"Free" Parcel Shipping Stamp Frankings From Glen Stephens

ligneN · Post by **ligneN** » 21 Jun 2020 04:37

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Ordered a book (Brusden-White ACSC Vol. 12 "Stationery") from Glen.

It was posted May 25 and safely arrived June 13 in Germany = 3 weeks.

So that luckily did not go by ship and there is a label "air mail printed matter".

And yes, the stamps were immaculate under the cellobag.

The market pen on top camouflage worked as intended

BigSaint · Post by **BigSaint** » 12 Jul 2020 10:11

This one arrived from Glen but unfortunately Dr Evil of Black Pen got to this one even though it was clearly postmarked. There was a plastic cover over Winx & Phar Lap but sadly the plastic was not quite large enough & they were not unscathed:

Dr Evil needs to have his black pen shoved where the sun doesn't shine.

Ubobo.R.O. · Post by **Ubobo.R.O.** » 12 Jul 2020 10:12

Dr Evil should be gelded !

castores · Post by **castores** » 12 Jul 2020 10:23

On purpose or what!!!

or he/she had a bad bet.

castores · Post by **castores** » 15 Jul 2020 18:31

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Latest franking from Glen

castores · Post by **castores** » 26 Jul 2020 10:04

Just opened one of my ACSC catalogues and found some missing franking from Glen

I can't keep track!

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castores · Post by **castores** » 06 Aug 2020 13:42

Latest wonderful postage received
(many thanks Glen & Margo):

Imperf & Recess printed (not issued):

castores · Post by **castores** » 24 Aug 2020 23:41

Some of my recent frankings from Glen (I currently can't find the rest)
I must say my collection of 'Glen's' frankings is looking very nice.

Just short of $10 of stamps inside, all postmarked.

castores · Post by **castores** » 25 Oct 2020 05:43

Time to catch up:

MJ's pet · Post by **MJ's pet** » 25 Oct 2020 17:19

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Those 45c Faces of Australia quite scarce on cover for a base value.

Global Administrator · Post by **Global Administrator** » 25 Oct 2020 17:33

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Even as used SINGLES they sell for about 4 times face EACH!

Those sheets were in the 2000 year album, and as I recall never on sale at POs separately, so are truly scarce postally used.

https://www.ebay.com.au/itm/2000-Faces-of-Australia-45c-shee ... 4463502902

norvic · Post by **norvic** » 26 Oct 2020 02:33

Global Administrator wrote: ↑25 Oct 2020 17:33 .

Even as used SINGLES they sell for about 4 times face EACH!

Those sheets were in the 2000 year album, and as I recall never on sale at POs separately, so are truly scarce postally used.

https://www.ebay.com.au/itm/2000-Faces-of-Australia-45c-shee ... 4463502902

With restricted availability are they listed in Gibbons? Mine isn't that recent, I don't think. Just out of interest; if people want to collect them they will.

fchd · Post by **fchd** » 26 Oct 2020 02:45

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I don't often question Glen's posts, especially in relation to Australian issues, but wasn't it the composite sheet of Olympic Games gold medal winners that was the "bonus" in the 2000 Year Pack?

The Faces of Australia stamps are SG Listed as 1922-1946

MJ's pet · Post by **MJ's pet** » 26 Oct 2020 11:16

I can't recall exactly about the Faces of Australia. They are tough on cover as singles.

Ubobo.R.O. · Post by **Ubobo.R.O.** » 26 Oct 2020 12:31

Faces of Australia was issued in the normal manner however post office staff could only sell it as a whole sheetlet.
Four months into the issue staff could sell individual stamps from the sheetlet.
Which is how I ended up with 12 copies of the boy wearing the baggy green.

The special issue for that year was the gold medallists sheetlet in the the year book.

castores · Post by **castores** » 22 Nov 2020 12:49

MJ's pet · Post by **MJ's pet** » 22 Nov 2020 13:55

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The "teapot" booklet strips have a very high cat value used, and would probably do rather well on ebay UK.

MJ's pet · Post by **MJ's pet** » 22 Nov 2020 14:00

Ubobo.R.O. wrote: ↑26 Oct 2020 12:31 Faces of Australia was issued in the normal manner however post office staff could only sell it as a whole sheetlet.
Four months into the issue staff could sell individual stamps from the sheetlet.
Which is how I ended up with 12 copies of the boy wearing the baggy green.

The special issue for that year was the gold medallists sheetlet in the the year book.

Thanks for that info.

The Faces of Australia almost falls through the cracks doesn't it? Someone at a P.O. wanting 1 or 2 stamps base rate stamps for mail isn't going to buy the whole sheetlet. Someone wanting a peel n stick roll of 100 isn't going to buy it either. That leaves philatelic sales. Then four months into the issue they have loads of unsolds.

MJ's pet · Post by **MJ's pet** » 22 Nov 2020 14:05

tonga2 wrote: ↑13 May 2016 14:56 Not from Glen, but from Australia Philatelic Federation - nice to see others following Glen's example - anyone know why the serial numbers at the bottom of each sheet and text at top of each sheet are crossed out?

Had not noticed the crossed through "variant" before. Glen is probably right if the sender was the APF. They could have licked a couple of airmail labels over the appropriate spaces.

That standard $5 Colonial Heritage mini-sheet (unoverprinted) was one of the best looking Australia Post issues IMHO.

Allanswood · Post by **Allanswood** » 22 Nov 2020 14:26

They were unsold remainders from the event (a reasonable time after the event), that did not go to waste. Bundles were offered to members here at the time to allow them to be used up for postage. I still have some somewhere.

castores · Post by **castores** » 30 Nov 2020 18:04

castores · Post by **castores** » 07 Dec 2020 15:29

The latest from Glen and a "bed full of stamps"

castores · Post by **castores** » 07 Dec 2020 18:48

OOPS, a bit more of that franking:

Silhat · Post by **Silhat** » 07 Dec 2020 22:58

Parcel posted by Glen the 12th of october and received in France only today. International post is soooo low in those pandemic times.

Nice stamp, fortunately well protected when you see the killer pen mark on it

: Parcel by Glen with killer pen mark

And now the extracted stamp, which will have a nice place in my collection

: $20 Uluru CTO

castores · Post by **castores** » 11 Dec 2020 06:23

After hearing how long Silhat's parcel took I shouldn't complain after my previous parcel took a couple of weeks bouncing around New South Wales.

However, the next parcel left Glen & Margo's hands at 4pm and it was at my door 10:30am the next day!
(Too bad my parcel didn't cost more to send

missing one stamp from the set)

castores · Post by **castores** » 15 Dec 2020 11:15

castores · Post by **castores** » 19 Dec 2020 10:23

Very nice.

Global Administrator · Post by **Global Administrator** » 19 Dec 2020 11:31

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Peter - I bet not many POSTALLY used sets of those Art Of The Desert sets 4 exist globally!

Yours is probably the only one actually.

Silhat it is ME doing the black marker pen!

Silhat wrote: ↑07 Dec 2020 22:58
Parcel posted by Glen the 12th of october and received in France only today. International post is soooo low in those pandemic times.

Nice stamp, fortunately well protected when you see the killer pen mark on it

And now the extracted stamp, which will have a nice place in my collection

I mailed the superb Arthur Gray KGV Auction sale book to Luzern Switzerland recently (SEA MAIL -- air was about $80!)

Sea Post was $50. Well it was actually $47.80, but client wanted the $5 Corner pair!

I used a corner pair of current $5, and a corner pair of the current $20 ULURU/Ayers Rock top value INTERNATIONAL. (Value VFU thus, more than he paid for all the shipping!) All will arrive with FULL UNHINGED GUM on reverse, but with yesterday's dated cancel on front.

Postmaster neatly cancelled each with a ''Socked On The Nose'' CASTLECRAG cancel - so all still have full unhinged gum. THEN I placed them inside a clear cello bag, and taped that to parcel.

This saves scuffing or damage or creasing en route.

THEN I take a thick chisel point black sharpie/texta market pen I carry with me on PO visits, and added heavy black squiggles right over the top of all stamps as you can see.

Then PO added all their relevant "0.00" and "SEA POST" labels etc to the package, and dropped it in the mail sack.

Why the ugly marker pen? As I found in some cases, PO staff here or in Europe or Switzerland etc peeled off the cello packet, to steal $50 of cool looking stamps. Send it to India, Thailand, South Africa, Peru, etc these are near GUARANTEED to be stolen by PO staff somewhere. The heavy black marker lines LOOK like they are right over the stamps at a quick glance, so no-one bothers stealing them - works like a charm!

Worth all readers keeping this in mind. YES it does take some 5 or 10 minutes of my time at PO to mess about with all this, and a little bit of forethought, but if my client is paying $50 postage (and it is very often $100 or more) I like to see they essentially get ""FREE Shipping""! And this simple trick ensures that.

Indeed, one client abused me last week saying some PO vandal had destroyed his pretty stamps with a Sharpie Pen!

For years the PO here seemed happy for stamp blocks to be cancelled and placed on top of each other, in a clear cello envelope, and a note added as to total franking enclosed thus. So 7 x different $2 blocks 4 placed on top of each, and marked as "$56 postage herewith" seemed to keep everyone happy for years, and took up less space on parcel.

Recently all Mail Centres here heavily beefed up their "Internal Revenue Protection Teams", and all Postmasters were advised by Memo all stamp franking needed to be fully visible at a glance. I can see their point, as I am sure some senders abused the old system, and the image above of course now fully complies.

Pretty much all senders can mail things like the above I feel sure, in most countries, IF they are friendly and smiling to PO staff, and most importantly are patient, and choose a QUIET time of day to visit PO as I do. Arriving at 4.50pm etc, is NOT a good time for this stuff!

Glen

castores · Post by **castores** » 19 Dec 2020 11:42

Global Administrator wrote: ↑19 Dec 2020 11:31 .
Peter - I bet not many POSTALLY used sets of those Art Of The Desert sets 4 exist globally!

Yours is probably the only one actually.

Yes, that crossed my mind also Glen.

I'll send you an email later...

Global Administrator · Post by **Global Administrator** » 24 Dec 2020 11:17

rehautala wrote: ↑24 Dec 2020 04:04 .
My Package from Glen, shipped on Aug.12 just arrived.

Seamail took just over 4 months from Australia to Canada.

Some nice stamps hiding under the labels

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DHL (and Fedex) has dedicated freight planes.

I get DHL Express parcels all the time in 4 or 5 days from Europe, one or 2 a week, all year.

They are NOT Australia Post who have no planes, and almost no commercial carriers to buy space from this year.

See the post above yours - FOUR AND A HALF MONTHS to Canada is more usual this year.

And I stress these stamps are superb full fum light cancel - the black sharpie pen ** I ** apply after cancelling is done by my PO, and AFTER a strip of thick Hagner sheet Mylar plastic is taped over the top of them, to deter theft of $50 of pretty stamps.

OR to prevent Canada Post affixing their large tracking label OVER 2 x valuable $20 Uluru stamps as can ben seen!

Glen

Delivery progress

Information updated: Dec. 24
Date Time Progress
Dec. 22 10:13 am
Delivered to your community mailbox, parcel locker or apt./condo mailbox
Woodstock, ON
9:28 am
Item out for delivery
Woodstock, ON
Additional information

Delivery pending
6:23 am
Item processed
Woodstock, ON
Additional information

The item has arrived at the destination facility for final sorting before delivery. Look for an "Out for Delivery" scan today or tomorrow to know when delivery will occur. You can also sign up for email notifications.
3:38 am
Item processed
London, ON
Dec. 21 12:07 am
Item processed
Mississauga, ON
Dec. 14 5:59 pm
Item processed
Richmond, BC
5:59 pm
Item was released by Customs and is now with Canada Post for processing
Richmond, BC
7:34 am
Item has arrived in Canada and will be presented for review
Richmond, BC
Aug. 20 7:46 am
International item has left originating country and is en route to Canada
Ausyde, Australia
7:42 am
International item processed in originating country
Ausyde, Australia
Aug. 12 3:42 pm
International item mailed in originating country
Aumxbr, Australia

rehautala · Post by **rehautala** » 25 Dec 2020 03:09

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Here is a nice full gum set that made the 4 month trip to Canada.

Not shown are a couple of nice VFU Internationals $1.50 and a super $3.85 (I collect these internationals as they come to me).

Many yet to go.

As Glen says above, they were well protected beneath a barrage of labels. Took a bit of work to free them.

castores · Post by **castores** » 29 Dec 2020 01:42

Some large boxes arrived from Glen the day before Christmas - quite a surprise.

I was even more surprised when I saw the content of the franking, full gum, all full sets, for several 100% complete years, under protective plastic.

Thank you, Glen & Margo

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turtle-bienhoa · Post by **turtle-bienhoa** » 29 Dec 2020 02:16

I am drooling!

RevRed+ · Post by **RevRed+** » 29 Dec 2020 03:00

Just WOW!

Philexx · Post by **Philexx** » 29 Dec 2020 08:20

Beautiful franking!

castores · Post by **castores** » 29 Dec 2020 08:23

Thanks all, I drooled when I saw them

Global Administrator · Post by **Global Administrator** » 29 Dec 2020 12:43

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Glad you enjoyed them Peter .. took me 30 mins at Post Office in pre-Xmas week mega crowds of once-a-year-at-PO- Grannies mailing a kiddie book to a Grandchild, to nearly cancel them all!

Seldom do you see complete years, all superb used, with full gum!

Glen

castores · Post by **castores** » 29 Dec 2020 12:54

I think gobsmacked more sums up what I thought when I saw them.

Very much appreciate the time you took holding all the grannies up Glen

I spoiled one paying more attention to a cockatoo than what I was doing, rather upsetting - all my fault.

I wasn't going to show it but as an example of not paying attention:

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Had to be a bird that side-tracked me when I should've been paying attention to the birds in front of me.
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RogerE · Post by **RogerE** » 29 Dec 2020 14:13

Aaah castores, I don't think you've been watching all the birds.
I invite you to check out:
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https://www.stampboards.com/viewtopic.php?f=11&t=5637&start=3364
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/RogerE

castores · Post by **castores** » 29 Dec 2020 14:32

RogerE wrote: ↑29 Dec 2020 14:13 Aaah castores, I don't think you've been watching all the birds.
I invite you to check out:
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https://www.stampboards.com/viewtopic.php?f=11&t=5637&start=3364
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/RogerE

At 68 pages I gather it is more than A-Z of birds, rotating through various living things? No, everything?

And a bird starting with "U" is next? Common or Latin (?)

What happens after "Z" for choice.

Sorry RogerE, between the cricket and feeding time at the 'open aviary' I'm likely to learn more (and quicker) from a reply post....

Looks like a fun thread

Cheers - Peter

Crappy cut but I missed the bird....

Global Administrator · Post by **Global Administrator** » 29 Dec 2020 14:47

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Castores … I need to ask the obvious question, when stamps are in singles, placed in clear plastic pouches, why on EARTH are you using scissors anywhere near them ???!!!!

And not just one cut but two cuts, in different directions.

That is a $40 retail Bird Mini sheet only obtainable via that scarce 2005 year album.

Glen

castores · Post by **castores** » 29 Dec 2020 15:07

Global Administrator wrote: ↑29 Dec 2020 14:47 .

Castores … I need to ask the obvious question, when stamps are in singles, placed in clear plastic pouches, why on EARTH are you using scissors anywhere near them ???!!!!

And not just one cut but two cuts, in different directions.

That is a $40 retail Bird Mini sheet only obtainable via that scarce 2005 year album.

Glen

Not scissors Glen, Stanley Blade. There was a very colourful stamp above the mini sheet and after I gave some attention to the bird (living) I turned back to the stamps, noticed the bright stamp, finished a cut and started a horizontal cut and noticed "25"

How do you think I feel, wasn't easy to 'show it off' here, that's for sure.
Learnt a big lesson

Note, prior to the 'SLICE' I was going straight, Cockie was screaming for food.....

Also note, I much prefer the way you are 'storing' the stamps now, didn't like the 'glue stick' much.
This is much much better!

Postmarks also perfectly placed.....

castores · Post by **castores** » 07 Jan 2021 17:21

The latest:

RogerE · Post by **RogerE** » 08 Jan 2021 01:22

And no inadvertent cuts acquired.

Good on you castores

Tod.Moore · Post by **Tod.Moore** » 08 Jan 2021 12:57

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Some frankings from Glen on a hefty parcel which arrived yesterday.

Glad the plastic was there to save them from the marker pen.

How it looked when it got here - black marker pen is added by Glen on the outer plastic to deter PO staffer theft in transit.

All stamps are perfect full gum VFU, under the plastic. If parcel gets wet they stay dry and safe.

: parcel from Glen Stephens with frankings protected

Just a few of them are shown here -

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: stamps with Castlecrag CDS

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: stamps with Castlecrag CDS

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: stamps with Castlecrag CDS

castores · Post by **castores** » 08 Jan 2021 22:39

RogerE wrote: ↑08 Jan 2021 01:22 And no inadvertent cuts acquired.

Good on you castores

This time successful

Tod.Moore · Post by **Tod.Moore** » 12 Jan 2021 12:42

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Part of another hoard of stamp frankings that just arrived from Glen.

1990 Colonial Australia Series part 4: ‘Boomtime’ set, Strip of 5 se-tenant 41c stamps, complete pane of 5 strips.

There would not be too many of these around. Less with such superb CTO CDS cancels.

: 1990 'Colonial Australia' 41c stamps: ‘Boomtime’ pane of 25.

RogerE · Post by **RogerE** » 12 Jan 2021 13:04

True! An attractive multiple, especially with the printer's colour bars.
And the postmark suggests that we can identify the sender

But a friendly "watch your language" comment:

"Less" is the opposite of "more" for continuous quantities, like time or liquids.
"Fewer" in the opposite of "more" for discrete quantities, like people and stamps.

The distinction is worthwhile, because it aids clarity of thought.

/RogerE

pickwickian · Post by **pickwickian** » 28 Jan 2021 14:13

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From a very [heavy] 16 kilo Parcel from Glen containing set of 6 Stanley Gibbons SOTW 2018 cats;

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MarkM · Post by **MarkM** » 28 Jan 2021 15:03

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I too got a heavy parcel with the same SG SOTW 2018 recently from Glen, and this pearl, along with some SON blocks of 4, came with it.

I have had my eye on the postally used $2.50 Opal sheet that he has up for sale here, so this came as a pleasant surprise.

: Opal Sheet