I found a box with lots of (usable, not collectable) postage stamps in my husband's grandmother's house when we were cleaning it out, and it has a whole bunch of stamps in values ranging from 1 cent to like 34 cents.  If I weigh the package and figure out how much it needs, is there anything wrong with putting several stamps on there?  Anyone know if there is a maximum, so long as they don't cover up the addresses?

I don't know if there's a maximum....but I do the stamps thing all the time. I by different demoninations of stamps, and I have a postal scale, and do it myself from home. Just remember, if it's more than 13 oz, you still have to hand it to a postal worker. Otherwise, you can put it in your mailbox with the flag up, or drop it in a blue box somewhere.

I'm 99% sure there's no maximum.  If you had a book going media mail for $2.34, you could put 234 one-cent stamps on, and it still should go, as long as the address is visible, etc.

As CBrett42 stated ..... there should be no problem. I once received a box covered in 2 cent stamps from Ohio.  It just takes more time for the clerk to count and cancel all the stamps .....

There's no maximum number, but my post office told me I couldn't put stamps OVER the tape on the package.  Since I am generous with the tape that reduces the space for stamps.  I've also used a lot of ols stamps that were hanging around, and I had to use glue for them to stick--the gum on the back wears away after several years.  It's fun to see the different stamps that have been printed over the years though!

I wonder about the "stamps over the tape", I know that you aren't supposed to tape over the stamps.I often use many stamps to get the correct postage and have put therm over tape with no problems

Yes Arlene, I used to put stamps on top of the tape in the past but for the last 6 months or so I've had two different clerks at my post office tell me that I can't do it, even though only about 1/3 of the stamp was on top of the tape.  There seem to be vastly different interpretations of the rules depending on which post office or clerk you happen to go to.

I'd guess that some POs think that stamps are easier to remove when affixed to tape.

On the other hand, I would imagine they wouldn't want tape over the stamps for some valid reason, too.  I'm not sure what that would be.  Maybe it's easier for those wanting to use what should be a cancelled stamp for a second time? 

I think the issue w/stamps over tape is that they can come off easier that way somewhere along their journey. So the book might get returned to you or arrive postage due.

I use stamps all the time. I found a bunch of .27 and .37 stamps in an old purse one.  I also buy sheets of various denominations and use them instead of the printed postage.  I use the printed postage on books over 13oz or if I need DC for a game. 

If they are mostly small denominations and you're worried about them taking up too much space-you could always buy some .90, $1 or $2 stamps to use with them. 

Ange, your guess is right.  The problem with tape over stamps is that the postmark won't actually be able to print on the stamp, and therefore the stamp won't be cancelled.  If they allowed that, it would make it a lot easier for people who would want to cheat the post office and reuse stamps.

Thanks everyone...I've mailed two books with $2.23 on them and wrote "Media Mail" next to the stamps.  (Don't have a postal scale yet, so just sending them media mail is easier since they're definitely under a pound.)  One had 6 stamps, and another had 7.  :)  I got some brown butcher paper from work and found a roll of that brown paper tape that you moisten to adhere it, so stamps will stick to it. 

And regarding stamps over tape: I just got a book from another member that was packaged in a manilla envelope and packaging tape, with stamps over the tape (someone didn't notice or care) and the lick-n-stick ones were almost completely off on the taped part, it was a small section of 4 and they were barely hanging on by their top edge.  Glad they didn't fall off and somewhere along the way the carrier didn't return it for insufficient postage!

You CAN put stamps on tape - I have done so for the last 2.5+ years without problems (540+ books mailed).  I use the stamps that are like stikcers, though.

Yesterday I messed up my math when I was trying to figue out a combination of stamps that would create the total.

I was able to pull off a $0.41 stamp and put back in my cache of stamps, and use a$0.27s and a few $0.01 to make the correct postage.

I could only do this because that particular stamp was on a piece of tape.

I've put plenty of stamps over tape and have never had any problem.  I've also been the recipient of dozens of books where the stamps were over tape.  This must be another of those issues that differ depending on which postal employee you speak with.