Curiouser And Curiouser....

[jackthehat]

We have just received a package from our Postman.

Given all the hoo-hah about the barcode being present and visible these postage stamps have me really confused....

https://ibb.co/chhM52VD

A strange combination to use. What do you think?

[barry1010]

Somebody is using up their stock of stamps

[albaqwerty]

As Barry says, someone using up their stamps, but I'm wondering about the need for a 13p stamp, and not in a good way :))

[naomi24]

I thought the old stamps without the barcode went out of use a while ago.  I'm sure a use by date was advertised.  I guess the sender got away with it.

[jackthehat]

Stamps from 1973 and 1978.......and 2020.

It just seemed a very odd way to acheiving the correct postage.

[jackthehat]

That's what I thought, naomi...

[naomi24]

They're probably colldctable!  😂

[naomi24]

*collectable

[FoxLee2]

It is still acceptable to use old commemorative stamps without a barcode.  I collected stamps from the sixties until 2000 and have been using them up - it sometimes takes many stamps to achieve the required amount of postage.

[DDIL]

What a lovely collection of stamps though 

[windywillow]

Presentation/commemorative stamps are valid indefinitely. They don't have barcodes. I have loads and use them for my eBay sales.

[windywillow]

Sorry FoxLee2, your reply appeared while I was typing mine.

[windywillow]

The sender did well, looks like they paid for a 2nd class small parcel and only overpaid by 1p.

[Maydup]

It looks like a museum piece! 
But I agree that it's a mystery how they can be valid without the barcodes.

[Canary42]

I confirm Commemoratives are valid for ever - I'm not sure how they value them however.

[barry1010]

"Special Stamps with pictures on and Christmas Stamps without a barcode will continue to be valid and don't need to be swapped out."

https://www.royalmail.com/sending/barcoded-stamps

[barry1010]

As an aside, when I was young and the 'corner shop' (it wasn't on a corner) didn't have much change, I'd often be given a postage stamp in lieu.  She took the stamp back as payment, too

[barry1010]

Collectible stamps are probably worth less than current price of a first class stamp.  

[windywillow]

They go up in value as stamp prices increase. For example, the 2nd class stamps shown in Jack's photo are currently worth 85p each (the price of an ordinary second class stamp).

On 7th April they will be worth 87p each - stamp prices are increasing on 7th April.

[ToraToraTora]

Clearly old stamps but I thought they only accepted the barcoded ones now so I'm surprised you didn't get asked to pay.

[barry1010]

TTT, it has been explained several times on this thread - I even provided a link.