Commemoratives Less Than Postcard Rate

Most commemorative stemps issued since 1940 are, of course, denominated at the then current first class, first ounce rate. I began to wonder how many have been denominated at less than the then current postcard rate. The only issue that came to mind is 1972's 2 cent Cape Hatteras, 1448-1451. There must be more such commemoratives, no? Which am I forgetting? Wikipedia lists postcard rates through history at https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Histo...ostage_rates

a few, 1 cent War, Defense, Lincoln for starters

Yes, good, I figured there were more. That reminds me about the 1 cent FDR in 1945.

Postcard rate, USA domestic, was 1 cent from 7-1-1928 through 12-31-1951; 2 cents from 4-14-1925 through 6-30-1928 and 1-1-1952 through 7-31-1958. It rose to 3 cents 8-1-1958, 4 cents 1-7-1963 and a nickel 1-7-1968.

Thus three named above are not correct, Roosevelt, War and Defense.

The re-issued S/S designs and denominations of the Columbians, Trans-Mississippi, 1901 issue all had values under the then current postcard rate. Others can chime in from here.

1 cent postcards during WWII, OK, so then we're down to just 1959's 1c Lincoln #1113 and 1972's 2c Cape Hatteras, unless someone can think of others

Not to be a pest Perf10 but I listed a dozen and a half other stamps with this which I quote from above, "The re-issued S/S designs and denominations of the Columbians, Trans-Mississippi, 1901 issue all had values under the then current postcard rate."

Here I will help you:

Columbians of 1992, postcard rate 19 cents, issued values below that were, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 8, 10 and 15 cents.


Trans-Mississippi of 1998, postcard rate 20 cents, issued values below that were, 1, 2, 4, 5, 8 and 10 cents.


Pan-American of 2001, postcard rate 20 cents, issued values below that were, 1, 2, and 4 cents.

I suppose those qualify too, but since they are reissues of stamps dating from before the time period under consideration, they might deserve a category of their own.

The interesting part, to me at least, is to speculate and learn why any commemorative would be denominated below postcard rate. I suppose the Lincoln 1 cent provided room to honor the man via multiple stamps, ala FDR. The 2c Cape Hatteras's se-tenant block of 4 could be used as a block to pay the 8c first class rate, a creative stamp layout idea, one I'm surprised has not been done again.

The reissues are different stamps than the originals. Different paper, different perforations, different formats nor did it end there, the Trans-Mississippi were issued as bi-color to mention one obvious difference.

Carrying the original values forward was not always done. The Scott #1 and #2 designs for the Pacific '97 sheets were raised from the original 5 and 10 to 50. and 60 cents. Plus to top off some changes for the issued stamps, original definitive designs were reissued as commemorative designs.