No. A semipostal stamp is not an ordinary Forever stamp. Its purchase price includes both postage and an amount collected for a designated cause. Under USPS rules, its postage value is the one-ounce First-Class Mail letter price that was in effect when the semipostal was purchased; it does not automatically rise with later rate increases.
Semipostal vs. Ordinary Forever Stamp
| Feature | Semipostal stamp | Ordinary Forever stamp |
|---|---|---|
| Purpose | Postage plus fundraising for a designated cause | Postage |
| Purchase price | Higher than the postage value because it includes the fundraising amount | Current one-ounce domestic stamped-letter rate |
| Postage value | One-ounce letter rate in effect when purchased | Current one-ounce letter rate when used |
| Value after a rate increase | Does not automatically increase | Tracks the new ordinary Forever rate |
Is the Breast Cancer Research Stamp a Forever Stamp?
No. The Breast Cancer Research stamp is a semipostal. USPS introduced it in 1998 as the nation’s first semipostal, with a portion of the purchase price directed to breast-cancer research. Its fundraising purpose and postage-value rule are different from those of an ordinary Forever stamp.
For one issue-specific example, see whether Healing PTSD stamps are Forever stamps and how their purchase-date value works.
Can You Still Use an Older Semipostal Stamp?
A genuine unused semipostal remains usable as postage, but apply the postage value established when it was purchased. If the current postage required is higher, add other valid postage to cover the difference. The envelope’s weight, dimensions, shape, destination and service can also change the amount due.
If you do not know the purchase period or applicable value, ask USPS before mailing rather than treating the stamp as a current-rate Forever stamp.
Why the Purchase Price and Postage Value Differ
Part of the semipostal price pays for postage and part supports the named cause after allowable USPS costs. The fundraising portion is not additional postage. This is why the amount paid at the counter cannot be used as the stamp’s mailing value.
How to Use a Semipostal Correctly
- Identify the exact semipostal issue and, when possible, when it was purchased.
- Determine the one-ounce letter rate that applied at purchase.
- Compare that value with the postage required today.
- Add valid postage if there is a shortfall.
USPS explains the fundraising programs on its semipostal stamps page. The controlling value rules appear in the Domestic Mail Manual, section 604.
Rules checked August 31, 2026. Exact purchase prices and postage values vary by issue and purchase date.
Compare Forever, postcard, additional-ounce, semipostal, and other postage formats in Types of Forever Stamps: A Practical Guide.