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A WOMAN has been left completely stunned after a parcel she ordered on eBay arrived wrapped in stamps.
The anonymous woman, Meg, explained that she had ordered something online from eBay and was shocked to see the packaging when it arrived.
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Instead of a single first or second class stamp, the buyers’ parcel was marked with six royal stamps.
The recipient, who is from the United Kingdom, shared her surprise on social media by posting her post, which was decorated with Princess Diana stamps from 1998.
In addition to the message, which was shared on the ‘slightly interesting‘ thread, the Reddit user, who goes by the username @IndigoBlue14, wrote: “My eBay copper wire arrived with SIX different collectible Princess Diana commemorative stamps from 1998.”
Each stamp featured a beautiful photo of the late Princess Diana and they all bore the number 26.
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Stunned by the stamps, the woman said, “The postman delivered it straight to me, but I thought they had to be stamped.”
At the time, each stamp was worth 26p, a stark contrast to today’s price of £1.35 for a first class stamp.
But now these sets of collectible stamps are being sold on eBay for a whopping £99. Yes, you read that right.
Interestingly, another Reddit user recently claimed to have received a package from the same seller.
The woman said, “Hey, you ordered from the same seller as me.
“I also received copper wire and a package covered in train stamps from the 70s and 80s.”
To this the author replied: “Someone [is] I suspect I have completed a stamp collection of a deceased relative.
“This is real and both the seller and I live in the UK, not the US.”
REDDIT USERS RESPOND
Many other Reddit users were charmed by the seller’s unusual approach, with one even asking for the stamps.
A Reddit user asked, “If you don’t collect stamps, can you send them to me?
Seems strange, but maybe these stamps are still valid
Reddit user
“My mother collects stamps and I know she would love them!”
In response, the author replied, “I don’t collect stamps. Send me a PM and I’ll be happy to send you the envelope.”
Another Redditor wrote: “Stamp collecting is a great example of scarcity without demand.”
At the same time, a third user explained: “It seems strange, but maybe these stamps are still valid.”
Discover more about rare stamps
Britons who have a vintage stamp collection at home may not realise they are sitting on a small fortune.
Stamp collecting has become less popular, largely due to the rise of modern technology. However, some stamps can be worth thousands of dollars.
Stamp collectors, also called philatelists, who have kept their old stamp collection can eventually walk to the bank laughing if they have made a wise choice.
Stamp collectors, or philatelists as they are often called, who have retained their old hobby can eventually walk to the bank laughing – but only if they have made a wise choice.
Many of the world’s most valuable postage stamps were issued in the United Kingdom.
And if you’re lucky enough to own one of the rarest examples, you could earn up to £500,000 if you trade it in.
We’ve collected four of the rarest and most valuable.
1. Penny Black (1840)
- Meaning: The world’s first self-adhesive postage stamp.
- Value: Up to £3,000 depending on condition.
- Features: Black ink, profile of Queen Victoria.
2. Two Penny Blue (1840)
- Meaning: Second stamp.
- Value: Up to £5,000 for a stamp in perfect condition.
- Features: Same design as Penny Black, but in blue.
3. Plate 77 Penny Red (1863)
- Meaning: Extremely rare due to a printing error.
- Value: Up to £500,000.
- Features: Red ink, profile of Queen Victoria, identification “Plate 77”.
4. Tyrian plum (1910)
- Meaning: Withdrawn before publication.
- Value: Approximately £130,000.
- Features: Plum colour, King Edward VII profile.
While one eBay seller shared, “I can shed some light. I am an eBay seller myself and with the rising cost of shipping, some of us have started buying old crappy stamp collections from other sites for less than eyesight.
“The USPS doesn’t care how many or what kind of stamp you use, as long as it covers your postage costs.”
After this someone else wrote: “Right now people don’t collect stamps. The older generation that did is dead or dying out.
“When you put these fairly rare stamps up for sale, there is simply no one who wants to buy them, at least not at a price that is considered fair.”
Royal Mail has today made it mandatory for all stamps to feature barcodes as part of its extensive modernisation efforts.
There are, however, some exceptions to the change, such as Royal Mail said: “We will not be adding special stamps that are produced as one-off issues to commemorate an event to this type of stamp range. The non-barcoded versions will therefore remain valid for stamps after 31 January 2023.”
The chain added: “Christmas stamps: Although we are adding barcodes to Christmas stamps, Christmas stamps without barcodes will remain valid as postage after 31 January 2023, so there is no need to replace them.”
