‘D’ Postage Stamps to Be Issued

WASHINGTON —  The U.S. Postal Service, seeking to ensure adequate supplies of stamps when postage rates rise Feb. 17, said today that it will issue stamps bearing the letter “D” and carrying no denomination.

The D stamps will be on sale starting Feb. 1, as will embossed envelopes bearing the D postage designation. They will represent the new 22-cent rate for first-class letters.

Postmaster General Paul N. Carlin said stamps without denominations, already in stock, are being issued because it was estimated that stamp inventories in post offices on Feb. 17 would fall short of public demand. The D stamps are expected to be replaced by stamps bearing the new 22-cent denomination by the end of March, he said.