[Dx-qsl] IRC's

[Gert - K5WW]

Same as a "properly stamped" IRC. The stamp is optional. It says that right 
there, although it's in French (facultative = optional).

Quotes from the International Mail Manual - Issue 31 - May 2005, Updated 
with Postal Bulletin Revisions Through September 29, 2005

(complete version at http://pe.usps.gov/text/imm/welcome.htm)
372.3 Selling Price and Rate of Exchange
...
b. International reply coupons purchased in foreign countries are 
exchangeable at U.S. Post Office facilities toward the purchase of postage 
stamps and embossed stamped envelopes (including aerogrammes) at the rate of 
$0.80 per coupon, irrespective of the country where they were purchased.

372.4 Processing Requests
...
b. Under Universal Postal Union's regulations, member countries are not 
required to place a control stamp or postmark on the international reply 
coupons that they sell. Therefore, some foreign issue reply coupons, which 
are tendered for redemption, may bear the name of the issuing country 
(generally in French), rather than the optional control stamp or postmark. 
Such coupons are exchangeable for U.S. postage, as specified in 372.3b.

------------------------------------------------

As you can see: 80 cents. I imagine there will be an update once the rates 
go up, and it will be adjusted to 84 cents.

Print out the relevant pages, and take it with you to the post office. You 
may have to persuade them to get and dust off their International Mail 
Manual (every post office has one). I did, and I haven't had anyone refuse 
an IRC ever since. That includes the small ones, which are still pictured on 
the USPS website to illustrate the IRC!

I hope this helps, 73,

Gert - K5WW



----- Original Message ----- 
From: <jcowens at netscape.com>
To: "QSL Info" <dx-qsl at mailman.qth.net>
Sent: Tuesday, December 20, 2005 12:36 PM
Subject: [Dx-qsl] IRC's


Also, what is the value of an unstamped large IRC?