Identification
How Old Is My Stamp? How to Date a Stamp
To date a stamp, gather a few clues together: the monarch or head of state shown, which places it in a reign; the design and printing style, which suggest a period; the watermark and perforation, which often pin it to a particular issue; the currency, which on British stamps separates pre-decimal from decimal; and any postmark, which gives a latest-possible date of use. Matching these to a catalogue gives the year of issue.
At a glance
Dating a stamp, clue by clue
No single feature dates every stamp, but together a handful of clues narrow it down quickly. For a British stamp, the monarch shown is the fastest place to start.
Work through the clues below in turn, and a catalogue will then confirm the year of issue.
The monarch or head of state.
On a British stamp, the king or queen shown places it within a reign, the quickest dating clue of all. Our guide to identifying British stamps lists the reigns and their dates.
The design and printing.
The style of the design, and the printing method, help place a stamp in a period, since techniques changed over time.
The watermark and perforation.
These technical features often tie a stamp to a particular issue and year. See our guides to watermarks and perforations.
The currency.
On British stamps, pre-decimal currency (pounds, shillings and pence) means before 1971, and decimal currency means 1971 or later.
Any printed date.
Some stamps, especially commemoratives, name a year or anniversary, though this dates the event, not always the printing.
The postmark.
A cancellation often carries a date, which gives the latest date the stamp can have been used, and so a useful bound on its age.
Putting the clues together
Used together, these clues usually settle a stamp's date closely, and a catalogue then confirms the year of issue. For a British stamp, start with the monarch, then refine with the design, watermark, perforation and currency. Our guide to identifying a stamp sets out the full method, and reading an SG number explains how the catalogue records each issue and its date.
A note on value
Age does not decide value
Knowing a stamp's age is useful, but it is worth remembering that age does not decide value. Many old stamps are common and inexpensive, while some modern ones are valuable. Scarcity, condition and demand are what matter, as our guide to what affects a stamp's value explains.
Frequently asked questions
Use several clues together: the monarch or head of state, the design and printing, the watermark and perforation, the currency, any printed date, and the postmark, then confirm the year with a catalogue.
Start with the monarch shown, which places it in a reign, then refine with the design, watermark, perforation and currency. Pre-decimal currency means before 1971, decimal currency 1971 or later.
A dated postmark gives the latest date the stamp can have been used, which is a useful bound on its age, though the stamp may have been issued somewhat earlier.
No. Age alone does not create value. Many old stamps are common; value comes from scarcity, condition and demand.
The monarch, the currency, the postmark
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Founder and stamp dealerLast updated June 2026