An international reply coupon (IRC) is a coupon that can be used to post a standard 20 gram letter anywhere in the world. IRCs are accepted and available in all Universal Postal Union (UPU) member countries.

The purpose of the IRC is to be able to send someone in another country a letter, along with the cost of postage for them to reply. If the addressee is within the same country, one simply sends them a self-addressed stamped envelope ("SASE"); but if you are sending a letter to another country, it can be difficult to acquire stamps for that country to send along with your letter. So you can purchase an IRC instead from your local post office, and send it to them; they can then take it to a post office in their own country, and use it to reply to your letter.

IRCs have many common and practical uses.

A Friend to Family and Friends Abroad. A parent or other family member may include one in a letter to a student or military son or daughter in another country who may be strapped for cash to cover postage for a reply letter.

This way they do not have to use their own money for postage, their own money possibly in short supply until they get settled in to study or work. For example: Aunt Jonsie wants to hear from Johnny, so, she sends a letter with an IRC, so that the young man won't have any excuse not to write back and say hello and maybe send some photos.

A Friend to Collectors. Serious collectors often use IRCs. For example, suppose an autograph collector has found a famous person in another country willing to grant an autograph. Including an IRC with the request for the autograph would certainly improve the chances of receiving it.

Or, suppose a lace collector in the U.S. has found a kind person in France willing to donate an interesting piece of French lace. The collector would include an IRC so as not to inconvenience the kind person by making them pay postage, as the kind person is already granting the collector a great favor by giving him the lace, the object of his or her collecting passion.

A Friend to Ham Radio Enthusiasts. One interesting example of IRCs the following: This is often requested when a ham radio operator wishes to send a reception report in order to receive a QSL card - the IRC will cover postage.

Wedding Invitations and Response Cards. An engaged couple may include one for an invitee in another country to cover postage for the response card.

IRCs can also be used as international currency for small transactions, since they have at least a small nominal value in all UPU member countries.

As well as IRCs administered by the UPU, there are also reply coupons issued by other postal unions which are usable only in certain countries, e.g. those issued by the Arab Postal Union.

External links

• http://www.upu.int/irc/en/index.shtml

See also

• Charles Ponzi

Universal Postal Union | Postal stationery

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