|
Basic
US Letter Rates
(Copied with
permission from the Scott Specialized Catalogue of US Stamps)
| Effective
Date |
Prepaid
|
| 1845,
July 1 |
|
| Under
300 miles, per ½ oz |
5 cents |
| Over
300 miles, per ½ oz |
10 cents |
| Drop
letters |
2 cents |
|
| 1847
- 1848 |
|
| East,
to or from Havana (Cuba) per ½ oz |
12½
cents |
| East,
to or from Chagres (Panama) per ½ oz |
20 cents |
| East,
to or from Panama, across Isthmus, per ½ oz |
30 cents |
| To
or from Astoria (Ore.) or Pacific Coast, per ½ oz |
40 cents |
| Along
Pacific Coast, per ½ oz |
12½
cents |
|
| 1847,
July 1 |
|
| Unsealed
circulars |
|
| 1
oz. or less |
3 cents |
|
| 1851,
July 1 |
|
| Elimination
of rates of 1847-1848 listed above |
|
| Up
to 3,000 miles, per ½ oz. |
3 cents |
| Over
3,000 miles, per ½ oz. |
6 cents |
| Drop
Letters |
1 cent |
| Unsealed
Circular |
|
| 1
oz. or less up to 500 miles |
1 cent |
| Over
500 miles to 1,500 miles |
2 cents |
| Over
1,500 miles to 2,500 miles |
3 cents |
| Over
2,500 miles to 3,500 miles |
4 cents |
| Over
3,500 miles |
5 cents |
|
| 1852,
September 30 |
|
| Unsealed
circulars |
|
| 3
oz. or less anywhere in U.S. |
1 cent |
| Each
additional ounce |
1 cent |
| (Double
charge if collect) |
|
|
| 1855,
April 1 |
|
| Prepayment
made compulsory |
|
| Not
over 3,000 miles, per ½ oz. |
3 cents |
| Over
3,000 miles, per ½ oz. |
10 cents |
| Drop
letters |
1 cent |
|
| 1863,
July 1 |
|
| Distance
differential eliminated |
|
| All
parts of United States, per ½ oz. |
3 cents |
|
| 1883,
October 1 |
|
| Letter
rate reduced one-third |
|
| All
parts of United States, per ½ oz. |
2 cents |
|
| 1885,
July 1 |
|
| Weight
increased to 1 oz. |
|
| All
parts of United States, per 1 oz. |
2 cents |
|
| 1896,
October 1 |
|
| Rural
Free Delivery started |
|
|
| 1917,
November 2 |
|
| War emergency |
|
| All
parts of United States, per 1 oz. |
3 cents |
|
| 1919,
July 1 |
|
| Restoration
of pre-war rate |
|
| All
parts of United States, per 1 oz. |
2 cents |
|
| 1932,
July 6 |
|
| Rise due
to depression |
|
| All
parts of United States, per 1 oz. |
3 cents |
|
| 1958,
August 1 |
|
| All
parts of United States, per 1 oz. |
4 cents |
|
| 1963,
January 7 |
|
| All
parts of United States, per 1 oz. |
5 cents |
|
| 1968,
January 7 |
|
| All
parts of United States, per 1 oz. |
6 cents |
|
| 1971,
May 16 |
|
| All
parts of United States, per 1 oz. |
8 cents |
|
| 1974,
March 2 |
|
| All
parts of United States, per 1 oz. |
10 cents |
|
| 1975,
December 31 |
|
| All
parts of United States, 1st oz. |
13 cents |
|
| 1978,
May 29 |
|
| All
parts of United States, 1st oz. |
15 cents |
|
| 1981,
March 22 |
|
| All
parts of United States, 1st oz. |
18 cents |
|
| 1981,
November 1 |
|
| All
parts of United States, 1st oz. |
20 cents |
|
| 1985,
February 17 |
|
| All
parts of United States, 1st oz. |
22 cents |
|
| 1988,
April 3 |
|
| All
parts of United States, 1st oz. |
25 cents |
|
| 1991,
February 3 |
|
| All
parts of United States, 1st oz. |
29 cents |
|
| 1995,
January 1 |
|
| All
parts of United States, 1st oz. |
32 cents |
|
| 1999,
January 10 |
|
| All
parts of United States, 1st oz. |
33 cents |
|
| 2001,
January 7 |
|
| All
parts of United States, 1st oz. |
34 cents |
|
| 2002,
July 1 |
|
| All
parts of United States, 1st oz. |
37 cents |
|
| 2006,
January 8 |
|
| All
parts of United States, 1st oz. |
39
cents |
|
