18 USC § 502 - Postage and revenue stamps of foreign governments

---
identifier: "/us/usc/t18/s502"
source: "usc"
legal_status: "official_legal_evidence"
title: "18 USC § 502 - Postage and revenue stamps of foreign governments"
title_number: 18
title_name: "CRIMES AND CRIMINAL PROCEDURE"
section_number: "502"
section_name: "Postage and revenue stamps of foreign governments"
chapter_number: 25
chapter_name: "COUNTERFEITING AND FORGERY"
part_number: "I"
part_name: "CRIMES"
positive_law: true
currency: "119-84"
last_updated: "2026-04-21"
format_version: "1.1.0"
generator: "[email protected]"
source_credit: "(June 25, 1948, ch. 645, 62 Stat. 713; Pub. L. 103–322, title XXXIII, § 330016(1)(G), Sept. 13, 1994, 108 Stat. 2147.)"
---


# § 502. Postage and revenue stamps of foreign governments

Whoever forges, or counterfeits, or knowingly utters or uses any forged or counterfeit postage stamp or revenue stamp of any foreign government, shall be fined under this title or imprisoned not more than five years, or both.

---

**Source Credit**: (June 25, 1948, ch. 645, 62 Stat. 713; Pub. L. 103–322, title XXXIII, § 330016(1)(G), Sept. 13, 1994, 108 Stat. 2147.)

### Historical and Revision Notes

Based on title 18, U.S.C., 1940 ed., § 349 (, ; , ).

A paragraph defining “foreign government” was combined with other like provisions to form . A proviso against repeal, “Provided, however, That nothing in this section shall be held to repeal or modify  [now ]”, was deleted as unnecessary since that section by express reference to this one makes it clear that these sections are in pari materia.

Minor changes in phraseology were also made.

## Editorial Notes

### Amendments

1994— substituted “fined under this title” for “fined not more than $500”.