No. The 2020 “John Oliver stamps” were not a USPS-issued John Oliver Forever stamp. They were custom PhotoStamps made through Stamps.com for Last Week Tonight. Legitimate sheets contained real customized postage for the rate printed or encoded at the time, but that value does not automatically rise like a Forever stamp.
What the John Oliver Stamps Actually Were
In May 2020, the program worked with Stamps.com to sell a sheet of 20 custom postage labels featuring recurring show mascots. Stamps.com reported that each sheet sold for $14: $11 represented postage value and $3 covered production and shipping. That works out to 55¢ of postage per label, matching the one-ounce letter rate then in effect.
The project raised money for USPS postage and the Postal Employees Relief Fund, but it did not turn the designs into an official USPS commemorative issue. “Supports USPS,” “uses USPS postage,” and “issued by USPS” are three different claims.
John Oliver Custom Postage vs. Forever Stamps
| Question | 2020 John Oliver PhotoStamps | USPS Forever stamp |
|---|---|---|
| Who created the design? | Last Week Tonight with Stamps.com | USPS stamp program |
| Product type | Customized postage under the former PhotoStamps program | USPS-issued nondenominated stamp |
| Postage value | Fixed at the amount produced for the label | Tracks the current price category printed on the stamp |
| Still sold? | No; customized photo postage ended in June 2020 | Current designs remain available from USPS and retailers |
Can an Original Sheet Still Be Used?
An authentic, unused label produced through the authorized program may still contribute its original postage value. It may need extra postage to meet today’s price, and condition, cancellation, damage, or an imitation can change the answer. Check the indicia and original packaging instead of relying only on the mascot image.
If the mailpiece is important or the label is hard to identify, take it to a Post Office counter before mailing. Do not treat a modern reproduction, screenshot, decorative sticker, or fan-made print as postage.
How to Check One
- Confirm it came from the 2020 Stamps.com PhotoStamps project, not a later reproduction.
- Look for the original postage indicia and evidence of the sheet’s source.
- Make sure it is unused, undamaged, and not previously canceled.
- Calculate the difference between its fixed value and the postage required today.
For the wider history and current alternatives, see our guide to custom postage and so-called custom Forever stamps.
Frequently Asked Questions
Did USPS issue a John Oliver commemorative stamp?
No. The project used Stamps.com’s former customized-postage program; it was not a USPS commemorative stamp issue.
Were the original John Oliver PhotoStamps real postage?
Legitimate sheets carried real postage value through the then-authorized program. That does not make them Forever stamps.
Can I buy new John Oliver custom stamps now?
No. The customized photo-postage program ended in June 2020. Later copies need to be treated as collectibles or reproductions unless their postage origin can be verified.
Sources: Stamps.com project announcement distributed by Business Wire; Stamps.com customized-postage history; PhotoStamps closure notice. Facts checked September 1, 2026.