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Order Code RS22611
February 23, 2007
rk
s CRS Report for Congress
Common Questions About
Postage and Stamps
Kevin R. Kosar
Analyst in American National Government
Government and Finance Division
Summary
Constituents and interest groups often approach congressional offices with
questions about postage and stamps. This report provides brief answers to commonly
asked questions and provides sources where congressional staff may learn more about
these topics.
What Is the Difference Between Postage and Stamps?
Postage is the price a customer pays to have the U.S. Postal Service (USPS) deliver
a letter or package. In order to show that the postage has been prepaid on a letter or
package to be delivered, various postage indicia have been created.' Stamps are one type
of postage indicia.2 Stamps may be issued by USPS alone.3 Some of the other forms of
postage that look like stamps, such as customized postage, may be produced by private
firms with the approval of USPS.
What Kinds of Stamps Exist?
Various types of stamps exist, including definitive stamps, commemorative stamps,
and semipostal stamps. Each of these types of stamps is described below.
1 According to a spokesperson at USPS, the only instance when a letter may be mailed without
an indicia is when the letter is sent by a member of the U.S. armed services deployed overseas.
He or she may write in the upper right corner of an envelope, free mail. The Department of
Defense reimburses USPS for the expense of delivering this mail.
2 The exceptions are the Federal Migratory Bird Hunting and Conservation Stamps, also known
as duck stamps. They are not valid for postage. Duck stamps were created in 1934 and serve
as a federal license for hunting migratory birds (16 U.S.C. 718-719). Duck stamps also raise
revenues for the conservation of wetlands. For further details, see the website of the Federal
Duck Stamp Program at [http://www.fws.gov/duckstamps/].
3 39 U.S.C. 404(a)(4) empowers USPS to provide and sell postage stamps [...] and to provide
such other evidences of payment of postage and fees as may be necessary or desirable.
Congressional Research Service w The Library of Congress
Prepared for Members and Committees of Congress](ViewImageLocal?handle=hein.crs/crsuntaagqo0001&div=1&collection=&method=preview&ext=.png&size=3)