USPS had not introduced Forever stamps in 2006. The official archive lists 32 issue entries for the year; each used a printed or service-specific denomination. A genuine unused stamp can still be combined with other postage at its printed value, but it does not automatically equal today's one-ounce letter rate.
2006 USPS stamp issue directory
| Issue date | Issue | Postage category | First-day location | Official source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| January 10, 2006 | Favorite Children's Book Animals | Fixed or service-specific denomination—not Forever | Findlay, OH | USPS record |
| January 11, 2006 | Winter Olympic Games | Fixed or service-specific denomination—not Forever | Colorado Springs, CO | USPS record |
| January 25, 2006 | Hattie McDaniel | Fixed or service-specific denomination—not Forever | Beverly Hills, CA | USPS record |
| February 24, 2006 | Bryce Canyon National Park | Fixed or service-specific denomination—not Forever | St. Louis, MO | USPS record |
| February 24, 2006 | Great Smoky Mountains National Park | Fixed or service-specific denomination—not Forever | St. Louis, MO | USPS record |
| February 24, 2006 | Yosemite National Park | Fixed or service-specific denomination—not Forever | St. Louis, MO | USPS record |
| March 1, 2006 | Our Wedding | Fixed or service-specific denomination—not Forever | TBA | USPS record |
| March 8, 2006 | Common Buckeye Butterfly | Fixed or service-specific denomination—not Forever | Washington, DC | USPS record |
| March 8, 2006 | Dr. Albert Sabin | Fixed or service-specific denomination—not Forever | Washington, DC | USPS record |
| March 8, 2006 | Dr. Jonas Salk | Fixed or service-specific denomination—not Forever | Washington, DC | USPS record |
| March 16, 2006 | Crops of the Americas | Fixed or service-specific denomination—not Forever | New York, NY | USPS record |
| March 17, 2006 | X-Planes | Fixed or service-specific denomination—not Forever | New York, NY | USPS record |
| March 17, 2006 | X-Planes | Fixed or service-specific denomination—not Forever | TBA | USPS record |
| April 7, 2006 | Benjamin Franklin | Fixed or service-specific denomination—not Forever | Philadelphia, PA | USPS record |
| April 7, 2006 | Sugar Ray Robinson | Fixed or service-specific denomination—not Forever | New York, NY | USPS record |
| April 21, 2006 | Art of Disney: Romance | Fixed or service-specific denomination—not Forever | Orlando, FL | USPS record |
| May 1, 2006 | True Blue | Fixed or service-specific denomination—not Forever | Washington, DC | USPS record |
| May 15, 2006 | Katherine Anne Porter | Fixed or service-specific denomination—not Forever | Kyle, TX | USPS record |
| May 25, 2006 | AMBER Alert | Fixed or service-specific denomination—not Forever | Arlington, TX | USPS record |
| May 27, 2006 | Land of Superlatives | Fixed or service-specific denomination—not Forever | Washington, DC | USPS record |
| May 28, 2006 | 1606 Voyage of Samuel de Champlain | Fixed or service-specific denomination—not Forever | Washington, DC | USPS record |
| May 29, 2006 | Distinguished American Diplomats | Fixed or service-specific denomination—not Forever | Washington, DC | USPS record |
| May 29, 2006 | Washington 2006 World Philatelic Exhibition | Fixed or service-specific denomination—not Forever | TBA | USPS record |
| June 1, 2006 | Ross's Goose | Fixed or service-specific denomination—not Forever | Washington, DC | USPS record |
| June 10, 2006 | Judy Garland | Fixed or service-specific denomination—not Forever | New York, NY | USPS record |
| July 15, 2006 | Baseball Sluggers | Fixed or service-specific denomination—not Forever | Bronx, NY | USPS record |
| July 20, 2006 | DC Comics Super Heroes | Fixed or service-specific denomination—not Forever | San Diego, CA | USPS record |
| August 7, 2006 | American Motorcycles | Fixed or service-specific denomination—not Forever | Sturgis, SD | USPS record |
| August 24, 2006 | Quilts of Gee’s Bend | Fixed or service-specific denomination—not Forever | Des Plaines, IL | USPS record |
| October 4, 2006 | Southern Florida Wetland | Fixed or service-specific denomination—not Forever | Naples, FL | USPS record |
| October 5, 2006 | Holiday Snowflakes | Fixed or service-specific denomination—not Forever | New York, NY | USPS record |
| October 17, 2006 | Madonna and Child with Bird, by Ignacio Chacón | Fixed or service-specific denomination—not Forever | Denver, CO | USPS record |
Why a 2006 stamp is not a Forever stamp
The first USPS Forever stamp was issued April 12, 2007. A 2006 stamp therefore keeps its printed postage value rather than tracking the current one-ounce First-Class Mail letter rate. Read the denomination and service inscription on the actual stamp before mailing.
How to use an older stamp today
- Confirm the stamp is genuine and unused.
- Read the printed denomination or category inscription.
- Compare its postage value with the finished mailpiece’s current rate.
- Add other valid postage when the total is short; do not assume a year or theme changes the value.
Check the current Forever stamp value, browse the year-by-year Forever stamp directory, or use the postage decision guide.
Method and sources
Issue names, dates and first-day locations were checked against the official USPS Stamps Forever 2006 archive. Category rules were checked against the USPS history of stamps and Forever postage. Individual rows link to their official issue records.
Archive and classification checked September 2, 2026.
Frequently asked questions
Are 2006 stamps still valid?
Genuine unused U.S. postage generally remains usable, but its value depends on the printed denomination or postage category. A pre-Forever or fixed-denomination stamp does not automatically become worth one current Forever stamp.
Does the issue year determine postage value?
No. The denomination and service category determine value. The year identifies the issue, not the amount of postage it supplies today.