Title 18 — Crimes and Criminal Procedure
Part I · Chapter 25 — Counterfeiting and Forgery
§ 504. Printing and filming of United States and foreign obligations and securities
Statutory text
Notwithstanding any other provision of this chapter, the following are permitted:
The printing, publishing, or importation, or the making or importation of the necessary plates for such printing or publishing, of illustrations of—
postage stamps of the United States,
revenue stamps of the United States,
any other obligation or other security of the United States, and
postage stamps, revenue stamps, notes, bonds, and any other obligation or other security of any foreign government, bank, or corporation.
Illustrations permitted by the foregoing provisions of this section shall be made in accordance with the following conditions—
all illustrations shall be in black and white, except that illustrations of postage stamps issued by the United States or by any foreign government and stamps issued under the Migratory Bird Hunting Stamp Act of 1934 may be in color;
all illustrations (including illustrations of uncanceled postage stamps in color and illustrations of stamps issued under the Migratory Bird Hunting Stamp Act of 1934 in color) shall be of a size less than three-fourths or more than one and one-half, in linear dimension, of each part of any matter so illustrated which is covered by subparagraph (A), (B), (C), or (D) of this paragraph, except that black and white illustrations of postage and revenue stamps issued by the United States or by any foreign government and colored illustrations of canceled postage stamps issued by the United States may be in the exact linear dimension in which the stamps were issued; and
the negatives and plates used in making the illustrations shall be destroyed after their final use in accordance with this section.
The Secretary of the Treasury shall prescribe regulations to permit color illustrations of such currency of the United States as the Secretary determines may be appropriate for such purposes.
The provisions of this section shall not permit the reproduction of illustrations of obligations or other securities, by or through electronic methods used for the acquisition, recording, retrieval, transmission, or reproduction of any obligation or other security, unless such use is authorized by the Secretary of the Treasury. The Secretary shall establish a system to ensure that the legitimate use of such electronic methods and retention of such reproductions by businesses, hobbyists, press or others shall not be unduly restricted.
The making or importation of motion-picture films, microfilms, or slides, for projection upon a screen or for use in telecasting, of postage and revenue stamps and other obligations and securities of the United States, and postage and revenue stamps, notes, bonds, and other obligations or securities of any foreign government, bank, or corporation. No prints or other reproductions shall be made from such films or slides, except for the purposes of paragraph (1), without the permission of the Secretary of the Treasury.
For the purposes of this section the term “postage stamp” includes postage meter stamps.
Legislative history
Reconstructed from this section’s Code source credit and amendment notes, resolved against the local Statutes at Large. Editorial notes are evidence, not the law that made the change.
Pub. L. 80–645 · 62 Stat. 683
Enacted · 18 U.S.C. § 504
June 25, 1948, ch. 645, 62 Stat. 713
Source evidence
Code source credit
June 25, 1948, ch. 645, 62 Stat. 713Pub. L. 85–921 § 1 · 72 Stat. 1771
Changed · 18 U.S.C. § 504
Pub. L. 85–921 permitted black and white illustrations of revenue stamps of the United States for philatelic and numismatic purposes, black and white illustrations of United States and foreign paper money and other obligations and securities for educational, historical, and newsworthy purposes, and permitted motion picture films, microfilms, and slides of United States and foreign postage and revenue stamps, paper money, and other obligations and securities, except films in connection with advertising
Source evidence
Code amendment note
Pub. L. 85–921 permitted black and white illustrations of revenue stamps of the United States for philatelic and numismatic purposes, black and white illustrations of United States and foreign paper money and other obligations and securities for educational, historical, and newsworthy purposes, and permitted motion picture films, microfilms, and slides of United States and foreign postage and revenue stamps, paper money, and other obligations and securities, except films in connection with advertising.Pub. L. 90–353 § 1 · 82 Stat. 240
Inserted · 18 U.S.C. § 504(1)
Pub. L. 90–353 inserted provisions so as to permit colored illustrations of canceled United States postage stamps in the exact size of genuine stamps and colored illustrations of uncanceled United States and foreign stamps if the size of the illustrations is less than three-fourths or more than one and one-half times the size of the genuine stamps and permitted the use of colored illustrations of stamps in public documents relating to stamps printed by the Government Printing Office at the request of the Postmaster General
Source evidence
Code amendment note
Par. (1). Pub. L. 90–353 inserted provisions so as to permit colored illustrations of canceled United States postage stamps in the exact size of genuine stamps and colored illustrations of uncanceled United States and foreign stamps if the size of the illustrations is less than three-fourths or more than one and one-half times the size of the genuine stamps and permitted the use of colored illustrations of stamps in public documents relating to stamps printed by the Government Printing Office at the request of the Postmaster General.Pub. L. 91–448 § 2 · 84 Stat. 920
Inserted · 18 U.S.C. § 504
Pub. L. 91–448 inserted provision including postage meter stamp within the meaning of postage stamp for the purposes of this section
Source evidence
Code amendment note
Pub. L. 91–448 inserted provision including postage meter stamp within the meaning of postage stamp for the purposes of this section.Enacted provision · exact public law section
Sec. 2. Section 504 of title 18, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end thereof the following: “For the purposes of this section the term ‘postage stamp’ includes postage meter stamps.”Tax Reform Act of 1984
Pub. L. 98–369 § 1077(b)(1) · 98 Stat. 494
Inserted · 18 U.S.C. § 504(1)(i)
Pub. L. 98–369, § 1077(b)(1), inserted “and stamps issued under the Migratory Bird Hunting Stamp Act of 1934”
Source evidence
Code amendment note
Par. (1)(i). Pub. L. 98–369, § 1077(b)(1), inserted “and stamps issued under the Migratory Bird Hunting Stamp Act of 1934”.Enacted provision · exact public law section
(1) Clause (i) of section 5O4(1)(D) of title 18, United States Code, is amended by inserting “and stamps issued under the Migratory Bird Hunting Stamp Act of 1934” after “foreign government”.Effective date note
Amendment by Pub. L. 98–369 effective July 18, 1984, see section 1077(c) of Pub. L. 98–369, set out as a note under section 718e of Title 16, Conservation.Tax Reform Act of 1984
Pub. L. 98–369 § 1077(b)(2) · 98 Stat. 494
Inserted · 18 U.S.C. § 504(1)(ii)
Pub. L. 98–369, § 1077(b)(2), inserted “and illustrations of stamps issued under the Migratory Bird Hunting Stamp Act of 1934 in color”
Source evidence
Code amendment note
Par. (1)(ii). Pub. L. 98–369, § 1077(b)(2), inserted “and illustrations of stamps issued under the Migratory Bird Hunting Stamp Act of 1934 in color”.Enacted provision · exact public law section
(2) Clause (ii) of such section is amended by inserting “and illustrations of stamps issued under the Migratory Bird Hunting Stamp Act of 1934 in color” after “postage stamps in color”.Effective date note
Amendment by Pub. L. 98–369 effective July 18, 1984, see section 1077(c) of Pub. L. 98–369, set out as a note under section 718e of Title 16, Conservation.Counterfeit Deterrence Act of 1992
Pub. L. 102–550 § 1554(1) · 106 Stat. 3672
Substituted · 18 U.S.C. § 504(1)
Pub. L. 102–550, § 1554(1), (2), in subpar. (D), substituted a period for the comma at end, in provisions following subpar. (D)
Struck · 18 U.S.C. § 504(1)
Pub. L. 102–550, § 1554(1), (2), in subpar. (D), struck out “for philatelic, numismatic, educational, historical, or newsworthy purposes in articles, books, journals, newspapers, or albums (but not for advertising purposes, except illustrations of stamps and paper money in philatelic or numismatic advertising of legitimate numismatists and dealers in stamps or publishers of or dealers in philatelic or numismatic articles, books, journals, newspapers, or albums).” before “Illustrations permitted”
Inserted · 18 U.S.C. § 504(1)
Pub. L. 102–550, § 1554(1), (2), in subpar. (D), inserted at end “The Secretary of the Treasury shall prescribe regulations to permit color illustrations of such currency of the United States as the Secretary determines may be appropriate for such purposes.”
Source evidence
Code amendment note
Par. (1). Pub. L. 102–550, § 1554(1), (2), in subpar. (D), substituted a period for the comma at end, in provisions following subpar. (D), struck out “for philatelic, numismatic, educational, historical, or newsworthy purposes in articles, books, journals, newspapers, or albums (but not for advertising purposes, except illustrations of stamps and paper money in philatelic or numismatic advertising of legitimate numismatists and dealers in stamps or publishers of or dealers in philatelic or numismatic articles, books, journals, newspapers, or albums).” before “Illustrations permitted”, and inserted at end “The Secretary of the Treasury shall prescribe regulations to permit color illustrations of such currency of the United States as the Secretary determines may be appropriate for such purposes.”Enacted provision · exact public law section
(1) in paragraph (1)(D), by striking the comma at the end thereof and inserting a period;Counterfeit Deterrence Act of 1992
Pub. L. 102–550 § 1554(3) · 106 Stat. 3672
Redesignated · 18 U.S.C. § 504(2)
Pub. L. 102–550, § 1554(3), added par. (2). Former par. (2) redesignated (3)
Source evidence
Code amendment note
Par. (2). Pub. L. 102–550, § 1554(3), added par. (2). Former par. (2) redesignated (3).Enacted provision · exact public law section
(3) by redesignating paragraph (2) as paragraph (3) and inserting after paragraph (1) the following new paragraph: “(2) The provisions of this section shall not permit the reproduction of illustrations of obligations or other securities, by or through electronic methods used for the acquisition, recording, retrieval, transmission, or reproduction of any obligation or other security, unless such use is authorized by the Secretary of the Treasury. The Secretary shall establish a system to ensure that the legitimate use of such electronic methods and retention of such reproductions by businesses, hobbyists, press or others shall not be unduly restricted.”; andCounterfeit Deterrence Act of 1992
Pub. L. 102–550 § 1554(3) · 106 Stat. 3672
Redesignated · 18 U.S.C. § 504(3)
Pub. L. 102–550, § 1554(3), (4), redesignated par. (2) as (3)
Struck · 18 U.S.C. § 504(3)
Pub. L. 102–550, § 1554(3), (4), struck out “but not for advertising purposes except philatelic advertising,” after “or importation,”
Source evidence
Code amendment note
Par. (3). Pub. L. 102–550, § 1554(3), (4), redesignated par. (2) as (3) and struck out “but not for advertising purposes except philatelic advertising,” after “or importation,”.Enacted provision · exact public law section
(3) by redesignating paragraph (2) as paragraph (3) and inserting after paragraph (1) the following new paragraph: “(2) The provisions of this section shall not permit the reproduction of illustrations of obligations or other securities, by or through electronic methods used for the acquisition, recording, retrieval, transmission, or reproduction of any obligation or other security, unless such use is authorized by the Secretary of the Treasury. The Secretary shall establish a system to ensure that the legitimate use of such electronic methods and retention of such reproductions by businesses, hobbyists, press or others shall not be unduly restricted.”; andEconomic Espionage Act of 1996
Pub. L. 104–294 § 601(e)(1) · 110 Stat. 3488
Substituted · 18 U.S.C. § 504(1)
Pub. L. 104–294, § 601(e)(1), substituted “The printing” for “the printing” in introductory provisions
Source evidence
Code amendment note
Par. (1). Pub. L. 104–294, § 601(e)(1), substituted “The printing” for “the printing” in introductory provisions.Enacted provision · exact public law section
(1) in paragraph (1), by striking “the” the first place it appears and inserting “The”; andEconomic Espionage Act of 1996
Pub. L. 104–294 § 601(e)(2) · 110 Stat. 3488
Substituted · 18 U.S.C. § 504(3)
Pub. L. 104–294, § 601(e)(2), (f)(3), substituted “The making or importation of” for “the making or importation, of”
Source evidence
Code amendment note
Par. (3). Pub. L. 104–294, § 601(e)(2), (f)(3), substituted “The making or importation of” for “the making or importation, of”.Enacted provision · exact public law section
(2) in paragraph (3), by striking “the” the first place it appears and inserting “The”.
11 of 14 references resolved to an enrolled provision · 3 partial
Notes
Historical and Revision Notes
Based on title 18, U.S.C., 1940 ed., § 350 (Mar. 3, 1923, ch. 218, 42 Stat. 1437; Jan. 27, 1938, ch. 10, § 2, 52 Stat. 6).
Minor changes in phraseology were made.
Editorial Notes
References in Text
The Migratory Bird Hunting Stamp Act, referred to in par. (1)(i), (ii), subsequently renamed the Migratory Bird Hunting and Conservation Stamp Act, is act Mar. 16, 1934, ch. 71, 48 Stat. 451, which is classified generally to subchapter IV (§ 718 et seq.) of chapter 7 of Title 16, Conservation. For complete classification of this Act to the Code, see Short Title note set out under section 718 of Title 16 and Tables.
Amendments1958–1996 · 6 rounds
1996
Par. (1). Pub. L. 104–294, § 601(e)(1), substituted “The printing” for “the printing” in introductory provisions.
Par. (3). Pub. L. 104–294, § 601(e)(2), (f)(3), substituted “The making or importation of” for “the making or importation, of”.
1992
Par. (1). Pub. L. 102–550, § 1554(1), (2), in subpar. (D), substituted a period for the comma at end, in provisions following subpar. (D), struck out “for philatelic, numismatic, educational, historical, or newsworthy purposes in articles, books, journals, newspapers, or albums (but not for advertising purposes, except illustrations of stamps and paper money in philatelic or numismatic advertising of legitimate numismatists and dealers in stamps or publishers of or dealers in philatelic or numismatic articles, books, journals, newspapers, or albums).” before “Illustrations permitted”, and inserted at end “The Secretary of the Treasury shall prescribe regulations to permit color illustrations of such currency of the United States as the Secretary determines may be appropriate for such purposes.”
Par. (2). Pub. L. 102–550, § 1554(3), added par. (2). Former par. (2) redesignated (3).
Par. (3). Pub. L. 102–550, § 1554(3), (4), redesignated par. (2) as (3) and struck out “but not for advertising purposes except philatelic advertising,” after “or importation,”.
1984
Par. (1)(i). Pub. L. 98–369, § 1077(b)(1), inserted “and stamps issued under the Migratory Bird Hunting Stamp Act of 1934”.
Par. (1)(ii). Pub. L. 98–369, § 1077(b)(2), inserted “and illustrations of stamps issued under the Migratory Bird Hunting Stamp Act of 1934 in color”.
1970
Pub. L. 91–448 inserted provision including postage meter stamp within the meaning of postage stamp for the purposes of this section.
1968
Par. (1). Pub. L. 90–353 inserted provisions so as to permit colored illustrations of canceled United States postage stamps in the exact size of genuine stamps and colored illustrations of uncanceled United States and foreign stamps if the size of the illustrations is less than three-fourths or more than one and one-half times the size of the genuine stamps and permitted the use of colored illustrations of stamps in public documents relating to stamps printed by the Government Printing Office at the request of the Postmaster General.
1958
Pub. L. 85–921 permitted black and white illustrations of revenue stamps of the United States for philatelic and numismatic purposes, black and white illustrations of United States and foreign paper money and other obligations and securities for educational, historical, and newsworthy purposes, and permitted motion picture films, microfilms, and slides of United States and foreign postage and revenue stamps, paper money, and other obligations and securities, except films in connection with advertising.
Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries
Effective Date of 1984 Amendment
Amendment by Pub. L. 98–369 effective , see section 1077(c) of Pub. L. 98–369, set out as a note under section 718e of Title 16, Conservation.
Credits
1948–1996 · 7 acts
- 1948June 25, 1948, ch. 645, 62 Stat. 713
- 1958Pub. L. 85–921, § 1, , 72 Stat. 1771
- 1968Pub. L. 90–353, § 1, , 82 Stat. 240
- 1970Pub. L. 91–448, § 2, , 84 Stat. 921
- 1984Pub. L. 98–369, div. A, title X, § 1077(b)(1), (2), , 98 Stat. 1054
- 1992Pub. L. 102–550, title XV, § 1554, , 106 Stat. 4071
- 1996Pub. L. 104–294, title VI, § 601(e), (f)(3), , 110 Stat. 3499.
Show as published
(June 25, 1948, ch. 645, 62 Stat. 713; Pub. L. 85–921, § 1, , 72 Stat. 1771; Pub. L. 90–353, § 1, , 82 Stat. 240; Pub. L. 91–448, § 2, , 84 Stat. 921; Pub. L. 98–369, div. A, title X, § 1077(b)(1), (2), , 98 Stat. 1054; Pub. L. 102–550, title XV, § 1554, , 106 Stat. 4071; Pub. L. 104–294, title VI, § 601(e), (f)(3), , 110 Stat. 3499.)