U.S. SEMI POSTALS

 

The first US semipostal stamp (sometimes called “charity” or “fundraising” stamps) was the 1998 Breast Cancer Research issue.  Since then, several have been issued to raise money for worthy causes like stopping family violence, saving vanishing species, and more.

A semipostal stamp’s price pays for the First-Class single-piece postage rate in effect at the time of purchase, plus an additional amount to fund causes that are in the national public’s interest.  By law, revenue from stamp sales (minus postage and Postal Service costs) gets sent directly to a selected executive agency or agencies. 

US #B7 2019 Healing PTSD Semipostal The latest US semipostal stamp – issued December 2, 2019.  More than 6.3 million Healing PTSD stamps have been sold, raising more than $638,000.  Plus 100% percent of the net amount raised was donated to the Department of Veterans Affairs to support those suffering from the disorder.  Artwork done by stamp artist Mark Laita.

US #B6 2017 Alzheimer’s Research Semipostal In 2017, the USPS announced a new 10-year semipostal stamp program, starting with this stamp.  It has the same design as the 2008 Alzheimer’s Awareness stamp (US #4358), but with the woman facing right, instead of left.  President Ronald Reagan declared November National Alzheimer’s Disease Awareness Month in 1983, so this stamp was issued in November.  More than 8 million were sold, raising more than $1.06 million towards medical research.

US #B4 2011 Save Vanishing Species Semipostal This semipostal was created to raise money for wildlife conservation.  It pictures an Amur tiger and benefits the Wildlife Without Borders program, which funds conservation efforts both inside and outside the US.  The program issues grants to five different multinational groups involved in protecting elephants, rhinoceros, tigers, marine turtles, and great apes.  More than 52 million have been sold, raising more than $5.8 million.

US #B3 2003 Stop Family Violence Semipostal This stamp was created after a Denver social worker reported a large number of battered women and abused children to the state of Colorado.  He suggested a semipostal be issued to put an end to family violence, leading to creation of this stamp.  In its three years, it raised over $3 million for the cause.  The stamp’s original design was to show a six-year-old girl named Monique Blias.  But after she drew her own picture of domestic violence, it led to a more impactful design.

US #B2 2002 Heroes of 2001 Semipostal Following the 9/11 terrorist attacks, many people wanted to help the families of emergency workers who were affected by responding to them.  This stamp was produced to raise money for these families.  During the two-plus years it was on sale, the stamp raised over $10 million!  Artwork features three firefighters raising a flag over the World Trade Center rubble.

US #B1 1998 Breast Cancer Research Semipostal First US semipostal stamp.  The Stamp Out Breast Cancer Act, signed into law in August of 1997, directed the Postal Service to create it.  Another Breast Cancer semipostal – US #B5 and imperf #B5a – was issued in 2014 with the same design.  More than 1.06 billion Breast Cancer Research stamps had been sold, raising over $91 million.