What Is The Oldest Stamp That You Have Used As Postage?

Hi, I am a relatively new collector, having just started again. I collected when I was a kid, and have just recently decided to get back into the hobby. I am looking at mint US stamps, and was thinking that I would start off by purchasing some lots. I figured that I may get some duplicates along the process, and if so, I thought that I could always use this as regular postage. Which brought me to the questions of what is the oldest stamp that you have used a regular postage? (This is relative to that current time, so if you used an 80 year stamp 80 years ago, that doesn't really count.)

For me, it was for my wedding a few years ago. My mother-in-law collected stamps when she was younger, thinking she might get rich off it someday, and some 20 years later, when realizing the stamps had not increased in value one iota, started to use them as postage. Therefore, when my wife and I sent out our wedding invitations, we used a bunch of these 32 cent stamps (w/ the additional correct postage), and sent them out to our guests. We did receive a number of comments, saying that people really like the interesting stamps we used.

I used several # 551 1/2 cent Hale stamps from 1925 last year some time. I have received mail with a pair of #498 1 cent green Washington stamps from 1917-19.

I guess age pays off here........... as a kid, the only stamp I knew (and used) was the 807 Jefferson three cent from the 1938-1954 series.

I used small face value stamps from Canada's 1940s war effort stamps. They were heavily hinged and only good for postage anyway.

Chimo

Bujutsu

I have used quite a few 1928-1932 2¢ commemoratives recently- most were heavily hinged, had straight edges, etc.

2 covers I just received today had $1.05 airmail each with a 1964 5c to uprate. 1 is civil war centennial and other is nevada statehood. Not the oldest as I commonly see many 3c values from the US. Great cancels on the new isuues but both 5c can be soaked and hypothtically used again.

Probably Washington-Franklins from the 1920s !

I don't think any of us will GET RICH collecting stamps..except in fun and relaxation...i have one fortunate friend who "got back about what he put into it" at H.R.Harmers..but that was well into the 6 figures ! You have to spend serious money for them to be interested !

Years ago I used several KGVI and higher values to mail a letter to a fellow collector. I knew he would appreciate them. He later returned the favour using stamps from the Peace issue.

a 3c large banknote (scott 207 I think?) is by far the earliest I've ever seen - this was a bit of a surprise. It was a bit damaged I think to begin with. Received it back in 2008.

Matt

Phil, stamps that you used back when they were current do not count.

I've used a 2 cent 1893 Columbian - the gum on the back was messed up and creased so it was fit for postage only.

About a week ago as I was going through a lot of stamps I had purchased, I came across a 1964 Canadian stamp with a 1992 postmark on it. I was so impressed I was going to post a photo of it. Apparently based on the feedback I'm reading here, I was more impressed than I should have been :)

I recently used a 1958 4-cent Noah Webster on a postcard to a fellow word nerd. ;)

Well, there was this old airmail stamp I found with an upside down airplane on it... thought it would look cool on my telephone bill...

I've used ones from the 1920's as postage, but they were not in the gratest condition.