Harmonized System
U.S. imports of Postage & Revenue Stamps, First-Day Covers, and Postal Stationery (HS 970400) totaled $412K in August 2026, imported from 56 countries.
Importers of Postage & Revenue Stamps, First-Day Covers, and Postal Stationery paid $479 in duties in August 2026, an average duty rate of 0.12% — duty actually collected as a share of the imports that cleared customs, not the published tariff schedule. Postage & Revenue Stamps, First-Day Covers, and Postal Stationery imports of $412K in August 2026 ran 81% below the year-to-date monthly average of $2.2M.
Last updated: August 2026 dataUsed postage and revenue stamps, stamp-postmarks, first-day covers, and stamped postal stationery that are no longer current issue are philatelic collectibles classified under a single tariff line (9704000000) and generally enter duty-free. Switzerland and Canada are the leading sources of US imports in this category — Switzerland reflecting its role as a global philatelic trading hub and home to major auction houses, Canada reflecting cross-border collector activity. Classification requires that the stamps be used, or if unused, that they are not of current or new issue; mint stamps of current issue are excluded and would be classified elsewhere. Importers and dealers should retain auction records, catalog references, or dealer invoices to document the non-current status of unused material.
AI-written summary of the official U.S. Census Bureau trade figures on this page — verify before relying on it.
32 import shipments a month
CBP looks at whether the stamp is still being sold by the issuing postal authority as valid postage. Stamps that have been demonetized, withdrawn from sale, or superseded by new issues generally qualify. Importers can support this with catalog references (e.g., Scott or Michel catalog listings), dealer invoices, or documentation from the issuing country's postal authority.
Yes. Revenue stamps, stamp-postmarks, and fiscal stamps used for tax or duty purposes are explicitly included in this heading alongside postage stamps, provided they meet the used or non-current-issue requirement. The same documentation standards apply.
Trade Directory
List your company under HS 970400 — Postage & Revenue Stamps, First-Day Covers, and Postal Stationery, so the companies trading it can find you. Be the first supplier listed.
Subheading 1 of 1 in heading 9704
Subheading 970400 · $412K of $412K
HS10 import codes under this HS6 parent, each with its own page. Source: U.S. Harmonized Tariff Schedule.
| Code | Description | Imports for consumption | Average duty rate | Dutiable Share | Duty Collected |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 9704000000 | Postage or Revenue Stamps, Firstday Covers | $412K | 0.12% | 0.93% | $479 |
HS10 export codes under this HS6 parent, each with its own page. Source: U.S. Schedule B export classification.
| Code | Description | Export Value |
|---|---|---|
| 9704000000 | Postage or Revenue Stamps, Firstday Covers | $281K |
Import lines come from the U.S. Harmonized Tariff Schedule and export lines from Schedule B. The two are numbered by different agencies, so the same 10-digit code can appear in both tables describing a different product.
ImportsExports
Imports
$412KYoY · free account
Exports
$281KYoY · free account
12-mo low · imports
Low · free accountOver the twelve months to August 2026, the U.S. imported $19.6M of Postage & Revenue Stamps, First-Day Covers, and Postal Stationery and exported $7.6M.
Fewer than 6 of the last 12 months reported trade, or the latest month was under $500K; the trend chart is not shown for thin series.
Through August 2026. Source: U.S. Census Bureau.
Imports · August 2026
origin
Canada and United Kingdom together supply 59% of it.
customs district
destination
entry
rate provision · imports
99.1% enters free of duty; duty collected equals 0.12% of imports for consumption.