Where can I buy IRCs, US/UK Stamps? (and other stamps!)

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Where can I buy IRCs, US/UK Stamps? (and other stamps!)

Post by TheCollector »

What is an IRC?

An IRC (or International Reply Coupon) is a voucher obtainable from the post office to prepay the return postage of an item from abroad.

IRCs work in just the same way that stamps would if you were sending an SASE to a celeb in your own country.

Obviously, when you write to a celeb in another country, there is no point sending your SASE with your own country's stamps on, as they would not be accepted by their postal system on the return journey.

That is when you need to purchase IRCs. Prices very from country to country, and not all post offices sell them, so you might have to shop-around a bit.

On average if you are expecting anything up to a 10x8 back you need to include at least 2 IRCs. Anything bigger, and you will need more.

Your IRCs should be put inside your SAE, or paperclipped to the front of it (so the celeb sees them!) They can then redeem them at their local post office for the cost of postage.
Image

A genuine IRC valid until 31st December 2009 should look like this:
Image

A genuine IRC valid until 31st December 2006 should look like this:
Image

Good luck :mrgreen:
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Re: Where can I buy IRCs, US Stamps? (and other stamps!)

Post by Selise »

The websites to different countries and their respective postal offices are in this post. Check the site out to see if you can purchase stamps from the country. It is another alternative to purchasing IRC's.

Generally useful links:
Converting between oz and grams: http://www.gourmetsleuth.com/gram_calc.htm
Converting between inches and cm: http://www.manuelsweb.com/in_cm.htm

USA
Postage Calculator: http://www.usps.com/tools/calculatep...lculatepostage
Domestic Price Charts: http://pe.usps.com/text/dmm300/Notice123.htm
International Price Charts: http://pe.usps.com/text/Imm/immctry.htm

IF YOU ARE NOT IN THE US, YOU HAVE TO CALL THE USPS IN ORDER TO PURCHASE STAMPS. THE USPS NO LONGER ACCEPTS INTERNET ORDERS FOR STAMPS.

Note: USPS increases postage prices on May 11th, 2009.
New Price list at: http://pe.usps.com/PriceChange_May20.../PriceList.pdf

Note: Stamps without denomination (printed value) can be used for international mail. The value of such stamps is linked to either a current or a former domestic postage price (e.g., the “Lady Liberty and U.S. Flag” stamp has a postage value of 39 cents). The postage value of the Forever Stamp, is always the domestic First-Class Mail single-piece 1-ounce letter price that is in effect on the day of use (affix more postage when neccesarry). Source: http://pe.usps.com/text/imm/immc1_020.htm, 152.2 Stamps, c)

Canada
Postage Calculator: http://www.canadapost.ca/Personal/Tools/RC/Canada.aspx
http://www.canadapost.ca/shop/postage.jsf

United Kingdom - Mainland, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland
http://shop.royalmail.com/products/stam ... at/cat220/ (International Shipping Available)
Note: England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland all have the same stamps. Stamps pre-decimalization (before 1971) can no longer be used.
First and second class stamps can be used for international mail, they will count as their current value if no other denomination is on the stamp (confirmed by Royal Mail Service).

United Kingdom - Isle of Man
Price Guide: http://www.gov.im/post/postal/guide.xml
Isle of Man does use different stamps than mainland UK. Stamps purchased in the Channel Islands and Isle of Man cannot be used in UK, nor can UK postage stamps be used in the Channel Islands or the Isle of Man.

Australia
Postage Calculator: http://www1.auspost.com.au/pac/ (use Post Charges Booklet link for a pdf price overview)

Austria
http://www.post.at/en/129.php
Note: current stamp currency is Euro, "Schilling" currency stamps can no longer be used.

Belgium (i believe "tot en met" is the size for 8x10)
in Netherlands Lang.: http://www.post.be/site/nl/letters/i...ffs/index.html
in German Lang: http://www.post.be/de/brief/tarife/i...nal/index.html
Note: current stamp currency is Euro. All stamps denominated in Belgian francs (BEF) are valid indefinitely. 1 Belgium Franc = 0,02478 (or 40 Francs = approx 1 Euro)

France
http://timbres.laposte.fr/af/bv/core/co ... 0&nbItems= (International Shipping Available)
Note: current stamp currency is Euro. "Franc" stamps 'will remain valid for prepayment for an unlimited period'. 1 Franc = 0.152449 Euro

Germany ("Großbrief" for 8x10) (correct me if I'm wrong)
German postage can be calculated here: http://www.deutschepost.de/dpag?xmlFile=1004909
German stamps and IRCs can be found here: https://www.efiliale.de/efiliale/katalog/index.jhtml
(Stamps and IRCs can only be ordered within Germany!)

In addition: German IRCs can only be ordered online through the given link. German post offices don't sell them anymore!
Note: current stamp currency is Euro, "DM" currency stamps can no longer be used.

Greece
Note: current stamp currency is Euro, previous currency stamps can no longer be used.

Hong Kong
http://www.hongkongpost.com/eng/postage/index.htm

Ireland: (large envelope for 8x10)
http://postage.anpost.ie/
Note: current stamp currency is Euro, previous currency stamps can no longer be used

Italy
http://e-filatelia.poste.it/en/contratto_en.shtml (International Shipping Available)
(Flats for 8x10, Prices link on the left)
Note: current stamp currency is Euro. All lire stamps remain valid indefinitely. 1 Lire = 0.0005165 Euro (or 2000 Lire = approx 1 Euro)

Japan
Postage Calculator: http://www.post.japanpost.jp/cgi-cha...x.php?lang=_en
Price Lists: http://www.post.japanpost.jp/int/cha.../index_en.html

Netherlands
http://www.tntpost.nl/voorthuis/brie...-kost-het.aspx
Note: current stamp currency is Euro. Guilder/cent stamps to remain valid indefinitely.

New Zealand
Postage Calculator: http://www.nzpost.co.nz/Cultures/en-...ls/Ratefinder/
Price List (Letters): http://www.nzpost.co.nz/Cultures/en-...ationalLetters

Norway
https://eordre.posten.no/OA_HTML/ibeCCt ... anguage=US (International Shipping Available)

Poland
http://www.poczta-polska.pl/ (seems to be only available in polish; if you know a direct link to their rates post below)
You can buy stamps at: http://www.poczta-polska.pl/znaczki/en/oferta.php (english)

Spain
http://www.correos.es/ENG/01P-Enviar...-CPostales.asp
Note: current stamp currency is Euro. I'm not sure if Peseta currency stamps are still valid.

Sweden - karra28 - correct me if I'm wrong!
http://www.posten.se/ptm/ptm_do.jsp?action=getPriceList (seems no english version is available? I believe under "Ekonomibrev utrikes" you can find price lists (Prislista) in PDF format for international mail)
Envelope sizes, weight limits, etc: http://www.posten.se/ptm/ptm_do.jsp?...tFactSheetList (under "1:a-klassbrev utrikes", select "Faktablad engelsk version" for an english PDF)

Switzerland ("Large Letter" for 8x10)
http://www.post.ch/en/index/uk-priva...se-economy.htm


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