2025 Elie Wiesel “Two Ounce” Stamps
On Sept. 17 in New York City, the United States Postal Service will commemorate the legacy of author and activist Elie Wiesel (1928–2016) with the release of a nondenominated ($1.07) 2-ounce rate forever definitive stamp in panes of 20, the 18th stamp in the USPS Distinguished Americans series. Wiesel, “whose writing about the Holocaust is forever seared on the public consciousness,” said the USPS, was a survivor of the Nazi concentration camps at Auschwitz and Buchenwald during World War II.
A first-day ceremony for the new Elie Wiesel stamp will take place on Wednesday, Sept. 17, at 10:30 a.m. Eastern Time at the Kaufmann Concert Hall in the 92nd street Y, 1395 Lexington Ave., in New York City. Ronald A. Stroman, a member of the USPS board of governors, will be the dedicating official.
The stamp, designed by USPS art director Ethel Kessler, features a 1999 black-and-white photograph of Wiesel taken by Russian photographer Sergey Bermeniev. Wiesel, in a suit and tie, is thoughtfully looking straight forward. The word “Humanitarian” appears vertically from the lower left edge of the design.
The stamp includes a “Two Ounce USA” horizontal inscription at top right indicating the stamp will satisfy the 2-ounce first-class letter rate regardless of future rate increases.
First introduced in 2000, the Distinguished Americans stamp series honors U.S. citizens who have “left their mark on the American conscience,” according to the Postal Service. Many of the previous stamps in the series have been issued in denominations meeting the 2-ounce and 3-ounce mailing rate or to complement other related services.
The first set of Distinguished Americans stamps from 2000 to 2009 were black pencil designs on a white background with red lettering. Those stamps were vertically oriented, and some later issues included additional colors.
Beginning in 2011, with the Oveta Culp Hobby (1905-95) stamp (Scott 4510), a different design theme emerged with portraits in color and some frames and backdrops in colors other than white. Some stamps were in different sizes and orientations. …
Banknote Corporation of America, one of two contract printers for the USPS, printed 8 million of the new Elie Wiesel forever stamp in a quantity of 400,000 panes of 20. A plate number consisting of a B (representing the printer) followed by four single digits is printed in the bottom two corners of the pane. Each digit represents one of the colors used to print the stamp: cyan, magenta, yellow and black.
Post offices wishing to hold an event for the Elie Wiesel stamp are required to use a pictorial dedication postmark consisting of a circular datestamp to the right of “ELIE WIESEL” in bold font. “The word ‘Station’ or the abbreviation ‘STA’ is required somewhere in the design because it will be a temporary station,” the USPS said. “Use of any image other than the … special pictorial image is prohibited.”
Two pictorial first-day cancels for the Elie Wiesel issue are being offered by the Postal Service, one in black and the other in color. The black postmark is applied free, up to a quantity of 50, to most collector-submitted covers. There is a 5¢ charge for each additional postmark over 50.
The black postmark features the text “FIRST DAY OF ISSUE” above and to the left of the larger “ELIE WIESEL” in the center with first-day details underneath.
The color postmark features the same design, with “FIRST DAY OF ISSUE” and the text of first-day details in teal and “ELIE WIESEL” in light blue. The color postmark can be obtained by collectors on envelopes made from laser-safe paper. There is an order minimum of 10 envelopes with a fee of 50¢ per postmark
Frequently Asked Questions
How it works?
A Forever® stamp is for sending domestic mail weighing up to 1 oz via First-Class Mail®.
Purpose: Send letters and cards up to 1 oz (approximately 4 sheets of regular, 8-1/2" x 11" paper in a rectangular envelope)
within the U.S., including U.S. territories and military bases overseas.
Value: Always valid for the First-Class Mail 1 oz rate, even if postage rates increase. Visit First-Class Mail and Postage to view
current rates.
Other Uses: Pair this stamp’s value with other postage to meet mailing costs when additional postage is required.
Use the Retail Postage Calculator to determine the exact cost of your mail.
Why is "FOREVER" crossed out in the image?
So the lines in your picture:
- It does not mean that the stamp has expired;
- It does not mean that you cannot continue to use it;
- Nor a postmark;
- It's just an artificial anti-copying line added to the display image.
Note: If the physical stamp you receive actually has this crossed line printed on it, be cautious. It may be a display sample, a replica or a fake stamp, rather than a normal usable stamp.
What are the common types of stamps, and how do they differ?
- Forever Stamp: Valid for standard domestic letters within the U.S. These stamps typically do not bear a fixed face value; they remain valid for mailing a standard one-ounce letter at the current rate, even if postage prices increase in the future.
- Global Forever Stamp: Primarily used for standard international letters or postcards sent from the U.S. to other countries. The main difference between this and a standard Forever Stamp lies in its scope of use and postage value.
- Postcard Stamp: Designed specifically for domestic postcards that meet USPS size standards; the postage rate is typically lower than that for standard letters.
- Additional Ounce Stamp: Used to cover the cost of weight exceeding the first ounce; these are usually used in conjunction with a Forever Stamp or other stamps.
- Two-Ounce and Three-Ounce Stamps: Suitable for heavier letters, greeting cards, wedding invitations, or multi-page documents, eliminating the need to combine multiple stamps to cover the required postage.
- Fixed-Value Stamps: These stamps display a specific monetary value (e.g., 1¢, 5¢, or other amounts) and are primarily used to make up postage differences or in combination with other stamps.
- Commemorative and Thematic Stamps: Typically issued to mark historical events, cultural or artistic themes, holidays, notable figures, animals, or natural landscapes. While suitable for regular mail, these stamps are also popular among collectors due to their unique designs and limited release periods.
It is important to note that a stamp's theme and its postage class can overlap; for example, a holiday-themed stamp might also be a Forever Stamp. When purchasing, check for markings such as FOREVER, GLOBAL, POSTCARD, ADDITIONAL OUNCE, or a specific face value to confirm the stamp's intended use.
Why choose StampResale.com?
- At StampResale, you will find a diverse range of U.S. stamps—including classic Forever Stamps, holiday-themed issues, commemorative stamps, and specialty collections—catering to needs ranging from everyday mailing and gift-giving to serious collecting.
We also frequently offer limited-time discounts, bundle deals, and exclusive promotions, providing you with a wider selection and greater value while guaranteeing the authenticity and quality of our stamps.
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