Use of old(er) postage on modern mail

Robert Tucker

This is almost supplemental to an earlier question I posed in this forum - which concerned the current trend of using unused, older stamps on new mailings and their collect-ability. However, my next question has been prompted by a recent sale item which was of an early 1900's stamp, with a late twentieth-century postmark. Does the modern usage of an older stamp increase its value? Is it fraudulent to postally use old, unused stamps thereby increasing their value from 'Mint - unused' to 'Used' without notifying a potential buyer?

George DeKornfeld

Stamps used out of period tend to be valued lower than their brethren that were used during the "right" time, keeping in mind that some series were meant to be around for an extended time. As long as a stamp is still legally usable and not demonetized as is the case with early US stamps, there's no fraud involved. Its only fraud if someone is trying to pass off a stamp used much later as having been used in-period, in those cases where used stamps are worth more than their mint counterparts (although a cancel used out of period shouldn't be too hard to detect and for those where its hard to tell, expertizing services tend to come in handy).

Michael Generali

All US postage, semi-postal, parcel post and air mail stamps issued after 1862 are still valid for postage. Note that postage due, special delivery, certified mail, and official stamps are NOT valid for postage.