Can I use 2013 stamps in 2020?
Short answer: no, they never expire, even though postage rates are increasing in 2020! They are valid forever as long as they can be validated as legitimate postage. This means if you put an old stamp that looks stained and ratty on a letter with tape, it will likely be rejected.
Can you design postage stamps?
A. The United States Post Office allows you to make custom postage stamps from your own photos, but you must use one of the organization’s approved third-party vendors. As explained on the U.S.P.S. website, custom stamps can be designed and purchased from PhotoStamps, PictureItPostage and Zazzle.
How are designs for postage stamps chosen?
The art directors, in turn, work with professional designers, artists, illustrators, and photographers to produce the stamp art, one of the most visible forms of public art. The Postal Service issues approximately 35 stamps each year; a small percentage of those stamp designs are created by artists new to stamp design.
Can I use old stamps on letters?
You can use them any time. Any combination of stamps may be used in meeting the postage requirements. You may think it looks “tacky” to have a variety of stamps on your envelope, but the Post Office encourages you to utilize all the stamps you have.
Why are personalized stamps being discontinued?
But in the spring of 2020, the USPS notified Stamps.com (who was the only remaining custom postage printer) that they were ending their custom postage program after 16 years. The U.S. Postal Service cited declining sales and legal frustration involving lawsuits about what was and wasn’t permitted on postage stamps.
WHO approves new stamps?
The U.S. Postal Service, together with the Citizens’ Stamp Advisory Committee (CSAC), approve about 20 new designs for commemorative postage stamps each year. The Postmaster General appoints the up to 15 members of the CSAC, who serve on a volunteer basis.
What needs to be on a postage stamp?
The standard letter is rectangular and is at least 3 1/2 by 5 by . 007 inches. It can be no larger than 6 1/8 by 11 1/2 by 1/4 inches or weigh more 1 ounce to qualify for first-class mail. The postage stamp required for a letter this size costs $0.44, as of October 2010.
Are there color guides for United States stamps?
Although the Scott (Amos) Publishing Company chose not to publish a universal color guide that was tied to its catalogs, it did publish a very useful color guide for U.S. stamps, “Scott Specialized Color Guides for United States Stamps” ( G3701 .C719 M877p 2005 ).
What are the different types of USPS stamps?
Filter for products to use for different mail service types, including First-Class and International. Bring out the fan in you with these Forever ® stamps featuring some of the all-time greats in golf, tennis, and baseball. Cue the camaraderie, cheering, and confetti.
Are there different colors of the same stamp?
Different denominations of the same stamp images have been printed in different colors since the very first issues. In attempting to determine a stamp’s specific color, this initial determination is a necessary step in any collector’s understanding and education in the hobby.
What is the Encyclopedia of the United States postage stamps?
For early U.S. issues White’s subsequent book “Encyclopedia of the Colors of United States Postage Stamps” ( G3701 .C719 W587e CLOSED STACKS OVERSIZE) is a vital resource for the early U.S. collector.