Short Perfs

Special Delivery Statistics for 1965 - 1997

• Year   Pieces             Revenue        Source
• 1965   90,100,471     $34,934,000   1965 Annual Report
• 1966   93,155,000     $35,805,000   1970 Annual Report
• 1967   108,338,000   $40,836,000   1970 Annual Report
• 1968   117,309,000   $44,276,000   1970 Annual Report
• 1969   121,980,000   $45,616,000   1970 Annual Report
• 1970   110,124,595   $55,615,000   1970 Annual Report
• 1971   103,567,000   $54,864,000   73-74 Annual Report
• 1972   85,269,000     $55,804,000   73-74 Annual Report
• 1973   83,904,000     $54,565,000   73-74 Annual Report
• 1974   81,945,000     $52,728,000   1978 Annual Report
• 1975   75,308,000     $48,722,000   1978 Annual Report
• 1976   69,187,000     $47,111,000   1978 Annual Report
• 1977   54,243,000     $72,427,000   1978 Annual Report
• 1978   45,326,000     $70,227,000   1978 Annual Report
• 1979   40,971,000     $84,769,000   1983 Annual Report
• 1980   36,394,000     $73,037,000   1983 Annual Report
• 1981   33,160,000     $69,736,000   1983 Annual Report
• 1982   25,837,000     $55,440,000   1983 Annual Report
• 1983   22,055,000     $47,416,000   1983 Annual Report
• 1984   19,044,000     $40,681,000   1988 Annual Report
• 1985   15,373,000     $40,496,000   1988 Annual Report
• 1986   10,232,000     $30,448,000   1988 Annual Report
• 1987   8,440,000       $25,144,000   1988 Annual Report
• 1988   5,000,000       $19,217,000   1988 Annual Report
• 1989   2,212,000       $12,042,000   1993 Annual Report
• 1990   1,161,000       $6,345,000     1993 Annual Report
• 1991   2,101,000       $14,441,000   1993 Annual Report
• 1992   820,000          $5,530,000     1993 Annual Report
• 1993   331,000          $2,409,000     1993 Annual Report
• 1994   600,000          $5,000,000     1997 Annual Report
• 1995   300,000          $2,900,000     1997 Annual Report
• 1996   400,000          $3,800,000     1997 Annual Report
• 1997   100,000          $1,400,000     1997 Annual Report

Disposal of unused Special Delivery Stamps

When the United States Postal Service terminated the U.S. Special Delivery Mail Service on June 7, 1997, many users of the service and stamp collectors were left with stamps on hand which no longer had a legitimate use.

What does one do with stamps which could only be used for that specific service? In effect, these stamps no longer had a postal purpose. A recent inquiry to the USPS produced the necessary response.

These stamps may be returned for face value as "services were not rendered".

USPS Form #3533 of November 2003 is an "Application and Voucher for the Refund of Postage, Fees, and Services" which is to be used for that purpose.

Up to $500 can be submitted at local post offices but more than $500 must go to the SS/A for processing.

Now you know.