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Imperf stamps - Questions answered

I have received many e-mails from collectors and questions via the postage stamp forum and bulletin board:  www.stampboards.com.  The 4 main questions that sought to clarify cutting-out and use of imperforate stamps have been finally answered by Australia Post’s Philatelic Group Channel Manager and Marketing Communications Manager.

Q1:   Will the changes apply to all imperf and semi-imperf decimal stamps that were issued in booklets, sheetlets, minisheets, etc. prior to the Guide update, as well as all future imperf and semi-imperf stamps?

A1:   Yes.  (Send me an e-mail or see October Stamp News for a list of stamps that are now invalid for postage.)

Q2:   Can the border of the minisheet be reduced by cutting near the imperf stamp(s) to make it a more practical size for use on an envelope?

A2:   No.  You must use the entire minisheet as a large stamp.

Q3:   Is the removal of the ‘integrated tab’ that comes with the current self-adhesive P-stamps permitted?  This creates a stamp that is imperf on the right side.

A3:   No.  This is classed as “mutilation”.  The tab forms part of the stamp product.

Q4:   Is it OK to cut out an imperf stamp from a minisheet and stick it on an envelope then have it cancelled (usually with a First Day of Issue postmark) at the Post Office?  (See the example of 26^th June imperf reprints, pictured in September Stamp News.)  The stamp and envelope do not go through the mail stream.

A4:   No.  Imperforate stamps are not to be separated from the surround.  The entire minisheet, sheetlet or booklet page may be stuck on an envelope and cancelled.

The new policy will come into affect in October when the new General Post Guide is issued.  Guidelines G2.2.6 – Cut-out stamps and G2.2.7 – Stamps not valid for postage have been updated.

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Imperf stamps not valid for postage

This has appeared on the Australia Post website under Stamps/FAQ: http://www.stamps.com.au/faqs-help

I have asked Australia Post to clarify the following:

 1.      Please confirm that the change will apply to ALL imperf / semi-perf stamps - including the 141 decimal ones already issued to date.
       (See examples in Fig. 1.)  Also, I assume this change will not apply to perforated stamps in a minisheet - they can still be removed
       and used for postage.

2.      Can the border of the minisheet be reduced without cutting near the stamp(s) to make it a more practical size for use on an envelope, or is this classed as "mutilation" also?  (See Fig. 2.)

3.      Is the removal of the "integrated tab" that comes with the current self-adhesive P-stamps, provided by the Personalised Stamp service, classed as "mutilation"?  Many collectors remove these tabs to create a stamp that has the printed simulated perforation and imperf side on the right.  (See Fig. 3.)

Interestingly the imperforate $1 Red-back Spider (pictured in Fig. 1) has been registered with the UPU = WNS No. AU223.06.  To find the WNS number or view the list of registered stamps go to: http://www.wnsstamps.ch/en/

                                            Fig. 1 

                                        Fig. 2

                                        Fig. 3

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Single imperf stamps - not valid for postage

“While imperforate stamps are ‘actual stamps’ they are designed as a collectible product and are not intended to be lodged through the mail stream.”– Australia Post, 7^th May 2007.

On Page 6 of April’s Stamp News, the Sydney Stamp Expo 2007 article mentions that the $1.95 “semi-perf” stamp in the special Expo minisheet “is only valid for postage when intact in the minisheet”.  This is also mentioned on their website: www.sydney2007.stamparena.com.

I contacted the Expo Secretary and she advised that the Australia Post representative on their Committee said that to remove an imperf stamp from a minisheet is “mutilating” the stamp and this is not allowed per Post Guideline G2.2.7 – “Stamps not valid for postage”.  i.e. “A mutilated stamp is not valid for postage”.  He went on to suggest that G2.2.7 (and maybe G2.2.6 – “Cut-out stamps”) will be amended to further prevent imperf stamps being used for postage.  Click here to go to General Post Guide.

He defined “mutilation” as cutting-out a stamp from a minisheet, sheetlet or booklet.  Doing so is considered as having the stamp “modified from its issued condition”.  However he went on to clarify that imperforated stamps are valid for postage providing they are not cut or removed from the original sheetlet. 

Reasons for applying this Guideline were given as:

• Fraud prevention, as these stamps will not be perforated there will be no easy mechanism for staff to determine these stamps from a photocopy or other similar images.

• Processing time by delivery staff, as these are not ‘the norm’ it would substantially increase the processing time if there was a large influx of imperforate stamps, as processing staff are unfamiliar with these types of products.

Due to the large influx of imperforated stamps cut-up and posted as part of the Rotary, Commonwealth Games Logo and more recent Dangerous Australians stamp issues, I believe a note regarding the policy change may be published in an upcoming Stamp Bulletin.

So in future any sheetlets containing imperf stamps must be treated as ‘one large stamp’ and never cut-up into individual stamps.  This will certainly change the way the philatelic industry views imperf stamps.  Individual cut-out mint imperf or “semi-perf” stamps will probably become classified as "stickers" or “cinderellas”.  Placing these on postal articles will be illegal and so cancelled versions will be worthless.

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