# Do stamps expire? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [January 8, 2001, 3:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-stamps-expire/48945 "2001-01-08T03:36:33Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 8\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![bizerta](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/3be4f8/32.png) [@bizerta](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bizerta)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2001, 3:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-stamps-expire/48945/1 "2001-01-08T03:36:33Z")
I have a roll of $0.33 stamps. I also found a bunch of old stamps marked “G rate makeup stamp”. I don’t know when the “G” stamp was introduced, but the G-rate-makeup-stamp was used as the incremental value during a former postal increase. At the time the G-rate-makeup-stamp had to be worth one or two cents. If you don’t know, first class postage went up by one cent today. So: can I use a $0.33 stamp AND the G-rate-makeup-stamp as first class postage? ---
**Author:** ![Duck\_Duck\_Goose](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/50afbb/32.png) [@Duck\_Duck\_Goose](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Duck_Duck_Goose)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2001, 3:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-stamps-expire/48945/2 "2001-01-08T03:51:44Z")
According to this– [http://www.ci.imperial-beach.ca.us/USPS-stamp-values.htm](http://www.ci.imperial-beach.ca.us/USPS-stamp-values.htm) –the G-rated makeup stamp with the dove is worth 3 cents. So yes, you can go ahead and use it with the 33 cent stamps–the Post Office doesn’t mind if you overpay. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![jrishaw](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/5fc32e/32.png) [@jrishaw](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jrishaw)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2001, 3:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-stamps-expire/48945/3 "2001-01-08T03:53:06Z")
The G Rate Makeup Stamp… is a 3 cent stamp. Stamps are legal tender, just like money. Money doesn’t expire. ---
**Author:** ![Bartholomule](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7ea924/32.png) [@Bartholomule](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bartholomule)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2001, 3:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-stamps-expire/48945/4 "2001-01-08T03:55:03Z")
I tried that, but the post office wouldn’t let me get away with it. Apparently the non-denominated stamps labeled ‘A’ through ‘H’ were only good for the changeover period in which they were issued. ---
**Author:** ![SmackFu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/53a042/32.png) [@SmackFu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SmackFu)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2001, 3:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-stamps-expire/48945/5 "2001-01-08T03:57:17Z")
Is that why they’re labelled with letters instead of their actual value? The USPS makes 1 cent stamps all the time, you’d think they’d just give them to people when they do a switchover. ---
**Author:** ![samclem](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a9a28c/32.png) [@samclem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/samclem)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2001, 3:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-stamps-expire/48945/6 "2001-01-08T03:57:30Z")
**Barth** They’re wrong. You’re right. Use any combo to make 34 cents and mail away. ---
**Author:** ![Bartholomule](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7ea924/32.png) [@Bartholomule](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bartholomule)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2001, 3:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-stamps-expire/48945/7 "2001-01-08T03:58:06Z")
D’oh! Evidently I’ve been duped by a know-nothing postman…and I threw all my ‘H’ stamps away after that incident. Aaargh. ---
**Author:** ![Danielinthewolvesden](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ce7236/32.png) [@Danielinthewolvesden](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Danielinthewolvesden)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2001, 10:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-stamps-expire/48945/8 "2001-01-08T10:27:35Z")
Well, the postman was PARTLY right. Those “letter” stamps, which are sometimes good for a 1st class letter, are only good for a 1st class letter during that time- after that they default to their actual paid-for value. In other words, if you bought some “D” (or whatever) stamps that cost 17 cents for 1st class mail- they would be good for 1st class mail- only as long as 1st class mail is 17 cents. Afterwards, they are just 17 cents. Some folks thought they could stock up on those “letter” stamps & get 1st class postage forever from them. Not so. He might have misunderstood your query, as the above question is asked & tried over & over. The idea with the “letter” stamps is- they ask for a 3 cent increase- but they might only get a 1 or 2 cent. So they make up the “letter” values in advance- and then put whatever value they need to it.