Stamps cost increases and personalized stamps

In this article we are going to analyze stamps costs, that way you guys can be well informed about how stamps cost has slightly increased little by little over the pass of the years, and then I will mention some important facts about a personalized stamp, one of the alternatives you have in the world of stamps. First class stamps were first introduced by the United States Postal Service (USPS) in July 1885, so here is a short history from 1885 to present day so you can find out how much cost has increased in a little over 123 years. The first class stamps cost increased to three cents for the second time in July 1932 where it stayed for 26 years until an increase to four cents in August 1958 took place.

Ever since the increase to four cents in August 1958, the first class stamps cost rose in one-, two-, or three-cent increases no less than once every five years until April 1988 and then the rate jumped from 25 cents in April 1988 to 29 cents in February 1991. Besides that, there were two more increases in the 90s and in 1995, we saw an increase to 32 cents; in January 1999, first class stamps cost rose to 33 cents. Stamps Cost Increases: Cost of Postage went up several times in latest years: Since the turn of the century, first class postage has risen five times, and the cost increases took place in January 2001, June 2002, January 2006, May 2007, and May 2008. These increases are obviously more frequent than past increases; perhaps the arrival of the internet and amplified use of email contributed to the necessary increases.

Individuals no longer put their faith in mail exclusively to send personal messages. You can send greeting cards electronically, which most likely cuts into USPS revenues and may drive the need for frequent stamps cost increases to compensate that. The only way you can stay away from paying expensive stamps cost on or after May 11th is to purchase Forever stamps. Forever stamps cost is cheaper and they can be used to mail a one-ounce letter. They are purchased at the current first class stamp rate, but can be used forever; apart from of how high stamps cost can go (no price is noted on the face of the stamp, that is why you have to ask yourself before you buy stamps).

A wise thing you can do is creating a personalized stamp; a personalized stamp is an opportunity to personalize you mail correspondence by making stamps with virtually any possible design, so you can upload your images and designs to a website that provides stamp publishing services. Getting a personalized stamp will also include getting also personal delivery and even custom designing as some authorized vendors allow. After uploading or delivering your desired personalized stamp images, these vendors and service providers would make the necessary adjustments in color and size then print your personalized stamp.

As a matter of fact, there are some restrictions when it comes to what type of images are authorized as appropriate for creating a personalized stamp; USPS added a criterion for potential personalized stamp vendors, a screening method where designs now must pass following USPS rules and copyright laws and vendors are required to fully put into practice this screening process before printing any stamps, to guarantee the legality of your personalized collection.