country, they are usually quite simple in design, mostly consisting of a large numeral, and an inscription saying "postage due", "porto", etc.; often there is no country name. As with definitive stamps, a variety of values are needed to make up specific amounts. Decline in use A number of countries have discontinued postage due stamps. Britain, which first issued theirs in 1914 (and continued the same design until 1970), ended their use in 2000. The United States terminated them in 1986, although postage meter labels were used after that date. In stamp collecting While, technically, there is no reason for postage dues to reach private hands unused, postal administrations have sold them to collectors, and postage dues of many countries exist in large numbers, often unused and of low value. Conversely, surviving examples of valid postally used postage due stamps tied together by a dated cancellation or other postal markings with a postage stamp on cover are less common and are sought after by philatelists. References Notes Sources Richard McP. Cabeen, Standard Handbook of Stamp Collecting (Harper & Row, 1979), pp. 468–470 External links The John Larson Collection of Worldwide Postage Dues, September 18-19, 2007 Auction Linn's page on postage dues Postage Due Mail Study Group United States Parcel Post System Postage Due Stamps and Proofs link to actual papers The Postage Due Stamps of Great Britain Philatelic terminology Postal systems de:Briefmarke#Portomarken