From the USPS press release November 15, 2024:
An icon of American television, Betty White (1922–2021) shared her wit and warmth with viewers for seven decades — including roles on “The Golden Girls” and “The Mary Tyler Moore Show.” The comedic actor, who gained younger generations of fans as she entered her 90s, was also revered as a compassionate advocate for animals. Dale Stephanos created the digital illustration based on a 2010 photograph by Kwaku Alston. Greg Breeding, an art director for USPS, designed the stamp.
The latest information on this issue will appear below the line, with the latest information at the top.
Updated May 7th:
The Scott catalog number for this issue is 5976.
Updated February 20th:
Here are the first-day postmarks for this issue:
The Digital Color Postmark measures 2.77″ x 1.42″
The Pictorial Postmark measures 3.00″ x 1.07″
The “special” postmark measures 2.75″ x 0.91″
Ceremony Information:
[press release] [click on any of the pictures for larger versions]
Betty White to Smile on New Stamp
What: The U.S. Postal Service will commemorate the warmth, wit and charisma of Betty White by honoring the late actress and comedienne with a new stamp bearing her likeness.
The first-day-of-issue event for the Betty White stamp will be held at the Los Angeles Zoo and Botanical Gardens. For free day-of-event admission to the zoo, see below.
News of the stamp is being shared with the hashtag #BettyWhiteStamp.
Who: The Honorable Amber McReynolds, chairwoman, U.S. Postal Service Board of Governors
When: Thursday, March 27, 2025, at 11 a.m. PT
Where:
Los Angeles Zoo and Botanical Gardens
Allen Ludden Plaza
5333 Zoo Drive
Los Angeles, CA 90027
RSVP: Attendees may preregister for the event, including free admission to the zoo, at usps.com/bettywhitestamp.
Background: This collectible Forever stamp honors beloved American actress and comedienne Betty White (1922-2021), whose impish smile is depicted on the stamp and lit up performances in a career that spanned more than 60 years. Often referred to as the “First Lady of Television,” White was honored with five Primetime Emmy Awards for her work in television, as well as three Screen Actors Guild Awards, a Grammy Award and a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. She was also much recognized for her animal welfare work.
The Betty White stamp features a digitally created portrait of the cherished star against a violet-colored background and, in a lighter shade, bubbly spots that befit her sparkling personality. She is portrayed wearing a polka-dotted blue top. “Betty White” is printed in white near the bottom of the stamp artwork. “FOREVER USA” is printed just below, in violet. Her name also appears centered atop the white selvage, also in violet.
Postal Products: The Betty White stamp will be available in panes of 20. As Forever stamps, they will always be equal in value to the current First-Class Mail 1-ounce price.
Postal Bulletin:
On March 27, 2025, in Los Angeles, CA, the United States Postal Service® will issue the Betty White stamp (Forever® priced at the First-Class Mail® rate), in one design, in a pressure-sensitive adhesive (PSA) pane of 20 stamps (Item 486600). This stamp will go on sale nationwide March 27, 2025, and must not be sold or canceled before the first-day-of-issue.
This stamp honors actor, TV personality, and animal advocate Betty White (1922–2021), whose television appearances spanned the history of the medium and delighted generations of fans. The stamp illustration, digitally created by Dale Stephanos, is based on a photograph taken by Kwaku Alston in 2010. Art director Greg Breeding designed the stamp.
Automatic distribution.
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 new stamps at their local Post Office™ or at The Postal Store® website at store.usps.com/store/home. 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 – Betty White 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 July 27, 2025.
Technical Specifications:
Issue: Betty White Stamp
Item Number: 486600
Denomination & Type of Issue: First-Class Mail Forever
Format: Pane of 20 (1 design)
Series: N/A
Issue Date & City: March 27, 2025, Los Angeles, CA 90052
Art Director: Greg Breeding, Charlottesville, VA
Designer: Greg Breeding, Charlottesville, VA
Artist: Dale Stephanos, Foxboro, MA
Modeler: Joseph Sheeran
Manufacturing Process: Offset, Microprint
Printer: Ashton Potter (USA) Ltd. (APU)
Press Type: Muller A76
Stamps per Pane: 20
Print Quantity: 35,000,000 stamps
Paper Type: Nonphosphored Type III, Block Tag
Adhesive Type: Pressure-sensitive
Colors: Cyan, Magenta, Yellow, Black
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.
Full Pane Size (w x h): 5.9200 x 7.9500in. / 150.3680 x 201.9300 mm.
Press Sheets Size (w x h): 11.8400 x 24.1000 in. / 300.7360 x 612.1400 mm.
Plate Size: 240 stamps per revolution
Plate Number: ”P” followed by four (4) single digits
Marginal Markings:
Front: Header: Betty White • Plate number in bottom two corners
Back: ©2024 USPS • USPS logo • Two barcodes (486600) • Plate position diagram (6) • Promotional text
