The official Ronald Reagan Forever stamp was issued on February 10, 2011, for the centennial of the 40th president’s birth. It is a one-design pane of 20 and should not be confused with the fixed-denomination Reagan stamps issued in 2005 and 2006 or the separate Nancy Reagan Forever stamp issued in 2022.
2011 Ronald Reagan Forever stamp facts
| Issue date | February 10, 2011 |
|---|---|
| First-day city | Simi Valley, California |
| Format | Pressure-sensitive pane of 20; one design |
| USPS item | 466500 |
| Original price | 44 cents |
| Postage type | First-Class Forever commemorative |
| Designer | Ethel Kessler |
| Artist | Bart Forbes |
What appears on the 2011 design?
Bart Forbes created the portrait in oil wash on board from a 1985 photograph taken during Reagan’s second presidential term. The setting was Rancho del Cielo, his ranch near Santa Barbara, California. That source distinguishes the 2011 centennial portrait from the artwork used on the earlier fixed-denomination issues.
Why USPS issued it in 2011
Ronald Reagan was born in 1911, and the Forever stamp formed part of a national centennial commemoration. USPS dedicated it at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library in Simi Valley. The issue record identifies Reagan as America’s 40th president and also notes his earlier career as a film actor and his influence on modern American politics.
How the three Ronald Reagan stamp issues differ
| Year | Printed value | Forever? | Identification point |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2005 | 37 cents | No | First memorial issue; item 457800 |
| 2006 | 39 cents | No | Reissue adjusted to the new letter rate; item 568900 |
| 2011 | 44 cents at issue | Yes | Centennial issue; item 466500 |
The 2005 and 2006 stamps still provide their printed denomination when unused, so current mail may need added postage. The 2011 stamp carries Forever value and does not need a rate-change supplement for a qualifying 1-ounce First-Class Mail letter.
Ronald Reagan vs. Nancy Reagan stamps
The Nancy Reagan stamp is a separate 2022 Forever issue. It uses a detail from her 1987 White House portrait, shows her in a red gown and was issued as USPS item 482600. A seller describing both simply as “Reagan stamps” should specify the person, year and item format.
Collector and mail-use checklist
- Check the printed year and whether the stamp says Forever or shows a fixed amount.
- Use item 466500 to identify the 2011 centennial pane.
- A complete 2011 pane contains 20 examples of one design.
- Separate unused postage value from collectible value, which depends on condition and format.
- Confirm stamps are unused and uncanceled before mailing.
Official references
The 2011 portrait, centennial purpose and dedication are documented in the USPS Reagan Forever report. Technical specifications appear in Stamp Announcement 11-05. The earlier fixed-denomination distinction is confirmed in the 2006 reissue announcement.