Title 18, Crimes and Criminal ProcedureRelease 119-102
§502 Postage and Revenue Stamps of Foreign Governments
Title 18 › PART I — CRIMES › CHAPTER 25 — COUNTERFEITING AND FORGERY › § 502
Summary
Forging or using forged foreign government stamps is illegal; punishable by fine or five years.
Full Legal Text
Title 18, §502
Crimes and Criminal Procedure, Source: USLM XML via OLRC
Whoever forges, or counterfeits, or knowingly utters or uses any forged or counterfeit postage stamp or revenue stamp of any foreign government, shall be fined under this title or imprisoned not more than five years, or both.
Legislative History
Notes & Related Subsidiaries
Historical and Revision Notes
Based on title 18, U.S.C., 1940 ed., § 349 (Mar. 4, 1909, ch. 321, § 220, 35 Stat. 1132; May 26, 1926, ch. 396, 44 Stat. 653). A paragraph defining “foreign government” was combined with other like provisions to form section 11 of this title. A proviso against repeal, “Provided, however, That nothing in this section shall be held to repeal or modify section 350 of this title [now section 504 of this title]”, was deleted as unnecessary since that section by express reference to this one makes it clear that these sections are in pari materia. Minor changes in phraseology were also made.
Editorial Notes
Amendments
1994—Pub. L. 103–322 substituted “fined under this title” for “fined not more than $500”.
Reference
Citations & Metadata
Citation
18 U.S.C. § 502
Title 18, Crimes and Criminal Procedure
Last Updated
Aug 21, 2026
Release point: 119-102