How Do You Use Old Royal Mail Stamps?
Since the introduction of the original “Penny Black” in 1840, the British Royal Mail has issued hundreds of postage stamps. Because Great Britain was the first nation to issue postage stamps, in all likelihood the hobby of philately (stamp collecting) began there as well. If you are in possession of a quantity of older Royal Mail stamps, you have several choices regarding their use or disposition. But before you decide what you will do with them, you should first attempt to determine their condition and value, as some older Royal Mail stamps are highly sought after by collectors. Examine the stamps, taking care not to touch them with your fingers. Using the stamp tongs (tweezers), separate the stamps into two groups: canceled and unused. Place the used stamps in one or more of the glassine envelopes and put them aside for now. Examine the unused stamps, paying particular attention to gum on the back. Stamps with full gum should be separated from those with traces of gum missing. Missin
