○ The Significance of the Value of Used Stamps According to records from the time, one of the considerations when the stamp postal system was launched was to prevent the reuse of used stamps. For this reason, stamps were designed to tear, break, or become scuffed when peeled from envelopes or the places they were affixed. Perhaps the use of Western paper for stamps was also a countermeasure? Therefore, the existence of undamaged, pristine used stamps with cancellation marks is unusual. In other words, it's a very gray area. If that's the case, it seems natural and logical to believe that stamps with some damage are the ones that possess genuine value. Furthermore, the cancellation stamps are often large relative to the stamps, sometimes obscuring the design or appearing to completely cover it. It is these used stamps that are genuine, valuable proof and deserve to be highly priced. I have purchased this as a genuine item, but please make your own judgment. The stamp for sale, a "Washikata" stamp, is listed at 36,000 yen for a used stamp in the catalog. I have purchased it as genuine, but it is being offered at less than half price. It seems that used stamps with clean cancellation stamps and no damage are circulating, but I have no details about this. ○ Genuine used stamps are the ones with value. ○ The following is based on the explanation from Mercari's appraisal: A used 45 sen "I" stamp with a design of an eagle on a red background. - Design: Eagle design on a red background - Denomination: 45 sen - Condition: Used - Country: Japan - Era: Meiji period Thank you for viewing.