The U.S. Postal Service will unveil its SpongeBob SquarePants commemorative Forever stamps with a first-day-of-issue ceremony in New York City’s Times Square. The free, public event takes place on Friday, Aug. 1, from 8 to 10 a.m. EDT at Father Duffy Square (7th Avenue and West 47th Street). Attendees can purchase the new Forever stamps and meet Greg Breeding, the USPS art director who designed the stamps using artwork provided by Nickelodeon.
The four-stamp collection honors the enduring Nickelodeon animated series created by Stephen Hillenburg. Two stamps feature close-up portraits of SpongeBob wearing his signature goofy smile. A third stamp depicts a gathering of Bikini Bottom characters—Sandy Cheeks, Patrick Star, Plankton, Mr. Krabs, SpongeBob, Gary and Squidward Tentacles—while the fourth shows SpongeBob and Patrick frolicking on the sandy ocean floor. Released as Forever stamps, they will always be equal in value to the current First-Class Mail one-ounce rate.
Since its 1999 debut, SpongeBob SquarePants has captivated audiences with its humor, memorable characters and universal themes, appealing to viewers of all ages. News of the stamp release is being shared on social media using the hashtag #SpongeBobSquarePantsStamps.