History of United States postage rates

The seal of the Post Office Department showed a man on a running horse, even as railroads and, later, motorized trucks and airplanes moved mail.

In the 21st century, prices were segmented to match the sorting machinery used; non-standard letters required slightly higher postage.

Initial United States postage rates were set by Congress as part of the Postal Service Act signed into law by President George Washington on February 20, 1792.

Before that time, the letters' rates, dates, and origins were written by hand or sometimes in combination with a handstamp device.

The large jumps in the early 1900s are because a change by a single penny was significant compared to the cost of the stamp.

[27] Regular Air Mail service began in 1918; over the years, rates varied considerably depending on distance and technology.

[30] The legislation which set the price to 49 cents was enacted as a temporary measure and as an "exigent surcharge for mailing products and services".

[32] The United States Postal Service proposed a price increase for Forever stamps in July 2024, raising the cost from 68 to 73 cents.

Despite these ongoing price hikes, the United States maintains relatively inexpensive postage compared to other developed countries.

This decline is attributed to the rise of digital communication methods, such as email and social media, which have significantly reduced reliance on traditional mail services.

The USPS attempts to offset these financial losses through price adjustments to first-class mail, including Forever stamps.