The Jimi Hendrix Forever stamp is a 2014 USPS Music Icons issue originally produced in a pane of 16. USPS released it on March 13, 2014, in Austin, Texas, during SXSW, with original artwork by Rudy Gutierrez and a pane styled like a vintage 45 rpm record sleeve.
Issue identity at a glance
| Official subject | Jimi Hendrix |
|---|---|
| Series | Music Icons |
| Issue date | March 13, 2014 |
| First-day location | Austin, Texas |
| Postage category | Ordinary First-Class Mail Forever |
| Original USPS format | Pane of 16 self-adhesive stamps |
| Artist | Rudy Gutierrez |
| Designs | One |
Its place in Music Icons
The Hendrix issue opened the 2014 Music Icons program. USPS followed it later that year with the Janis Joplin Forever stamp; the 2013 entries honored Lydia Mendoza, Johnny Cash and Ray Charles. Series membership should be confirmed by the official issue record rather than by a seller’s general “music stamp” label.
What appears in the design
Rudy Gutierrez portrayed Hendrix performing in a vintage military-style jacket with a white electric guitar. Colorful swirls and small visual references—including flowers, a guitar, a mermaid and a butterfly—extend the psychedelic-rock visual language across the stamp and pane.
The full pane was designed to resemble a 45 rpm record sleeve. That means the surrounding pane artwork and intact selvage carry design information that is absent from a separated single stamp.
Why listings commonly say “sheet of 16”
Sixteen is the original USPS pane count. A listing may instead contain one stamp, a block, an intact pane, a press sheet or a first-day item, so the picture and format should match the description.
| Format | What to verify |
|---|---|
| Single unused stamp | Uncancelled condition and intact adhesive |
| Pane of 16 | Original pane layout and surrounding design |
| Press sheet | Multiple panes, with or without die cuts |
| First-day cover | Official issue-date cancellation on an envelope |
| Cancelled pane | Collectible status; it is not reusable postage |
Can a 2014 Jimi Hendrix stamp still be mailed?
Yes, if it is genuine and unused. It remains valid for the current one-ounce First-Class Mail stamped-letter rate because it is an ordinary Forever stamp. Additional postage can be required for extra weight, nonstandard dimensions, rigidity or international service.
Postage value and collector price are different
Postage value follows today’s ordinary Forever rate. A collector price depends on the exact format, condition, intact pane features, cancellation and verifiable market evidence. A high asking price does not establish completed-sale value.
Compare other issues in the 2014 USPS Forever stamp guide.
Frequently asked questions
When was the Jimi Hendrix Forever stamp released?
March 13, 2014, in Austin, Texas.
How many stamps were in the original pane?
Sixteen self-adhesive stamps.
Who created the Hendrix stamp art?
Artist Rudy Gutierrez created the colorful performance portrait and pane design.
Can a cancelled Jimi Hendrix stamp be reused?
No. Cancelled or previously used postage cannot be reused, although it may be retained as a collectible.
Issue facts checked September 1, 2026: USPS Jimi Hendrix issue announcement. Current availability and collectible pricing can change.