Rates for Stamped Cards and Postcards
| Effective Date |
Postage, in Cents |
|---|---|
May 12, 1873 |
1 (see note below) |
November 2, 1917 |
2 |
July 1, 1919 |
1 |
April 15, 1925 |
1 for stamped cards; |
July 1, 1928 |
1 |
January 1, 1952 |
2 |
August 1, 1958 |
3 |
January 7, 1963 |
4 |
January 7, 1968 |
5 |
May 16, 1971 |
6 |
March 2, 1974 |
8 |
September 14, 1975 |
7 |
December 31, 1975 |
9 |
May 29, 1978 |
10 |
March 22, 1981 |
12 |
November 1, 1981 |
13 |
February 17, 1985 |
14 |
April 3, 1988 |
15 |
February 3, 1991 |
19 |
January 1, 1995 |
20 |
July 1, 2001 |
21 |
June 30, 2002 |
23 |
January 8, 2006 |
24 |
May 14, 2007 |
26 |
May 12, 2008 |
27 |
May 11, 2009 |
28 |
April 17, 2011 |
29 |
January 22, 2012 |
32 |
January 27, 2013 |
33 |
January 26, 2014 |
34 |
May 31, 2015 |
35 |
April 10, 2016 |
34 |
January 21, 2018 |
35 |
January 24, 2021 |
36 |
August 29, 2021 |
40 |
July 10, 2022 |
44 |
January 22, 2023 |
48 |
July 9, 2023 |
51 |
January 21, 2024 |
53 |
Note: Postcards (privately printed cards) did not qualify for a special postage rate until July 1, 1898. Since then, the rates for postcards have been the same as for stamped cards (produced by the Postal Service) except for the period from April 15, 1925, to July 1, 1928. On January 10, 1999, the Postal Service increased the price of stamped cards (formerly called "postal cards") to one penny more than the postage rate in order to pay for the paper and printing of the card. The additional charge increased to two cents on January 7, 2001, to three cents on May 12, 2008, to four cents on January 27, 2013, and to five cents on August 29, 2021. In 1994, in addition to regular stamped cards, the Postal Service began selling higher-cost premium stamped cards, with collectible artwork.
HISTORIAN
UNITED STATES POSTAL SERVICE
FEBRUARY 2024