• Mint with original gum US postage stamps printed in the last 70 years are, with a few exceptions, worth less than their face value and can be used for postage without worry. I use old stamps back into the 1930s as postage to mail envelopes.
Which is more valuable, a mint stamp or a used stamp?
Mint stamps are often more valuable than used ones as in many cases fewer mint items survive. As a rule, a mint stamp is in better condition than a used example, which has passed through the mail. However, sometimes used stamps may be more expensive than mint ones.
Are there any old stamps that are still valid?
Old stamps are still valid for postage…well, all stamps issued after the civil war at least 🙂 Often the best you can do with postage is to use it for mail. Unfortunately, many collections have so many modern mint stamps that there is no chance to actually use them all even in a few lifetimes!
How to find the value of a stamp?
To find the value of your stamp please enter a brief description such as the scene or the words represented on your stamp, denomination and color (use only simple colors) of your stamp. To make more close match please add more details of your stamp in request.
Why are old mint stamps in perfect condition?
Mint items have perfect gum because they haven’t been used yet. Such specimens do not have gum skips or heavy natural gum creases. However, some old items can have perfect gum condition in case they were not used from the moment of their issuing. To sum up, philatelists classify the gum of old stamps as used, unused, and never hinged.
What’s the difference between a mint stamp and an unused stamp?
A mint stamp is a stamp in its original issue state. It is unused, has never been mounted and it has all of its gum, if originally produced with gum.
Why are old postage stamps worth so much?
Aside from an excellent condition and grade, the value of old postage stamps will greatly increase if their history can be traced through some special philatelic literature. These factors make vintage stamps highly desirable to stamp collectors.
Which is rarer old stamps or new stamps?
If an item is quiet old, a philatelist may not pay so much attention to its condition or grade. The stamp auctions are also reliable sources to determine whether this item worth something or not. Sometimes stamps that have flaws in design are considered to be rarer than old stamps, even in perfect condition.
