A look back: July 31, 1958

Another American institution — the 3-cent stamp for letters — makes its last stand today.

It’ll give way to the 4-cent stamp at midnight.

The changeover is one of a series of upward revisions in postal rates designed to produce more than half a billion dollars in annual revenue to help run the deficit-ridden Post Office Department.

First-class rates — those that concern the general public — go up Friday. Higher rates for newspapers, magazines and advertising matters will become effective Jan. 1, 1959.

Other increases in rates include post cards, 2 to 3 cents; airmail, 6 to 7 cents; airmail post cards, 4 to 5 cents; and mail to foreign countries, 8 cents for first ounce and 4 to 5 cents for each additional ounce.