Decorating First Class Letters For 55¢

Harry J Verburg Jr · January 2019

I have been collecting U.S. stamps since 1955 so naturally have amassed a very large number of duplicates or extras. Some have forms of flaws but I won't throw them away. What to do with them? I love to decorate my envelopes with as many denominations as possible to equal the current first class rate which is now 55¢. Every time there is a rate increase I create a new chart of possibilities. With the new 55¢ rate there are quite a few possibilities. I have furnished a chart of these combinations. Note that no denomination is repeated in a particular combination - all different. Wierd? Yes - but that's how I am wired. I have Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD) - LOL. Enjoy and have some fun with your duplicates.
55 combinations

Dave Bennett · January 2019

Pretty cool, Harry! I'm going to print that out and keep it handy!

Harry J Verburg Jr · January 2019

Not a problem - that's why I posted it. I've been doing this for about 20 years and this rate increase has provided more combinations than ever. I based this chart primarily on Commemoratives. There are a lot more combinations with definitives but decided to limit the field. Enjoy and thanks for the comment. Could be some errors as I made this chart a day after eye surgery.

Richard Pauls · January 2019

I used to collect plate number coil strips, starting with the Transportation coils of the 1980's. I extracted the strips from the full coils. Needless to say, I still have lots of these remaining to be used on mail. Since they often came in fractional cents and could be issued both without and with overprints, and sometimes different overprints, using these in combination to pay the present first class rate adds tons more combinations. It would be interesting to see how your chart would balloon in size with all of these included.

A permit from the USPS is needed to use the bulk rate, presort, etc, on first class mail as first class postage, but I got one decades ago. Just a simple form to fill out at the post office. Never had any problem with the clerks, they expect unusual items from me when I come to the counter (the permit requires that I present any items being mailed first class containing the service inscribed stamps to be presented to a window clerk for cancellation).