2007-05-16 02:52:49 · 9 answers · asked by wishybone2 1 in Politics & Government ➔ Other - Politics & Government
The "postmark" usually inks the stamp, making it void.
Sometimes it misses, and the stamp remains clean. Those ones can be reused. I've cut them from the envelope and taped them to a new one.
2007-05-16 03:01:32 · answer #1 · answered by It's Kippah, Kippah the dawg 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
In my opinion, it depends on how much traces of a previous stamping material is detected by the automated sorting machine (I don't know, what kind of ink they use today). I am sure, if a stamp looks like new, it will go through. Although, you most likely get away with a 4/5 of a stamp, missing that 1/5 part. Is it worth it to try? Not for a sane person (just my 41 cents).
2007-05-16 10:05:10 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
If the cancel mark has missed the stamp, they don't.
I used to help my dad with the billing for his business and each month we'd cut a couple dozen uncancelled stamps off of payment envelopes (out of 500-600) and reuse them.
I remember there was a time when the postal service started using a new ink on their cancelling machines and people found out you could wash it off with something and not ruin the stamps. They had to change the formulation of the ink.
2007-05-16 10:17:45 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
You can't reuse a stamp because when the USPS recieves a letter, they "cancel" the stamp by stamping on it with an inkpad to show that it's been used. If you tried to send a letter with a canceled stamp on it, you wouldn't get very far--the ink lines on the stamp would be a dead giveaway.
2007-05-16 09:57:04 · answer #4 · answered by kncvb21345 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
When the post office receives the letter they mark it with a special stamp, usually squiggly lines going through it. If you try to use that stamp again they reject it because of the mark on the stamp.
2007-05-16 10:29:06 · answer #5 · answered by sunflowerkitty12 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The USPS can't cancel a stamp, they only can send back to the sender the letter if the postage rate is too low, http://www.voteprimous.com
2007-05-16 10:03:23 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
When the mail gets scanned, the computer can detect if the stamp stuck on the envelope is a used one!
2007-05-16 09:57:09 · answer #7 · answered by Sami V 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The cancellation stamp put there by the post office
2007-05-16 10:04:51 · answer #8 · answered by espreses@sbcglobal.net 6 · 0⤊ 1⤋
that is a good question!
2007-05-16 09:56:23 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋