“Cherry blossom Forever stamps” most often means the 2012 USPS Cherry Blossom Centennial issue. It is an official First-Class Mail Forever commemorative pair showing spring scenes around Washington, D.C.’s Tidal Basin. A separate 2015 Gifts of Friendship issue also includes cherry blossoms, so buyers should verify the official issue name rather than rely on a seller’s color or theme label.
2012 Cherry Blossom Centennial at a Glance
| Official issue | Cherry Blossom Centennial |
|---|---|
| Issue date and city | March 24, 2012 — Washington, DC |
| Postal class | First-Class Mail Forever commemorative |
| Original format | Pressure-sensitive pane of 20 |
| Design count | Two connected se-tenant designs |
| Artist | Paul Rogers |
| Art director/designer | Phil Jordan |
| Original print quantity | 100 million stamps |
What the Two Stamps Show
The pair forms one broad Tidal Basin scene. The left design places blossoming trees around visitors, two girls in bright kimonos and the Washington Monument. The right design shows visitors beneath pink blossoms with the Jefferson Memorial behind them. The artwork commemorates the centennial of Tokyo’s gift of more than 3,000 cherry trees to Washington, D.C.
Do Not Confuse It With the 2015 Issue
USPS and Japan Post jointly issued Gifts of Friendship stamps on April 10, 2015. That issue connects flowering dogwood and cherry trees with the relationship between the United States and Japan. Its U.S. designs show the Lincoln Memorial with cherry trees and the U.S. Capitol with dogwood trees. It is related by subject, but it is not the 2012 Cherry Blossom Centennial pair.
Are the 2012 Stamps Still Valid?
Yes. Genuine, unused ordinary Forever stamps remain valid for the current one-ounce First-Class Mail letter rate even though the original 2012 price was 45 cents. Validity does not mean USPS still carries the issue in current retail inventory; older issues are commonly found through collectors and secondary sellers.
How to Check a Listing
- Look for the exact official name: Cherry Blossom Centennial.
- Confirm the 2012 date, two-design se-tenant pair and pane-of-20 format.
- Distinguish the issue from Gifts of Friendship and from generic floral stationery.
- Verify that the item is unused U.S. postage—not a magnet, sticker, art print or decorative label.
- For a collectible premium, compare the exact format, condition and recent completed sales; postal value alone does not establish collector value.
Related Floral Designs
Browse the Flower Forever Stamps collection for currently listed floral themes, or compare the vintage catalog artwork on Botanical Art Forever stamps.
Frequently Asked Questions
What year are the Cherry Blossom Forever stamps from?
The official Cherry Blossom Centennial Forever pair was issued March 24, 2012. USPS also issued the related Gifts of Friendship designs in 2015.
How many Cherry Blossom Centennial designs are there?
There are two U.S. designs arranged as a connected se-tenant pair in a pane of 20.
Who designed the Cherry Blossom stamps?
Artist Paul Rogers created the artwork with art director and designer Phil Jordan.
Can the old stamps still mail a letter?
Yes, if they are genuine, unused and intact. Each ordinary Forever stamp carries the current ordinary one-ounce letter-rate value.
Official sources: USPS Cherry Blossom Centennial stamp announcement, USPS 2012 dedication release, and USPS Gifts of Friendship release. Issue facts checked September 1, 2026.
Compare this issue with other botanical designs in the USPS flower stamp guide.