○ The Significance of the Value of Used Stamps According to historical records, one of the considerations when the stamp postal system was introduced was to prevent the reuse of stamps. For this reason, stamps were designed to tear, break, or become worn when removed from envelopes or the places they were affixed. Perhaps the use of Western paper for stamps was also a measure to achieve this? Therefore, it would be unusual to find a used stamp with a cancellation mark that is in pristine condition, without any tears, damage, or wear. In other words, it falls into a highly gray area. If this is the case, it seems natural and logical to believe that stamps with some degree of damage possess genuine value. Furthermore, the cancellation stamps are often large in relation to the stamps, sometimes obscuring the design or appearing to completely cover it. It seems that such used stamps are genuine, valuable proof and should be worth a high price. I have purchased this as a genuine item, but please make your own judgment. The stamp for sale, a "Washi-taka" stamp, is listed at a catalog price of 36,000 yen for a used stamp. I have purchased it as genuine, but it is currently listed at less than a quarter of the catalog price. It seems that used stamps with clean cancellation marks and no damage are circulating? ○ 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.