---
kind: "section"
citation: "18 U.S.C. § 502"
title: "18"
title_heading: "Crimes and Criminal Procedure"
number: "502"
heading: "Postage and revenue stamps of foreign governments"
release: "119-102"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/18/502"
units:
  - "Part I — Crimes"
  - "Chapter 25 — Counterfeiting and Forgery"
---

# §502. Postage and revenue stamps of foreign governments


Whoever forges, or counterfeits, or knowingly utters or uses any forged or counterfeit [postage stamp](/usc/18/504.md) or revenue stamp of any [foreign government](/usc/18/11.md), 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.)

## Notes

### Historical and Revision Notes

Based on title 18, U.S.C., 1940 ed., § 349 (Mar. 4, 1909, ch. 321, § 220, 35 Stat. 1132; May 26, 1926, ch. 396, 44 Stat. 653).

A paragraph defining “foreign government” was combined with other like provisions to form section 11 of this title. A proviso against repeal, “Provided, however, That nothing in this section shall be held to repeal or modify section 350 of this title [now section 504 of this title]”, 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—Pub. L. 103–322 substituted “fined under this title” for “fined not more than $500”.