The Kansas Statehood Forever stamp is a 2011 commemorative marking 150 years since Kansas joined the Union. USPS issued it January 27, 2011, in Topeka, in one design on a self-adhesive pane of 20.
Issue identity at a glance
| Official issue | Kansas Statehood |
|---|---|
| Anniversary | 150th anniversary of statehood |
| Issue date | January 27, 2011 |
| First-day location | Topeka, Kansas |
| Original denomination | 44 cents |
| Postage category | First-Class Mail Forever commemorative |
| USPS format | Pressure-sensitive pane of 20; one design |
| Artist | Dean Mitchell |
| Designer and art director | Howard E. Paine |
Why the issue was significant
Kansas became a state on January 29, 1861. The stamp appeared two days before the sesquicentennial date. At the dedication, USPS described Kansas as the first state to have its own Forever stamp and identified this as the eighth U.S. postage stamp dedicated to the state.
What the design represents
Dean Mitchell created a symbolic Kansas landscape linking past and present. A metal windmill in the foreground refers to equipment that pumped water for railroads, farms, ranches and small communities. Five modern wind turbines in the distance carry that energy and engineering theme into the present.
Broad bands of landscape color add a geographic reading: gold suggests western Kansas plains and agriculture, while green points to the forests and hills of eastern Kansas. The image is therefore a composite interpretation, not a named single viewpoint or photograph.
Original format and identification
USPS item 466300 was a pane of 20 self-adhesive stamps in one design. A current listing might offer a single, block, intact pane, first-day cover or cancelled collectible. Confirm the format rather than treating every “Kansas stamp” offer as the same item.
| Clue | What it indicates |
|---|---|
| Historic windmill plus five turbines | 2011 Kansas Statehood design |
| Intact 20-stamp pane | Original USPS retail configuration |
| Official January 27 cancellation | First-day collectible rather than unused postage |
| Different landmark or person | Another Kansas-related stamp, not this issue |
Can the 2011 Kansas stamp still be used?
Yes, if it is genuine and unused. The original 44-cent issue price does not limit today’s postage value. As an ordinary Forever stamp, it covers the current one-ounce First-Class Mail stamped-letter rate for a qualifying domestic letter. Nonstandard shape, extra weight, rigidity or international service can require more postage.
Compare it with other releases in the 2011 USPS Forever stamp issue guide.
Frequently asked questions
What year is the Kansas windmill Forever stamp?
It was issued in 2011 for the 150th anniversary of Kansas statehood.
How many wind turbines appear in the background?
Five modern turbines appear behind the historic metal windmill.
How many stamps came in the original pane?
Twenty self-adhesive stamps in one design.
Is a cancelled Kansas stamp reusable?
No. A cancelled or previously used stamp is collectible material, not reusable postage.
Issue facts checked September 1, 2026: USPS Kansas Statehood release; USPS Postal Bulletin specifications.