The official July 2009 USPS schedule contains three adhesive-stamp entries explicitly labeled “Forever,” plus two Forever postal-stationery envelope entries. Other 2009 commemoratives with printed 42-cent or 44-cent denominations were not automatically Forever stamps.
2009 Forever-Labeled Issues
| Official schedule label | First-day date | First-day city | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 42 ¢ Forever | Feb 24 | Washington, DC 20066 | PSA ATM sheetlet of 18 (M) |
| 44 ¢ PSE Forever | May 11 | Kansas City, MO 64108 | Stamped envelope #10 Stamped envelope #10W Stamped envelope #9 Stamped envelope #9W Stamped envelope #6 3/4 Stamped envelope #6 3/4W |
| 44 ¢ PSE Forever | May 11 | Kansas City, MO 64108 | PSA #10 PSA envelope #10W PSA envelope #9 PSA envelope #9W PSA envelope #6 3/4 PSA envelope #6 3/4W |
| 44 ¢ Forever | May 15 | Washington, DC 20066 | PSA booklet of 20 (M) |
| 44 ¢ Forever | Aug 7 | Pittsburgh, PA 15290 (APS Stamp Show) | PSA booklet of 20 (M) |
Adhesive Forever Stamps vs. Postal Stationery
- February 24: an 18-stamp pressure-sensitive ATM sheetlet at the then-current 42-cent one-ounce rate.
- May 15: a pressure-sensitive booklet of 20 after the one-ounce rate became 44 cents.
- August 7: another pressure-sensitive booklet-of-20 issue at the APS Stamp Show.
- May 11 PSE entries: Forever postage incorporated into stamped envelopes; these are postal stationery, not separate adhesive stamp panes.
What Is Not a 2009 Forever Stamp?
The same official schedule lists The Simpsons, Bob Hope, Anna Julia Cooper, Gulf Coast Lighthouses, Early TV Memories, Hawai‘i Statehood and other subjects with printed 44-cent denominations. Their presence in the same year does not make them Forever issues. The schedule also includes Postcard, two-ounce, three-ounce, Priority Mail, Express Mail and international-rate products.
Why the Printed 42¢ and 44¢ Values Appear
Forever stamps track the current one-ounce First-Class Mail letter rate, but historical USPS schedules often showed the rate value applicable on the issue date. The 2009 schedule therefore displays both 42-cent and 44-cent Forever entries around that year’s rate change. Genuine unused Forever versions still carry the current ordinary Forever value.
Method and Official Source
This page filters the entries explicitly containing “Forever” from the USPS 2009 Stamps and Postal Stationery schedule, updated in July 2009. It does not relabel every 2009 postage product as Forever.
Frequently Asked Questions
Were all 2009 stamps Forever stamps?
No. The official schedule contains both Forever products and many fixed-denomination or service-specific products.
Are unused 2009 Forever stamps still valid?
Yes. Genuine unused adhesive Forever stamps remain valid at the current ordinary one-ounce letter-rate value.
Why are stamped envelopes included?
The USPS annual schedule included postal stationery as well as adhesive stamps. This page labels those entries separately so they are not mistaken for panes or booklets.
See Forever stamp history, current price and value, or old-stamp validity.
Official schedule checked August 31, 2026. Historical labels, dates and formats follow the July 2009 USPS record.
Browse Complete List of USPS Forever Stamps by Year for other years and release guides.