The price increases were originally signalled in February of last year but were subsequently postponed as part of the semi-state's public service measures during the pandemic. However, An Post clarified that all existing national 'N' rate stamps would automatically represent €1.10 postage from that date, while Worldwide ‘W’ stamps would cover the €2.00 international letter rate. The price hikes - which will also see an increase in the standard international letter price to €2.00 from €1.70 - come into effect on May 27. It is the first increase in the price of a standard stamp in more than four years. Until then, the materials commemorating the Summer Olympics will be held in storage.The price of a postage stamp for a standard letter is to increase by 10 cent to €1.10 from the end of this month, An Post has confirmed. He said that 'should there be a change in the situation at some future date we will reassess our position.

But, he said, 'support of national policy took precedence.' We really have no way of knowing.'īolger apoligized yesterday for any inconvenience his action may cause stamp dealers and collectors. As to the value of the stamps, one official said: 'That quuestion almost defied an answer. Some postal officials acknowledged yesterday that the affected stamps could become collectors' items. Postal officials yesterday said they would not even try to guess the potential collectors' value of the items now in circulation if the government were to destroy all the unsold suspended items. Other items involved in the suspension were 2.5 million 21-cent international postcards, approximately 4 million aerogrammes and 8.5 million embossed envelopes. With the exception of the 15-cent stamps, which were sold out, postal officials said there were large supplies of the postcards and airmail stamps still unsold as of yesterday. 10 last year.Īccording to the Postal Service, 67 million 10-cent postal cards were distributed to post offices along with 47.2 million 31-cent airmail stamps and 187.6 million 15-cent stamps which were sold in blocks of four. All the items were issued by the postal service between Sept. Postal officials said yesterday that all the stamps and promotional materials that had not been sold before the suspension probably would be destroyed if the United States did not participate in the Summer Olympics.Īffected by the suspension were six commemorative stamps, two commemorative postal cards, a commemorative aerogramme and a commemorative embossed stamped envelope. Postal officials said, however, that any orders for the commemorative items that were post-marked after yesterday would not be honored. He said that anyone who has any of the suspended stamps could still use them in the mails. 'We're in effect pulling the stock,' a postal official said. He said he had ordered all philatelic items dealing with the Olympics withdrawn from sale and all promotional posters removed from the nation's 40,000 post offices. Bolger said the action was taken because of President Carter's decision to boycott the Summer Games unless Soviet troops were withdrawn from Afghanistan. government has pulled a stamp off the market since the start of the Civil War. Postal officials said they believed it was the first time the U.S. Postal Service, in a move that could create a collector's paradise, yesterday suspended sales of millions of stamps and postcards commemorating the Moscow Summer Olympics.

Us airmail 10 cent stamp