In Stamps, The Liberty Bell Is Forever

41, 43, 45, 50 Cents — Whatever The Letter Rate, This New Stamp Will Pay It

(CBS)  What's a symbol of the United States that will last forever? The bald eagle? No, it's sometimes endangered. The flag? It has changed, and could change again, with the number of states.

The U.S. Postal Service has picked the Liberty Bell as the design for its first Forever stamp, a stamp that will pay the postal rate to mail a letter no matter when it was purchased, no matter when it is used.

"The Liberty Bell is an icon that resonates for freedom and independence for all of America, and those are exactly the qualities we want people to associate with the Forever stamp," Michael Plunkett, Acting Vice President of Pricing and Classification for the U.S. Postal Service, told CBSNews.com's Lloyd de Vries in advance of the design's release.

The design of the stamp was unveiled Monday at the National Postal Forum, a gathering of companies in the mailing industry.

"That's a decent design. I was worried we'd get something abstract," said Virtual Stamp Club member Dennis Wallick of Chevy Chase, Md.

The stamp goes on sale April 12 for 41 cents, the new first-class mail rate that goes into effect May 14. As postage rates rise in the future, the price for the stamp will also rise — but stamps purchased for 41 cents will still be honored on letters.

Instead of a denomination, the stamp carries the word "Forever" along its right side.

"Who said nothing lasts forever?" Postmaster General John E. Potter said in a statement.

Non-denominated flag stamps will also be issued for this rate change, but unlike the Forever stamp, these will be sold at 41 cents and will be worth exactly 41 cents, whenever they're used. If the rates go up, mailers will need to add additional stamps.

"Eventually, we think with the advent of the Forever stamp, the non-denominated stamps will become a thing of the past, that the Forever stamp will become the bridge between different stamp rates," Plunkett said.

There also won't be a need to print extra 1-, 2- or 3-cent stamps right before a rate change.

In this case, the Postal Service says it has plenty of 2-cent stamps on hand already.

Some people might decide to buy extra Forever stamps this year as an investment against future postal rate increase, but the Postal Service isn't worried.

"Our stamp prices generally increase at or about the rate of inflation, so people who buy large quantities, hoping that they'll be creating a windfall for themselves, might end up being disappointed," Plunkett said.

In the meantime, the USPS will be able to earn interest on the money spent on the hoards of Forever stamps, and some of the stamps will be lost or destroyed before they can be used. The agency will also save money it would spend printing the non-denominated stamps — which in the past have been printed immediately after a rate change for use during the next rate change.

Besides the Forever and non-denominated flag stamps, other stamps appearing at the new rate in the next two months include 15 different Star Wars stamps (May 25) and a triangle-shaped stamp for the 400th anniversary of the settlement of Jamestown, Va., the first permanent English colony in North America (May 11, three days before rates change).

Other countries have similar good-forever letter-rate stamps. The idea for the stamp in this country was imposed on the Postal Service by the Postal Regulatory Commission. According to Bill McAllister of Linn's Stamp News, it was championed by panel member Ruth Y. Goldway, a former mayor of Santa Monica, Calif.

"The Postal Service sees itself as a monopoly and the place where the monopoly is strongest is in first-class mail," Goldway wrote in The New York Times in November.

Earlier this month, she told Linn's the USPS sees itself "as a delivery system for big mailers," and consumers are treated "with disdain."

She hopes the Forever stamp will change that.

[kamascott]

They should have had a "forever" stamp about thirty years ago. Better late than never I guess. The liberty bell certainly was an excellent choice.

I'm certainly I most people share MY disdain for bulk mail aka known as junk mail. Although we use the ads they are still annoying.

The ability to buy supplies and stamps online and have packages picked up at home, keeping me forever out of the postoffice, certainly is a boon. But most people no longer have the old fashioned relaionship with a post person my grandmather was able to have. He put his lunch in the route box near her house and she made him ice tea in the summer and they'd have lunch together. Can't do that anymore, although I am fortunate enough to have a regular carrier. James is a most cheerful person (and the post office overworks him).

People on fixed incomes are hit hardest by rate increases. Last year was the last year I will be able to send Christmas cookie to my grandchildren. It cost me $48 to mail those cookies.

To bad they aren't selling that forever stamp for 39 cents.

[truthword]

2 Peter 2:19
While they promise them liberty, they themselves are the servants of corruption: for of whom a man is overcome, of the same is he brought in bondage.

[asor1-2009]

KamaScott, the cookies I sent to my grandkids NEVER got there. Three double batches, so you know how much work that was. Argh......
UPS from now on.

[hober_mallow]

They should make commemorated 'forever' stamps as well.

I'd by a zillion of these, if they had a cooler picture. Those Alfred Hitchcock stamps of a few years ago were my fav. Used them on all of my Christmas cards.

[elgraz]

What a crock of craap !!! I very seldom use the grossly overpriced US Postal Service. It can stick the stamp up it's Federal arse.

[elgraz]

Yeah,
Forever stamps??????...........Forever incompetent is more like it.

[elgraz]

What a fricken joke !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[chelluvsgod]

The post office has never lost anything I've sent. Plus if you insure your package or ask for a delivery confirmation it eases your mind about delivery. I have tried UPS and the post office is cheaper. I will use the United States Postal Service before UPS for most everything. Remember, they must break even and cannot earn a profit each year. Although I hate postal rate hikes, I understand that with inflation the rates have to go up. I just wish they would raise it enough that it wouldn't have to go up every 6 months or so.

[bobfishinguy]

I own a business. I shipped over 1000 packages last year.

Number lost:0
total "delivery area surcharges":$0
total "fuel surcharges":$0
total "Monthly service charges":$0

Anyone who thinks UPS or Fedex or whoever is cheaper is an idiot and does not know what they are talking about. Maybe the big shippers with semi loads of boxes get their shipping cheaper there. Talk about "a delivery system for big mailers," and consumers are treated "with disdain." " - she should be talking about UPS.

As far as $48 to ship cookies - it takes 25 pounds and the furthest shipping zone to get that much postage on a priority mail box. So you are either a liar, or your grandchildren are pigs.

[elgraz]

Come on people wake up and express yourselves if you are capable. If you speak Spanish I also do. All comments are welcome.

[a-ji]

As far as $48 to ship cookies - it takes 25 pounds and the furthest shipping zone to get that much postage on a priority mail box. So you are either a liar, or your grandchildren are pigs.
Posted by bobfishinguy at 04:37 PM : Mar 26, 2007

What if they really did not received the package? Whether they are lying or not, its not nce to address people that way.

[passerby2]

As far as $48 to ship cookies - it takes 25 pounds and the furthest shipping zone to get that much postage on a priority mail box. So you are either a liar, or your grandchildren are pigs.
Posted by bobfishinguy at 04:37 PM : Mar 26, 2007

GRANDCHILDREN is the key word, more than one. don't be so myopic bobfishinguy. different grandkids in different states?

[susanhelit]

Forever stamp - it's about time! I'm never buying a non-forever again.

$48 to ship cookies - hey, if they're overpriced go to the competition. If the competition (and there's plenty of it) charges more, then you're getting a deal. As to losing packages - I've personally been mailing for a long time, never had one item lost.

[fizzal-2009]

I,m wondering if they are going to cut in the church for some of their profits from the sale of a picture of a stolen item from the North Church holding up some kind of weight?

[ajaxrose1]

Lots of critical people reading these stories today. Whining and criticizing, but I notice no solutions being offered. No one thing would make all 300 million people in this country happy anyway. So, whine, criticize, & enjoy your freedom of speech. If you don't like the stamp, well you're free to enjoy NOT using it, right?

[paviles394]

One of these days we will have to peel off the back of a 20 dollar bill and use it as a stamp i'm sure