US first-class stamps??

Question

I have US First-class stamps and I need to send a postcard to Italy. I heard that you need 75 cents to send it to Italy but I don't know how much each stamp costs. Help?

Best answer up for grabs!!

Answer 1

Inside the US, those stamps are worth 43¢.  However, international convention states that stamps used in international postage must have a printed value.  So, you can't use those stamps for Italy.

Answer 2

While the other answer so far to this question used to be correct (with the exception that the First Class rate is still 42 cents, not 43 cents, although that's heading our way in the future), to the best of my knowledge it is now possible to use un-denominated US First Class stamps to send International mail.

Here's a CBS News FAQ on the so-called "Forever Stamps" - US First Class stamps that can always be used to send 1 oz. via First Class Domestic mail, and that don't bear any specific denomination:

http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2007/03/2...

This FAQ states, in part:

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Can The Forever Stamp Be Used For International Mail?

Any nondenominated stamps (except for those that bear unique markings, such as First-Class Presort, Nonprofit Org.) may be affixed to items that are sent to foreign countries. The postage value of such stamps is linked to its appropriate domestic rate (e.g., the "Lady Liberty and U.S. Flag" stamp has a postage value of 39 cents). The postage value of the Forever Stamp is always the domestic First-Class Mail single-piece 1-ounce letter rate that is in effect on the day of use (mailing). Since the international postage rates are always higher than the comparable domestic rates, additional postage would have to be affixed.

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This is confirmed on the US Postal Service website at:

http://www.usps.com/communications/newsr...

That means that, today, a "Forever" First Class stamp affixed to an envelope addressed to Italy would be worth 42 cents, the current US First Class rate.  You could add a mix of additional Forever stamps and/or denominated stamps, so long as the total equals or exceeds the cost of the required postage to Italy.

You can find the cost of sending mail to Italy on the USPS website, by using their International mail calculator:

http://ircalc.usps.gov/