The official USPS archive lists 48 stamp and postal-stationery issue entries for 2012. Since 2011, new one-ounce commemorative First-Class Mail stamps have been Forever stamps; the table separates those issues from Global, postcard, higher-weight, Priority, fixed-denomination, presorted and duck-stamp categories.

2012 USPS stamp issue directory

Issue dateIssuePostage categoryFirst-day locationOfficial source
January 3, 2012Spectrum EagleDomestic ForeverLiberty, MOUSPS record
January 6, 2012New Mexico StatehoodDomestic ForeverSanta Fe, NMUSPS record
January 19, 2012Aloha ShirtsDomestic ForeverHonolulu, HIUSPS record
January 19, 2012Glacier National Park, MontanaDomestic ForeverKalispell, MTUSPS record
January 20, 2012Baltimore CheckerspotDomestic ForeverBaltimore, MDUSPS record
January 20, 2012Birds of PreyDomestic ForeverWashington, DCUSPS record
January 20, 2012Dogs at WorkDomestic ForeverMerrifield, VAUSPS record
January 20, 2012Lancaster County, PennsylvaniaDomestic ForeverLancaster, PAUSPS record
January 20, 2012Weather VanesDomestic ForeverShelburne, VTUSPS record
January 22, 2012Sailboat Stamped CardPostcard-rate Forever stationeryOyster Bay, NYUSPS record
January 23, 2012BonsaiDomestic ForeverSacramento, CAUSPS record
January 23, 2012Lunar New Year • Year of the DragonDomestic ForeverSan Francisco, CAUSPS record
January 31, 2012John H. JohnsonDomestic ForeverChicago, ILUSPS record
February 9, 2012Heart HealthDomestic ForeverWashington, DCUSPS record
February 14, 2012Arizona StatehoodDomestic ForeverPhoenix, AZUSPS record
February 14, 2012Love RibbonsDomestic ForeverColorado Springs, COUSPS record
February 16, 2012Danny ThomasDomestic ForeverMemphis, TNUSPS record
February 22, 2012Four FlagsDomestic ForeverWashington, DCUSPS record
February 28, 2012Carmel MissionDomestic ForeverCarmel, CAUSPS record
February 28, 2012Sunshine Skyway BridgePriority MailSt. Petersburg, FLUSPS record
March 24, 2012Cherry Blossom CentennialDomestic ForeverWashington, DCUSPS record
April 11, 2012William H. JohnsonDomestic ForeverBaltimore, MDUSPS record
April 21, 2012Twentieth-Century PoetsDomestic ForeverLos Angeles, CAUSPS record
April 24, 2012The Civil War: 1862Domestic ForeverNew Orleans, LAUSPS record
April 26, 2012José FerrerDomestic ForeverNew York, NYUSPS record
April 30, 2012Louisiana StatehoodDomestic ForeverBaton Rouge, LAUSPS record
May 23, 2012Great Film DirectorsDomestic ForeverSilver Spring, MDUSPS record
June 1, 2012BobcatFixed denominationSan Marcos, TXUSPS record
June 1, 2012Mail a SmileDomestic ForeverOrlando, FLUSPS record
June 7, 2012BicyclingDomestic ForeverMinneapolis, MNUSPS record
June 9, 2012Celebrate ScoutingDomestic ForeverWashington, DCUSPS record
June 12, 2012Miles Davis & Edith PiafDomestic ForeverNew York, NYUSPS record
June 29, 2012Wood DuckFederal duck stamp—not mailing postageHampton, VAUSPS record
July 20, 2012Major League Baseball™ All-StarsDomestic ForeverCooperstown, NYUSPS record
July 28, 2012Innovative ChoreographersDomestic ForeverLos Angeles, CAUSPS record
August 16, 2012Flags of Our Nation (Set 6)Domestic ForeverSacramento, CAUSPS record
August 17, 2012Edgar Rice BurroughsDomestic ForeverTarzana, CAUSPS record
August 18, 2012The War of 1812: USS ConstitutionDomestic ForeverBoston, MAUSPS record
September 4, 2012Purple Heart MedalDomestic ForeverWashington, DCUSPS record
September 11, 2012O. HenryDomestic ForeverGreensboro, NCUSPS record
October 1, 2012EarthscapesDomestic ForeverGreenbelt, MDUSPS record
October 10, 2012Holy FamilyDomestic ForeverWashington, DCUSPS record
October 13, 2012Santa and SleighDomestic ForeverNew York, NYUSPS record
November 30, 2012Lady Bird JohnsonDomestic ForeverAustin, TXUSPS record
December 1, 2012$1 Waves of Color$1 fixed denominationOrlando, FLUSPS record
December 1, 2012$10 Waves of Color$10 fixed denominationOrlando, FLUSPS record
December 1, 2012$2 Waves of Color$2 fixed denominationOrlando, FLUSPS record
December 1, 2012$5 Waves of Color$5 fixed denominationOrlando, FLUSPS record

How Forever status works for 2012 issues

An ordinary one-ounce First-Class Mail commemorative from 2012 is a Forever stamp, but not every USPS item issued that year belongs to that category. Global, postcard, extra-ounce, nonmachinable, Priority Mail, fixed-denomination, presorted and duck stamps have different values or uses.

How to use an older stamp today

  1. Confirm the stamp is genuine and unused.
  2. Read the printed denomination or category inscription.
  3. Compare its postage value with the finished mailpiece’s current rate.
  4. Add other valid postage when the total is short; do not assume a year or theme changes the value.

Check the current Forever stamp value, browse the year-by-year Forever stamp directory, or use the postage decision guide.

Method and sources

Issue names, dates and first-day locations were checked against the official USPS Stamps Forever 2012 archive. Category rules were checked against the USPS history of stamps and Forever postage. Individual rows link to their official issue records.

Archive and classification checked September 2, 2026.

Frequently asked questions

Are 2012 stamps still valid?

Genuine unused U.S. postage generally remains usable, but its value depends on the printed denomination or postage category. A pre-Forever or fixed-denomination stamp does not automatically become worth one current Forever stamp.

Does the issue year determine postage value?

No. The denomination and service category determine value. The year identifies the issue, not the amount of postage it supplies today.