Unused Postage meaning
The meaning of unused postage refers to the condition of a postage stamp. It can be broken into two parts:
Unused, meaning it has not been used for its intention.
Postage, meaning government printed paper, usually perforated, also referred to as a stamp.
Unused postage doesn’t necessarily mean that it’s in brand new condition. A stamp with bends, folds, or scuffs may also be unused. An unused stamp is considered as such, as long as the condition is good enough to be accepted by the Post Office for mailing.
How much is unused postage worth?
All postage stamps have a visible denomination printed on them. If the stamp is unused, the denomination represents the stamp’s value. Older stamps, prior to 2007, will have a numerical value on them. For example, stamps issued in 1992 are likely to have the denomination “29” on them. This means the stamp’s value is $0.29.
Alternatively, some stamps may display the postage class, such as “First-Class” or “Bulk Rate”. These stamps are valued at the rate when they were issued. For example, a 2004 stamp inscribed with “First-Class” is worth the First-Class rate at that time, which was $0.37.
Modern stamps issued after 2007 generally have the word “Forever” on them in place of a denomination. Forever stamps will always be worth the current First-Class rate. In 2024, that rate is $0.66.
The good news is regardless of how old an unused postage stamp is, it is always worth it’s labeled denomination and will be accepted by the Post Office for any of it’s services. This gives unused postage stamps a meaning of intrinsic value.
What is the meaning of used postage?
Used postage means opposite of unused postage. When stamps are used to mail letters and packages, they are postmarked by the Post Office. Postmarks are the added ink placed over a stamp to render it canceled for future usage.
They can come in different shapes and sizes. Postmarks are typically black or red ink, but can also be a number of other colors including blue and green. Most common are location and date postmarks. These indicate the city or Post Office branch along with the date the mail was received for shipping.
Once a postage stamp is received by the Post Office and sent through the mail system, they are no longer usable for future mailings. The stamp is considered used.
What to do with unused stamps
There are a few things you can do with unused postage.
- Sell them to a postage buying service
- Use them to send mail
- Collect them as a hobby
Sell Your Unused Stamps
Click below to see how our easy it is to sell your unused stamps.