Shipping Information. The Collectible Stamps Gallery

The Collectible Stamps Gallery carefully packs and ships all stamps within a protective rigid mailer that avoids machine cancellation. Most items are shipped via USPS First Class or Priority Mail (exceptions are large supplies packages, which may be sent by USPS Standard Post or via United Parcel Service).

To ensure that you/we are protected from possible loss or damage of your stamps while in the hands of the USPS or UPS, and to keep shipping costs to a minimum, we carry private mailer's insurance (Collectibles Insurance Agency) rather than the more cumbersome and expensive USPS insurance. Every package we send is sent fully insured at no additional charge to you.

Shipping Charges

Stamp Purchases

(not combined with the purchase of supplies):

A flat rate shipping charge is applied to all stamp orders (same charge whether you order a single stamp or hundreds of stamps). Unfortunately, the United States Postal Service dramatically increased First Class International Package rates on January 27, 2013. International customers: please see the notes below.

To a United States Address: $2.00

To Canada: $7.35

To Mexico: $8.85

To USPS Zone 3: $9.45 (Examples: Europe, Asia, Australia, Russia)

To USPS Zone 4: $9.15 (Examples: Central and South America, New Zealand, South Africa, India)

Important notes for our international customers:

A 6 x 9 inch hard-board mailer (hard-board mailer necessary to protect stamps) meets the USPS First Class International Letter rate if the package does not exceed 1/4" in thickness or 3.5 oz in weight. If your packaged order meets these specifications, we will reduce the shipping charge listed on your order confirmation (via a reduction in charge to your credit card or a reimbursement to your PayPal account) to the following levels:

To Canada: $2.10

To Mexico: $2.75

To USPS Zone 3: $3.50

To USPS Zone 4: $3.20

Customs / duty fees: We are legally required to provide detailed descriptions of package contents on customs declaration forms (e.g., "Philatelic items", with quantity, weight and value; the shipping charge is not included in this value). Please note that the buyer assumes all responsibilities for customs and/or duty fees as may be assessed by their home country. The Collectible Stamps Gallery cannot accurately predict whether or not you will be assessed these fees or how much they may be (the buyer, from their home country, is in the best position to determine this; you may contact your local customs office for guidance).

Supplies Purchases

Shipping charges for supplies are based on weight and the location of your address (USPS rate zone). This fee is calculated by our shopping cart software; you will see this charge before you process your payment.

If your purchased items can be shipped safely and less expensively within a USPS Flat Rate Priority Mail box, we will do so with a reduction in your shipping charge to the actual postage cost. Please note that this reduced charge will not be calculated on the automated order confirmation you receive from our shopping cart software (the possible combinations of purchased items are endless; we will not know whether your purchases meet the Flat-Rate Priority Mail specifications until your order is assembled). You will, however, be informed of this shipping charge reduction in the shipment confirmation you receive. Shipping charge reductions are handled according to your payment method: by reducing the charge to your credit card, by reimbursing your PayPal account, or by including a reimbursement check in your shipped package.

If you order both stamps and supplies:

We will save you money by carefully packaging the stamps within the box used to ship your supplies. The shipping charge will be based solely on the weight of the ordered supplies.