70-cent stamps were in circulation a few years back. Released by USPS in the year 2014, they are no longer issued by USPS at present because the standard postal charges have been increased as per the policy of revising the charges annually. These stamps were also called celebration stamps at the time of their circulation because these were usually used for sending invitation cards or wedding cards, weighing more than 1 but up to 2 ounces, to other locations. They came in two different types, one having cakes & flowers, and another having butterflies printed on them. Don’t get confused, I’ll explain the break-up of the costs of the stamps to be used on the letters.
Why has the postal authority stopped issuing 70-cent stamps?
Most of the wedding cards usually come in the category of Standard letters {envelopes of A7 (5X7) size but not more than 61/8” in height, 11½ in width, ¼ in thickness}. Standard letters used to charge at $0.55 but if they weigh up to 1 ounce but if the weight is more than 1 but up to 2 ounces then, you had to pay $0.15 for that extra ounce, which adds up to $0.70 in total. In short, a 70-cent stamp was sufficient to deliver a wedding card or an envelope of the standard category. But, now the postal authority has increased the charge from $0.55 to $0.58 for a standard envelope of 1 ounce and from $0.15 to $0.20 for every extra ounce which adds up to $0.78. This way the 70-cent stamp has become obsolete and is not in circulation anymore.
But, if you have them in your collection, you can still use them but, make sure to paste an extra stamp of an appropriate denomination with that to deliver your mail for sure.
What are the different types of Stamps? – USPS 70 Cent Stamps
Definitive – The largest no. of stamps are issued from this category every year compared to others. These are the most common & widely used in postal services. They have images of American Presidents, different animals, national landmarks, etc. printed on them.
Office Mail – No more in circulation since 1998 as technology & internet has made them obsolete in today’s era. A few decades back, they were used for sending confidential government letters of utmost importance so, special care was required to deliver them safely with extra privacy.
Commemorative – These stamps are issued to remember & honor great personalities, national events, and anniversaries.
Forever Stamps – As the name suggests, the face value of these stamps never gets expired or is out of use. 70-cent stamps were an example of this category. For example, 70-cent stamps are not issued anymore but they can be used to date if you have saved them in your collection.
Semi-Postal Stamps – They are issued only for an occasion or for funding a special cause at very high prices. The fund generated through the increased prices goes to the organization supporting that cause.
Non-Machinable Stamps – If the envelope is of bigger dimensions than of standard envelope then, there is an extra surcharge that you have to pay in form of putting an extra stamp of denomination of $0.30 (the old rate was $0.15) because the bigger envelopes can’t be sorted by machines & have to be hand-picked by the employees. These stamps usually have butterflies printed on them.
What are the services provided by U.S. Postal Services?
Apart from providing the traditional service of delivering mail, USPS has its own dedicated website for imparting other services that can be accessed from the comfort of your home. Some of them are: –
Schedule a PickupClick-N-ShipFree BoxesUSPS Location Finding – You can find the location of any USPS office branch located in your area. Buying StampsChange Address – You can edit the address in case of any mistake made or can change it if you have shifted to a new location. Tracking Packages – You can track the status of your package online without the need of rushing to the post office again & again to enquire about it. Informed Delivery – Mail will be sent by the post office in your area at your registered email address to inform you about the delivery of your package.
How can one Track the Package online?
To track your package, first, go to the official website www. usps. comOn the upper left corner, click “Quick Tools”. Then, click on “Track a package”. In the appeared dialog box, enter the bar code of the package. Press the “Search” button. The status of the package will be displayed.
Conclusion
70 cent stamps were popular & used by people some years ago to send an invitation letter or wedding card to their family & friends. But, at present, they are no longer in circulation as no combination of current postal charges can add up to 70 cents. Hence, new forever stamps of higher denominations like 78 and 88 cents have been issued by the postal authority due to the surged prices. However, if you still have them in case you bought a large sheet in the past, feel free to use them. There is no restriction on it but don’t forget to put an extra stamp to meet the new raised charge to ensure delivery.
