<P> Initial United States postage rates were set by Congress as part of the Postal Service Act signed into law by President George Washington on February 20, 1792 . The postal rate varied according to "distance zone", the distance a letter was to be carried from the post office where it entered the mail to its final destination . Rates were adopted in 1847 for mail to or from the Pacific Coast and in 1848 for mail sent from one place in the west to another place in the west . There were double and triple rates as a letter's size increased . There were ship fees which were also added (i.e. mail to Hawaii). The ship fee, including the ship rate on letters for delivery at the port of entry, were on a per letter basis, rather than weight . The United States issued its first postage stamps in 1847 . Before that time, the rates, dates and origin of the letter were written by hand or sometimes in combination with a handstamp device . </P> <P> Since enactment of the Postal Reorganization Act of 1970, postage rates have been set by the Postal Regulatory Commission . </P> <Table> United States domestic first class & postcard rates, 1863--present (USD) <Tr> <Th> Date Introduced </Th> <Th> Letters (for first ounce) </Th> <Th> Packages (for first ounce) </Th> <Th> Additional (per ounce) </Th> <Th> Postcard rate </Th> <Th> Comments </Th> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> March 3, 1863 </Td> <Td>. 06 (. 03 for ​ ⁄ oz) </Td> <Td>. 06 </Td> <Td>. 06 (. 03 per ​ ⁄ oz) </Td> <Td>. 06 </Td> <Td>. 02 per half ounce in drop boxes </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> October 1, 1883 </Td> <Td>. 04 (. 02 for ​ ⁄ oz) </Td> <Td>. 04 </Td> <Td>. 04 (. 02 per ​ ⁄ oz) </Td> <Td>. 04 </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> July 1, 1885 </Td> <Td>. 02 </Td> <Td>. 02 </Td> <Td>. 02 </Td> <Td>. 02 </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> July 1, 1898 </Td> <Td>. 02 </Td> <Td>. 02 </Td> <Td>. 02 </Td> <Td>. 01 </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> November 2, 1917 </Td> <Td>. 03 </Td> <Td>. 03 </Td> <Td>. 03 </Td> <Td>. 02 </Td> <Td> War Years </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> July 1, 1919 </Td> <Td>. 02 </Td> <Td>. 02 </Td> <Td>. 02 </Td> <Td>. 01 </Td> <Td> Dropped back by Congress </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> July 1, 1928 </Td> <Td>. 02 </Td> <Td>. 02 </Td> <Td>. 02 </Td> <Td>. 01 </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> July 6, 1932 </Td> <Td>. 03 </Td> <Td>. 03 </Td> <Td>. 03 </Td> <Td>. 01 </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> January 1, 1952 </Td> <Td>. 03 </Td> <Td>. 03 </Td> <Td>. 03 </Td> <Td>. 02 </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> August 1, 1958 </Td> <Td>. 04 </Td> <Td>. 04 </Td> <Td>. 04 </Td> <Td>. 03 </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> January 7, 1963 </Td> <Td>. 05 </Td> <Td>. 05 </Td> <Td>. 05 </Td> <Td>. 04 </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> January 7, 1968 </Td> <Td>. 06 </Td> <Td>. 06 </Td> <Td>. 06 </Td> <Td>. 05 </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> May 16, 1971 </Td> <Td>. 08 </Td> <Td>. 08 </Td> <Td>. 08 </Td> <Td>. 06 </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> March 2, 1974 </Td> <Td>. 10 </Td> <Td>. 10 </Td> <Td>. 10 </Td> <Td>. 08 </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> September 14, 1975 </Td> <Td>. 10 </Td> <Td>. 10 </Td> <Td>. 09 </Td> <Td>. 07 </Td> <Td> Last surface mail rate </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> December 31, 1975 </Td> <Td>. 13 </Td> <Td>. 13 </Td> <Td>. 11 </Td> <Td>. 09 </Td> <Td> All domestic first class & postcards by airmail </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> May 29, 1978 </Td> <Td>. 15 </Td> <Td>. 15 </Td> <Td>. 13 </Td> <Td>. 10 </Td> <Td> A Stamp Used </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> March 22, 1981 </Td> <Td>. 18 </Td> <Td>. 18 </Td> <Td>. 17 </Td> <Td>. 12 </Td> <Td> B Stamp Used </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> November 1, 1981 </Td> <Td>. 20 </Td> <Td>. 20 </Td> <Td>. 17 </Td> <Td>. 13 </Td> <Td> C Stamp Used </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> February 17, 1985 </Td> <Td>. 22 </Td> <Td>. 22 </Td> <Td>. 17 </Td> <Td>. 14 </Td> <Td> D Stamp Used </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> April 3, 1988 </Td> <Td>. 25 </Td> <Td>. 25 </Td> <Td>. 20 </Td> <Td>. 15 </Td> <Td> E Stamp Used </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> February 3, 1991 </Td> <Td>. 29 </Td> <Td>. 29 </Td> <Td>. 23 </Td> <Td>. 19 </Td> <Td> F Stamp Used (also 4 cent F makeup rate stamp) </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> January 1, 1995 </Td> <Td>. 32 </Td> <Td>. 32 </Td> <Td>. 23 </Td> <Td>. 20 </Td> <Td> G Stamp Used (also 3 cent G makeup rate stamp) </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> January 10, 1999 </Td> <Td>. 33 </Td> <Td>. 33 </Td> <Td>. 22 </Td> <Td>. 20 </Td> <Td> H Stamp Used (also 1 cent H makeup rate stamp) </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> January 7, 2001 </Td> <Td>. 34 </Td> <Td>. 34 </Td> <Td>. 21 </Td> <Td>. 20 </Td> <Td> Nondenominated Stamps Used </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> July 1, 2001 </Td> <Td>. 34 </Td> <Td>. 34 </Td> <Td>. 23 </Td> <Td>. 21 </Td> <Td> Nondenominated Stamps Used </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> June 30, 2002 </Td> <Td>. 37 </Td> <Td>. 37 </Td> <Td>. 23 </Td> <Td>. 23 </Td> <Td> Flag and Antique Toy Stamps Used </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> January 8, 2006 </Td> <Td>. 39 </Td> <Td>. 39 </Td> <Td>. 24 </Td> <Td>. 24 </Td> <Td> Lady Liberty Flag Stamp Used </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> May 14, 2007 </Td> <Td>. 41 </Td> <Td> 1.13 </Td> <Td>. 17 </Td> <Td>. 26 </Td> <Td> Shape - based postage pricing introduced; Forever stamps introduced; different prices for letters and packages for the first time </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> May 12, 2008 </Td> <Td>. 42 </Td> <Td> 1.17 </Td> <Td>. 17 </Td> <Td>. 27 </Td> <Td> Price change announced February 11, 2008 </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> May 11, 2009 </Td> <Td>. 44 </Td> <Td> 1.22 </Td> <Td>. 17 </Td> <Td>. 28 </Td> <Td> Price change announced February 10, 2009 </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> April 17, 2011 </Td> <Td>. 44 </Td> <Td> 1.71 (3 oz) </Td> <Td>. 20 (letters). 17 (packages) </Td> <Td>. 29 </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> January 22, 2012 </Td> <Td>. 45 </Td> <Td> 1.95 (3 oz) </Td> <Td>. 20 (letters). 17 (packages) </Td> <Td>. 32 </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> January 27, 2013 </Td> <Td>. 46 </Td> <Td> 2.07 (3 oz) </Td> <Td>. 20 (letters). 17 (packages) </Td> <Td>. 33 </Td> <Td> Price change announced October 11, 2012 </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> January 26, 2014 </Td> <Td>. 49 </Td> <Td> 2.32 (3 oz) </Td> <Td>. 21 (letters). 17 (packages) </Td> <Td>. 34 </Td> <Td> Price change announced September 25, 2013 </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> May 31, 2015 </Td> <Td>. 49 </Td> <Td> 2.54 (3 oz) </Td> <Td>. 22 (letters). 20 (packages) </Td> <Td>. 35 </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> April 10, 2016 </Td> <Td>. 47 </Td> <Td> 2.54 (3 oz) </Td> <Td>. 21 (letters). 20 (packages) </Td> <Td>. 34 </Td> <Td> Price change announced February 25, 2016 </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> January 22, 2017 </Td> <Td>. 49 </Td> <Td> 2.67 (3 oz) </Td> <Td>. 21 (letters). 18 (packages) </Td> <Td>. 34 </Td> <Td> Price change announced October 12, 2016 </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> January 21, 2018 </Td> <Td>. 50 </Td> <Td> 3.50 (4 oz) </Td> <Td>. 21 (letters). 35 (packages) </Td> <Td>. 35 </Td> <Td> Price change announced October 6, 2017 </Td> </Tr> </Table> <Tr> <Th> Date Introduced </Th> <Th> Letters (for first ounce) </Th> <Th> Packages (for first ounce) </Th> <Th> Additional (per ounce) </Th> <Th> Postcard rate </Th> <Th> Comments </Th> </Tr>

When did it cost 3 cents to mail a letter
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