The first USPS Global Forever stamp was the round Globe design issued January 28, 2013. It introduced a single Forever-rate stamp for a qualifying one-ounce First-Class Mail International letter or postcard to any country served by USPS.
2013 Global Forever stamp facts
| Issue name | Global Forever |
|---|---|
| Issue date | January 28, 2013 |
| First-day city | New York, New York |
| Original price | $1.10 |
| Design | Round view of Earth |
| Original format | Pressure-sensitive adhesive pane of 20 |
| USPS item number | 580000 |
| Art director | Greg Breeding |
Why the stamp was new
Before 2013, international letter postage could require rate-specific stamps or combinations of denominations. USPS introduced Global Forever so one stamp could track the qualifying worldwide one-ounce letter rate even after that rate changed.
What the Globe design shows
The circular design presents Earth as viewed from space, with North America prominent. USPS based the imagery on satellite data and three-dimensional computer technology. The round format helped distinguish the international stamp from ordinary domestic Forever issues.
What is its postage value today?
A genuine unused 2013 Global Forever stamp still pays the current qualifying one-ounce First-Class Mail International letter or postcard rate. As of September 1, 2026, that rate is $1.75. Extra postage can be required for excess weight, nonstandard dimensions, rigidity, a different mail class or destination-specific conditions.
Do not confuse issue year with rate year
The 2013 date identifies when the design debuted; it does not freeze the stamp at its original $1.10 price. For collecting, verify the issue and condition. For mailing, verify that the stamp is genuine and unused and that the mailpiece qualifies for the Global Forever rate.
See our Global Forever stamps collection or compare it with the later 2022 African Daisy issue.
Official sources
The USPS first-issue release documents the date, design and original $1.10 price. USPS also explains the present use and price on its First-Class Mail International page.
Current price and official issue information checked September 1, 2026.
For the year in which USPS released no newly dated Global design, see the 2021 Global Forever stamp guide.
For international postage options and destination-specific guidance, see Forever Stamps for International Mail: How to Use and Calculate Them.