The U.S. Postal Service® has produced many stamps that contain images on a variety of subjects. This information on stamps and their copyright restrictions can help guide you in obtaining permission for your use of a stamp image.

Availability of Stamp Images
The USPS® does not have electronic files for all stamp images. In some cases, the U.S. Postal Service will not be able to provide the applicant with the stamp image but will grant permission for the use of an image obtained by the applicant.

Co-Owned Stamps (Copyright Restrictions)
In many cases, a stamp image contains elements that are co-owned by the U.S. Postal Service and one or more other entities. The U.S. Postal Service will make every effort to inform applicants of copyrights and other restrictions that may apply, however, it cannot represent or warrant that all stamps images furnished may be freely reproduced in the absence of such notification.

When co-owner information is known to the U.S. Postal Service, permission must be obtained from the co-owner(s) and proof of this must be sent to the Rights and Permissions office. Permission will not be granted without such proof.

In many cases, particularly with older stamps, the U.S. Postal Service does not have information about other potential ownership interests. In these cases the U.S. Postal Service may grant permission for use of the image noting that the permission does not extend to any copyrights, trademarks, or other rights of third parties. The applicant is solely responsible for identifying and obtaining permission from any other third parties that may have an ownership interest in the image.

Federal Duck Stamps
The USPS does not provide permission to use Federal Duck Stamp images. Requests to use Duck Stamp images should be made to the US Fish and Wildlife Service www.fws.gov. Or to purchase Duck Stamps: Buy Duck Stamps online.