Title 39, Postal ServiceRelease 119-102
§405 Printing of Illustrations of United States Postage Stamps
Title 39 › PART I — GENERAL › CHAPTER 4 — GENERAL AUTHORITY › § 405
Summary
If the Postal Service asks, the GPO must print and sell U.S. stamp pictures in black-and-white or color with Postal Service–chosen descriptive or collector information, and the metal plates used cannot be sold or disposed of.
Full Legal Text
Title 39, §405
Postal Service, Source: USLM XML via OLRC
(a)When requested by the Postal Service, the Director of the Government Publishing Office shall print, as a public document for sale by the Superintendent of Documents, illustrations in black and white or in color of postage stamps of the United States, together with such descriptive, historical, and philatelic information with regard to the stamps as the Postal Service deems suitable.
(b)Notwithstanding the provisions of section 505 of title 44, stereotype or electrotype plates, or duplicates thereof, used in the publications authorized to be printed by this section may not be sold or otherwise disposed of.
Legislative History
Notes & Related Subsidiaries
Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries
Change of Name
“Director of the Government Publishing Office” substituted for “Public Printer” in subsec. (a) on authority of section 1301(d) of Pub. L. 113–235, set out as a note under section 301 of Title 44, Public Printing and Documents.
Effective Date
Section effective July 1, 1971, pursuant to Resolution No. 71–9 of the Board of Governors. See section 15(a) of Pub. L. 91–375, set out as a note preceding section 101 of this title.
Reference
Citations & Metadata
Citation
39 U.S.C. § 405
Title 39, Postal Service
Last Updated
Aug 21, 2026
Release point: 119-102