Semipostal
Encyclopedia
A semi-postal stamp or semipostal stamp, also known as a charity stamp, is a postage stamp
issued to raise money for a particular purpose (such as a charitable cause) and sold at a premium over the postal value. Typically the stamp shows two denominations separated by a plus sign, but in many cases the only denomination
shown is for the postage rate, and the postal customer simply pays the higher price when purchasing the stamps.
; to commemorate the Uniform Penny Post in 1890, the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland
issued a card with a face value of one penny, but sold it for sixpence, with the difference given to a fund for postal workers. The first semi-postal stamps were issued by the Australian colonies of New South Wales
and Victoria
, who both marked the Diamond Jubilee
of Queen Victoria in 1897 with stamps denominated in pennies, but sold for shillings, a 12x increase over the face value.
series of Switzerland
started in 1913. Many countries issued semi-postal stamps to raise money for the Red Cross
in World War I
. The surcharges are typically a fraction of the face value; at one points the Fédération Internationale de Philatélie
was officially boycotting stamps with surcharges greater than 50 percent of face value, saying that such issues were exploitive of stamp collectors
. Great Britain
, a relative newcomer to semi-postals, issued its first stamp of this type in 1975 with a 4½p denomination and a premium of 1½p for charitable causes making the total cost 6p, with funds going to health and handicap charities. The stamp issue was not considered a success.
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Some non-European countries followed suit (such as New Zealand
, which has issued health stamp
s annually since 1929), but semi-postal stamps are still predominantly European. Islands such as the Cook Islands
and Niue
often issue Christmas or Easter stamps in two sets of values, with one set having a charitable surcharge. By contrast, the United States
is a relative newcomer to semi-postals, with its first semi-postal being the breast cancer research stamp
issued in July 1998.
Semi-postal issues are not always issued on a regular basis for health and similar causes; they have been on occasion issued as a means of raising funds for disaster relief. These are usually sold as charity stamps, though occasionally, as with the 1971 refugee relief stamps of India
, the excess cost has been levied as an obligatory tax. One of the highest value semi-postal stamps is the Falkland islands
' "rebuilding fund" stamp, issued in 1982 after the Anglo-Argentinian war over the islands. This was aimed primarily at collectors, and had a postal value of £1 with an added £1 surcharge.
Charitable disaster relief stamps are commonly found in smaller island nations as a result of natural disasters, as in the case of St. Vincent and the Grenadines' 1980 hurricane relief issues, and Tonga
's 1982 cyclone relief stamp. In these cases, existing issues are often used, overprint
ed with text indicating the reason for the surcharge.
Charity stamps are distinct from charity label
s which do not have any charge for postage.
Postage stamp
A postage stamp is a small piece of paper that is purchased and displayed on an item of mail as evidence of payment of postage. Typically, stamps are made from special paper, with a national designation and denomination on the face, and a gum adhesive on the reverse side...
issued to raise money for a particular purpose (such as a charitable cause) and sold at a premium over the postal value. Typically the stamp shows two denominations separated by a plus sign, but in many cases the only denomination
Denomination (postage stamp)
:This article deals with the price of a postage stamp. For other meanings of the word 'denomination' see Denomination .In philately, the denomination is the "inscribed value of a stamp"...
shown is for the postage rate, and the postal customer simply pays the higher price when purchasing the stamps.
The first semi-postals
The first semi-postal was actually a postal cardPostcard
A postcard or post card is a rectangular piece of thick paper or thin cardboard intended for writing and mailing without an envelope....
; to commemorate the Uniform Penny Post in 1890, the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland
United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland was the formal name of the United Kingdom during the period when what is now the Republic of Ireland formed a part of it....
issued a card with a face value of one penny, but sold it for sixpence, with the difference given to a fund for postal workers. The first semi-postal stamps were issued by the Australian colonies of New South Wales
New South Wales
New South Wales is a state of :Australia, located in the east of the country. It is bordered by Queensland, Victoria and South Australia to the north, south and west respectively. To the east, the state is bordered by the Tasman Sea, which forms part of the Pacific Ocean. New South Wales...
and Victoria
Victoria (Australia)
Victoria is the second most populous state in Australia. Geographically the smallest mainland state, Victoria is bordered by New South Wales, South Australia, and Tasmania on Boundary Islet to the north, west and south respectively....
, who both marked the Diamond Jubilee
Diamond Jubilee
A Diamond Jubilee is a celebration held to mark a 60th anniversary in the case of a person or a 75th anniversary in the case of an event.- Thailand :...
of Queen Victoria in 1897 with stamps denominated in pennies, but sold for shillings, a 12x increase over the face value.
20th century issues
Semi-postals became widespread in European countries at the beginning of the 20th century. In many cases they have become standard annual issues, such as the Pro JuventutePro Juventute
Pro Juventute is a charitable foundation in Switzerland established in 1912. It is dedicated to supporting the rights and needs of Swiss children and youth....
series of Switzerland
Switzerland
Switzerland name of one of the Swiss cantons. ; ; ; or ), in its full name the Swiss Confederation , is a federal republic consisting of 26 cantons, with Bern as the seat of the federal authorities. The country is situated in Western Europe,Or Central Europe depending on the definition....
started in 1913. Many countries issued semi-postal stamps to raise money for the Red Cross
International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement
The International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement is an international humanitarian movement with approximately 97 million volunteers, members and staff worldwide which was founded to protect human life and health, to ensure respect for all human beings, and to prevent and alleviate human...
in World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
. The surcharges are typically a fraction of the face value; at one points the Fédération Internationale de Philatélie
Fédération Internationale de Philatélie
The Fédération Internationale de Philatélie was founded on June 18, 1926 and is the world federation for philately based in Zürich, Switzerland.- Aims :The primary aims of the FIP are:*To promote stamp collecting and philately....
was officially boycotting stamps with surcharges greater than 50 percent of face value, saying that such issues were exploitive of stamp collectors
Stamp collecting
Stamp collecting is the collecting of postage stamps and related objects. It is one of the world's most popular hobbies, with the number of collectors in the United States alone estimated to be over 20 million.- Collecting :...
. Great Britain
Great Britain
Great Britain or Britain is an island situated to the northwest of Continental Europe. It is the ninth largest island in the world, and the largest European island, as well as the largest of the British Isles...
, a relative newcomer to semi-postals, issued its first stamp of this type in 1975 with a 4½p denomination and a premium of 1½p for charitable causes making the total cost 6p, with funds going to health and handicap charities. The stamp issue was not considered a success.
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
, which has issued health stamp
Health stamp
Health stamps are a long-running series of charity stamp issued by New Zealand which include a premium for charitable causes in addition to the charge for postal service.-History:...
s annually since 1929), but semi-postal stamps are still predominantly European. Islands such as the Cook Islands
Cook Islands
The Cook Islands is a self-governing parliamentary democracy in the South Pacific Ocean in free association with New Zealand...
and Niue
Niue
Niue , is an island country in the South Pacific Ocean. It is commonly known as the "Rock of Polynesia", and inhabitants of the island call it "the Rock" for short. Niue is northeast of New Zealand in a triangle between Tonga to the southwest, the Samoas to the northwest, and the Cook Islands to...
often issue Christmas or Easter stamps in two sets of values, with one set having a charitable surcharge. By contrast, the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
is a relative newcomer to semi-postals, with its first semi-postal being the breast cancer research stamp
Breast cancer research stamp
The Breast Cancer Research Stamp is a semi-postal non-denominated postage stamp issued by the United States Postal Service, priced in 2010 as eleven cents higher than the standard first-class letter rate...
issued in July 1998.
Semi-postal issues are not always issued on a regular basis for health and similar causes; they have been on occasion issued as a means of raising funds for disaster relief. These are usually sold as charity stamps, though occasionally, as with the 1971 refugee relief stamps of India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
, the excess cost has been levied as an obligatory tax. One of the highest value semi-postal stamps is the Falkland islands
Falkland Islands
The Falkland Islands are an archipelago in the South Atlantic Ocean, located about from the coast of mainland South America. The archipelago consists of East Falkland, West Falkland and 776 lesser islands. The capital, Stanley, is on East Falkland...
' "rebuilding fund" stamp, issued in 1982 after the Anglo-Argentinian war over the islands. This was aimed primarily at collectors, and had a postal value of £1 with an added £1 surcharge.
Charitable disaster relief stamps are commonly found in smaller island nations as a result of natural disasters, as in the case of St. Vincent and the Grenadines' 1980 hurricane relief issues, and Tonga
Tonga
Tonga, officially the Kingdom of Tonga , is a state and an archipelago in the South Pacific Ocean, comprising 176 islands scattered over of ocean in the South Pacific...
's 1982 cyclone relief stamp. In these cases, existing issues are often used, overprint
Overprint
An overprint is an additional layer of text or graphics added to the face of a postage stamp or banknote after it has been printed. Post offices most often use overprints for internal administrative purposes such as accounting but they are also employed in public mail...
ed with text indicating the reason for the surcharge.
Charity stamps are distinct from charity label
Charity label
A charity label is a label resembling a postage stamp, sold by charities to raise funds. They are generally intended to be used on mail, as a way of advertising the sender's support of the charity's cause....
s which do not have any charge for postage.