Greetings:

Improper usages of postage stamps happen in all sorts of ways. Here are some examples:

• The stamp is used before it is officially valid. The Penny Black, to cite the very first instance, was placed on sale throughout the UK on May 1, 1840, but it did not become valid until May 6. Usages as early as May 2 are known to exist.

• The stamp is used after it is no longer valid. For example, stamps of the USA issued before 1861 were demonetized (declared worthless) during the latter part of that year so stocks of stamps in southern post offices could not become a source of income for the Confederacy. A number of covers are known with pre-1861 stamps improperly used after the date of demonetization, which varied from city to city. Such covers ofter bear the handstamped marking OLD STAMPS NOT RECOGNIZED and were accordingly assessed postage due.

• The stamp is used from a post office where it is not valid. The most common examples are stamps used in a foreign country, for example a Canadian stamp used in the USA, or vice versa.

• The stamp is used for the wrong purpose. For example, until domestic special delivery service was abolished in the USA in 1997, that country's special delivery stamps could only be used to pay the special delivery fee. They could not be used to pay the basic postage which was required in addition to the special delivery fee.

• The stamp is used by someone not authorized to use it. For example, many governments issue official mail stamps that can only be used on official government correspondence. Any other usage would be improper. In the USA for example, anyone improperly using an official mail stamp is subject to a fine of $300 per offense.

Does this answer the question?

--- Steve