2025 Lunar New Year: Year of the Snake Stamps
US 2025 Year of the Snake
• Sixth stamp in Lunar New Year Series begun in 2020
• Celebrates the Year of the Snake
• Features same style mask design as other stamps in series
• Foil stamping added
Stamp Category: Commemorative
Set: Lunar New Year
Value: 73¢ First-class mail rate, Forever
First Day of Issue: January 14, 2025
First Day City: Boston, Massachusetts
Quantity Issued: 21,000,000
Printed by: Banknote Corporation of America
Printing Method: Offset, Foil stamping, Flexographic, Microprint
Format: Pane of 20
Self-Adhesive
Why the stamp was issued: The stamp was issued to commemorate the snake, the sixth animal in the Chinese Zodiac. It’s the sixth stamp in the Lunar New Year series that began in 2020.
About the stamp design: According to the USPS, the designs for this Lunar New Year series are meant to remind us of the “elaborately decorated masks used in the dragon or lion dances often performed in Lunar New Year parades.” Artist Camille Chew created the Year of the Snake mask from hand-printed paper, then cut and folded it into the shape of a snake. She then painted it with acrylic and added additional paper decorations. A photograph of the completed mask was taken by Sally Andersen-Bruce and used as the stamp image.
Special design details: Foil stamping highlights details of the design and gives it an almost three-dimensional effect.
First Day City: The First Day of Issue ceremony took place in Boston, Massachusetts, at the Boch-Center – Wang Theatre.
About the Lunar New Year Series: The USPS has issued Lunar New Year stamps for decades. The two previous series ran from 1992-2004 and 2008-2019. After the second one ended, new one began the following year. This particular Lunar New Year Series has stamps picturing paper-cut masks of the 12 animals in the Chinese Zodiac, with the stamps following the cycle of rat, ox, tiger, rabbit, dragon, snake, horse, goat/ram/sheep, monkey, rooster, dog, and pig. Every stamp includes a photograph of a three-dimensional paper-cut mask created by artist Camille Chew.
History the stamp represents: In the Chinese zodiac, the snake is the sixth animal in the 12-year Lunar New Year cycle. In 2025, the Year of the Snake ran from January 29 to February 16, 2026.
The snake on the stamp is green, a color considered lucky for people born during the Year of the Snake. The blue details represent wood, and the colors are a reminder of the coming spring.
Called the "little dragon," the snake is a symbol of good fortune. Those born in the Year of the Snake are said to be wise, decisive, attractive, and charming.
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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