WASHINGTON, DC — Complementary in design, organic floral designs grace the newest stamps offered by the U.S. Postal Service. The Contemporary Boutonniere and Garden Corsage stamps are available for purchase nationwide April 2.

The first-day-of-issue ceremony has been canceled due to social distancing guidance.

The Contemporary Boutonniere stamp is especially suited for RSVP envelopes often enclosed with wedding invitations and is perfect for other invitations, thank-you notes, announcements or any personal correspondence. Contemporary Boutonniere is issued as a Forever stamp in panes of 20. This stamp is always equal in value to the current First-Class Mail 1-ounce price.

“Two Ounce” printed on the Garden Corsage stamp denotes it can accommodate the weight of heavy invitations, oversize greeting cards and mailings that require extra postage. Like a Forever stamp, this stamp will always be valid for the First-Class Mail 2-ounce rate.

For centuries, boutonnieres — or buttonhole flowers, as they were called in Britain — were a staple part of a well-dressed man’s outfit. A single flower pinned to a lapel or inserted into a jacket buttonhole was part of a debonair man’s wardrobe for most of the 20th century. A boutonniere can also be worn by a woman who prefers something petite or tailored in design.

The word “corsage” was shortened from the original French term “bouquets de corsage,” which referred to the bodice of a dress, where small bouquets were pinned. Corsages were fashionable for daily wear in earlier centuries, particularly during the 1700s and 1800s, but gradually they began to be worn mostly on formal occasions.

The boutonniere and corsage continue to be fashionable accessories worn at weddings and other special occasions.

The stamp artwork features modern botanical styles arranged by floral designer Carol Caggiano. An arrangement of a burgundy mini-cymbidium orchid bloom, a succulent and a touch of green hydrangea accented with loops of variegated lily grass create a sleek boutonniere. A cream-colored ribbon entwines a spray of petite peach roses and a pink ranunculus, accented with deep-pink heather and seeded eucalyptus, to create a chic botanical presentation for the corsage.

Both arrangements were photographed by Renée Comet. Ethel Kessler was the art director.

News of these stamps is being shared with the hashtags #BoutonniereStamp and #CorsageStamp.

Postal Products
Customers may purchase stamps and other philatelic products through the Postal Store at usps.com/shopstamps, by calling 800-STAMP24 (800-782-6724), by mail through USA Philatelic, or at Post Office locations nationwide.

Information on ordering first-day-of-issue postmarks and covers is at usps.com/shop.

The Postal Service receives no tax dollars for operating expenses and relies on the sale of postage, products and services to fund its operations.

###