The 2025 Benjamin Franklin stamp is a USPS First-Class Mail Forever stamp issued July 23, 2025. Its portrait traces back to the first U.S. postage stamps, but this modern issue was distributed in a special book format rather than as a routine standalone pane.
2025 Benjamin Franklin stamp facts
| Official subject | Benjamin Franklin |
|---|---|
| Issue date | July 23, 2025 |
| Postage type | First-Class Mail Forever |
| Design source | An 1875 reproduction of the Benjamin Franklin image used on the 1847 5-cent stamp |
| USPS format | Two self-adhesive panes of 10 stamps, included with Putting a Stamp on the American Experience |
Why the design matters
Benjamin Franklin served as the first U.S. postmaster general, and his portrait appeared on the 5-cent stamp in the first federal U.S. postage issue of 1847. The 2025 design deliberately revisits that early postal image during the Postal Service’s 250th-anniversary period. It therefore connects three distinct dates: the original 1847 issue, the 1875 reproduction used as the visual source, and the 2025 Forever stamp.
How the stamp was sold
USPS described the stamp as an exclusive component of the commemorative book Putting a Stamp on the American Experience. The book contained two panes of 10, for 20 stamps in total. That is the official issue format; a later retailer listing may describe a different resale quantity and should not be mistaken for the original USPS package.
Is it still valid for postage?
Yes. A genuine, unused example is ordinary Forever postage and contributes the current one-ounce First-Class Mail letter rate when used. The finished mailpiece still must meet current weight, size, shape and service rules. The issue year does not create a separate postage rate.
Three evidence-based reasons collectors may notice it
- Postal history: the design points back to the first federal U.S. stamp issue.
- Distribution format: USPS supplied it through a specific commemorative book containing two 10-stamp panes.
- Anniversary context: it was issued during the Postal Service’s 250th-anniversary year.
These attributes explain historical interest; they do not prove scarcity, a resale premium or future appreciation. Any collectible-value claim would require the exact format, condition and comparable completed sales.
For the wider anniversary program, see our USPS 250th anniversary stamp guide.
Sources
Issue facts reviewed September 13, 2026.