What If Your Last Stamp Is Torn?

Can you mail a letter with a torn stamp? You can use a dollar bill as long as it more than half size. Will it work the same way with a stamp?


-IBFS

I've used torn stamps all the time. So long as the full stamp is on the piece -- torn or not -- it will be accepted by the post office, at least in the US. The cancellation/postmark is what renders the stamp no longer postally valid; not whether the stamp is torn. (Just don't try to use only a piece of a stamp, as that would NOT be postally valid.)

wt1 is correct. The USPS will accept total valid postage as long as the stamp is whole. In fact if it is in 2-pieces, as long as both pieces are attached to match up there should be no problem. Also, the USPS has never devalued any of its issued postage so as long as the current rate is paid, any postage stamp can be used on mail pieces. (If somehow gum is missing, a glue stick can be used to secure the stamp-just don't use cancelled stamps- not legal).

You would probably get away with it, but technically "stamps that are mutilated" are invalid.

http://pe.usps.com/text/dmm300/604.htm#1106154

I think they allow a little leeway for those of us that have trouble separating perfs.



(I knew this postcard would come in handy one day)

Hmmm. Interesting. That is 1903 though. And I wonder what would constitute "mutilation"? I guess it depends on whether the machine can pick it up to cancel it. For example, a large part of a corner missing might not get picked up by the machine, but would it fall into someone's hands for hand cancel?

The USPS tries pretty hard to get the mail through. I wonder if it just works in the mind of the handler as a judgement of whether the mailer is trying to cheat the postal system or if they are earnestly making a "good faith effort" when applying a stamp at some level of incompleteness.


-IBFS

I'm not sure how /if the machines check stamps. There are so many in different sizes it seems difficult to have a machine detect partial stamps. More so considering almost every US stamp ever issued is still valid for postage. Any experts here to enlighten us? :)

Off topic, my 1903 cancel above is actually a 1909. I bought it online because it looked like a 1903. I had to see it close up, postmark is about 2 weeks before stamp was officially for sale and eku.

a torn stamp or a cut stamp which clearly identifies it as a USPS issue, has the postage clearly legible and meets the appropriate rate, is accepted by USPS. 'Mutilated or defaced' would cause these attributes to be obscured thus preventing its identity. Minor condition issues would not prevent usage. Changing the value, marking to hide characteristics (lower value vice proper rate value) would be defacing and void the item. There is leeway, but within reasonable limits.

I think the torn issue occurs a lot more than we think with the general public.