The Postal Service will release its new Happy Birthday stamp on Saturday, April 18.
The Forever stamp is a nod to birthdays being one of the most widely observed personal milestones, as well as the continued popularity of sending birthday greetings through the mail.
Birthdays have been celebrated for thousands of years, though traditions have changed over time.
In early U.S. history, birthday observances were limited to wealthy or national figures, such as George Washington. It was not until the late 1800s that average Americans began to mark the occasion, thanks to an increase in disposable income and changes in parenting philosophies.
The stamp design features an image of a white cake trimmed with a pink scalloped edge. Nine lit candles sit on top in orange, pink, white and red.
Hand-drawn lettering in blue, orange, red and pink spells out “HAPPY BIRTHDAY!” in capital letters.
Greg Breeding, an art director for USPS, designed the stamp with original artwork by Lisa Congdon.
This is the fifth birthday-themed stamp issued by the Postal Service. Previous birthday stamps were released in 1987, 1988, 2002 and 2021.
The Postal Service will dedicate the stamp during a ceremony in Providence, RI.
The Happy Birthday stamp will be available in panes of 20 at Post Offices and on usps.com.
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