I use comic book backing. The stuff you can buy in comic book stores to put in the backs of your sleeved comics to keep them flat. It's got the consistency of posterboard, but a little stronger, and it helps keep the photo sufficiently flat. It's also thin enough to not add much weight.

I send a lot of stuff to Japan, so I think I'll be buying some stamps from there on eBay.

[quote="DanielJames"] I've had a few irate postal workers tell me that because it's cardboard, it means it's a package. [/quote]
I've often wondered that, and started using thinner & more flexible backing - like cereal box cardstock. Like you, I haven't had any problems until recently and have shipped 9x12 letters all over the continental U.S. using 2 forever stamps & 1 20-cent stamp. I vented my recent frustration here: [url]http://www.fanmail.biz/mboard/viewtopic.php?f=117&t=317663[/url].

[quote="DanielJames"]On another note, discontinuing IRCs in the United States has really hurt me in terms of international collecting.[/quote]
Really? I've always just included the equivalent return postage in dollar bills and its worked great for me.

[quote="ig88"]Nice success! I don't understand the recent postage hike either - why on earth would it cost $2.50 to send (I'm assuming) a 9x12" envelope with 2 photos inside? If that's really what it's going to cost, it might be the end of the hobby for me - I mean, what's it going to cost to send overseas?![/quote]

Thank you! Believe it or not, it's an 8 x 10 envelope! It's a photo mailer though, which means that it's cardboard, and on occasion I've had a few irate postal workers tell me that because it's cardboard, it means it's a package. I've always chalked this up to them wanting to make others miserable. However, I put the same amount of postage on my outside envelope, which is just a paper 9 x 12, and have never got one returned to me for insufficient postage.

On another note, discontinuing IRCs in the United States has really hurt me in terms of international collecting.

Hi DanielJames :)

Thank you for your feedback {up} Great Success :P

You have been added to the list for the $10 gift certificate.

{star} [url=http://www.fanmail.biz/1117.html]James Earl Jones[/url] on Fanmail.biz | [url=http://www.fanmail.biz/feedback/James_Earl_Jones.html]Previous Feedback(s) Received[/url]

Fanmail 8)

Nice success! I don't understand the recent postage hike either - why on earth would it cost $2.50 to send (I'm assuming) a 9x12" envelope with 2 photos inside? If that's really what it's going to cost, it might be the end of the hobby for me - I mean, what's it going to cost to send overseas?!

Sent: 02/05/2014
Received: 02/28/2014

Address Used:
James Earl Jones
c/o Horatio Productions Inc.
PO Box 610
Pawling, NY 12564

Sent LOR, 2 Photos, and SASE. Envelope came back postage due, but it was delivered anyway. Odd, because I've sent over 100 of these through the mail, and this has always been enough postage. Received two photos back signed. Oddly enough, the second photo is not the same one I sent him. I thought it was a preprint at first, but after looking at it under a loupe, it's a real signature.

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