Discussion - Member to Member Sales - Research Center
Discussion - Member to Member Sales - Research Center
Special delivery, certified mail, parcel post, postage due stamps, savings stamps, among others, are not valid for postage. However, they often get through the mails.
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Modern Illegal Mail, Phil!
"As much fun to make as it is to eat!"
-Paul
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Paul, i saved a bunch of them..either some guys have more nerve than i do or a lot of stuff gets funneled through ! I purchased a 30 dollar lot from a fellow in Canada one time and they came in a previously postmarked first day cover !!!!
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Phil, that sender must be some sort of weird dude.... hehe
Mike in NC
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I am sure he is crazy.
David
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and I think we know exactly who the sender is! 
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Craziness aside, and hypothetically speaking: If some people happened to have a bunch of unused special delivery stamps, could they go and exchange them for valid postage?
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"could they go and exchange them for valid postage?"
No
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The crazy idiot used 60 cents worth of postage for 55 cent first class mail.
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"The crazy idiot used 60 cents worth of postage for 55 cent first class mail."
When we're buying postage at 50-60% of face value, what the hay!
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As for the exchange / return of unused special delivery stamps, I found this here:
http://web.archive.org/web/20150221065909/http://usspecialdelivery.com/library_misc/short_perfs.html
Apparently, you can get (or could have got) your money back - and buy or have bought other stamps for it. Not sure it still works, would need to ask USPS for that.
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It has been changed since that article in the link was written.
Here is the current process/requirements from the USPS Domestic Mail Manual:
https://pe.usps.com/text/DMM300/604.htm?q=form+3533&h=form%2b3533&t=H&s=R&p=1&c=DMM#ep1080980
You will need to scroll down quite a ways to section 9.0.
The key change is that the stamps must be unusable or damaged (those conditions are defined in the section). You had to have been the buyer, and the unusable or damaged stamps must have been on sale at the post office within the past 12 months. You can't simply bring in a pile, shoe box, etc. of older stamps to exchange them or get a refund any more.
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OR -
how about a parcel post stamp improperly used on a postcard?
Was just given this one today at Stamp Club meeting;
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Not quite!
The Postmaster General on July 26, 1913 issued an order (#7241) that stated that regular postage stamps could be used for mailing parcels (previously prohibited by an Act of Congress starting January 1, 1913). The order also validated the use of parcel post stamps for regular mail.
Likewise, parcel post postage due stamps were valid to be used as regular postage due stamps.
So, looking at the date of cancellation on the stamp on the post card, the use of the parcel post stamp was legitimate.
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'
https://stamporama.com/discboard/disc_main.php?action=20&id=12917#94267
Cheers,
/s/ ikeyPikey
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I stand corrected - thank you both for that information!
And that leads me to another question;
was this order ever reversed??
Or are parcel post stamps still valid for first class postage as of today??
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Randy, the answer to your question is, "Yes."
Here is the current (as of this date) information from the USPS Domestic Mail Manual:
1.2 Postage Stamps Valid for Use
All postage stamps issued by the United States since 1860, unless listed in 1.3, are valid for postage from any point in the United States or from any other place where U.S. Mail service operates. Precanceled stamps may be used to pay regular postage and fees for extra services if the mailpiece is endorsed under the standards for the class of mail and service requested. Precanceled postage may be used only by permit holders authorized under 3.0. Unless excepted by standard, the total postage affixed must equal at least the postage charge for the class of the mail and, if applicable, the fee for the extra service requested. All nondenominated postage and makeup price stamps, including official mail stamps, are valid at the original prices of issue.
1.3 Postage Stamps Invalid for Use
The following are not valid to pay postage for U.S. domestic or U.S.-originated international mail:
a. Postage due, special delivery, special handling, and Certified Mail stamps.
b. Stamps of other countries.
c. United Nations stamps, unless on mail deposited at the United Nations, NY.
d. U.S. stamps that are mutilated or defaced; cut from stamped envelopes, aerogrammes, or stamped cards; covered or coated in such a manner that canceling or defacing marks cannot be printed onto the stamps; or overprinted with an unauthorized design, message, or other marking.
e. Nonpostage stamps, such as migratory-bird hunting and conservation stamps, U.S. saving and thrift stamps.
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I just found this from the DMM:
2.3.3 Validity of Postal Stationery
All stamped envelopes, stamped cards (formerly called “postal cards”), and aerogrammes issued by the United States since 1873 are valid for postage from any point in the United States or from any other place where U.S. domestic mail service operates, under the same conditions as for postage stamps in 1.0.
I have never seen this rules before. I have tried to use postal cards from the 1950s and earlier. They have been rejected by the post office as being too small to fit in the sorting equipment. The machinery rejects them. So, there is a discrepancy with this rule.
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Just a thought: If the cards are too small for the machinery (smaller than 5 in x 3.5 in?), maybe you should have added postage corresponding to the current "non-machinable surcharge price" on top of whatever was needed to make up the postcard fee?
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Good point. I didn't think about that, but they didn't give me an option either. I'll have to try that if I run across anymore of the older post cards.
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06:39:25pm
re: Using special delivery for first class postage..a bit of a stretch ?
Special delivery, certified mail, parcel post, postage due stamps, savings stamps, among others, are not valid for postage. However, they often get through the mails.
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09:12:26am
re: Using special delivery for first class postage..a bit of a stretch ?
Modern Illegal Mail, Phil!
"As much fun to make as it is to eat!"
-Paul
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Auctions
re: Using special delivery for first class postage..a bit of a stretch ?
Paul, i saved a bunch of them..either some guys have more nerve than i do or a lot of stuff gets funneled through ! I purchased a 30 dollar lot from a fellow in Canada one time and they came in a previously postmarked first day cover !!!!
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re: Using special delivery for first class postage..a bit of a stretch ?
Phil, that sender must be some sort of weird dude.... hehe
Mike in NC
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re: Using special delivery for first class postage..a bit of a stretch ?
I am sure he is crazy.
David
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re: Using special delivery for first class postage..a bit of a stretch ?
and I think we know exactly who the sender is!
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03:18:26am
re: Using special delivery for first class postage..a bit of a stretch ?
Craziness aside, and hypothetically speaking: If some people happened to have a bunch of unused special delivery stamps, could they go and exchange them for valid postage?
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03:59:41pm
re: Using special delivery for first class postage..a bit of a stretch ?
"could they go and exchange them for valid postage?"
No
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05:43:58pm
re: Using special delivery for first class postage..a bit of a stretch ?
The crazy idiot used 60 cents worth of postage for 55 cent first class mail.
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re: Using special delivery for first class postage..a bit of a stretch ?
"The crazy idiot used 60 cents worth of postage for 55 cent first class mail."
When we're buying postage at 50-60% of face value, what the hay!
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12:27:30am
re: Using special delivery for first class postage..a bit of a stretch ?
As for the exchange / return of unused special delivery stamps, I found this here:
http://web.archive.org/web/20150221065909/http://usspecialdelivery.com/library_misc/short_perfs.html
Apparently, you can get (or could have got) your money back - and buy or have bought other stamps for it. Not sure it still works, would need to ask USPS for that.
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this post
02:56:30am
re: Using special delivery for first class postage..a bit of a stretch ?
It has been changed since that article in the link was written.
Here is the current process/requirements from the USPS Domestic Mail Manual:
https://pe.usps.com/text/DMM300/604.htm?q=form+3533&h=form%2b3533&t=H&s=R&p=1&c=DMM#ep1080980
You will need to scroll down quite a ways to section 9.0.
The key change is that the stamps must be unusable or damaged (those conditions are defined in the section). You had to have been the buyer, and the unusable or damaged stamps must have been on sale at the post office within the past 12 months. You can't simply bring in a pile, shoe box, etc. of older stamps to exchange them or get a refund any more.
Login to Like
this post
re: Using special delivery for first class postage..a bit of a stretch ?
OR -
how about a parcel post stamp improperly used on a postcard?
Was just given this one today at Stamp Club meeting;
1 Member
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Login to Like.
10:34:31pm
re: Using special delivery for first class postage..a bit of a stretch ?
Not quite!
The Postmaster General on July 26, 1913 issued an order (#7241) that stated that regular postage stamps could be used for mailing parcels (previously prohibited by an Act of Congress starting January 1, 1913). The order also validated the use of parcel post stamps for regular mail.
Likewise, parcel post postage due stamps were valid to be used as regular postage due stamps.
So, looking at the date of cancellation on the stamp on the post card, the use of the parcel post stamp was legitimate.
Login to Like
this post
re: Using special delivery for first class postage..a bit of a stretch ?
'
https://stamporama.com/discboard/disc_main.php?action=20&id=12917#94267
Cheers,
/s/ ikeyPikey
Login to Like
this post
re: Using special delivery for first class postage..a bit of a stretch ?
I stand corrected - thank you both for that information!
And that leads me to another question;
was this order ever reversed??
Or are parcel post stamps still valid for first class postage as of today??
Login to Like
this post
03:47:21pm
re: Using special delivery for first class postage..a bit of a stretch ?
Randy, the answer to your question is, "Yes."
Here is the current (as of this date) information from the USPS Domestic Mail Manual:
1.2 Postage Stamps Valid for Use
All postage stamps issued by the United States since 1860, unless listed in 1.3, are valid for postage from any point in the United States or from any other place where U.S. Mail service operates. Precanceled stamps may be used to pay regular postage and fees for extra services if the mailpiece is endorsed under the standards for the class of mail and service requested. Precanceled postage may be used only by permit holders authorized under 3.0. Unless excepted by standard, the total postage affixed must equal at least the postage charge for the class of the mail and, if applicable, the fee for the extra service requested. All nondenominated postage and makeup price stamps, including official mail stamps, are valid at the original prices of issue.
1.3 Postage Stamps Invalid for Use
The following are not valid to pay postage for U.S. domestic or U.S.-originated international mail:
a. Postage due, special delivery, special handling, and Certified Mail stamps.
b. Stamps of other countries.
c. United Nations stamps, unless on mail deposited at the United Nations, NY.
d. U.S. stamps that are mutilated or defaced; cut from stamped envelopes, aerogrammes, or stamped cards; covered or coated in such a manner that canceling or defacing marks cannot be printed onto the stamps; or overprinted with an unauthorized design, message, or other marking.
e. Nonpostage stamps, such as migratory-bird hunting and conservation stamps, U.S. saving and thrift stamps.
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04:17:13pm
re: Using special delivery for first class postage..a bit of a stretch ?
I just found this from the DMM:
2.3.3 Validity of Postal Stationery
All stamped envelopes, stamped cards (formerly called “postal cards”), and aerogrammes issued by the United States since 1873 are valid for postage from any point in the United States or from any other place where U.S. domestic mail service operates, under the same conditions as for postage stamps in 1.0.
I have never seen this rules before. I have tried to use postal cards from the 1950s and earlier. They have been rejected by the post office as being too small to fit in the sorting equipment. The machinery rejects them. So, there is a discrepancy with this rule.
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07:26:38am
re: Using special delivery for first class postage..a bit of a stretch ?
Just a thought: If the cards are too small for the machinery (smaller than 5 in x 3.5 in?), maybe you should have added postage corresponding to the current "non-machinable surcharge price" on top of whatever was needed to make up the postcard fee?
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09:15:33am
re: Using special delivery for first class postage..a bit of a stretch ?
Good point. I didn't think about that, but they didn't give me an option either. I'll have to try that if I run across anymore of the older post cards.
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09:15:02pm
re: Using special delivery for first class postage..a bit of a stretch ?
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