Can you use old stamps?
All unused United States postage stamps released after 1930 are essentially worth face value. Therefore, you can use old stamps to make some extra cash by selling them to a stamp buyer. You can also use them to mail letters and packages through USPS.
First, you’ll want to know how much value your stamp can be used for towards shipping. Finding your stamp’s face value is easy. It’s the numerical denomination presented on the stamp. In the example below, the face value is 33¢.
If your stamps have been canceled, they have no value. Therefore, they cannot be used to mail letters or packages. Canceled stamps have traces of a postmark overlaid on top, typically in black or red ink.
If your postage is older than 1930, they may have a premium value to stamp collectors. This means that they may be worth more than their face value. Find a stamp dealer if you think they are older than 1930.
Using old stamps for mailing
You can use your unused vintage postage to mail letters and packages today. All you need to do is use enough to make the current rate. For example, today’s First-Class letter rate is 68¢. You could use two 25¢ ones from the 1980’s, and a 18¢ stamp from the 1970’s to mail your letter. To mail larger items like Priority Mail and packages, just add more stamps to make the rate.
Selling unused stamps
Because stamps are like money and are issued by the government, they have an intrinsic value. Stamp buying services like Sell Unused Stamps will pay you cash for your unused postage.
Furthermore, they will purchase nearly all unused postage issued after 1930, all the way up to today’s issues. The process is easy, and they offer several forms of payment options like check, PayPal, and bank wires.