Aus: Can I Use This Mint Sheet From 1980 For Postage Today?

So I bought an old timers stamp collection and these Matilda 1980 sets on an unused sheet were among what I got. The question is will Australia post still allow these stamps as postage if I use them on mail outs today? Or will AP reject them? They have never been used and I cannot see any guides on if one can use older unused stamps as long as they are still decimal currency. Does anyone know if I can use these mint stamps from 1980 for postage today?



*** Moved by Staff to a more appropriate forum. ***

Duncan, very often I get covers from the smaller UK auction houses and dealers which are covered with postage stamps up to 40 yrs old. I've even had stamps which are of demonetised currency. We used to have the 1/2p but this was demonetised in 1984 (I think). I suppose it's little more than a cinderella on the cover these days.

I guess as long as they make up valid postage then it should be OK. Have a chat with someone at your local post office (choose a manager with a bit of sense, not a youngster behind the counter) and they may tell you it's OK. Good luck.

Thanks Tim H I will ask PO but I don't think any of the local staff would know. No youngsters behind the counter. I think some Oz dealers use older OZ stamps on mail outs but just not sure if its ok but if your getting postage stamps up to 40 yers old I gues it must be.

Anything that is decimal currency in Australia is fine.
(P.S. If you want to use a two pound roo, I'm happy to pay the postage due if you send it to me).

Cheers, Stephen

US stamps are legal for postage going back to the Civil War!

Australia just raised the letter rate and one of the submissions when they applied for the rise was to demonetarise older stamps. As said before, the number of collectors of modern Australia has decreased in proportion to the plethora of new issues so a lot of dealers have been left holding stocks of stamps they can't sell.

These are being sold under face value or used for client mail-outs. Australia Post, who used to make a fortune from selling stamps to people who would never use them, are now having their profits eaten into by the large number of these that are being used for postage.

So the short answer is that anything since decimalisation in 1966 is valid but that may not be the case much longer.

Use them up now before they are made worthless .