Uncanceled stamps

pocketpiececommems · February 14, 2013 4:21AM

I just got an ebay coin in the mail today. The seller used 39 older 8 cent stamps to mail it. None of them were canceled. I also get a monthly coin price list from two different dealers that also use the older stamps. They are never canceled. Is there a reason for this? Does this happen to others here?

AUandAG · February 14, 2013 4:32AM

Happens all the time.

I can't speak for others, but I find that when I buy a collection, many times the seller
has stamps they want to sell as well. Usually blocks, sheets, etc of the most common
lower denominations. I buy them of 80% of face and use them to mail packages.

If they don't want to sell at the reduced price then they can just use them.

bob

Edited: the PO is too lazy to cancel them.

ambro51 · February 14, 2013 4:39AM

Awesome you got some free postage! Soak em off six to a letter couldn't be finer!

Steve27 · February 14, 2013 4:55AM

Once in a while when a seller uses a large number of small denomination stamps (new or old), they're not cancelled. I suspect it's because they would have to do it by hand, and it's easier if they don't bother.

shorecoll · February 14, 2013 4:59AM

There are (or used to be) dealers that sell bulk old stock postage at a discount. I think some of this is subsidized stuff from the UN post office or something like that. Maybe some one who knows will chime in. Some New York dealers used to almost wrap packages in low denomination stamps.

Dentuck · February 14, 2013 5:13AM

What effect do unused postage stamps have on the Post Office's
account books? Do they accrue like a postal variety of seigniorage?

All those uncanceled stamps dating from the 1940s (or before) to
the 1970s (and beyond). . . . they were purchased at face value,
but they were never transformed into human labor (sorting,
delivering, etc.) or mechanical labor (shipping, machine-sorting, etc.).

kranky · February 14, 2013 5:40AM

You can buy old unused stamps for less than face value. If it wasn't for the effort required to plaster a package or envelope with a boatload of stamps (none of which are self-stick) I think more people would use them.

lordmarcovan · February 14, 2013 6:33AM

When I got that Seated dollar today, the entire back of the envelope was papered with old stamps, some of which were canceled and some weren't. Inside was a flyer from the dealer with a coin pricelist. I noticed they also sold blocks and plates of older 22- 25- 29- and 33-cent stamps for 95% face, to be used as postage. I got a lot of these one time, and it even included older 3c stamps going back to 1935. It was a fun way to buy some usable postage stamps below face. (The really old stamps I had to use a glue stick on, to attach them to the envelope, as the gumming was long gone).

Mission16 · February 14, 2013 9:44AM

Many years ago, I would buy unused postage for 80% of face, and use it to buy colored gemstones at 100%.

Lakesammman · February 14, 2013 9:47AM

I have a file folder 2" thick of plate blocks from the 60's and 70's - since most payments are auto-pay these days, I'm thinking they are going to last the rest of my life!

ajaan · February 14, 2013 9:54AM

<< Awesome you got some free postage! Soak em off six to a letter couldn't be finer! >>

Technically this is illegal. I'll try to find the reference.

Dentuck · February 14, 2013 10:44AM

<< 

<< Awesome you got some free postage! Soak em off six to a letter couldn't be finer! >>

Technically this is illegal. I'll try to find the reference. >>

The USPS has technology that can detect if (what appears to be) an uncanceled stamp has been through
its machinery.

Sounds like tinfoil-hat paranoia, but I'm positive I read about that somewhere.

lordmarcovan · February 14, 2013 10:50AM

<< 

<< 

<< Awesome you got some free postage! Soak em off six to a letter couldn't be finer! >>

Technically this is illegal. I'll try to find the reference. >>

The USPS has technology that can detect if (what appears to be) an uncanceled stamp has been through
its machinery.

Sounds like tinfoil-hat paranoia, but I'm positive I read about that somewhere. >>

Well, I guess I'm on their hitlist, then.

DaveG · February 14, 2013 10:51AM

I seem to get a fair amount of mail with not obviously cancelled stamps - I always cut them off and save them for "recycling". I've successfully recycled uncancelled self-stick stamps several times in the past several years.

In fact, I mailed a package just yesterday using recycled stamps - I'll let you know if it gets sent back.

There's a coin dealer at a small monthly show nearby who offers old stamps at 80% of face - he doesn't seem to get many takers, though.

numisma · February 14, 2013 2:56PM

It is illegal. Even if the USPS cannot prove it, it is stealing, so why take the risk? If you do the math and calculate the time expended to take off the stamps and then apply them to a new package, you will find that it is less expensive to just purchase legal postage.

PerryHall · February 14, 2013 3:45PM

These stamps may be old but they were never used and they are still good for postage. Don't forget that stamp collecting used to be extremely popular and many people would buy dozens or even hundreds of sheets of each new issue of stamp and then put them away as an investment. Didn't work out that way and people got tired of storing them. When they sold them they were lucky to get 80% of face value. They usually get less and the Post Office won't buy unused stamps back.

johnny9434 · February 15, 2013 5:23AM

<< Awesome you got some free postage! Soak em off six to a letter couldn't be finer! >>

lmao, the system works

Uncanceled stamps

Comments

Leave a Comment