Our Guide to Sourcing Vintage Stamps For Your Invitations

By Cathleen Freedman

Signed, sealed, stamped, and, oh! It’s vintage! Vintage stamps are the perfect final touch to any calligraphy-adorned envelope. Whether sending your wedding invitations, Christmas cards, or a heartfelt letter, symbolize everlasting love with vintage stamps (which never expire even if they are no longer in print!).

While contemporary stamps are a simple post office visit away, vintage stamps are slightly more difficult to track down. But don’t let that deter you, we know a few places and ways to find them.

Decide a Theme (or Stumble Upon One)

Before continuing, ask yourself now, “Do you want your stamps to tell a story?” Some couples choose vintage stamps that are symbolic of where they grew up or the state they met in or where their wedding will be. Others choose vintage stamps that have a specific color scheme.

If you asked yourself, and you didn’t have an answer, then prepare to be visually saturated by the vast world of vintage stamps. You will be amazed, impressed, and shocked. Get ready to push the envelope. 

Scour Etsy and Rummage Through eBay

If you search correctly, Etsy is essentially an online emporium of antique stores across the world. A simple Etsy search for “vintage stamps” will yield results from various online antique stamp collectors. Click here to see what we mean. eBay is also a treasure trove for vintage stamps.

Here are some specific Etsy shops for those who don’t want to stumble on their own:

Edelweiss Post

Vintage Postage Shop

Visit the Little Postage House

If you’re in the market for vintage stamps, you’re probably a sentimental romantic who lives for the small details. In which case, you have met your match with the Little Postage House by Loly. The Little Postage House offers truly personalized services for all your stationery and stamp desires. You fill out a questionnaire and share your love story, so they have a fully visualized idea of your wedding. 

Our personal favorites are the geographic stamp selections they curate! 

 

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Find a Local Stamp Dealer

Word on the vintage stamp selling street: online vintage stamps can cost up to six or seven times their face value. If you’re looking for bulk vintage stamps and a bargain, try to find a store in your city. Ask if they have stamp sheets. 

Seek out Your Local Philatelic Society

We have officially reached the society portion of our stamp discussion. Philatelic Societies are for stamp and postal enthusiasts alike. You can join your local society or attend one of their stamp auctions to score vintage stamps. We couldn’t help but look up some Philatelic Societies across the country. If you happen to be near one, attend a meeting and get back to us with all of the stamp nitty-gritty.

Houston Philatelic Society

New York City Chapter of the U.S. Classics Philatelic Society

Nashville Philatelic Society

Los Angeles Philatelic Society

Royal Philatelic Society of London

If you couldn’t locate vintage stamps before, now you know where to find them! Will you address your next envelope with a vintage stamp? (And if so, could we be the recipient?)