First day

The first day of a postage stamp is the date set by the postal administration on which the stamp may first be used as a postage stamp . Sales at the counter before this day are not permitted.

In the case of stamp series, the individual values ​​may have different first days, especially in the case of postage stamps that have a longer term. Often the issue of new values ​​for postage stamps is accompanied by a postage increase , the date of which is related to the first day of the various value levels.

Most stamps also have a last day of validity . This is usually also set by the postal administration. But also political turmoil, currency reforms or currency conversions lead to the invalidity of postage stamps. In connection with the changeover to the euro, the Austrian and German postage stamps in Schilling and DM currency lost their validity on June 30, 2002.

See also: first day cancellation