Postage Changes

The postage for a first-class letter and a postcard went down April 10, 2016. It now costs 47 cents for a first class letter and 34 cents for a postcard. Collectors can often use the postage amount to judge the date of a letter or postcard. Postage cost 1 cent in 1872, 2 cents by 1925, 10 cent by 1978, 21 cents in 2001, and 34 cents in 2014. In January 2016 the rate went up a penny but was lowered back to 34 cents on April 10.