Ian
All US stamps issued for the movement of first class mail (including airmail stamps) since 1869 are valid for postage. In fact, I am down to just a few mint stamps from the 19th century and I do so like to use them to decorate my mail - so I will be paying double face value for all MNH 19th century US stamps anyone has lying around.
All USA postage, semi-postal and air mail stamps issued from 1862 onward are valid for postage duty.
The USA Congress invalidated all US postage stamps issued up to 1862 at the onset of the US Civil War. It was found that USA stamps were being sold by the Confederacy for hard cash to help fund the war.
if you're just using them for postage, Bobby, why do you want them as NH? Unless that's so, after they've been soaked, you could say that they are now Used, NH? Not that you would.
and, I know you know where I live
Michael, i think the last stamps demonetized were the 1857 issue in 1861
Doesn't matter, because all USA stamps issued prior to January 1, 1862, are not valid for postage.
New stamps became available in August 1861, however, the the invalidation for use of older US stamps (people were allowed to trade in the older stamps for the new ones) was applied in phases across the country from September 1861 to January 1862.
Veeeeeeety Interesting.
Here's another interesting tidbit.
Prior to the August 1861 issue, US stamps were inscribed with only "U.S. Postage". In an attempt to differentiate the invalidated stamps, the new stamps issued in August 1861 and later were inscribed not only with "U.S. Postage", but also had the initials "US" (one "U" and one "S" in different corners of each stamp).
Note that Special Delivery stamps are no longer valid for regular mail, but are still valid to pay for Express Mail.
David
and that you, me, and 16 other post masters and carriers know that rule
so, not demonetizd, but reclassified in that special delivery no longer exissts, as such, but Express Mail is the closest thing
Are there any countries whose postage has been valid as long as the USA?
I don't know about here in Canada, but I've received numerous covers with KG VI stamps on them alongside stamps through to the '90s. I have a buddy of mine that prefers to use old postage and I'm sure he hasn't purchased any stamps at all since 2000 because everything he has ever sent me has stamps from the '60s-'90s and even some as early as the War Issues of KG VI. I've yet to receive anything with a stamp prior to KG VI.
Remember though, if it is on cover, then according to Unitrade the cv is only for the stamp used in the period of which it was issued (until the next definitive lots were issued).
So having a KG VI War Issue with a 2015 is nice to look at on a cover and worthless for re-sell. I do enjoy my buddy's covers when he sends my stamps though because it's like having a collage of Canadian history through the decades.
I believe that all Canadian stamps remain valid for postage as do the stamps from Newfoundland.
I don't know of any other countries, other than the USA and Canada, with such long-lived stamps.
All Canadian stamps denominated in dollars and cents (1859 to to-day) remain valid for postage. Newfoundland stamps denominated in dollars and cents remain valid thought Canada.
David
Thanks, David. That's what I thought. I always like it when I receive mail from Canada and it has stamps from Newfoundland on the cover. Doesn't happen too often, though.
The use of old stamps is not a new phenomenon.
Here is a postmaster cover (likely also a stamp dealer) from 1929 using the 1897 Jubilee and the 1908 Tercentenary issues.
Roy
Roy:
I understand that when the first booklet panes of the 2-cent QV Numeral issue came out, stamp dealers were stocking up on them, hoping there would be collector demand. There wasn't and many were broken-up and used by dealers later on.
David
I moved the replies from the original post to this new thread on request, and also because replies to want ads are not permitted.
re: US Stamps Postage Validity
Ian
All US stamps issued for the movement of first class mail (including airmail stamps) since 1869 are valid for postage. In fact, I am down to just a few mint stamps from the 19th century and I do so like to use them to decorate my mail - so I will be paying double face value for all MNH 19th century US stamps anyone has lying around.
re: US Stamps Postage Validity
All USA postage, semi-postal and air mail stamps issued from 1862 onward are valid for postage duty.
The USA Congress invalidated all US postage stamps issued up to 1862 at the onset of the US Civil War. It was found that USA stamps were being sold by the Confederacy for hard cash to help fund the war.
re: US Stamps Postage Validity
if you're just using them for postage, Bobby, why do you want them as NH? Unless that's so, after they've been soaked, you could say that they are now Used, NH? Not that you would.
and, I know you know where I live
re: US Stamps Postage Validity
Michael, i think the last stamps demonetized were the 1857 issue in 1861
re: US Stamps Postage Validity
Doesn't matter, because all USA stamps issued prior to January 1, 1862, are not valid for postage.
New stamps became available in August 1861, however, the the invalidation for use of older US stamps (people were allowed to trade in the older stamps for the new ones) was applied in phases across the country from September 1861 to January 1862.
re: US Stamps Postage Validity
Veeeeeeety Interesting.
re: US Stamps Postage Validity
Here's another interesting tidbit.
Prior to the August 1861 issue, US stamps were inscribed with only "U.S. Postage". In an attempt to differentiate the invalidated stamps, the new stamps issued in August 1861 and later were inscribed not only with "U.S. Postage", but also had the initials "US" (one "U" and one "S" in different corners of each stamp).
re: US Stamps Postage Validity
Note that Special Delivery stamps are no longer valid for regular mail, but are still valid to pay for Express Mail.
David
re: US Stamps Postage Validity
and that you, me, and 16 other post masters and carriers know that rule
so, not demonetizd, but reclassified in that special delivery no longer exissts, as such, but Express Mail is the closest thing
re: US Stamps Postage Validity
Are there any countries whose postage has been valid as long as the USA?
re: US Stamps Postage Validity
I don't know about here in Canada, but I've received numerous covers with KG VI stamps on them alongside stamps through to the '90s. I have a buddy of mine that prefers to use old postage and I'm sure he hasn't purchased any stamps at all since 2000 because everything he has ever sent me has stamps from the '60s-'90s and even some as early as the War Issues of KG VI. I've yet to receive anything with a stamp prior to KG VI.
Remember though, if it is on cover, then according to Unitrade the cv is only for the stamp used in the period of which it was issued (until the next definitive lots were issued).
So having a KG VI War Issue with a 2015 is nice to look at on a cover and worthless for re-sell. I do enjoy my buddy's covers when he sends my stamps though because it's like having a collage of Canadian history through the decades.
re: US Stamps Postage Validity
I believe that all Canadian stamps remain valid for postage as do the stamps from Newfoundland.
I don't know of any other countries, other than the USA and Canada, with such long-lived stamps.
re: US Stamps Postage Validity
All Canadian stamps denominated in dollars and cents (1859 to to-day) remain valid for postage. Newfoundland stamps denominated in dollars and cents remain valid thought Canada.
David
re: US Stamps Postage Validity
Thanks, David. That's what I thought. I always like it when I receive mail from Canada and it has stamps from Newfoundland on the cover. Doesn't happen too often, though.
re: US Stamps Postage Validity
The use of old stamps is not a new phenomenon.
Here is a postmaster cover (likely also a stamp dealer) from 1929 using the 1897 Jubilee and the 1908 Tercentenary issues.
Roy
re: US Stamps Postage Validity
Roy:
I understand that when the first booklet panes of the 2-cent QV Numeral issue came out, stamp dealers were stocking up on them, hoping there would be collector demand. There wasn't and many were broken-up and used by dealers later on.
David