Scott #4622b: Bonsai Forever Stamps Full Booklet of 20 MNH

2012 Bonsai Forever Stamps – Complete Pane of 20 (Scott #4622b)

Celebrate the living art of bonsai with the 2012 USPS Bonsai Forever stamp pane, one of the most admired floral-themed U.S. commemorative issues of the modern era. Each design highlights a masterful miniature tree, perfectly showcasing the harmony, patience, and artistry of Japanese tradition.

Collector Highlights:

• Scott Catalog Number: 4622b (Full double-sided pane of 20; individual designs #4618–4622)
• Year of Issue: 2012
• Format: Double-sided booklet pane of 20 self-adhesive Forever stamps (five designs repeated four times)
• Condition: Mint Never Hinged (MNH) – pristine, post-office fresh, and collector grade
• Designer & Artist: Art by John D. Dawson; design direction by Ethel Kessler
• Theme: Bonsai / Flora / Trees / Asian Art / Botanical Illustration

Why Collect This Issue:

The Bonsai Forever stamps are a favorite among collectors of flora, gardening, and Asian art themes. Each tree symbolizes balance and endurance — qualities deeply rooted in bonsai’s centuries-old tradition. This pane offers a serene contrast to modern commemoratives, making it ideal for both topical and design-focused collections.

More About This Item:

Issued on January 23, 2012, in Sacramento, California, this USPS release features five classic bonsai species — Sierra Juniper, Trident Maple, Black Pine, Azalea, and Banyan — rendered with exquisite color and detail. This Mint Never Hinged complete pane celebrates nature as art, perfectly blending botanical beauty with cultural heritage.

Collector Insight:

Among the most elegant Forever issues of the 2010s, the Bonsai pane continues to hold strong cross-category appeal — equally valued by collectors of U.S. moderns, art-on-stamps enthusiasts, and nature philatelists alike.