The 2004 U.S. Dr. Seuss stamp is not a Forever stamp. USPS issued it as a fixed-denomination 37-cent commemorative stamp on March 2, 2004—three years before the first Forever stamp appeared in 2007. A genuine unused example can still be used for postage, but it contributes only 37 cents, so an eligible one-ounce letter currently needs additional postage.
Official Issue Facts
| Official name | Theodor Seuss Geisel commemorative stamp |
|---|---|
| Issue date | March 2, 2004 |
| First-day city | La Jolla, California |
| Denomination | 37 cents |
| Format | Pressure-sensitive pane of 20 with selvage |
| Design count | 1 |
| Designer and art director | Carl T. Herrman |
| Original print quantity | 172 million stamps |
Why It Is Often Mistaken for a Forever Stamp
Modern commemoratives are commonly issued as Forever stamps, so shoppers may apply today’s terminology to an older issue. The timeline resolves the question: the Geisel stamp carries a printed 37-cent denomination and was issued in 2004; USPS introduced the first Forever stamp in April 2007.
“Commemorative” describes the subject and purpose of the issue. It does not mean “Forever.” Older commemoratives often carried a fixed face value.
What the Design Shows
The stamp honors Theodor Seuss Geisel, better known as Dr. Seuss, on the 100th anniversary of his birth. USPS used a 1987 color photograph of Geisel and surrounded him with six illustrated book characters. The composition connects the author with the imaginative figures that helped introduce generations of children to reading.
The issue contains one stamp design. A pane of 20 repeats that design; the six characters are elements inside the single design, not six separate stamp designs.
Can You Still Use a 37-Cent Dr. Seuss Stamp?
Yes, if it is genuine, unused and intact. Fixed-denomination U.S. postage remains usable at its printed value. As of July 12, 2026, the ordinary one-ounce First-Class Mail letter rate is 82 cents, so one 37-cent stamp is 45 cents short for an otherwise eligible domestic one-ounce letter.
You can combine it with other valid U.S. postage to reach the required total. Weight, size, rigidity, destination and services may increase the amount needed, so calculate the finished mailpiece rather than relying on that example for every envelope.
How to Identify the Correct Issue
- Look for the printed 37-cent denomination.
- Confirm the 2004 issue date and Theodor Seuss Geisel name.
- Distinguish a single stamp from a full pane of 20, first-day cover or reproduction.
- Check whether cancellation marks are present; a used stamp cannot be reused.
- For a collectible purchase, compare the exact format, centering, gum, perforations and condition.
Postage Value vs. Collector Value
The printed 37 cents is its postage value. A collector price is a separate market question affected by condition, unused or used status, intact pane format, selvage, cancellation, provenance and recent comparable sales. An asking price alone is not proof of value.
For the broader timeline, see the history of Forever stamps. To understand the category distinction, read Are All Stamps Forever Stamps? or browse the fixed-denomination stamp collection.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the Dr. Seuss stamp a Forever stamp?
No. The 2004 U.S. issue is a fixed 37-cent commemorative stamp.
How many Dr. Seuss stamps were in the original pane?
Twenty pressure-sensitive stamps with selvage.
Can I mail a letter with one Dr. Seuss stamp today?
Not an ordinary one-ounce domestic letter at the current 82-cent rate. The 37-cent stamp needs 45 cents of additional valid postage, assuming no other surcharge applies.
Does an old 37-cent stamp expire?
No. Genuine unused U.S. fixed-denomination postage remains valid for its printed amount.
Official and institutional sources: USPS Stamp Announcement 04-01, the Smithsonian National Postal Museum object record, and the USPS July 2026 price update. Facts checked September 1, 2026.
Explore other entertainment issues in the pop-culture stamp guide.