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Using stamps again when they're not marked?

Posted: Tue Jul 24, 2007 3:59 pm
by Stonehead
Hello guys!

There's one thing that I'm wondering about. I usually buy foreign stamps and use them with my SASEs. When I get the SASE back with the autograph, sometimes the stamps aren't marked (they have no postal sign on them). Then I usually cut them out, put them on another SASE and use them again.
A couple of requests that I sent away like that didn't come back. I'm absolutely sure that I checked the stamps for having no visible printing ink on them. Did they undergo a laser scanning with optical sensors, or what? :roll: I'm a little bit confused - there could be the possibility that the post office hasn't delivered the autographs because of these stamps - or am I completely wrong? It could have happened by chance, which I actually hope.
Is there anyone who sent a SASE with "used" stamps and got it back?
Thanks for your assistance.

Greetings from
StOnEhEaD

Re: Using stamps again when they're not marked?

Posted: Wed Jul 25, 2007 1:13 am
by nowandagain
Hi Stonehead :D

Technically speaking, reusing uncancelled stamps is illegal. However, I would have to say that uncancelled stamps do get reused and they do come back.

It's probably more of a coincidence that you haven't gotten anything back rather than the post office not delivering them. You have to remember that the post office will process (probably) millions of pieces of mail a day - they don't have the time to check through every single envelope to make sure the stamps have been reused or not.
Stonehead wrote:Is there anyone who sent a SASE with "used" stamps and got it back?
I believe I have read comments from some members of the forum who have commented that they have sent SASE's with used stamps and received it back.

Good luck {up}

nowandagain [rockon]

Re: Using stamps again when they're not marked?

Posted: Wed Jul 25, 2007 2:51 am
by puppylover6391
I always reuse stamps that don't get cancelled by the Post Office. They never find out and there's no way of proving that you already used them. :)

Re: Using stamps again when they're not marked?

Posted: Wed Jul 25, 2007 3:54 pm
by Stonehead
nowandagain wrote:Technically speaking, reusing uncancelled stamps is illegal.
This statement makes me deal more carefully with uncancelled stamps. {nonono}

Anyway, thanks a lot for your contributions - I absolutely appreciate your help! {thumb2}

Re: Using stamps again when they're not marked?

Posted: Thu Jul 26, 2007 12:36 pm
by RuleroftheWorld
It is illegal, and believe it or not but they DO have ways of checking. A lot of the time they don't do anything unless its "obvious" its been reused though.

Re: Using stamps again when they're not marked?

Posted: Thu Jul 26, 2007 11:32 pm
by rpbluesman
Andy316 wrote:It is illegal, and believe it or not but they DO have ways of checking.
That is true. I would imagine they would be able to check.
Andy316 wrote:A lot of the time they don't do anything unless its "obvious" its been reused though
Right...most of the time it's simply because why would they make a federal case of 41 cents.