semipostal

A semipostal, also known as a semi-postal stamp, is a postage stamp that carries a surcharge in addition to the ordinary postage. The surcharge is designated to fund a charitable, humanitarian, or public service cause. The stamp can be used like any regular postage stamp, with the face value covering the postage and the surcharge earmarked for the specified cause.

Usage and examples vary by country, but the concept is common in philately as a fundraising mechanism. In the United States, semipostal stamps have been issued to support medical research, disaster relief, and other public-benefit programs. The Breast Cancer Research semipostal stamp, first issued in 1998, is one of the most well-known examples. Other issues have raised funds for various health, safety, and humanitarian campaigns. The collection and distribution of the funds are typically managed by the issuing authority in partnership with designated organizations or charities.

Mechanism and duration: The proceeds from the surcharge are directed to the designated cause, while the stamp’s face value remains usable for postage. Each semipostal issue has a defined fundraising period during which the surcharge applies to new sales; after the period ends, new surcharges are no longer collected, although the stamps generally retain their postage value.

Collecting and significance: Semipostals are regarded as a specialized area within philately. They are cataloged and researched by stamp collectors and scholars, and they illustrate how postage stamps can serve fundraising and awareness-raising purposes alongside revenue for postal services.