Yes, you can still use old, unused stamps for postage in many places, like Australia and the US, but you must combine them to meet the current postage rate, as their face value is fixed while rates increase; ensure they're uncanceled and consider adding modern stamps or a glue stick for older, less sticky ones, as some countries (like the UK) might require barcodes or have different rules.
Can I use old stamps in Australia? Yes, old stamps are still valid in Australia, but you should ensure the total postage stamp cost covers the new rates. For instance, if you have a $1.50 old stamp, you should add an extra $0.20 stamp to bring the total cost to $1.70.
You can no longer sell unused postage back to the post office. Some individual postmasters seem to allow you to trade old unused stamps for current stamps of the same value--but others do not. Apparently it's within the discretion of the local post office staff.
Only full panes of stamps, coils of stamps in the original sealed wrappers, full boxes of stamped envelopes, or original sealed packs of stamped cards may be exchanged.
If you send a letter without the correct postage we may still attempt to deliver it, but the recipient may be asked to pay the missing amount - along with a surcharge. If the recipient doesn't pay, the item is returned to sender (if a return address is included) or held for a limited time.
Non-barcoded stamps can be used as postage up until 31 July 2023. If you won't be able to use them up, you can send them to Royal Mail who will swap them out for barcoded stamps. The 'Swap Out' scheme opened on 31 March 2022. There's currently no end date as to when you need to swap out your non-barcoded stamps by.
Yes! There is no expiration date for USPS Forever stamps. As long as a stamp is genuine and has not been previously used, it is perfectly acceptable to use.
All non-barcoded stamps will be valid for use until 31st January, 2023 31st July 2023. After this date, non-barcoded stamps will be treated as insufficient postage … but special stamps and Christmas stamps will remain valid. by following the Royal Mail's instructions here on "How to get a 'Stamp Swap Out' form".
Donate It. Many organizations gladly accept donations and some such as the APS are IRS approved non-profit organizations so that you may claim a tax deduction.
No, a used stamp cannot be reused.
U.S. postage stamps, including Forever Stamps, never expire. Whether you're mailing a birthday card or paying bills, you can confidently use stamps you purchased years ago. Just make sure the total value matches the current postage rate, and your mail will be good to go.
The older the stamp, the more valuable it's likely to be. Stamps printed before 1950 are in very high demand. Any stamp from the 1800s will be extremely valuable simply because of its rarity.
How to recycle stamps
Just because a stamp is old does not mean it has much value. Yes, rarities do crop up in old basic collections but this is very unusual. The condition of the stamp is of utmost importance and damaged, heavily postmarked, dirty or torn /thinned stamps are far less saleable.
A rare "Inverted Jenny" U.S. postage stamp, famous for its upside-down airplane, sold for a record-breaking $2 million at a Robert A. Siegel Auction Galleries in New York in November 2023, setting a new record for a single U.S. stamp at auction. This 1918 stamp depicts a Curtiss JN-4 "Jenny" biplane printed upside down, with only 100 known to exist, making it a highly coveted item for collectors. The buyer was a longtime collector, Charles Hack, who called it the "holy grail of postage".
Stamps are usually more valuable if…
Issued before 1960: The best way to think of a stamp collector is as an archaeologist of postal history, who consider stamps and covers as valuable artefacts. The most valuable items tend to be rare with a good historical story.
You can get the 'Stamp Swap Out' form via the following methods:
Sending your stamps to RNIB couldn't be easier! When saving your stamps, trim carefully around them, leaving approximately one centimetre of paper around the edge. Keep them safe in an envelope until you have enough to send back to us.
Mail posted with non-barcoded Definitive stamps after 31 January 2023, will for the first 6 month be delivered as normal, no surcharge will be raised. After this 6 month grace period, an item with a non-barcoded stamp would be treated as if there is insufficient postage.
Be very careful as certain stamps are very valuable. Don't just give them away. Go to at least two highly rated dealers before going to an auction house and the auction takes a big bite of the sale price.
It turns out that the stamps are of little value to collectors but any that are post-1966 (decimal), can be still be used at their face value. I will be using these to send large (Aust Post $4) boxes if items to communities that accept boxes (which will be covered in stamps).
Postage stamps never expire, so as long as the postage stamps are unused, you should be all be set and can use them to mail your wedding invitations!
What Are Royal Mail Barcoded Stamps? The 1st and 2nd class stamps that we have been using for decades that feature the profile of Her Late Majesty The Queen will become unusable after January 2023. Instead, new stamps produced from February 2022, featuring barcodes unique to each stamp, will be the only valid stamps.