Since it’s beginnings, the US postal service has been dedicated to getting the mail there on time. The motto of the US postal service shows this by boasting that no matter what the situation, your mail will be delivered on time. But, like all needed services, the delivery of mail in the US comes with a price. Just what did it cost to mail a letter almost 2 centuries ago, and what does it cost today?
For almost 100 years, it costed US citizens about 3 cents to mail a letter. This rate was established in 1863, and continued until 1958. US citizens experienced a slight drop in postal rates to 2 cents in 1885 and 1919, but on average the cost was 3 cents. There was a slight increase during war times.
In 1958 the hikes began, as US postal rates went to 4 cents. Then, in 1963, there was an increase in postage to 5 cents. This is also the same time that the US postal service began using the zip code. This helped mail delivery be even faster by making sorting the mail an easier process.
Since 1963 the rate to mail a letter in the US has seen a steady increase.
1963- 5 cents
1968- 6 cents
1971- 8 cents
1974- 10 cents
1975- 13 cents
1978- 15 cents
1981- 18 cents (March 22)
1981- 20 cents (November 1)
1985- 22 cents
1988- 25 cents
1991- 29 cents
1995- 32 cents
1999- 33 cents
2001- 34 cents
2002- 37 cents
2006- 39 cents
2007- 41 cents
2008- 42 cents
The US postal service is a reliable way to send your mail. They offer everything from standard delivery to overnight delivery with an additional fee. The US postal service also prints worthy causes on their stamps, with proceeds going to help different charities. Even with the steady increase in the cost of postage stamps, it still isn’t a bad price to pay for a service that you know that you can rely on.
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