Direct answer: You cannot currently order a new USPS postage stamp printed with your own photo or artwork through the former Customized Postage program. That consumer program ended in 2020. You can still personalize the mailpiece with USPS personalized stamped envelopes, custom envelopes, address labels, seals, or decorative stickers—but a decorative item is not postage unless it is issued or authorized as valid postage.
What “Custom Forever Stamps” Can Mean
Search results use the phrase for several different products. Separate them before buying:
| Product | Personalized? | Valid postage? |
|---|---|---|
| Former customized postage with a personal image | Yes | Previously, through approved vendors; new orders are no longer offered |
| USPS personalized stamped envelope or card | Envelope text or layout can be personalized within the offered options | Yes, when sold as a USPS stamped product |
| Official themed Forever stamp | No personal photo, but you can choose a suitable USPS design | Yes |
| Custom rubber stamp or self-inking address stamp | Yes | No |
| Custom sticker, seal, or faux stamp | Yes | No |
| Online postage label | Mailing details are generated for the shipment | Yes when purchased through an authorized postage service, but it is not a custom Forever stamp |
What Happened to Personalized Photo Postage?
USPS began testing Customized Postage through authorized providers in the 2000s. Stamps.com reports that the program ended in June 2020, which also ended new PhotoStamps orders. The 2020 John Oliver custom postage fact check shows how one well-known PhotoStamps project differed from a USPS Forever issue. Old, genuine, unused customized postage from the former program may still represent valid postage; its age alone does not make it invalid. Because marketplace listings can mix authentic old postage with decorative reproductions, verify the product rather than treating “custom stamp” as proof.
Current Ways to Personalize Mail
- Choose an official design: pair invitations or announcements with an existing USPS-issued theme, such as wedding Forever stamps, flower stamps, or Love stamps.
- Personalize the envelope: use a custom-printed envelope, return-address stamp, liner, or label while leaving the postage and addressing areas clear.
- Use USPS personalized stamped products: check the Postal Store’s current stamped-envelope and card options, including the design and personalization limits shown for the selected item.
- Print transaction-based postage: an approved online postage service can generate valid postage for a specific mailing, but this is different from creating a collectible photo Forever stamp.
How to Check Whether a “Custom Stamp” Is Real Postage
- Read the listing for an explicit statement that it is valid U.S. postage; words such as decorative, replica, sticker, seal, rubber, or self-inking indicate another product.
- Identify the issuer, provider, postage value, condition, and original product format.
- Do not assume stamp-shaped artwork or a serrated edge makes an item mailable.
- Keep decorative stickers away from the address, barcode clear zone, and official postage area.
- For old customized postage, compare it with documented examples from the former authorized program and ask USPS before using an uncertain item.
A Practical Wedding or Event Setup
Use a genuine USPS-issued stamp for postage, then place the personal design elsewhere on the envelope or invitation suite. This keeps the postal function clear while still allowing names, dates, monograms, colors, and event artwork. Weigh a fully assembled sample before ordering the final postage because thick inserts, wax seals, square envelopes, and rigid pieces can change the price.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I put my photo on a new Forever stamp?
Not through the former Customized Postage program, which ended in 2020. Current personalization options apply to the envelope, card, label, or other decorative elements rather than a new personal-photo Forever stamp.
Are custom stamps on Etsy or craft sites real postage?
Some listings are genuine older postage, while many are decorative stickers or rubber stamps. Evaluate the individual listing; the marketplace or product title alone does not establish postal validity.
Can old PhotoStamps still be used?
Genuine unused postage from the former authorized program may still be usable. Verify authenticity and the postage represented, then add postage if the total is below the current requirement.
Can a decorative seal go next to the postage?
Keep non-postage decorations clearly separate from the official postage and addressing areas. When placement or design could be confused with postage, move it to another part of the envelope.
Sources checked August 31, 2026: USPS Customized Postage fact sheet (historical); Stamps.com program history; USPS custom mail options; USPS personalized stamped envelopes and cards.