albums are also popular for storing stamps as they allow collectors to easily display their entire collection in a storable and portable format. Stamps can be displayed nearly any way that the collector wishes, in a variety of different organizational styles including by size, topic or country. The visual appeal of the stamp collection is purely up to the discretion of the stamp collector.

- Archival stock books make good choices for displaying stamps as they have clear plastic pockets that hold stamps well. This is one of the safest available means of storing and displaying entire stamp collections.

- Stamps can be hinge mounted, but stamps can become damaged this way so it is not recommended for rare and otherwise difficult to find stamps. Expensive stamps that are irreplaceable are not ideal for hinge mounting.

- Magnifying glasses are an excellent tool to have for handling stamps, especially when admiring or displaying intricately decorated stamps. Stamp tongs are another important piece of equipment as their rounded tips prevent damage from occurring on the stamps, especially by skin oils and other rough handling.

- Stamp collecting does not require any tools, but having the tools mentioned above can be extremely helpful. Having adequate storage possibilities and tools for safe and easy handling is an important if not vital part of collecting stamps the right way. If you want your stamp collection to outlive the collector, properly handling, storing and displaying your stamps is absolutely essential.

Stamps can be acquired virtually anywhere, including from friends and family on their incoming mail. This is a great place to start, though you may also ask elderly relatives, major businesses and international acquaintances about their stamps, which will allow you to quickly and easily broaden your stamp collecting horizons.

Jay Villaverde is the owner of http://www.CollectorStamps.us A site dedicated to finding great deals on old, and rare, US stamps for the collector. Whether you're a new or veteran collector, you'll be amazed at the inventory of stamps at Collector Stamps. If you like stamp collecting, this is a must see site.

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Why Do People Want To Buy Photo Stamps

These days people are putting their own pictures on postage stamps so that they can personalize their mail. This is a growing trend that can be accomplished very easily if a person has a computer. The post office will take pictures that have been downloaded to their site and will transform them so you can buy photo stamps. They will be legitimate stamps that people can use when sending letters, packages, and other types of mail.

The post office charges an additional fee for this service, but everything can be completed online which also includes paying for the stamps and their postage values. These stamps can be saved for special occasions, or they can be used as soon as they arrive.

Photo stamps can be pictures of families, pets, people, activities, or scenes that people have photographed while on vacation. There is no limit to how creative people can be with their stamps. These photo stamps usually take only a few days before they will arrive and can be given as gifts to friends and family or used to send cards. The stamps will make any card or letter more festive.

Ordering these stamps will also save people from the hassle of going to the post office. There are usually long lines at various times during the day. It is easier to order the stomps online and have them in a few days. When ordering photo stamps, be sure to follow all of the instructions such as sending the right size photo, cropping it correctly so that everyone is included in the picture, and sending it in the correct file format.

If these instructions are not followed correctly, then the photo stamp may not be made. The photo stamp may be sent back with instructions on how to fix it. Once the stamp has been made, people will be notified and should expect it to arrive at their home in very little time. The stamps will be in color and will be vibrant and fun to look at. Many people find it funny to have their picture on a postage stamp.

As technology improves, the ability to create stamps online and printing them out will become more popular. For now, most people do not own photo printers. Special paper that is sticky on one side is also needed. But those who have this equipment may be able to print off their own stamps whenever they want.

This makes buying and creating stamps much easier. Downloading stamps will take even less time so that people buy photo stamps and use them as soon as they would like. Many people enjoy receiving letters with personalized stamps on them. It makes opening the letter even more special.

Craig Thornburrow is an acknowledged expert in his field. You can get more free advice on how to print postage and how to print photo stamps at http://www.printingpostage.com

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The 1900's History Of Stamps

The understanding and knowledge of all the stamps of the past will enable stamp collectors to realize the beauty of this amazing art. The knowledge of when the first stamp was created will help stamp collectors know when this fine hobby began, and it will allow collectors to realize the great history of this awesome art of stamps.

The 1900s started off with the United States issuing stamps in booklet form during the year 1900. New Zealand were the first to use meters to pay postage in 1904 and the first coil stamps, which were sold in rolls were issued in 1908. On May fifteenth of 1918 special stamps were issued to indicate prepayment of mail that was being carried by air, which cost twenty-four cents. The very first airmail flight was flown by Army pilots that was linked from Washington DC and New York City to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

During the 1920s, the news of stamps being valuable really caught on and began encouraging individuals to start collecting stamps. The rapid increase in the value of postage stamps was due to older stamps being located in decent conditions. However, collectors found that older stamps in pairs, triples, and large blocks were difficult to locate.

Then during the 1930s, many American collectors began stockpiling United States stamps that were in mint condition with hope of eventually selling their investments for a sizable profit during the years to come. However, this never happened because many types of 1930 issued stamps can still be found in mint condition for close to its face value. It is not uncommon for many dealers and collectors to use stamps that were issued as far back as the 1930s for postage on their letters even today.

The United States issued a Graf Zeppelin stamp in 1930, which is still very valuable today. Captain Garrood Gibraltar, who was the Crown Surveyor and Engineer, produced the first definitive stamp featuring a picture at the request of the Governor in 1931. The first African American to be honored on a stamp was Booker T. Washington, which occurred in 1940.

During 1962, the very first Christmas stamp was issued in the United States and then, in 1964, the United States began printing stamps with a variety of designs. On one sheet the design was known as a se-tenant and four different stamps on the Christmas issue of that year featured holly, mistletoe, poinsettia, and a sprig of conifer. These were issued in panes that consisted of one hundred stamps with each pane containing twenty-five blocks of the four different stamps.

This type of release was confined until 1966 when the Crown Agents Omnibus issued and marked events of international interest. In 1973, the Valentine Day Love stamps were first issued in the United States, and then during 1974, the first self adhesive stamp was issued in the United States. A full scale production of the United States self adhesive stamps began in 1992.

The United States Postal Service introduced a type of self adhesive on their stamps called linerless coils in 1997 and then, following shortly in 1998, the United States Postal Service issued the first semi-postal stamps, which helped raised money for different charities. Stamps have definitely changed over the years, but only allowing better services for its users.

By: Victor Epand

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US Christmas Stamps

During the holiday season, it is customary to exchange greeting cards with your friends, family, colleagues, and acquaintances.

In addition to the greeting card and the envelope itself, many people find it customary to purchase US Christmas stamps from the post office.

But wouldn't it be nice if you could add a touch of pizzaz to your greeting card envelopes by printing your own US Christmas stamps?

Well, you can, courtesy of the US Postal Service! You can print your own stamps, right from the comfort of your own home or office, directly to your own printer.

You can use any photograph you wish - of yourself, your family, or your loved ones. You can imprint your own message on your stamps. You can design or import any graphic image you want. And then you will have a custom masterpiece of your own creative expression.

Great a good first impression. Set the right tone or mood. Convey a message.

All you need in order to get started are:

- A computer with Internet access

- A printer (black and white is okay, color is optional)

- Adhesive label printing paper

- A weighing scale to weigh your packages and calculate your postage

Holiday greeting cards no longer have to be chosen from among the limited selection of standard-issue postage stamps made available through the Post Office. You can custom design your own!

All you need to do is:

- Weigh your package

- Input all of the information about your shipment (addresses, delivery method, delivery options)

- Import the image you wish to use for your postage stamps

- Pay for your postage (or deduct from a prepaid balance)

- Print out your stamps

- Peel off the adhesive and affix your stamp to your package

And you are all set! You will never have to go the Post Office to buy stamps ever again!

Be creative with your US Christmas stamps this year. Design your own and share the magic of the holiday season!

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Unleash Your Creative Side With Custom Rubber Stamps

Custom rubber stamps are a craze and are being used for all purposes and not only for official ones. Custom rubber stamps have developed into an art form and are used by those who are not professionals as they are very convenient to handle. You can also find special stamps that are used to decorate an artwork. These custom rubber stamps give you a myriad of variations with the use of dye, pigments and paints.

Very Flexible

You can also use these rubber stamps on your clothes, paper, metal, glass, wood and virtually everything. The icing on the cake is that you can avail ink pads that have been especially made for creating an embossed look. You will never run out of choice for pens used for inking stamp pads with various colors. Using custom rubber stamp designs and with the help of other media such as the computer you can create beautiful pieces of artwork. These artworks can be used as corporate trademarks as well. Custom rubber stamps have become popular with creating of scrapbooks.

Uses of Custom Rubber Stamps

The overwhelming response to custom rubber stamps has taken shape as a favorite pastime and a form of art where you can work with these items on any surface. The stamps which are decorative are known as art stamps and prevalent for craft work done at home. These art stamps not only help you to create beautiful designs but are long lasting as well. You can use the art stamps to decorate your photo albums and make attractive scrapbooks. You can use them on letters, cards, banners and flyers. You can decorate your notebooks and wrapping paper by using these art stamps. You can even use two or more designs simultaneously to adorn your paper.

You can create decorative borders on your clothes with these art stamps by using fabric paint. If you use these paints on your household items like your napkins and tablecloths it gives a personalized look to the object. You can even use the custom rubber stamps to decorate your wooden jewelry box or your metallic trinkets and it also complements your picture frames very well.

The uses of custom rubber stamps will never cease to surprise you as they can be used to decorate your child's room and can also make you a designer by helping you to make designs on your walls and ceilings,

Ensure the Correct Size for a Particular Work

You should choose small sized custom rubber stamps for decorating your clothes, wrapping paper or stationery and go in for the large ones when decorating the ceilings and the walls. You should use either paint pens and brush or the usual stamp pads to apply the paints on the custom rubber stamps and rinse them properly after using it.

April owns website Rubber Stamp Guru which has details of where you might want to purchase rubber stamp wheels and Stampin Up rubber stamps at excellent prices.

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Doc Stamps

Normally when subject to's are done, you will then have to deal with the issue of the documentary stamps, also otherwise known as doc stamps. There can be many legalities to these and there different ways to handle them. As an investor, you have to make your own decisions. You're taking titles in land trust.

When that seller deeds that property to you in a land trust by law you're, somebody is entitled to pay the doc stamps. Documentary Stamps is a state tax that is in the form of stamps that is needed on mortgages and deeds when the title is moved from one owner to a new one. The amount of these can vary greatly from state to state. However, since the county does not know that the seller did not put the title into their own land trust, the county has a hard time collecting doc stamps because they're not due if you put your property in a land trust for your benefit for your estate planning. Now in all truthfulness, most investors of course take title in a land trust and screw the state out of their doc stamps. The down side to doing this is in the event that they get caught. If this happens, somebody has got to pay the doc stamps. And, of course, that is usually going to be the responsibility of the poor person who happens to own the property at that time they discover it. Many may not know that the county can put a lien on the property for the doc stamps if they believe they are due.

So it is not necessarily one particular person who is liable for paying the doc stamps, it is the property owner who is responsible. And in reality, those doc stamps are supposed to be paid in every state every time title transfers.

It is really not all that difficult to understand. What will happen is the county will just send you a bill for them. They will also ask you why the doc stamps were not paid at the time, and they may not notify you for up to a year from the transaction date depending on what state you are in.

Also keep in mind that in some states, they are not called doc stamps. Some states call them transfer fees or transfer taxes. They are all the same thing...

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