Brief History of the Forever Stamp

Forever means for-ever!

 Liberty Bell stamp, first of the Forever stamps, was issued in 2007.

The popular Forever stamp has had a brief history, but in many ways, it’s changed the public’s perception of stamps.

The first Forever stamp, introduced in 2007, was an immediate hit. The success of the format led to the strategy, starting in January 2011, of issuing all domestic First-Class commemoratives as Forever stamps. Of the 20.8 billion stamps sold this year, 84 percent were Forever stamps.

The first Forever stamp featured the iconic Liberty Bell. During its 2007 introduction, then-PMG Jack Potter said, “The Forever stamp is a consumer innovation guaranteed to deliver unprecedented convenience and value to our customers. It’s good forever.”

Potter was right. In 2012, the Cherry Blossom Centennial was the most popular Forever stamp, selling at its height around 700,000 per day and leading to a second printing.

Forever stamps always are sold at the current First-Class, 1-ounce letter rate. Customers can use them to mail a letter weighing no more than 1 ounce regardless of when they were purchased and no matter how prices change.

Soon, USPS will add an international stamp to the Forever inventory. The stamp will go on sale in January.
Forever stamps are available at Post Offices and self-service kiosks nationwide, online at The Postal Store, by phone at 800-STAMP-24 (800-782-6724), or through the USA Philatelic Catalog.