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The American Plate Number Single Society |
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Non-machinable Surcharge issues USPS charges a surcharge if a non-conforming letter size cannot be processed by a standard cancelling / sorting / routing machine. Examples are square envelopes, envelopes that are too thick (or the contents are too inflexible) to be processed by the cancelling machines, and envelopes that contain and object that prevents machine processing or risks damaging the machine. The USPS website lists all of the conditions that require the non-machinable surcharge. For some years, the non-machinable surcharge was the same amount as the second ounce. Many mailers used the attractive "butterfly" stamps for mailings up to two ounces even though they were easily processed by cancelling machines. The stamps are frequently referred to as "butterfly" stamps, but in fact the 2025 issue pictures a moth. 2010
Scott 4462, 64¢ Monarch Butterfly, plate numbers V1111111 and V2222222 Rate breakdown: The first class one-ounce rate was 44¢, and both the additional ounce and non-machinable surcharge were 20¢. To date, this is the only non-machinable surcharge stamp to require an additional printing.
2012
Scott 4603, 65¢ Baltimore Checkerspot butterfly, plate number V1111 Rate breakdown: The first class one-ounce rate was 45¢, and both the additional ounce and non-machinable surcharge were 20¢.
2013
Scott 4736, 66¢ Spicebush Swallowtail [butterfly], plate number V1111111, and imperf (Scott 4736a) Rate breakdown: The first class one-ounce rate increased to 46¢ in January 2014, and both the additional ounce and non-machinable surcharge were 20¢.
2014
Scott 4859, 70¢ Great Spangled Frittilary [butterfly], plate number C1111111, and imperf (Scott 4859a) Rate breakdown: The first class one-ounce rate increased to 49¢ in January 2014, and both the additional ounce and non-machinable surcharge were 21¢.
2015
Scott 4999, (71¢) Eastern Tiger Swallowtail butterfly, plate number P11111, and imperf (Scott 4999a) Rate breakdown: The first class one-ounce rate remained 49¢ in 2015, and both the additional ounce and non-machinable surcharge were 22¢. 2016
Scott 5136, (68¢) Eastern Blue [butterfly], plate number P1111 Rate breakdown: The first class one-ounce rate in early 2016 was 48¢, with an additional ounce / non-machinable surcharge of 20¢. Later in 2016 the one-ounce rate was dropped to 47¢, but the second ounce / non-machinable surcharge was 21¢, so the nominal value remained at 68¢. (F) Forever non-machinable surcharge stamps were also valid as the first class rate crept up to 49¢ and 50¢ in 2017 and 2018. 2019
Scott 5346, (70¢) California Dogface [butterfly], plate number B111111 Rate breakdown: The first class one-ounce rate increased to 55¢ in early 2019, however both the additional ounce and non-machinable surcharge dropped to 15¢. 2021
Scott 5568, (75¢) Colorado Hairstreak [butterfly], plate number B11111 Rate breakdown: The first class one-ounce rate remained 55¢ in 2021, however both the additional ounce and non-machinable surcharge increased to 20¢, In early 2022, the first class rate increased to 58¢, and the additional ounce rate was 20¢, for a total of 78¢ for up to 2 ounces and 98¢ for up to 3 ounces. However, for the first time, the non-machinable surcharge differed, with a total cost of 88¢. The (F) Forever Colorado Hairstreak stamp continued to meet the new non-machinable surcharge rate, but would overpay by 10¢ if used as a 2 ounce stamp. In July 2022, the first class rate increased again, to 60¢. The additional ounce rate was 24¢, for a total of 84¢ for up to 2 ounces. The non-machinable surcharge increased by 11¢, for a total of 99¢. The (F) Forever Colorado Hairstreak stamp continued to meet the new non-machinable surcharge rate, but would overpay by 15¢ if used as a 2 ounce stamp. In January 2023, the first class rate increased to 63¢, with additional ounces remaining at 24¢, for a total of 87¢ for up to 2 ounces. The Colorado Hairstreak stamp continued to meet the new non-machinable surcharge rate. In July 2023, the first class rate increased to 68¢, with additional ounces remaining at 24¢, for a total of 92¢ for up to 2 ounces. The Colorado Hairstreak stamp continued to meet the new non-machinable surcharge rate. In January 2024, the first class rate increased to 73¢, with additional ounces increasing to 28¢, for a total of $1.01 for up to 2 ounces. The Colorado Hairstreak stamp continued to meet the new non-machinable surcharge rate through the first half of 2025.
2025
Scott 6031, ($1.27) Luna Moth, plate number B11111 Rate breakdown: On July 13, 2025, the first class rate increased to 78¢. The non-machinable rate was set at $1.27, a 39¢ surcharge over the normal first class rate. Additional ounces increased to 29¢, for a total of $1.07 for up to 2 ounces first class or $1.46 for 2 ounces non-machinable. The (F) Forever Luna Moth stamp met the new non-machinable surcharge rate, but would overpay by 19¢ if used as a 2 ounce stamp. On July 12, 2026, the first class rate increased to 82¢. The non-machinable rate was set at $1.31, the same 39¢ surcharge over the normal first class rate. Additional ounces remaine at 29¢, for a total of $1.11 for up to 2 ounces first class or $1.50 for 2 ounces non-machinable. The (F) Forever Luna Moth stamp met the new non-machinable surcharge rate, but would overpay by 19¢ if used as a 2 ounce stamp.
During the 13¢ rate era, the U.S. also issued a block of four butterfly stamps. These were for the first class rate and are not part of this non-machinable surcharge series.
Opinions expressed by authors are their own and do not necessarily reflect those of the APNSS, its officers or members.
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