Semipostal Stamps
The U.S. Postal Service had available for sale in October 2023 the following 85-cent fundraising or “Semipostal” stamps: the congressionally mandated Breast Cancer Research stamp and Save Vanishing Species stamp as well as the U.S. Postal Service’s discretionary Alzheimer’s stamp and Healing PTSD stamp. These stamps were available for purchase at Post Offices™, online at The Postal Store®, and by toll-free phone order at 1-800-782-6724.
The price of a Semipostal stamp pays for the First-Class single-piece postage rate in effect at the time of purchase plus an amount to fund causes that have been determined to be in the national public interest. By law, revenue from sales (minus postage and the reasonable reimbursement of costs to the Postal Service™) is to be transferred to a selected executive agency or agencies.
Available stamps
Breast Cancer Research Stamp
The Breast Cancer Research Semipostal was issued July 29, 1998, in Washington, DC. As of the end of October 2023, more than 1.1 billion Breast Cancer Research stamps had been sold, bringing the total revenue raised to more than $97 million. By law, 70 percent of the net amount raised is transferred to the National Institutes of Health and 30 percent is transferred to the Medical Research Program at the Department of Defense. Stamp artist Whitney Sherman of Baltimore, MD, worked under the direction of art director Ethel Kessler of Bethesda, MD, to create this stamp design.
Total stamps sold: 1.1 billion
Total raised: $97 million
Save Vanishing Species Stamp
The Save Vanishing Species Semipostal was issued September 20, 2011, in Louisville, KY. As of the end of October 2023, more than 66 million Save Vanishing Species stamps had been sold, bringing the total revenue raised to more than $7.7 million. By law, 100 percent of the net amount raised is transferred to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to support the Multinational Species Conservation Funds. Stamp artist Nancy Stahl of New York, NY, worked under the direction of art director Derry Noyes of Washington, DC, to create this stamp design.
Total stamps sold: 66 million
Total raised: $7.7 million
Discretionary Semipostal Program
The Semipostal Authorization Act, Pub. L. 106-253, grants the Postal Service discretionary authority to issue and sell Semipostal fundraising stamps to advance such causes as it considers to be “in the national public interest and appropriate.” This program will, by law, run for a 10-year period. Visit this link for information about submitting suggestions for semipostal stamps.
Alzheimer’s Stamp
The Alzheimer’s Semipostal was issued November 30, 2017, in Baltimore, MD. This stamp was withdrawn from sale on January 30, 2019, in accordance with rules set forth in the Federal Register. Under a revision to the original program structure conducted through the Federal Register process, the Alzheimer’s semipostal resumed sale on October 5, 2020. As of the end of October 2023, more than 11 million Alzheimer’s stamps had been sold, bringing the total revenue raised to more than $1.5 million. By law, 100 percent of the net amount raised is transferred to the National Institutes of Health to support research and medical discoveries in the fight against Alzheimer’s disease. Stamp artist Matt Mahurin of Topanga Canyon, CA, worked under the direction of art director Ethel Kessler of Bethesda, MD, to create this stamp design.
Total stamps sold: 11 million
Total raised: $1.5 million
Healing PTSD Stamp
The Healing PTSD Semipostal was issued December 2, 2019, in Charlotte, NC. As of the end of October 2023, more than 17 million Healing PTSD stamps had been sold, bringing the total revenue raised to more than $2 million. By law, 100 percent of the net amount raised is transferred to the Department of Veterans Affairs to support those suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder. Stamp artist Mark Laita of Pacific Palisades, CA, worked under the direction of art director Greg Breeding of Charlottesville, VA, to create this stamp design.
Total stamps sold: 17 million
Total raised: $2 million