dorincard
Member 
Posts: 1,450 
What I collect: My focus is on Wild Mammals on maximum cards. Occasionally, I get or create maximum cards with other animals, or any other topic.
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Post by dorincard on Jun 12, 2015 3:41:14 GMT
 Let me share with you a few interesting and useful considerations about personalized stamps. I have created, with Zazzle and other providers, over 150 different designs of personalized stamps, from several countries, of which I have actually bought, generally in sheets of 20 stamps each, (and sometimes personally re-sold) personalized stamps in over 50 different designs. Some of those 50 were available for sale only to me, since I have only uploaded them to my Private Gallery at zazzle.com. Or, I have used providers with NO gallery to sell MY stamp designs to the public, such as endicia.com, pictureitpostage.com, royalmail.com, auspost.com.au, tntpost.com. Additionally, some of my other designs at Zazzle, the other 100 or so, were materialized by other people when they ordered them from my Public Gallery at zazzle.com. If you want to explore ideas about what YOU, too, can create, please visit (you don’t have to buy anything) my Public Gallery, the Postage section, at Zazzle: www.zazzle.com/dorinco*/gifts?cg=196687342138137670For search engines consideration, I have put in the title both the American English version (“personalized”) and the British English version (“personalised”). In English, “stamp” may also mean “postmark”, “cancel”, “rubber stamp” – but I use “stamp” for “postage stamp”, and “postmark” for “the cancel applied with a postmarking device”. What is a personalized stamp? It’s a stamp that is customized, to some degree, and it’s valid for postage. Read the Wikipedia definition here: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Personalized_stamp. Not to be confused with a fantasy stamp, that is NOT valid for postage. Synonyms for a fantasy stamp are: “cinderellas”, “artistamps”, “fantasy local post” stamps (as opposed to some stamps of real local posts , that WERE valid for postage; for example, the Zemstvo stamps), etc. So, since they ARE valid for postage (“postal use”), the personalized stamps are a special kind of legitimate stamps. They are legal, therefore accepted for official use by the postal administrations. Terminology is important here, because of the legal interpretations, philatelic interpretations, and the consequences of all that – specifically, HOW are the authorities and the people (stamp collectors or not) considering and using them. If you want and can afford to pay, you can hire somebody who knows exactly how to do it, according to your detailed specifications. In case you are computer-savvy, you can learn by yourself, eventually. That’s why I did, since 2006. |
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Post by hs2oca on Jun 28, 2015 3:41:12 GMT
I looked at Canada Post's personalized stamps and even designed one and was all ready to purchase...until I saw the price! No wonder they made money last year! A set of 12 85 cent stamps actually costs $17 CAD! AND you cannot buy less than 3 booklets at a time. The concept is great, but the price is too steep for me... As a novelty item, it has interest. Maybe as Christmas gifts for people. But then most people have no use for stamps these days. A quick survey of my nieces told me that they had not used stamps since they sent out wedding invitations over 10 years ago! Edited to Add: after saying that, I am considering them as marketing and promotional material for my hooked rugs.  But then it becomes a business advertising expense... |
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dorincard
Member
Posts: 1,450
What I collect: My focus is on Wild Mammals on maximum cards. Occasionally, I get or create maximum cards with other animals, or any other topic.
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Post by dorincard on Jun 28, 2015 16:15:05 GMT
Hi, Jean!
You can buy as few as 20 stamps (1 sheet) from Zazzle (USA), and 10 stamps (1 sheet) from The Netherlands and Moldova, I think.
Plus, at Zazzle you can design stamps, etc. FREE, without you buying. You can put them for sale on your "Zazzle store", and let others buy them, if they like them.
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Admin
Administrator 
Posts: 2,643
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Post by Admin on Jun 28, 2015 22:37:27 GMT
I looked at Canada Post's personalized stamps and even designed one and was all ready to purchase...until I saw the price! No wonder they made money last year! A set of 12 85 cent stamps actually costs $17 CAD! AND you cannot buy less than 3 booklets at a time. The concept is great, but the price is too steep for me... As a novelty item, it has interest. Maybe as Christmas gifts for people. But then most people have no use for stamps these days. A quick survey of my nieces told me that they had not used stamps since they sent out wedding invitations over 10 years ago! Edited to Add: after saying that, I am considering them as marketing and promotional material for my hooked rugs. But then it becomes a business advertising expense... They are a little costly but then it's a custom print. Jean you be very surprised if you put a few on ebay there is a market for them and sell quite well. Message me your address and I will send you one of the custom TSF stamps |
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dorincard
Member
Posts: 1,450
What I collect: My focus is on Wild Mammals on maximum cards. Occasionally, I get or create maximum cards with other animals, or any other topic.
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Post by dorincard on Aug 19, 2017 3:29:31 GMT
Your TSF customized stamp could be put on a world map postcard, to create a promotional image/maxicard for TSF.
I could even postmark it, which is difficult at many post offices.
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Beryllium Guy
Moderator 
Posts: 5,654
What I collect: Worldwide Stamps 1840-1930
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Post by Beryllium Guy on Aug 19, 2017 5:20:28 GMT
Your TSF customized stamp could be put on a world map postcard, to create a promotional image/maxicard for TSF. I could even postmark it, which is difficult at many post offices. Please forgive my ignorance, dorincard, but how can you postmark things yourself? Do you know someone helpful at a particular PO, or do you have another solution? I have been wondering how you do those great looking maxicards! |
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dorincard
Member
Posts: 1,450
What I collect: My focus is on Wild Mammals on maximum cards. Occasionally, I get or create maximum cards with other animals, or any other topic.
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Post by dorincard on Aug 19, 2017 14:03:23 GMT
The MPP Club (mppclub.org) was terminated this year, as voted by its Board of Directors. But I have a group about that on Facebook. I can still give you some quotes, from various sources. "How to Obtain an MPP MPPC has prepared a document which will help you obtain an MPP to cancel your own mail. (You can also use the same procedure to use precanceled stamps on your mail, if you like.) Here is what you need to do: Step 1: Print a copy of PS Form 3615. You may download the form from the USPS web site here ( about.usps.com/forms/ps3615.pdf)[On that form: You want the free precancel permit, not the expensive permit for commercial bulk-mailers!] Step 2: Print out a copy of the seven-page MPPC procedure, which you may download here (http://www.shaulisstamps.com/mppc//applicationforMPP.pdf) Step 3: Carefully read over the entire MPPC procedure. The last page of the procedure contains an example of a completed PS Form 3615. (Note that some of the information will be filled in by you, and some will be filled in by your postmaster.) It is important that you be as familiar as possible with the MPP rules and regulations. Step 4: Now, fill out your part of PS Form 3615 to apply for your permit. Step 5: Fill in the blanks on the first three pages of the MPPC procedure to tell your postmaster what you want. Step 6: Give your postmaster the completed PS Form 3615 and the entire seven-page MPPC procedure. (In the event your postmaster has questions, the FAQ section may help answer most of his/her questions.) Step 7: After you obtain an MPP number from your postmaster, you should have your rubber stamp prepared [by a supplier]. Step 8: After you've received your rubber stamp, make an impression on a 3 x 5 card or an envelope and present this to your postmaster for approval. The postmaster will attach your sample to your completed PS Form 3615 in his/her files. Step 9: You may now begin canceling your own mail. Be sure to follow all the rules we've listed in the seven-page MPPC procedure. Have fun!" |
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dorincard
Member
Posts: 1,450
What I collect: My focus is on Wild Mammals on maximum cards. Occasionally, I get or create maximum cards with other animals, or any other topic.
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Post by dorincard on Aug 19, 2017 14:08:55 GMT
Now that I have MPP permits and cancellers for 4 different localities/zip codes, I can also postmark personalized stamps, which many postal associates would refuse to do, because they are not sure about USPS regulations.
USPS says that "customized postage" (there are other synonyms, too, like PC postage, etc.) "does not require" postmarking. I interpret that as: "but it's still allowed to postmark them, although not strictly necessary".
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dorincard
Member
Posts: 1,450
What I collect: My focus is on Wild Mammals on maximum cards. Occasionally, I get or create maximum cards with other animals, or any other topic.
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Post by dorincard on May 12, 2018 21:17:05 GMT
Think about a personalized stamp that you would like to see designed. By you, by me, or by anybody else. What stamp subject would that be?
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Beryllium Guy
Moderator
Posts: 5,654
What I collect: Worldwide Stamps 1840-1930
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Post by Beryllium Guy on May 12, 2018 23:11:04 GMT
Think about a personalized stamp that you would like to see designed. By you, by me, or by anybody else. What stamp subject would that be? , thank you so much for your continuing follow-up and offers of help. Sorry that I have not responded further up until now. It is not due to lack of interest, but due now to the fact that I am living outside the U.S. and working full-time again. To answer your question, if I could design a stamp at this point, I think that the subject would be TSF, celebrating its 5th anniversary this year. Not sure about the design, though. Any ideas out there?? |
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tomiseksj
Moderator
Woodbridge, Virginia, USA
Posts: 6,265
What I collect: Worldwide stamps/covers, Cinderellas, Ohio Prepaid Sales Tax Receipts, U.S. WWII Ration ephemera
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Post by tomiseksj on May 12, 2018 23:43:24 GMT
...if I could design a stamp at this point, I think that the subject would be TSF, celebrating its 5th anniversary this year... I have a souvenir sheet in work for this very subject, but it will not involve personalized stamps. |
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dorincard
Member
Posts: 1,450
What I collect: My focus is on Wild Mammals on maximum cards. Occasionally, I get or create maximum cards with other animals, or any other topic.
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Post by dorincard on May 13, 2018 23:36:56 GMT
...if I could design a stamp at this point, I think that the subject would be TSF, celebrating its 5th anniversary this year... I have a souvenir sheet in work for this very subject, but it will not involve personalized stamps. Tomisek, do you have another option besides USPS, or personalized stamps, or local post/cinderella, or personalized selvage on smiley stamps from UK? |
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tomiseksj
Moderator
Woodbridge, Virginia, USA
Posts: 6,265
What I collect: Worldwide stamps/covers, Cinderellas, Ohio Prepaid Sales Tax Receipts, U.S. WWII Ration ephemera
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Post by tomiseksj on May 14, 2018 3:01:24 GMT
Tomisek, do you have another option besides USPS, or personalized stamps, or local post/cinderella, or personalized selvage on smiley stamps from UK? My effort is using my computer for the sheet's design and printing it on pre-gummed paper -- it will not be a personalized stamp but rather a Cinderella. |
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But then it becomes a business advertising expense...
