New first-class stamps are ‘forever’

Beginning in January, all new postage stamps good for 1 ounce of first-class mail will be marked as “forever.”

The U.S. Postal Service is doing away with issuing first-class stamps with denominations.

A Postal Service official tells The Associated Press that the move is designed to help customers who have struggled to match 1- and 2-cent stamps with first-class stamps after postal rates have changed. The official requested anonymity to discuss a policy that hasn’t been announced formally.

The official said that Postmaster General Patrick R. Donahoe plans to announce the new policy Jan. 14.

The Forever Stamp, first issued in April 2007, is designed for use regardless of changes in postage.

A first-class stamp is now 44 cents, but the Postal Service hopes to raise the price next year.

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