Darn Unsoakable American Stamps!!

In Australia it's against the law to re-use a postage stamp.

Telecommunications and Postal Services Act, 1989 - 85J (1)
A person shall not:
(c) use for postal purposes a postage stamp that has previously been used for postal services or has been obliterated or defaced.
Penalty: Imprisonment for 1 year.

Note it says "or has been obliterated" - if it said "and has been obliterated..." then you could use one that hadn't been, but this paragraph clearly makes it illegal to use a stamp that's been used before, cancelled or not.

Although it'd be very difficult to prove that a stamp was re-used if it hadn't been cancelled the first time So I can't imagine many cases being prosecuted.

As to the issue of unsoakable stamps - just another reason to only collect early issues

Balf

I had found the actual law(s) regarding postage stamp use one time but have misplaced it for the moment. I will search it out again. For now, this is taken from the Canada Post online Postal Guide:
(which I take as an extension of the law itself)

Link:
http://www.canadapost.ca/tools/pg/m...bcmail-e.asp

= = = = = = = = = = = =
(Under The ABCs of Mailing)
4.6.8
Proof of Payment
When applied to a mailing, the following proofs of payment indicate that Customers have provided payment to Canada Post. Some restrictions or conditions may apply. Each service chapter specifies the proofs of payment appropriate for each service.

4.6.8.1
Postage Stamp
A postage stamp is a stamp or impression approved by Canada Post that indicates postage payment, which can be used on certain mail items. It may be printed directly on applicable mail items (as with pre-stamped envelopes) or on gummed or self-adhesive paper which is affixed to applicable mail items. Postage stamps are available in various denominations.

Stamps are sold at the following locations:
* all post offices
* authorized retailers
* the National Philatelic Centre at 1-800-565-4362
* on the Canada Post website at: www.shopcanadapost.ca

The following are not acceptable for postage:
* stamps that are mutilated, soiled, covered with transparent material or defaced in any way
* previously used stamps
* stamps from another country
* any other type of stamps not usually acceptable as postage.

= = = = = = = = = = = =

(Note: as with the above Australian law the Canada Postal Guide does not state the stamps must be cancelled to be considered used.)

Although if someone really wanted to make a case of it you could do a microscopic analysis of the stamp and gum / glue to determine one way or the other. That would probably be too expensive though.

I do agree with Mmmmbalf above that it would be difficult to determine use if the stamp has not been cancelled. Ditto on the prosecution of same.

I think that not all employees, as with all people everywhere, are informed equally. Some have taken it upon themselves to be better informed than others. No harm done other than a bit of confusion at times. Perspective. Mailing a letter isn't the same as shooting a rocket to the moon.

I am usually miffed if I get a stamp that hasn't been cancelled because I like cancels. They show someone cared and that actual people handled the mail and got it from point A to point B.

i have found many stamps that I sould have not soaked.
i do get a bit upset that I thought it was ok to soak them now am much more careful.
i would tell all that it seems to me that many of the larger in size stamps you should take care in soaking [us stamps]

dan