Can I Still Use The F Rate Makeup Stamp
CLICK HERE for an illustrated tabular array of ALL the non-denominated stamps the United states of america has issued
(there have been more than just the alphabet series).
The "1000" postage stamp was the latest when this was first written in the series of non- denominated U.s.a. alphabet stamps issued to assistance the transition to new postal rates in this country - the USPS calls them "contingency stamps". None will win a design competition, simply each has served its purpose well. We had A (1978) through H (1999). A through D were triumphs of ugliness, with null just the letter of the alphabet and an eagle, while E, a slight improvement, showed the Earth, F was a Bloom, Yard was the flag(Old Glory), and H was Uncle Sam's Hat. Each paid the new excellent rate at the fourth dimension it was issued (scroll down for table). The last 3 (F, G, H) were accompanied by Brand-Up Rate stamps too, to pay the deviation between the onetime rate and the new. The "F" Brand-Upwardly Charge per unit stamp was particularly awful, with its baroque text-only design. (All are illustrated below.)
With the rate increment of January, 2001, the USPS abased the alphabet, and said information technology did non plan to continue it. Also bad, I was looking forward to completing the set, and seeing what they did for some of the tougher letters. "Ten" is for Xylophone? Xerxes? X-rated?
Note besides that, while nigh of these stamps were designated initially as valid for domestic utilize only (and some are inscribed "Domestic" or "For U.S. addresses only"), the USPS Domestic Mail service Manual states explicitly that all nondenominated stamps are valid on international mail except for those with special service inscriptions. See: http://pe.usps.com/text/imm/immc1_005.html.
152.ii.d. Nondenominated postage stamp stamps (except for those that bear uniquely domestic markings, such equally First-Grade Presort, Majority Rate, Presorted Standard, or Nonprofit Organization) may be affixed to postal items that are sent to foreign countries. The value of such stamps is linked to either a electric current or a former domestic rate (e.g., the "H" postage stamp has a postage value of $0.33). Since the international stamp rates are ever higher than the comparable domestic postage rates, mailers who affix a unmarried nondenominated stamp stamp to their outbound mailpieces must add additional postage to comply with the international charge per unit schedule. Annotation: The nondenominated Breast Cancer Inquiry semipostal postage stamp, which has a postage value that is equivalent to the domestic charge per unit for a 1-ounce letter, may be used for international mailing purposes.
Nonetheless, many postal clerks are unaware of this ruling, and will tell you that yous CANNOT use not-denominated stamps on foreign mail, so unless you carry along a copy of the DMM, and hand in your messages over the counter, it is best to use them on domestic mail service only.
To my surprise, this and its companion page listing all the not-denominated U.Due south. stamps (encounter link, just below) have turnd out to be the most popular pages of my web site, with over twice as many hits as whatsoever other of the letter pages. I estimate a lot of people accept these non-denominated stamps lying around, and want to know what they are worth.
CLICK Hither for an illustrated table of ALL the non-denominated stamps the US has issued
(there take been more than merely the alphabet series).
Below is a table of the alphabet stamps and the associated rate changes since the outset alphabet stamp was issued - note 1981, in particular - they raised the rates twice in i year! Yes, all of these are still valid equally postage, at the charge per unit shown below.
| STAMP | VALUE | DATE of rate modify |
| A | 15 cents | 5/29/78 |
| B | eighteen cents | iii/22/81 |
| C | twenty cents | 11/ane/81 (!) |
| D | 22 cents | 2/17/85 |
| E | 25 cents | 4/3/88 |
| F | 29 cents | 2/iii/91 |
| ... F makeup rate | iv cents | |
| Yard | 32 cents | 1/1/95 |
| ... Grand makeup rate | 3 cents | |
| H | 33 cents | 1/x/99 |
| ... H makeup rate | 1 cent | |
| (no I postage) | 34 cents | 1/vii/01 |
Click here for an illustrated tabular array of ALL the non-denominated stamps the U.s.a. has issued
(there accept been more than than simply the alphabet series).
Click here for a history of USPS excellent rates since 1885 (Source = Postal Charge per unit Committee.
Our story then far - A postal alphabet
Hither'southward the text on the F makeup-rate stamp:
This U.S. stamp, along with 25¢ of additional U.S. stamp, is equivalent to the "F" stamp rate
A demented wannabe lawyer must have written that - how can a stamp,
with or without additional postage, be equivalent to a rate?
If yous've never seen that F ATM sheetlet postage stamp before, don't worry - it was function of the first experiments with vending postage stamp from ATM machines, and was available to the general public merely from the ATMs of Seafirst Bank in the Seattle, Washington area. Collectors could buy information technology through the USPS Philatelic service, of grade.
Why so MANY G's!?
Interested in Flags On Stamps? Collector Bob Hunt has started a study group for that topic - electronic mail him at "bh1861(at)att.net" and tell him you desire to join.
OR visit his web site to learn more than. And don't miss Flags on Stamps by Richard Mallett.
And how have they been received?
It's interesting to look at the FDC'south that have been produced to mark the issue of each of the alphabet charge per unit-change stamps. The initial reception was very simple and respectful, but equally they proliferated, the public's attitude changed to at all-time tolerant amusement, at worst open scorn.
Click on whatsoever image below to view an enlargement.
The "A" postage stamp - fifteen cents - 1978
"Patriotic and dignified" would describe these "A" covers.
The "B" stamp - 18 cents - March, 1981
More fanciful, and outset to place these rate changes in their historical context, but withal no open up disapproval here.
The "C" stamp - twenty cents - October, 1981
Surprising that these covers are not less mundane - this was the second increase in a unmarried year, and brought the total increment for that year to i/three, from 15 to xx cents!
The "D" stamp - 22 cents - 1985
Finally! A argument!
The "Eastward" stamp - 25 cents - 1988
By now the public had grown accustomed to an increase every three years, and this one was relatively small, every bit a pct of the prior rate. I wonder if that Dodo cover had annihilation to do with the decision to choose an image to stand for the letter, so that people did non make up their own?
The "F" stamp - 29 cents - 1991
With the "F" stamp came the first of the makeup-rate stamps. Do you lot suppose they made it so ridiculous to distract united states from the increase itself?
The "G" stamp - 32 cents - 1994
Apparently they couldn't call back of a good "G" word, and had to autumn back on Former Glory, obviously another attempt to diffuse criticism with an entreatment to patriotism. Some cachet- makers chose to ignore or reinterpret the designated theme.
The "H" stamp - 33 cents - 1999
"H" is for "Hat", basically some other flag, and more patriotism. I suspect this volition be the theme from at present on.
And what of "I"? The most patriotic "I" discussion I can think of is Independence. There's too "Inalienable". And "Inaugurate." But I would prefer Iguana or Icthyosaur.
But alas! They've ended the serial (Jan, 2001) and while we will have many more rate changes, the charge per unit-change alphabet is dead. (In that location's an amusing rumor that the alphabet was abased to avoid jokes about the i-rate stamp. I don't think the postal authorities really care that much what we call up - the reason was probably more mundane, merely it'due south unlikely we'll ever know what it was.)
P.Due south. - despite my lame attempts at satire higher up, I regard our postal rates as a great bargain. Compared to any other country today we are paying a very reasonable price, particularly considering the size of the U. S. Rates in European countries, where the average altitude a letter has to travel is much lower than here, are significantly higher.
D - E - A - F
viii/29/07 - Ken Rothschild wrote me as follows:
I found your website fascinating....
I'd similar to show what Albert Hlibok and I did when the USPS came out with the "F" stamp.
Both Albert and I are Deaf and heavy into philately and this is what we developed!!!
I'1000 sure you lot will get the gist when you wait at the stamps. :-)
Beneath is the image he sent, which makes me even sadder that the USPS abandoned their alphabet. Think of all the fun we could take had spelling other things!
Then your challenge now is to think of all the words you tin spell with just the letters A through H.
And congratulations to Ken and Al on a actually clever FDC!
Rate change stamps in other countries
How exercise other countries handle rate changes? Do they consequence alphabet stamps? Well, Canada got as far as an "A" postage - as equally ugly as ours - back in 1981, then plain decided they could plan ahead - no more since.
Great Britain problems non-denominated stamps that but remain valid forever for whatsoever class of postage stamp is printed on them (e.1000. 1st or second). Beneath is a booklet pane of "1st" stamps from a contempo Christmas issue.
eight/11/2004 - Oops! A viewer ( Ian Billings of Norvic Philatelics in the UK) writes:
The block of British stamps are non Christmas stamps - nonetheless inane Royal Mail service is at producing something appropriate for Christmas this isn't information technology. These are general greetings stamps, often issued in the spring, in booklets, simply now re-branded as 'Occasions' stamps and issued in normal sheet format (and Smilers). They are still 1st form and commonly 5-half dozen in a set, sometimes se- tenant.
Cheers for the correction. And it's prissy to know the Brits regard their stamps (which many of usa admire) with the same contemptuousness we exercise our own.
And below is a favorite of mine, a "giveaway" promotion in Boots pharmacies, the one- postage stamp pane was "free" in a bundle of greeting cards, and afterwards sold by the British Philatelic Bureau.
Source: https://alphabetilately.org/G.html#:~:text=The%20%22F%22%20Make%2DUp,not%20plan%20to%20continue%20it.
Posted by: lynnfouty1959.blogspot.com
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