daveg28
Member 
Posts: 1,015 
What I collect: U.S., Canada, Great Britain & Commonwealth, France (esp. 1950-80), DDR, USSR
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Post by daveg28 on Jul 28, 2017 17:29:32 GMT
Not so much a stamp "collecting" questions as a stamp "usage" question...
Can a stamp marked "First Class" be used as current postage like a "Forever" stamp, regardless of the original paid value of the stamp? I received one on mail today, and it got me wondering. The one I received today was a breast cancer semi-postal, so maybe that's why it was ok? I know those are still available to purchase. I have a stash of "First Class" stamps I could use for postage, but have not because I don't know the original face value of the stamps. I'm always afraid to use stamps that don't have a clear value on them, as I figure that it'll get kicked back if they can't easily determine the amount of postage I've attached to the envelope.
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tomiseksj
Moderator 
Woodbridge, Virginia, USA
Posts: 6,263
What I collect: Worldwide stamps/covers, Cinderellas, Ohio Prepaid Sales Tax Receipts, U.S. WWII Ration ephemera
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Post by tomiseksj on Jul 28, 2017 17:45:34 GMT
The reason the semi-postal was allowed was explained in my article in the current newsletter (a shameless plug).  With regard to non-denominated stamps marked "First Class," paragraph 604.1.2 of the Domestic Mail Manual provides the following: The DMM also provides the following regarding Forever stamps: |
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daveg28
Member
Posts: 1,015
What I collect: U.S., Canada, Great Britain & Commonwealth, France (esp. 1950-80), DDR, USSR
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Post by daveg28 on Jul 28, 2017 19:22:26 GMT
tom...So can we assume that postal clerks know the values of all stamps that don't have a number value on them? For instance, the old A, B, C, etc. stamps, or a new rate stamp that says "First Class" that was replaced later with a number-valued stamp? Seems a stretch to think that they'd know them all.
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tomiseksj
Moderator
Woodbridge, Virginia, USA
Posts: 6,263
What I collect: Worldwide stamps/covers, Cinderellas, Ohio Prepaid Sales Tax Receipts, U.S. WWII Ration ephemera
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Post by tomiseksj on Jul 28, 2017 19:39:14 GMT
I never said that the postal clerks would know those stamps' values and you know what they say about assumptions... My point was a technical one, the non-denominational "first class" stamps are valued at their original prices. These values are readily obtainable in stamp catalogs and the USPS even makes that information available for its customers and those of its clerks who are diligent. The bottom line is that, with today's automated mail processing and the attentiveness of the average carrier, you could probably slap anything with tagging on the upper right corner of an envelope and have a 50% chance that it will make it to its intended destination. |
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Ryan
Member
Calgary, Alberta, Canada
Posts: 2,720
What I collect: If I have a catalogue for it, I collect it. And I have many catalogues ....
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Post by Ryan on Jul 28, 2017 23:00:28 GMT
The bottom line is that, with today's automated mail processing and the attentiveness of the average carrier, you could probably slap anything with tagging on the upper right corner of an envelope and have a 50% chance that it will make it to its intended destination. And the odds are almost that high that the stamp will make it through without a postmark as well (maybe a scribbled felt pen over top of it, though) ... Ryan |
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Post by thepackrat on Oct 4, 2017 21:56:05 GMT
Not sure to the answer of your question. But because of Ebay and going to the Post Office so many times I became friendly with one of the clerks. He told me that as long as the envelope has a front clerks hand date stamp, it will not get checked because it is assumed that the clerk has already checked the total and passed it. I had an envelope that was $0.05 short and he stamped it with the clerks date stamp and told me not to worry about it.
Robert
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