BCA means Banknote Corporation of America, a security printer that USPS has used to manufacture many stamp issues. A BCA name or a plate number beginning with “B” can be consistent with an officially documented printing, but that visible mark alone does not prove that a particular stamp is genuine.
What BCA does
USPS creates and issues postage, while contracted security printers manufacture specific products to USPS specifications. Official USPS product pages and Postal Bulletin announcements identify the printer, manufacturing process, press, format and other technical details for an issue. In those records, “Banknote Corporation of America” may appear as the printer or processing location.
For example, the official specification for the 2020 Thank You Forever stamps names Banknote Corporation of America as the printer. A USPS announcement for the 2008 Liberty Bell Forever booklet likewise lists Banknote Corporation of America/SSP and the Browns Summit, North Carolina, printing location.
What a B plate number means
Some stamp panes or coils carry a plate number in the margin or beneath a stamp image. USPS technical specifications may describe a plate number that starts with “B,” followed by digits, for a BCA printing. The exact placement, number of digits and repetition frequency depend on the issue and format.
Do not transfer the specification from one issue to every other stamp. The same design may exist in several formats or documented printings, and USPS has also used other printers. The issue-specific USPS announcement is the best comparison record.
Does “BCA” prove that a stamp is real?
No. A copied image can reproduce visible letters, numbers and packaging text. BCA is useful identification evidence only when it matches the documented issue, format and printing. It should be considered with the full product: design, dimensions, format, print quality, seller history, source and signs of prior use.
| Observation | Reasonable conclusion | What it does not prove |
|---|---|---|
| Official USPS record names BCA | BCA was an authorized printer for that documented issue or format | That every listing claiming the same issue is genuine |
| Plate number begins with B | It may match a documented BCA plate-number pattern | Authenticity without checking the rest of the stamp |
| No BCA or B marking is visible | The mark may be elsewhere, absent from that format or associated with another printer | That the stamp is automatically counterfeit |
How to check a BCA-printed Forever stamp
- Identify the exact stamp issue and year rather than relying only on the artwork.
- Determine whether it is a pane, booklet, coil or another format.
- Find the official USPS product specification or Postal Bulletin announcement.
- Compare the listed printer, manufacturing process and plate-number description with the item.
- Check the complete product and seller evidence; do not authenticate it from one printed letter.
Frequently asked questions
Are BCA-manufactured Forever stamps official USPS stamps?
They can be. USPS’s own technical records name BCA as the printer for many official issues. Confirm that the specific issue and format appear in an official record.
Is BCA part of USPS?
BCA is a stamp manufacturer, not the postal issuer. USPS commissions and issues the postage; its technical record identifies the contracted printer for a particular product.
Are stamps printed by another company fake?
No. USPS has used more than one authorized printer, and some designs were produced in multiple formats or printings. Match the exact item to its official specification.
Where can I find the printer name?
Look for the issue’s technical details on an official USPS product page or in the USPS Postal Bulletin. Packaging, pane margins and plate numbers can provide clues, but the official record supplies the context.
Official examples
See the USPS specifications for the Thank You Forever stamps, the 2008 Liberty Bell Forever booklet and the 2023 BCA coil specification. For broader visual checks, use our guide to spotting fake Forever stamps.
Official specifications checked September 1, 2026.