2025 First-Class Forever Stamp,Imperforate Lunar New Year: Year of the Snake

US #5952a
2025 Year of the Snake
Imperforate

• 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 (Includes die-cut AND imperforate stamps.  The exact quantity of imperforate stamps is unknown, but it is only a tiny fraction of the total print quantity, making the imperforates much scarcer than traditional die-cut stamps.)
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.

Scarce Modern Imperforates
In 2012, modern imperforate stamps were one of the hottest stories around. The US Postal Service released some issues as press sheets. The sheets with die cut perforations were issued in limited quantities.
To the surprise of many collectors, officials then issued a small number of press sheets without perforations. The uncut sheets were only available in Kansas City, Missouri, and most sold out immediately. In an instant, the imperforate stamp sheets became modern rarities. For example, only 75,000 Baseball All-Star se-tenant sheets were issued compared to 118,000 Bugs Bunny sheets with the 10th stamp imperforate.
In a controversial move, the editors of Scott Catalogue announced they would not list or give numbers to these stamps because they did not fit Scott guidelines. This decision was strongly debated since the imperforate stamps are valid for postage. They eventually decided to give the stamps minor numbers.
Because they are issued in such limited quantities, these scarce modern imperforates can be difficult to find. Luckily Mystic purchases a small number of each imperforate stamp issued so you can add these modern rarities to your collection. Be one of the lucky few - order today.