The boutonniere as a formal tradition dates to the Victorian era, when men wore flowers to ward off evil spirits and disease before germ theory arrived. By 2017 the USPS was putting one on a Forever stamp: Ranunculus, succulents, and clubmoss, photographed in full color.

TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS

• Catalog Number: Scott #5199 / Michel #5339 / Yvert #5044

• Denomination: Forever (valued at 49¢ at time of issue)

• Date of Issue: May 2, 2017

• Printing Method: Offset Lithography with Microprinting ("USPS")

• Perforation: Die Cut 11 (self-adhesive)

• Color: Multicolor

• Subject: Floral boutonniere - coral Ranunculus, succulents, Astrantia, Berzelia, and clubmoss, with twine-wrapped stems

CONDITION ANALYSIS (Seller-Assessed)

• Status: Used

• Grading: Fine

• Postmark: Standard U.S. machine cancel consisting of parallel horizontal black bars across the face. All principal design elements including the boutonniere image, "USA" inscription, and "FOREVER" denomination remain clearly legible.

• Obverse: Multicolor offset printing is vibrant with no fading, color shift, or mechanical damage. Floral subject is rendered with full photographic clarity.

• Reverse: Self-adhesive layer expended, as expected for a used stamp. Reverse appears clean and intact with no visible tears, thinning, creases, or repairs.

• Centering / Margins: Good. Design is well-centered within the die-cut simulated perforations on all four sides.

• Perforations: Die-cut border intact on all four sides. No evidence of trimming, reperforation, or artificial alteration.

HISTORY

The USPS issued this Celebration Boutonniere stamp on May 2, 2017, with the first-day ceremony held in St. Louis, Missouri. It belongs to the Wedding and Celebration series, designed for correspondence that calls for a more deliberate presentation - wedding RSVPs, party invitations, announcements, and formal thank-you notes. The Forever denomination made it practical for long-term use regardless of rate changes.

The boutonniere as a formal accessory has roots in the Victorian era, when flowers carried protective and symbolic meaning before germ theory transformed public health. By the mid-19th century the boutonniere had become a standard element of formal men's dress, worn at weddings and ceremonial occasions across European and American society. The USPS design team chose a specific botanical mix: coral-toned Ranunculus as the primary bloom, supported by succulents, Astrantia, Berzelia, and clubmoss greenery, with twine-wrapped stems. The result is one of the more botanically specific stamp designs in the Wedding and Celebration series.

The offset lithography and photographic reproduction give the floral colors a richness that earlier printing methods could not have achieved for a subject this detailed.

STEVEN SAYS

The specific flowers are worth noting: Ranunculus, succulents, Astrantia, Berzelia, clubmoss. Someone put real thought into that arrangement. The USPS Wedding and Celebration series is worth collecting as a set if you have a few of them.