The U.S. Postal Service (USPS) has announced it will issue a commemorative Forever stamp honoring former President Jimmy Carter, who passed away on December 29, 2024, at the age of 100. The stamp art was officially unveiled this morning at the Jimmy Carter National Historical Park in Plains, Georgia.

The new stamp is scheduled for release for purchase on October 1 in Atlanta, coinciding with what would have been former President Carter’s 101st birthday.

Representatives from the Friends of Jimmy Carter, the National Park Service, and the U.S. Postal Service gathered for the unveiling ceremony. Peter Pastre, the Postal Service’s government relations and public policy vice president, spoke at the event, underscoring the significance of the honor.

“The stamp program celebrates the best in American culture, places and people, and it is difficult to consider a more fitting honoree than former President Jimmy Carter,” Pastre stated. “In his support and leadership of his beloved community, state, and nation, he lent his quiet, thoughtful and deliberate energy around causes he believed in, and most certainly in his conduct and accomplishments as a former President, Jimmy Carter truly personified the best in America. I am honored to participate in the reveal of this stamp art which fully evokes his humanity.”

Kim Carter Fuller, executive director of the Friends of Jimmy Carter, expressed the family’s sentiments. “The Carter family and the Friends of Jimmy Carter are honored to be able to take part in revealing the design for President Carter’s Forever stamp. Together we’ve had the distinct privilege of a front row seat to his life and legacy, and today’s reveal gives the world an opportunity to share his legacy with others on a daily basis.”

Jimmy Carter, a native of small-town Georgia, became the 39th President of the United States on January 20, 1977. During his single term, he emphasized humility and reconciliation, making significant strides in various domestic and international arenas. He appointed numerous women and minorities to government positions, established a presidential commission on mental health, created new cabinet departments, and substantially expanded the National Park System and federally designated wilderness areas. Economically, he focused on balancing the federal budget and controlling inflation, ushering in deregulation in industries like energy and air travel.

On the global stage, Carter’s diplomatic efforts were highly praised, most notably his personal negotiation of the Camp David Accords, which laid a framework for peace in the Middle East. He also signed SALT II with the Soviet Union to limit strategic nuclear arms and initiated a major foreign policy shift by officially recognizing the People’s Republic of China.

After leaving the presidency, Carter embarked on an unparalleled post-presidency career, becoming a prominent activist for peace, human rights, and social and economic progress worldwide. In 1982, he established the Carter Center in collaboration with Emory University, an organization dedicated to advancing democracy, monitoring elections, mediating disputes, and combating tropical diseases in the world’s poorest nations. His tireless efforts were recognized with the Nobel Peace Prize in 2002, solidifying his reputation as one of the most active and impactful former presidents in American history.

The stamp art features a 1982 oil-on-linen painting by artist Herbert E. Abrams (1921-2003), created as a life study in preparation for his official White House portrait. The stamp was designed by Ethel Kessler, an art director for USPS.

As a Forever stamp, the Jimmy Carter stamp will always be equal in value to the current First-Class Mail 1-ounce price. News regarding the stamp is being shared with the hashtag #JimmyCarterStamp.