Where do you get FREE stamps?

[guilloutran]

Cheers!

As the result of COVID, I been collecting stamps because it's quite educational and interesting! But I don't really know how to expand my collections as the fact that I don't have money to buy stamps as an undergrad!

I wondering what's some ways you could have stamps for free as a new collector?

Thanks,
Nghia

[Global Administrator]

.
From the same place as you get FREE MONEY I guess.

Any suggestions you can share?

OR you can become a useful member here of this COMMUNITY, make a few useful posts before begging for freebies, get known, and you might get lucky.

Sound like a plan?

Glen

[lesbootman]

You can get to look at some for free here:

https://rmspecialstamps.com/collections/architects-of-the-air/

[guilloutran]

That's great! I guess I'll be more active and see where I stand!

[steevh]

You could become president.

It worked for Roosevelt -- he was then able to order everyone in the government to save the stamps from the mail for him.
Plus other world leaders heard he collected stamps, and they would give him free stamps as a gift.

Or become a king. Various kings were able to get copies of all new stamps issued by their countries -- eg UK's George V -- and also used some of the same tricks as Roosevelt.

As you're a student, maybe ask fellow students.

[figmente]

Traditionally they would be received on mail, but they tend to be rather sparse there now.

[AMark]

Hi Nghia,

Where do you get FREE stamps?

Sorry, but there is no easy answer to your question.

One way that you can obtain free stamps is by asking your family and friends to save their incoming mail. If your family and friends agree to keep their mail for you. Please do not soak every stamp that you will get on covers, postcards and/or on pieces. Post a question on the board whether you should soak the stamps off of a given item.

[ebay]

There are threads on here where members are giving away FREE stamps.
Or thats what i thinks happening !!!

And i am sure there are competitions and you can win stamps, you'd have to look into it as i might be wrong.
but i'm sure there are " give aways " ect on here somewhere.

[kuikka]

There are threads on here where members are giving away FREE stamps.
Or thats what i thinks happening !!!

And i am sure there are competitions and you can win stamps, you'd have to look into it as i might be wrong.
but i'm sure there are " give aways " ect on here somewhere.

Just make sure that you qualify. There are often requirements of having been certain number of days member and/or having made certain amount of posts. There may be some other conditions, too, but yes, there are free stamps given away on Stampboards.

[Stapper]

When I was working on a contract (I'm IT consultant) from our company instead of at our client, the office secretaries where s kind to keep the envelopes with stamps and prints for me (except if the envelope was needed for a legal reason). That was a good time as i work for an Indian company with post coming in from over the world . So, try to become friendly with the office people at your campus, perhaps they will do the same.

[scrute]

Nghia

After a lifetime of collecting First Day Covers, Covid has opened my eyes to the wider world of philately. For example, Canada stamper has pointed out the interesting postmarks that Australia Post has had during the last year.

https://stampboards.com/viewtopic.php?p=6859334#p6859334

Keep your eyes open. Search on this board and you will find something that interests you that is inexpensive to collect. Remember it is a collection and you are not in it (entirely) for investment purposes.

I have found any nearby businesses; friends and nieghbours and colleagues are all good sources of material.

[guilloutran]

Thanks everyone for pointing out that there’s no way to get stuff for free. I’ll try to look around friends and family and see if I am lucky!

Have a wonderful day!

Nghia

[Hermes61]

If you are a university student you can ask to post an ad at the mail sorting centre (where students collect their mail/parcels on campus) asking for stamps. Usually there is a box to collect stamps for charity, but if there is none at your university other students might contact you and give you the stamps that they would otherwise throw away.

In the same way, you can ask people at the administration and library if you know them well enough to save stamps/envelopes from their incoming mail. Universities still get a lot of regular mail (applications, books, invoices, etc).

There are many people who rather donate than throw away things, so you might have a few coming your way.

[Brit-Col]

Investigate local stamp shows in your area.

Oftentimes these shows, particularly the larger ones, will feature a beginner collectors’ area at which not only free or very inexpensively priced stamps will be available but also often old catalogues and other stamp-related material.

This is material that is being given away by dealers and longer term collectors so do not expect to find anything of much value, but it is a source of “starter” stuff.

Secondly, if you can find a local club join it. Most clubs have very nominal membership dues, $10-$12 dollars is typical. Older members are usually very happy to assist young beginners and many are quite generous about giving away duplicates.

One word of advice though, be polite, be respectful, and don’t show up with an attitude of just expecting folks to give you stuff. If they suspect you’re just trying to get free stamps to resell on eBay they won’t give you anything.

BC

[guilloutran]

Investigate local stamp shows in your area.

Oftentimes these shows, particularly the larger ones, will feature a beginner collectors’ area at which not only free or very inexpensively priced stamps will be available but also often old catalogues and other stamp-related material.

This is material that is being given away by dealers and longer term collectors so do not expect to find anything of much value, but it is a source of “starter” stuff.

Secondly, if you can find a local club join it. Most clubs have very nominal membership dues, $10-$12 dollars is typical. Older members are usually very happy to assist young beginners and many are quite generous about giving away duplicates.

One word of advice though, be polite, be respectful, and don’t show up with an attitude of just expecting folks to give you stuff. If they suspect you’re just trying to get free stamps to resell on eBay they won’t give you anything.

BC

I wish there is a philately club where I lived. A few months ago, I struggled to find a good pair of tweezer somewhere locally, the seller of all the shop I had been don’t even know the meaning of the world “philatélie” or the fact that you’ll need a pair of tongs to collect stamps. But it’s a good advice you have. It’s a small town where I am.