“I know it sounds funny, and maybe even a little dishonest,” remarked Gabi thoughtfully, “but if some of the stamps were intact, I’d be better off using them now rather than returning them! If I return them, I give them back at their current, higher value; if I use them, I only have to pay the original, lower value!”
“I see that you’re sharp,” commented Rabbi Dayan, “but it’s not true. A thief pays the value of the time of the theft when the item got lost or the thief used it while still worth its initial value. However, if the thief destroyed or used up the item after it increased in value, he has to pay the higher value.”
“Why is that?” asked Gabi.
“Since the stamps could still be returned intact,” replied Rabbi Dayan, “if the thief used them after their value went up it’s like he stole them again at that point or damaged them at that higher value. Therefore, he has to pay that amount.” (C.M. 362:10-11; see Ketzos 34:3 and Nesivos 34:5.)
“Thus, to summarize,” concluded Rabbi Dayan, “intact stamps – return; stamps used while at their old value – pay according to old value; stamps used at the higher value – pay at the higher value.”