“I read The Gozo News article: “Increase in MaltaPost postage rates effective from next Thursday” ( 27 December issue, Gozo News). I was born in the year 1963, yet when I was age 6, the price of a domestic postage-stamp was 6 cents.

This parallel also happened when I was age 8, 10, 13, 15, 18, and 22 —— the price of American postage was exactly that amount in United States cents (U.S. “pennies”). It also happened again when I was age 33.

Earlier in this year of 2019, postage rose to 55 cents for a domestic stamp. You guessed it, I had just turned age 55 a month earlier in December 2018. Now, just days ago (on 14 December 2019), I have just turned age 56 and there are rumblings about another possible postage increase here in America.

I love the human-touch of a hand-written postal letter. Over the years, I have joined various stamp clubs. I love letters from the United Kingdom with the silhouette of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, the only Queen that has reigned in my entire lifetime. I also like to see “Knights of Malta” pictorial stamps.

Yet, fewer people are using traditional postal mail and yielding to e-mail. Plus, what few stamps are used now have the word “FOREVER” marked on them, indicating they are usable whenever a rate-hike occurs….”FOREVER” with no numeric denomination emblazoned thereon.

Personally, I like the stamps that depict good Art, especially that of distinguished humans or things. Yet, the Post Office is almost getting too pricey; even for me.

Postage stamps stick to our personalities. Yet, it is a pity that the cost keeps rising. Although still comparatively a “bargain” the “art” of writing an “old-fashioned letter” is something that younger generations of people worldwide may someday hardly experience at all.

I would much rather the cost increase be borne by the “junk-mailers” who send meaningless advertisements and flyers out in bulk.

Sadly, gone are the days of “the penny postcards” with an image of an early United States President Thomas Jefferson, or the 2-cent postcard with an image of the early statesman Benjamin Franklin, also embossed thereon.”

Sincerely,

James A. Marples,

Longview,

Texas, U.S.A.

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