# Postage stamps that don't stick any more **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [January 31, 2013, 2:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/postage-stamps-that-dont-stick-any-more/648913 "2013-01-31T14:36:53Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 5\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![What\_the](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/f4b2a3/32.png) [@What\_the](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_the)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2013, 2:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/postage-stamps-that-dont-stick-any-more/648913/1 "2013-01-31T14:36:53Z")
Once upon a time (30+ years ago) an employee of the USPS told me that I could tape a stamp on the envelope as long as it was done along the edges so that it could be properly cancelled. Yesterday that was contradicted by the lady at the window. She said no tape… use glue. Over the years I’ve taped stamps without any problems…usually just first-class letters. I once taped a stamp on a package and it came back as already having been cancelled. I wonder if that was the accurate reason for the rejection or whether they didn’t have a “there’s tape on this stamp” rejection notice available. I wasn’t surprised that the stamp had already been used and I thought that they might have used an ink that only machines could read. Finally, however which way I secure postage to a package (not a letter), if I get the lady at the window to accept it can I be assured that nobody else is going to reject it later? ---
**Author:** ![Earl\_Snake-Hips\_Tucker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/earl_snake-hips_tucker/32/3269_2.png) [@Earl\_Snake-Hips\_Tucker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Earl_Snake-Hips_Tucker)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2013, 2:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/postage-stamps-that-dont-stick-any-more/648913/2 "2013-01-31T14:51:18Z")
> **[USPS.com FAQs](https://faq.usps.com/s/)** > [@](#): > > · Mail was returned to me because there was tape on the stamp. Why? > > When stamps are covered, the canceling machines cannot imprint directly on the stamp; therefore, they are not acceptable for mailing. The machines must also be able to read the ultra-violet ink on stamps to detect them on the envelope. If your stamp had only been partially covered, perhaps at the top and bottom, the stamp may have been acceptable for processing. ---
**Author:** ![FrankJBN](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/f0a364/32.png) [@FrankJBN](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FrankJBN)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2013, 3:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/postage-stamps-that-dont-stick-any-more/648913/3 "2013-01-31T15:00:58Z")
Here’s an idea -glue. ---
**Author:** ![DCnDC](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dcndc/32/2842_2.png) [@DCnDC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DCnDC)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2013, 3:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/postage-stamps-that-dont-stick-any-more/648913/4 "2013-01-31T15:05:47Z")
This is what a [glue stick](http://img4-3.realsimple.timeinc.net/images/home-organizing/organizing/0709/glue-stick_300.jpg) is for. ---
**Author:** ![What\_the](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/f4b2a3/32.png) [@What\_the](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_the)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2013, 11:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/postage-stamps-that-dont-stick-any-more/648913/5 "2013-01-31T23:26:28Z")
Glue!! Of course!!! Who would ever have thought of that ??? 😃 > [@Earl\_Snake-Hips\_Tucker](#): > > [USPS.com FAQs](http://faq.usps.com/eCustomer/iq/usps/request.do?create=kb:USPSFAQ&view()=c%5Bc_usps09091) Earl … thanks for the info on the ultra-violet ink! I wonder why the USPS says a stamp taped at the top and bottom “may have been acceptable for processing”. Either it is or it isn’t. Don’t you think that a human is the last step on the rejection process?