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Stamp Subject Criteria

What are the criteria for stamp subjects?

In general, stamp subjects must:

  • stand the test of time
  • reflect the cultural diversity of our nation
  • have broad national appeal

With such important criteria to consider, the Postal Service and CSAC have established specific criteria for evaluating potential subjects. These are crucial to keep in mind when suggesting a stamp subject:

  1. U.S. postage stamps and stationery will primarily feature American or American-related subjects.
  2. No living person shall be honored by portrayal on U.S. postage.
  3. Commemorative stamps or postal stationery items honoring individuals usually will be issued on or in conjunction with significant anniversaries of their birth, but no postal item will be issued sooner than five years after the individual’s death. CSAC will not accept or consider proposals for a subject until at least three years after his/her death. The only exception to the five-year rule is the issuance of stamps honoring deceased U.S. presidents. They may be honored with a memorial stamp on the first birth anniversary following death.
  4. Events of historical significance shall be considered for commemoration only on anniversaries in multiples of 50 years.
  5. Only events, persons and themes of widespread national appeal and significance will be considered for commemoration. Events, persons, or themes of local or regional significance may be recognized by a philatelic or special postal cancellation, which may be arranged through the local postmaster.
  6. Stamps or stationery items shall not be issued to honor fraternal, political, sectarian or service/charitable organizations. Stamps or stationery shall not be issued to promote or advertise commercial enterprises or products. Commercial products or enterprises might be used to illustrate more general concepts related to American culture.
  7. Stamp or stationery items shall not be issued to honor cities, town municipalities, counties, primary or secondary schools, hospitals, libraries, or similar institutions. Due to the limitations placed on annual postal programs and the vast number of such locales, organizations and institutions, it would be difficult to single out any one for commemoration.
  8. Requests for observance of statehood anniversaries will be considered for commemorative postage stamps only at intervals of 50 years from the date of the state’s first entry into the union. Requests for observance of other state-related or regional anniversaries will be considered only as subjects for postal stationery, and again only at intervals of 50 years from the date of the event.
  9. Stamps or stationery items shall not be issued to honor religious institutions or individuals whose principal achievements are associated with religious undertakings or beliefs.
  10. Semipostal stamps are designed to raise funds for causes determined to be both in the national public interest and appropriate. Semipostal stamps are sold for a price above their postage value. The differential between the sales price and the postage value of semipostal stamps consists of an amount (less a deduction of the Postal Service’s reasonable costs) to be given to other executive agencies in furtherance of specified causes. The Postal Service issues semipostals in accordance with the Stamp Out Breast Cancer Act and the Semipostal Authorization Act.
  11. Requests for commemoration of universities and other institutions of higher education shall be considered only for stamped cards and only in connection with the 200th anniversaries of their founding.
  12. No stamp shall be considered for issuance if one treating the same subject has been issued in the past 50 years. The only exceptions to this rule are traditional themes such as national symbols and holidays.