We (like most of you out there) are absolutely crazy for the graphic loveliness that vintage stamps add to any piece of mail. They just don’t make stamps like they used to, do they?
If you’re thinking of using these beauties for your invites, remember that you’ll need a lot of them to add up to the 59 cents that most wedding invites cost to mail. If you’re using a calligrapher, perhaps consider telling her that you’ll need extra space along the top of your envelope to accommodate a whole row of stamps. And while you’re collecting them, remember to get as many high value stamps as possible. High value as in postage, not collectable-ness. Anything above 15 cents should be treated like gold. Seriously. Most vintage stamps are in the 3 – 8 cent range and if you do the math, you need A LOT of those little ones to add up to the correct postage.
Moving on: Color and layout combos are infinite when you have a big fat stack of stamps in your lap.
So, where do you get them? The $64,000 question, right? Finding them isn’t as hard as it might seem. Here’s our best tip… find a local stamp store (it seems like every major and minor city should have at least one, sometimes it’s a stamp and coin shop), and ask to see face value vintage stamps. There are plenty of stamps that are old and cute, but have no value to collectors. Those are the ones you want. If you can find a good store, your vintage postage will cost exactly the same as regular postage. Unless of course you can’t control yourself and buy 3 times as many stamps as you actually need. Not that such a thing has ever happened to us.
If you can’t find a local shop, there’s always online options like Ebay, Champion Stamp, and as reader Kristy pointed out a few days ago, Kenmore Stamp Co.
Postage never expires, but you need to make sure you’re buying unused/uncanceled US stamps. If you do end up purchasing stamps online make sure you confirm that this is in fact what you’re buying.
Happy hunting!
49 comments
You read my mind. Thank you!
I want the Alabama stamps!!!
I did this for my wedding invites. I loved the way they turned out. I shopped on ebay for stamps. And yes it does take a lot of time and space on the envolope to place all the stamps on. But it was totally worth the effort!
I LOVE everything about this post! Thanks for the lovely inspiration and the tips!
Wow – I’ve seen this but only via pictures. I had no idea that ‘vintage’ stamps still worked – I wish that were the case in the UK!
Great post! I love the red ones. Now I just need to get married again…
great post! Thanks for the tips!
Great post & advice – especially to watch out for used stamps… I received my mint stamps from Kenmore and they are perfect – that Alabama lovely is my favorite!
like another reader said, you READ MY MIND! i was up all hours of the night last night looking for stamps. my wedding is march 2010 so i hope if i start now i’ll be able to find enough stamps! THANKS!
Great post! I too have been on the hunt for vintage stamps….thanks for the tips!!
I’ve often wondered about this. I’m the annoying girl who goes to the post office and asks to see all of the pretty/interesting stamps while everyone else in line grumbles and secretly wishes I’d just grab the forever stamp and go!
Thanks for the lovely advice!
Mystic Stamp Company is another good source. : )
Sharon
These are all so pretty!
OMG, I have been waiting for someone to explain this. Martha Stewart Weddings always shows pretty envelopes with Greta Garbo and I’m always looking at my post office stamps and wondering how that came to be.
Great advice!
So, let’s say you don’t want to us so much space… you could design your own stamp and upload it the Post Office Website. Then you can get the exact color/feel you want, and still have room to write pretty. I think some people “design” their own stamp by uploading a picture of themselves, but if you did an original drawing/illustration, it could look really cool!
I love this idea! What a great, personalized touch, and such a great vintagey look. The other option is to get customizable image stamps, which is great if you don’t want to take up so much room on the envelope. Or do both!
I love stamps – i wish i got my butt in gear to do this for our own invites! great post
does anyone know a good stamp (or stamp and coin) shop in the san francisco area?
What a fabulous post! I am obsessed with using old stamps for invitations – it makes such an impact. Even arranging current stamps in various increments in a pattern across the top makes a cool look.
How cool. I was unaware of places to purchase vintage stamps. I always purchase decorative stamps at the post office when I send notes or mail bills. I think the envelope of the note from me deserves a little flair. First time visitor to your blog!
Those pictures are amazing! You can find cancelled postage stamps on Etsy … you could use them as a border on the actual invite or since they wouldn’t make it through the system!
I love all these wonderful stamps!! As a designer of custom wedding postage for brides, I found your post to be very inspiring — loved viewing the photos of these stamps from yesterday. Thanks for the post!
LOVE love love the vintage stamp idea. I was putting off buying stamps because I don’t like the new ones. What a great alternative! Thanks!
Great pictures! Old stamps are fun to collect and display. Thanks for the post!
Oh absolutely delightful !
I want to remarry or hold a very special party indeed!
Or maybe I’ll just go buy some gorgeous vintage stamps to look at……
Thank you!
Definitely doing this…there are some affordable lots of mint stamps on Ebay….it can get expensive pretty quick, though, (especially if your invites/mail is a bit heavy), so I think I will combine new/current stamps with some vintage!
So after I commented last night I did some more research…if you aren’t picky about color or postage amount, you can buy ‘commemorative year sets’ on Ebay for pretty cheap. It includes all the stamps made for that year–I really like 1969, which includes that pretty Alabama stamp! This guy’s ebay store is great for this: CVA59.
you can make your own at zazzle.com and put a vintage pic… I got stamps with a vintage picture from the 1900’s of the reception site.
I am so glad you have this post. Lovely. Perfect for my for modern vintage glam wedding. Thank you, thank you, thank you.
Thank you for this post!!!!
I know I’m a little late in the game with commenting on this post. I *love* this idea!
Does anyone know what to search in order to find those flower 6 cent stamps in the first set of photos? The scott number perhaps?
Thank you!!
If you live in the Boston area you can go to the Spellman stamp museum and browse through their selection of the vintage stamps that they sell.
Spellman Museum of Stamps & Postal History
235 Wellesley Street
at Regis College
Weston MA 02493 USA
phone: 781.768.8367
I just saw those 6 cent flower stamps on ebay under the 1969 commemorative year set.
Wow I LOVE this look. I’m planning on trying it for my own wedding if I can find enough stamps in the right colors.
I was so happy that I came across this post. I was able to find all the vintage stamps that I needed. I used them for my Save-the-Dates and everyone was commenting on how beautiful they were. It took about 2 hours just to arrange and affix stamps to only 20 envelopes. I tried to personalize the stamps to each recipient. I am using them for the wedding invitation as well.
But, I think that I went overboard. I have about $200 in extra stamps. If anyone is interested in seeing what I have, please email me at tenekia54@aol.com.
A great post!
As a childhood philatelist, this post made my day…So glad I found it and wish I had this idea!
just came across an etsy shop that sells vintaged stamps – Verdestudio
http://www.etsy.com/shop/VerdeStudio
I just thought that I should give an update on the stamps that I have. If someone is doing an Americana themed wedding or a Fourth of July wedding, I have stamps for that. If you are looking for flowers, I have pink and red flowers. If there are any sports or skiing enthusiasts, I have the stamps for you.
I forgot another option. For all of the Boston or Massachusett brides, I have some stamps that you may interested in.
Lovely and gorgeous!
Thank you for these nice suggestions.
If you’re not up for doing it yourself, I offer hand addressed envelopes with vintage postage stamps for your wedding, shower, or any other celebration! http://www.jetkatdesign.com/shop/
Thanks for the great post! I wish I had seen it when I had sent my own invites… Love the detailed touch it adds to invitations
i like that too
this is an amazing idea!!!
We went this route, and I love love LOVE our stamps! We used the VerdeStudio shop on Etsy where we were able to request and receive exactly what we needed for very little cost!
Happy hunting!
Jen
I used this idea to personalize my invites by using stamps that would have some meaning to the guests receiving the invite. For example, a couple that we invited lives in California. She is an architect and he is a scientist, they both love sports and they were recently engaged, he is part Japanese and she loves to travel. I then found a California stamp, an architecture and science stamps, an old Olympics stamp, a “LOVE” stamp, a cherry blossom stamp and a stamp with hot air balloons. Everyone noticed the stamps said something about them, so not only did they keep my invite, I got notes from everyone telling me how much they loved it! I of course then added those to my wedding scrapbook.