USPS has two commonly confused lemon stamps: the 2018 Meyer Lemons stamp is fixed-value 2¢ additional postage, not an ordinary Forever stamp; the 2020 Fruits & Vegetables issue contains a true lemon Forever design. Choose by postage type, artwork and format rather than by the word “lemon” alone.
Two USPS lemon designs compared
| Feature | 2018 Meyer Lemons | 2020 Fruits & Vegetables lemon |
|---|---|---|
| Postage type | Fixed-value 2¢ additional postage | Ordinary First-Class Mail Forever |
| Issue date | January 19, 2018 | July 17, 2020 |
| Artwork | Whole Meyer lemon and two cut wedges | Lemon still life within a 10-design produce set |
| Artist | John Burgoyne | Robert Papp |
| Original format | Coil of 10,000; collector strips also offered | Double-sided booklet of 20 |
| Value today | 2¢ of postage when genuine, unused and valid | Current ordinary Forever rate |
2018 Meyer Lemons: additional postage, not Forever
USPS issued Meyer Lemons in Kenner, Louisiana, as a two-cent denominated definitive. Its purpose is to add a small fixed amount to other postage. A rate increase does not turn it into the current one-ounce letter rate; each stamp continues to contribute two cents.
John Burgoyne used pen, ink and watercolor for an illustration of a whole Meyer lemon beside two wedges. Derry Noyes adapted the art for a coil-format stamp. USPS produced the mail-use issue in coils of 10,000 and offered 500-stamp strips for collectors.
2020 Fruits & Vegetables: the actual lemon Forever stamp
The lemon Forever design belongs to the Fruits & Vegetables booklet issued in Charleston, West Virginia. Robert Papp painted ten produce still lifes: plums, tomatoes, carrots, lemons, blueberries, grapes, lettuces, strawberries, eggplants and figs. Each design appears twice in a 20-stamp booklet. A full mixed booklet is therefore not 20 identical lemon stamps.
These are ordinary Forever stamps. Browse the current Fruits and Vegetables Forever stamp product when the letter-rate lemon design is the one you need.
How to identify which lemon stamp you have
- Look for the value: a visible 2¢ denomination indicates the 2018 additional-postage stamp.
- Check the scene: one fruit plus two wedges points to Meyer Lemons; a classical group still life points to the 2020 booklet.
- Check the format: a long coil is associated with Meyer Lemons; a mixed produce booklet is the Forever issue.
- Read the issue name: “Meyer Lemons” and “Fruits & Vegetables” are separate official products.
Original issue format is not a current order quantity. The 10,000-stamp coil describes the 2018 release. USPS sales options and retailer pack sizes can differ; read the option actually selected on the product page. Likewise, a larger bundle of Fruits & Vegetables booklets still contains a mixture of produce designs, not only lemons.
How many stamps do you need?
A 2020 lemon Forever stamp can cover the current one-ounce domestic stamped-letter rate on a qualifying piece. A Meyer Lemons stamp adds only 2¢, so it normally supplements other postage. For example, ten Meyer Lemons stamps add 20¢; they do not become ten Forever stamps. Calculate the completed piece with the USPS postage calculator.
Frequently asked questions
Are Meyer Lemons stamps Forever stamps?
No. The 2018 Meyer Lemons issue is fixed-value two-cent additional postage.
Is there a real lemon Forever stamp?
Yes. The 2020 Fruits & Vegetables booklet includes a lemon still-life design that is an ordinary Forever stamp.
Are old 2-cent Meyer Lemons stamps still usable?
Yes, if genuine and unused, but each contributes only 2¢ toward the required postage.
How many lemon designs are in the 2020 booklet?
The booklet has ten produce designs repeated across 20 stamps, so the lemon design appears twice.
Issue facts checked September 9, 2026: USPS Meyer Lemons release; USPS Meyer Lemons specifications; USPS Fruits & Vegetables specifications.
Explore more food and drink stamp designs in Food Forever Stamps: Fruit, Coffee & Sweet Treats.