The U.S. Postal Service honors Sesame Street with a pane of 16 Forever stamps. A first-day-of-issue ceremony for the stamps was held today before The Sesame Street Road Trip event at Lafayette Park, 1592 Antietam Avenue, Detroit, MI.
Art director Derry Noyes designed the stamps. Arranged in horizontal rows, the stamps showcase 16 of the characters that appear on Sesame Street. Images of nine of the characters appear on the right side of the pane underneath the iconic Sesame Street sign. The back of the pane displays the Sesame Street 50th anniversary artwork.
Endearing Big Bird is the first character Sesame Street audiences met in the series premiere in 1969. An 8-foot-tall, bright yellow canary, he has become an iconic face of the series in the last 50 years.
Ernie, appearing with Rubber Duckie, lives in the basement of 123 Sesame Street with his best friend Bert.
Serious and easily frustrated, Bert is the perfect comedic complement to lighthearted Ernie.
The furry blue, googly-eyed Cookie Monster loves chocolate chip cookies, although he eats almost anything.
Rosita — full name Rosita la Monstrua de la Cuevas, meaning “the monster of the caves” — hails from Mexico and speaks both English and Spanish. She is sensitive, playful and compassionate, and she loves teaching Spanish to her friends and viewers at home.
Count von Count, also known simply as The Count, has an obsession for counting. The Count and his distinctive manner of speaking make him an eccentric addition to Sesame Street’s cast of characters.
Trash can dweller Oscar the Grouch is a lovable grouch who gives kids permission to be grumpy sometimes.
Abby Cadabby is a 3-year-old fairy-in-training. Her hard work and persistence as she tries to cast spells model problem solving and the value of sticking with something.
Herry Monster is big, gruff-voiced and very athletic. Despite his hairy, rough exterior, he has a huge heart and is instantly lovable.
Julia, one of the most recent additions to the Sesame Street cast, is a 4-year-old with autism who likes to paint and pick flowers. She and her friends demonstrate a more compassionate understanding of children with autism spectrum disorders.
With his boisterous voice and goofy personality, television host Guy Smiley has parodied countless game shows over the years.
Snuffleupagus (Snuffy) loves playing with his best friend Big Bird; they share many adventures on Sesame Street as they help each other make sense of their world.
The furry red monster with an orange nose, Elmo is a much-beloved character. His contagious giggle and cheerful outlook have won over generations of preschool viewers.
Prone to worry, Telly often needs help from his friends to calm down, cope with strong emotions and focus. His earnest nature and relationships with others give kids a better understanding of the ups and downs of friendship.
A longtime Sesame Street favorite, Grover is beloved for his positive attitude, willingness to help others and many imaginative alter egos.
Zoe is an energetic 3-year-old who loves to dance and sing. She is confident and strong-willed, but sometimes needs help from her friends to label and manage her big feelings.
The Sesame Street stamps are being issued as Forever stamps. Forever stamps are always equal to the current First-Class Mail 1-ounce price.
Stamps per Pane: Pane of 16 (16 design)