Direct answer: The first Forever stamp sold for 41 cents in 2007. The ordinary First-Class Mail one-ounce letter rate is 82 cents from July 12, 2026. A genuine, unused ordinary Forever stamp bought at any earlier rate still covers the current one-ounce letter postage; its old purchase price does not limit its present postal value.
Forever stamp price history table
| Rate effective date | Forever stamp value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| May 14, 2007 | 41¢ | First Forever era rate |
| May 12, 2008 | 42¢ | +1¢ |
| May 11, 2009 | 44¢ | +2¢ |
| January 22, 2012 | 45¢ | +1¢ |
| January 27, 2013 | 46¢ | +1¢ |
| January 26, 2014 | 49¢ | +3¢ |
| April 10, 2016 | 47¢ | −2¢ |
| January 22, 2017 | 49¢ | +2¢ |
| January 21, 2018 | 50¢ | +1¢ |
| January 27, 2019 | 55¢ | +5¢ |
| August 29, 2021 | 58¢ | +3¢ |
| July 10, 2022 | 60¢ | +2¢ |
| January 22, 2023 | 63¢ | +3¢ |
| July 9, 2023 | 66¢ | +3¢ |
| January 21, 2024 | 68¢ | +2¢ |
| July 14, 2024 | 73¢ | +5¢ |
| July 13, 2025 | 78¢ | +5¢ |
| July 12, 2026 | 82¢ | +4¢ |
The dates and domestic one-ounce letter rates are based on the USPS domestic letter-rate history. The first Forever stamp went on sale before the 41-cent rate took effect, so an issue-sale date and a rate-effective date are not always the same event.
What an old Forever stamp is worth now
A 41-cent, 49-cent, 50-cent, 55-cent, 68-cent, 73-cent or 78-cent ordinary Forever stamp does not stay locked to that historical price. If it is genuine, unused and undamaged, it has the current ordinary Forever postage value. From July 12, 2026, that value is 82 cents for a qualifying one-ounce First-Class Mail letter.
This is postal value, not a promise about resale or collector value. A collectible design may sell above or below its current postage value depending on issue, condition, format, scarcity and actual market evidence.
How to read ambiguous number searches
| Search | Likely meaning | Correct answer route |
|---|---|---|
| “50 cent Forever stamps” | The 2018 historical rate | Use this rate timeline |
| “50 Forever stamps” | A quantity of 50 stamps | Use a product or quantity page, not the historical-rate table |
| “Forever 73 stamps” | Often the former 73¢ rate | Confirm the query context, then use the 2024–2025 row |
| “How much are my Forever stamps worth?” | Usually current postal value | Use the current price and value guide |
Why 2016 is unusual
The one-ounce letter rate fell from 49 cents to 47 cents in April 2016, then returned to 49 cents in January 2017. Older Forever stamps still worked through the decrease and later increases because their postage value followed the applicable one-ounce letter rate.
Does one Forever stamp cover every letter?
No. One ordinary Forever stamp covers the postage for a qualifying domestic one-ounce First-Class Mail letter. Weight, dimensions, rigidity, nonmachinable characteristics, destination and extra services can change the required total. Use the Forever stamp calculator for a mailing-specific estimate.
Frequently asked questions
Are 41-cent Forever stamps still good?
Yes, if they are genuine and unused. They now carry the current ordinary Forever postage value rather than 41 cents.
Are 55-cent Forever stamps still valid?
Yes. The printed FOREVER value mechanism follows the current one-ounce First-Class Mail letter rate.
When were Forever stamps 73 cents?
The ordinary one-ounce letter rate was 73 cents from July 14, 2024 until the 78-cent rate took effect on July 13, 2025.
When did Forever stamps become 82 cents?
The 82-cent rate took effect July 12, 2026.
Did Forever stamps exist before 2007?
No. USPS introduced the first Forever stamp in 2007. Earlier U.S. stamps were fixed-denomination postage even when modern searches call them “Forever stamps.”
Sources and update note
Primary sources: USPS domestic letter rates since 1863, USPS first Forever stamp fact, and the current First-Class Mail guide. Updated September 2, 2026. Future proposals are not added as effective rates until they take effect.