Semipostal Stamps

The U.S. Postal Service had available for sale in September 2020 the following 65-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 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.

Breast Cancer Research Stamp

The Breast Cancer Research semipostal was issued July 29, 1998, in Washington, DC. As of the end of September 2020, more than 1.07 billion Breast Cancer Research stamps had been sold, bringing the total revenue raised to more than $91.5 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.

Breast Cancer Research semipostal stamp — **Breast Cancer Research** stamp sales information through September 2020:

Total stamps sold: 1.07 billion
Total raised: $91.5 million

Save Vanishing Species Stamp

The Save Vanishing Species semipostal was issued September 20, 2011, in Louisville, KY. As of the end of September 2020, more than 54.3 million Save Vanishing Species stamps had been sold, bringing the total revenue raised to more than $6.1 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.

Vanishing Species semipostal stamp — **Save Vanishing Species** stamp sales information through September 2020:

Total stamps sold: 54.3 million
Total raised: $6.1 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 November 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 will resume sale on October 5, 2020 and remain on sale until the supply of stamps is exhausted or the 10 year discretionary semipostal program concludes on November 30, 2027. As of the end of November 2019, 8.2 million Alzheimer’s stamps had been sold, bringing the total revenue raised to more than $1.06 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.

Alzheimer's semipostal stamp — **Alzheimer’s** stamp sales information through November 2019:

Total stamps sold: 8.2 million
Total raised: $1 million

Healing PTSD Stamp

The Healing PTSD semipostal was issued December 2, 2019, in Charlotte, NC. As of the end of September 2020, more than 9.2 million Healing PTSD stamps had been sold, bringing the total revenue raised to more than $922 thousand. 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.