Do I have to add a 2 cent stamp to a "First Class" stamp that does not have a cent value given?

Question

Does the Post Office consider a "First Class" stamp without a postage amount on it 37 cents or 39 cents? I was asked this question and I wasn't sure.. thought I'd ask you all :)

Answer 1

This causes a lot of confusion, and starting with the next rate increase, the United States will issue "permanent" stamps that are always good for whatever the first-class rate is when you use them, even if it's ten rate increases later. The ones already issued, however, are only good for the rate that was in effect when they were issued. So it depends on which "First Class" stamps they are:

Statue of Liberty in front of a flag - 39c
Waving flag that takes up the whole space - nothing behind it - 37c
Antique toys - 37c
Blue statue of Liberty, no flag - 34c
Individual flowers - 34c
Flag in front of farm scene - 34c

There are others - check at http://pe.usps.gov/search/jsp/search/vv_docread.jsp?k2dockey=http%3A%2F%2Fpe.usps.com%2Ftext%2Fqsg300%2FQ604a.htm%40PE_QSG300_HTML_5&serverSpec=56.0.145.56:9920&QueryParser=Simple&querytext=%28stamps%29&dtype=2#hit0

Answer 2

When the post office raises rates, it temporarily distributes stamps without any printed value (this is because it needs to get the stamps printed before it may have the rate hike approved and/or it doesn't want to bother with the "upgrade" stamps). If you were issued that stamp when rates went to 39 cents then it is worth 39 cents, even if it doesn't say so.

If you were issued that stamp for a previous rate hike (say 37 cents) then it is only worth 37 cents. It might go through anyway - I don't know if the post office bothers to cull them out or not.

Answer 3

Canada has gone to a 'permanent' stamp which has no monetary denomination on it. That way, when the price of stamps goes up (as it always does just after Christmas) you can still use the 'permanent' stamps and don't have to buy a one or two cent stamp to put on with it. The reason they did this was that it was costing them more to print and handle the one and two cent stamps than they were getting back in revenue. Working on the theory that no one is going to buy 4,000 stamps and make a killing on the next ten stamp price increases, they're actually giving us a break for a couple of cents. Check with USPS, as they might be doing something similar.

Answer 4

In US, a stamp saying "First Class" without an amount, will always be the current First Class amount ie: 37 cents or 39 cents.

Answer 5

Good question, one of which I wonder about too. I mailed one with the stamp with no cent value and it went through. But you could check with the post office to be sure.

Answer 6

you may us decrease quantities and in simple terms upload them up. as long as this is a minimum of .40-one you're high-quality. as an occasion, i'm sending a 4 oz.. letter to Canada as we communicate - $one million.sixty two - I incredibly have 4 .39 stamps and a pair of .03 stamps. I shop an envelop of countless denominations of stamps and in simple terms positioned the suitable volume on the letter. I incredibly have previous .33 stamps that i exploit now and back!

Answer 7

how long have you had the stamp? If its been a while, I would add the extra one just in case. It wont hurt.