There has been some confusion lately around whether the U.S. Postal Service’s coastal bird stamps can be used as forever stamps. Forever stamps are a type of postage stamp introduced by the Postal Service in 2007 that can be used to mail a 1-ounce first-class letter regardless of when the stamp was purchased or the current cost of a first-class postage stamp.
Quick Answer
The quick answer is no, coastal bird stamps cannot be used as forever stamps. The coastal bird stamps had a face value of 55 cents when they were first issued in 2007. The current price of a forever stamp is 60 cents. So while the coastal bird stamps are valid postage, they will need to have additional postage added to make up the difference between their original 55 cent value and the current 60 cent price of a 1-ounce first-class stamp.
More Detailed Answer
Let’s go into some more detail on why coastal bird stamps are not considered forever stamps:
- Forever stamps are intended to always carry the value of the current first-class 1-ounce letter rate. The Postal Service sells forever stamps at the current first-class rate, so whenever you use a forever stamp in the future, it will automatically reflect any rate increases that have occurred since the stamp was purchased.
- Coastal bird stamps, on the other hand, were sold at the first-class rate that was in effect in 2007 when they were first issued – 55 cents. They have a set value that does not change over time.
- The first-class letter rate has increased multiple times since 2007. It is currently 60 cents for a 1-ounce letter as of 2023.
- So if you try to use a 55-cent coastal bird stamp now, it won’t fully pay for the 60-cent current rate. You would need to use an additional stamp to make up the difference.
- The Postal Service states that “Forever stamps are always equal in value to the current First-Class Mail 1-ounce price.” Coastal bird stamps don’t meet this requirement, so they cannot be considered forever stamps.
When Were Coastal Bird Stamps Issued?
The coastal bird stamps were released by the United States Postal Service on July 27, 2007. They were part of a series called “Songbirds” that featured 10 different bird species found along America’s coasts:
- 55-cent Common Tern
- 55-cent Black Skimmer
- 55-cent Sanderling
- 55-cent Great Egret
- 55-cent Snowy Egret
- 55-cent Roseate Spoonbill
- 55-cent White Ibis
- 55-cent Brown Pelican
- 55-cent Herring Gull
- 55-cent Great Cormorant
At the time they were issued in 2007, 55 cents was the cost of a first-class mail 1-ounce stamp. So each of the 10 coastal bird stamps had a face value of 55 cents printed directly on the stamp.
Postage Rates When Coastal Bird Stamps Were Issued
Here is a table showing some key USPS postage rates that were in effect around the time the 55-cent coastal bird stamps were issued in 2007:
| Date | 1-Oz Letter Rate | Postcard Rate |
|---|---|---|
| May 14, 2007 | 41 cents | 26 cents |
| May 14, 2008 | 42 cents | 27 cents |
| May 11, 2009 | 44 cents | 28 cents |
| Jan 22, 2012 | 45 cents | 32 cents |
| Jan 27, 2013 | 46 cents | 33 cents |
| Jan 26, 2014 | 49 cents | 34 cents |
| May 31, 2015 | 49 cents | 34 cents |
As you can see, there were several first-class postage rate increases between 2007 and 2015. A forever stamp purchased during this time period would automatically work for any subsequent rate increases. But the 55-cent coastal bird stamps were only valid for the 55-cent first-class rate in effect when they were issued.
Current Postage Rates
Here are the current USPS postage rates as of 2023 for letters and postcards:
- First-class mail 1-ounce letter: 60 cents
- First-class mail 2-ounce letter: 60 cents
- Postcard stamp: 44 cents
So if you tried using a 55-cent coastal bird stamp today on a 1-ounce letter, you would need to add an additional 5-cent stamp to make up the difference between the 55-cent value of the coastal bird stamp and the current 60-cent rate.
Why Forever Stamps Were Created
The U.S. Postal Service introduced forever stamps in April 2007. This was shortly before the coastal bird stamps debuted in July 2007.
Forever stamps were created to eliminate the need to buy 1-ounce first-class supplemental stamps every time rates increased. Before 2007, if you stocked up on first-class stamps at the current rate, those stamps would be short payment if rates went up in the future. The idea behind forever stamps was to solve this problem by creating definitive first-class stamps that would always retain their full face value to carry 1 ounce of mail no matter when they were purchased.
Valid Uses for Coastal Bird Stamps
While coastal bird stamps cannot be used as forever stamps for current first-class 1-ounce letter mail, they do still have some valid uses:
- Pay a fraction of postage – If you affixed a 55-cent coastal bird stamp along with a 5-cent stamp to a 1-ounce letter, the combination would pay the 60-cent current rate.
- Use on heavier mail – The 55-cent value would make up part of the postage needed for mail over 1 ounce. For example, put a 55-cent and 10-cent stamp on a 2-ounce letter.
- collector’s items – Coastal bird stamps may be valued by some stamp collectors and are valid to trade or sell in that market.
Conclusion
Coastal bird stamps have a face value of 55 cents, the first-class 1-ounce letter rate back in 2007 when they were first issued. The 1-ounce letter rate has increased multiple times since then and now stands at 60 cents. Because coastal bird stamps are stuck at 55-cent value printed on the stamps, they cannot be used as forever stamps that would automatically reflect new first-class rates. But coastal bird stamps do still have some uses as partial postage or collectibles.
