Scott #b2 Heroes Of 2001

If this stamp was issued on June 7, 2002 when the first class postage rate was 34c, why is it listed in the USPS guide below as have a postage value of 37c?

https://pe.usps.com/text/qsg300/q604a.htm

Apparently, 132.9 million of these stamps were sold. Does anyone on this forum use these for postage or receive letters with these stamps? Since this stamp depicts a tragic day/event, do a lot of people not like to send/receive an image that's a reminder of a fateful day?

The "B" means it is a semipostal. They are always higher than the postal rate because they are a mechanism to collect money for a charity.

B2 was issued on June 7, 2002 when the first class rate was 0.34 with a surcharge of 0.11 (sale price of 0.45)
On June 30, 2002, the first class rate increased to 0.37, as did the face value of B2
The surcharge was reduced to 0.08 to keep the sale price at 0.45
B2 retains its postal value of 0.37 when affixed to a mail piece as you found in the USPS listing.
Yes, they were used by many. Here is one cropped from a full envelope during the 0.37 rate period.



The challenge is to find a solo use at the 0.34 rate between June 7-29, 2002.

The B1 breast cancer semi-postal has the most complex rate + surcharge structure having been available for over 20 years. Try to find solo use during each rate period!

The surcharge goes to the families of those impacted by 9/11; so many folks like supporting this stamp.
Don

On the bottom of the sheet there is an explanation.

The "denomination" says "FIRST CLASS +" not "FOREVER +". Most collectors and postal employees don't realize there is a difference in the terminology. "FIRST CLASS +" stamps don't automatically increase their postage value as a FOREVER stamp would.

Found an interesting article (link below) indicates that this stamp was withdrawn from circulation because of poor sales. In addition, "GAO reported the views of some observers that the large initial sales figures of the "Heroes of 2001" semipostal "were not sustainable because that semipostal did not benefit from the support of a long-established, well-organized, nationwide network of organizations to keep the Heroes semipostal in the public eye," in contrast to the nationwide support base for the breast cancer stamp."

https://www.everycrsreport.com/repo...1.html#ifn13

Perhaps more people have a connection/affiliation/sympathy with Breast Cancer or Alzheimer's, hence why those have been re-issued.