This stamp will only be available with the purchase of a “prestige booklet,” Putting a Stamp 
on the American Experience, “only the fourth ever issued by the Postal Service.” According to the April 28th press release
Two self-adhesive sheets of a new intaglio printed stamp featuring Benjamin Franklin are available exclusively with the booklet. The stamp is based on an 1875 reproduction of an 1847 5-cent stamp, one of the first official U.S. postage stamps.
The USPS says this issue will be released in July. More details will be posted below the line, with the most recent nearest the top.
Updated September 10th:
The Scott catalogue number for this issue is 6024.
Updated June 30th:
On July 23, 2025 in Washington, DC, the Postal Service™ will issue the Putting a Stamp on the American Experience prestige booklet (Item Number 894500) featuring 20 commemorative stamps (Forever® priced at the First: Class Mail® rate), in one design, on two pressure: sensitive adhesive (PSA) sheets of 10. The prestige booklet will go on sale nationwide July 23, 2025, and must not be sold or canceled before the first: day: of: issue.
This prestige booklet commemorates the 250th anniversary of our nation’s postal system and celebrates the enduring impact of stamps on our shared heritage. Highlighting the popular series and subjects that give the U.S. stamp program its remarkable range and depth, this 32: page prestige booklet, only the fourth ever issued by the Postal Service includes two self: adhesive sheets of a new First: Class™ Forever® stamp available exclusively with this booklet. The stamp is a “reframed” modern interpretation of an 1875 reproduction of the 1847 Benjamin Franklin 5: cent stamp, one of the first official U.S. postage stamps. Art director Ethel Kessler designed the prestige booklet and the stamp.
This item will not be available in post offices. Its price is $20.95 and includes two panes of 10 stamps ($15.60 face value).
How to Order the First-Day-of-Issue Postmark:
Customers have 120 days to obtain the first: day: of: issue postmark by mail. They may purchase the prestige booklet at The Postal Store website at usps.com/shop. They must affix the stamps to envelopes of their choice, address the envelopes (to themselves or others), and place them in a larger envelope addressed to:
FDOI – Putting a Stamp on the American Experience Stamp
USPS Stamp Fulfillment Services
8300 NE Underground Drive, Suite 300
Kansas City, MO 64144: 9900
After applying the first: day: of: issue postmark, the Postal Service will return the envelopes through the mail. There is no charge for the postmark up to a quantity of 50. There is a 5: cent charge for each additional postmark over 50. All orders must be postmarked by November 23, 2025.
Technical Specifications:
Issue: Putting a Stamp on the American Experience Prestige Booklet
Item Number: 894500
Denomination & Type of Issue: First: Class Mail Forever
Format: Prestige booklet of 20 (1 design)
Issue Date & City: July 23, 2025, Washington, DC 20066
Art Director: Ethel Kessler, Bethesda, MD
Designer: Ethel Kessler, Bethesda, MD
Modeler: Joseph Sheeran
Manufacturing Process: Offset / Intaglio
Printer: Ashton Potter (USA) Ltd. (APU)
Press Type: Stevens Vari: Size Security Press
Stamps per Pane: 10 (2 panes per booklet)
Print Quantity: 750,000 prestige booklets
Paper Type: Nonphosphored Type III, Block Tag
Adhesive Type: Pressure: sensitive
Colors: Pantone 294 C, Pantone 485 C, Pantone Cool Grey 7 C, Intaglio Pantone 294 Blue
Stamp Orientation: Vertical
Image Area (w x h): 0.8400 x 1.4200 in. / 21.3360 x 36.0680 mm.
Overall Size (w x h): 0.9800 x 1.5600 in. / 24.8920 x 39.6240 mm.
Booklet Size (w x h): 6.7500 x 3.7500 in. / 171.4500 x 95.2500 mm.
Full Pane Size (w x h): 6.7500 x 3.7500 in. / 171.4500 x 95.2500 mm.
Plate Size: 90 stamps per revolution
Plate Number: N/A
Updated June 26th:
[press release] [click on any of the pictures for larger versions]
USPS To Celebrate 250 Years of Service
What: The U.S. Postal Service will release new stamps, one of which comes as part of a 32-page prestige booklet, to commemorate 250 years of service to the nation.
The illustrated Forever stamps, 250 Years of Delivering, tell the story of a mail carrier making her daily rounds during a year in the life of the community she serves. The “Putting a Stamp on the American Experience” booklet highlights popular subjects that give the U.S. stamp program its remarkable range and depth. Exclusively available with this booklet are two sheets of a new Forever stamp featuring the first postmaster general, Benjamin Franklin.
The first-day-of-issue event for the stamps and booklet is free and open to the public. News regarding the stamps is being shared with the hashtags #250YearsofDelivering and #USPS250booklet.
When: Wednesday, July 23, at noon ET
Where:
U.S. Postal Service headquarters
475 L’Enfant Plaza SW
Washington, DC 20260
RSVP: Attendees are encouraged to register at: usps.com/usps250years
Background: ‘Putting a Stamp on the American Experience’ prestige booklet
Highlighting the popular subjects and series that give the U.S. stamp program its remarkable range, “Putting a Stamp on the American Experience” provides an in-depth look at some of the Postal Service’s most popular stamps. The 32-page prestige booklet includes two self-adhesive sheets of a new Forever stamp available exclusively with this purchase. The stamps feature an exclusive reframed, modern interpretation of a 5-cent stamp depicting Benjamin Franklin, originally released in 1847. This booklet is exclusively available through the Postal Store, by calling 844-737-7826, or by mail through USA Philatelic.
As one of the first two honorees on U.S. stamps, Franklin is a longtime icon of the stamp program, appearing on more than 100 releases in the 178-year history of American stamps. Appointed postmaster general of the Colonies by the Second Continental Congress in 1775, Franklin appreciated that the postal system could help unite the Colonies — and the nation they became. As a printer, scientist and diplomat, he played a monumental role in shaping American culture, and his postal legacy of adaptability and innovation continues to inspire the modern-day Postal Service.
Ethel Kessler, an art director for USPS, designed the prestige booklet and the stamp.
Here are the first-day postmarks for this issue:
The Digital Color Postmark measures 2.92″ x 1.02″
The Pictorial Postmark measures 2.76″ x 1.27″
Updated June 11th:
According to Foster Miller, this stamp will be issued July 23 in Washington.
Updated May 2nd:
This stamp will have a “special dedication ceremony” on the second day of Great American Stamp Show, August 15th, in Schaumburg, IL. It is believed the first-day will be July 26th.
Before I rip this stamp I’d like to see what the booklet looks like. If it is anything like the image what a waste of paper, time etc;. I mean they came up with a beautiful stamp of Washington & Franklin at NY 2016, and this is the best we can come up with in 2025,
Looks like they mimeographed it from an auction catalog and threw some lettering on it. A 5 year old could do better.
SO VERY SAD.
And the VERY SAD part is that I’ll more than likely buy it.
Ben Franklin is the father of the printing industry I grew up in. He also graces the cover of my High School yearbook from 1956. N.Y. H.S.P., in New York City. He’s also the father of our postal industry.
The stamp of Franklin from 1847, is #A1 in Scotts Catalog, printed in red/brown on bluish unwatermarked wove paper.
It’s a beautiful reproduction of that stamp done by the current stamp artist, but only a reproduction of that stamp from that era. ‘Exactly what the artist has produced.’
Any good rumors how many stamps are we going to be stuck with in the “prestige booklet”? I’m an old FDC collector, who regrets single-color half-tone conventional-subject stamps ever ceased being the norm. But that also means I’m a sucker for any remotely throwback design (even if it could be criticized).
So I will almost certainly buy this one–even if I skip something else. But I’ll feel more suckered than prestigious if I have to buy more than 20 to get the booklet, and I hope it contains far fewer than that. I’m already way overloaded on 2025 stamps.
I feel your pain: I still have Autumn Colors stamps I’m trying to use up.
The press release quoted in the first part of this page says “two self-adhesive sheets.” Given that it looks like the standard 1.56″x0.98″ commemorative, i’d guess each sheet will have 20 stamps. But it’s just a guess.
https://store.usps.com/store/product/putting-a-stamp-on-the-american-experience-stamps-S_894504
According to the USPS web site, there will be 2 sheets of 10 stamps in the “Prestige Booklet”. With the July price increase, that should be $15.60. BUT, the cost is $20.95! We get to pay an extra $5.35 for JUST the “Prestige Booklet”! Stamp collecting is starting to be too expensive when you are living on a fixed income.
Lloyd, since this has the same city and date as the 250 Years of Delivering, could you swap cancels? Would that still make it a correct First Day Cover? I wish this one said something about 250 Years or 250 in the design. Just wondering.