Re-using an un-franked postage stamp?

[mrs.chappie]

While browsing eBay I found a listing (several listings in fact) for batches of un-franked postage stamps - from letters that have been through the postal system but have no visible cancellation sign on them.

I mentioned this unusual listing to my cousin and he said that stamps are now cancelled using a frank that is invisible to the naked eye, so you cannot tell if the stamp has been cancelled or not.

Anyhoo, my question is - are eBay sellers lawfully allowed to sell these stamps? And do you think my cousin is right about invisible franking?

[DrFilth]

kosher, lol

must go things to do ( nothing to do with stamps) :)

[Buenchico]

Mrs C:
While it's obvious that those advertisers are trying to encourage fraud, it might be hard to prove it (beyond reasonable doubt) in a court of law.

An advertiser could say "I fully accept that most of the other people who were advertising such stamps were likely to be encouraging fraud. I even accept that it would be possible for someone who purchased stamps from me to use them fraudulently. However my advert specifically stated that I was only selling the stamps as collectors' items and that was my sole intention"

Even though every juror could easily see through that statement, the law would require them to deliver a 'not guilty' verdict as long as the defence could show that it introduced 'reasonable doubt' against the prosecution's case.

Chris

[boxtops]

EBay are usually very hot on NOT selling anything which is illegal - if you sell a film or similar, messages pop up asking you to be sure that you are not breaking the law. I am sure that if this was illegal, then eBay would not let anyone sell them.

Surely many ordinary people have from time to time thought "ooh bonus, unfranked stamp" - peeled it off and used it again?

[mrs.chappie]

Okay ... tara for now, Dr.F.

If one was to buy a batch of those stamps and then re-use them on one's Christmas cards ..... what do you think the likelihood is of being caught out? (I am enquiring for a friend). :o)

[mrs.chappie]

Yes, I would have thought so, boxy.

[mrs.chappie]

Thanks Eddie. They are just ordinary-looking stamps, so I can't see why any of 'em should be collectors' items.

I did wonder whether my cousin was winding me up about this "invisible franking". Tonight was the first I'd heard of it.

[DrFilth]

mrs c please remember that most of them for sale will be the new anti tamper proof ones that you can't wash.
there is a technique in getting the new ones off the paper

must go have a nice night.

[mrs.chappie]

Okay Dr.F. Sleep well. (Perhaps you'll tell us how to remove said "tamper-proof" stamps - just for research purposes, you understand).

<taps nose knowingly> :o)

[mrs.chappie]

Surely if you are very careful you can put those little oblong bits back into place on the new envelope?

[boxtops]

If I have ever seen someone take a stamp off an envelope, I have never seen them wash them - my old Dad used to tell me about steaming them off with a kettle but that was in the days before self-adhestive stamps. I would have thought that it's relatively easy just to peel the stamp off the envelope, if anyone was so minded? Perhaps we should all try it if we get a franked stamp in our mail tomorrow, and report back? BTW I save all my used stamps for charity - Age Concern take them - so I have plenty of franked stamps on which one could undertake a research project ;-)

[granny grump]

Several times that I have put a stamp on an envelope and made a mess of the address I have been able to remove the stamp without any problem even the two tabs don't prevent that

[mrs.chappie]

Yes, those self-adhesive stamps do peel on and off quite easily.

[boxtops]

Yes that's true granny grump, I do that more often that I realise - so yes, that's truly an unused stamp - and now you mention it, yes it's not difficult to transfer to another envelope.

[mrs.chappie]

Ah, thanks Eddie. That makes a lot of sense.

I wonder if those two little bits would come off if you soaked the stamp in boiling water to melt the glue? (Not that I've tried this, you understand. Me? Honest as the day is long, guv). :o)

[boxtops]

I'm experimenting....

[mrs.chappie]

Good Lord, whatever will they think of next?

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk...35b70c1#ht_812wt_1134

[boxtops]

The trouble recently, Eddie, is that some sorting offices have been deciding that something should have gone Large Letter and charging the recipients extra, when the mailing was already weighed and checked by the second PO and pronounced good.