WASHINGTON, DC — The U.S. Postal Service issued the Bugs Bunny commemorative Forever stamps today, the character’s 80th birthday. The Bugs Bunny stamps were dedicated in a virtual ceremony and are now being sold at Post Office locations nationwide and online.

“It’s a special privilege to celebrate the 80th anniversary of one of the most popular and iconic characters in history”, said dedicating official Kristin Seaver, chief information officer and executive vice president of, the U.S. Postal Service. “Bugs is both timeless and timely, a quick-change artist who can get out of a jam, and win any battle, through his wits and clever disguises. He simply summons up whatever talent, costume, or personality is needed to escape every perilous situation.”

Seaver was joined for the ceremony by Pete Browngardt, executive producer of “Looney Tunes Cartoons,” and Alex Kirwan, supervising producer of “Looney Tunes Cartoons.” The virtual stamp event can be viewed on the Postal Service’s Facebook and Twitter pages.

The stamp artwork was developed in partnership with Warner Bros. Consumer Products, featuring work from Warner Bros. Animation artists. The stamps show iconic moments of Bugs Bunny’s career. Warner Bros. Animation artists also created the sketches on the back of the stamp pane. Greg Breeding was the designer, and William J. Gicker served as art director for the Postal Service.

The Bugs Bunny pane of 20 stamps will be issued as Forever stamps, meaning they will always be equal in value to the current First-Class Mail 1ounce price.

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Since his debut in the short-subject cartoon “A Wild Hare” in 1940, generations of audiences have cheered Bugs’ gleeful gusto, quick wit, and endless clever resourcefulness. To outwit the opposition, he can conjure dynamite, cherry pies, and mallets out of thin air; dance like a seasoned hoofer; play piano, and conduct orchestras. He summons up any talent — and any costume — that will help him thwart his relentless foes.

Born of a team of young animators who produced Looney Tunes and Merrie Melodies cartoons for Warner Bros., Bugs’ name came from one of those early cartoonists; “Bugs” and “Bugsy” were trendy nicknames at the time, signifying a crazed or wacky disposition. The catchy alliterative sound of “Bugs Bunny” partnered well with the names of cohorts Porky Pig and Daffy Duck.

With global star power, Bugs Bunny has graced screens of all sizes, from television and movies to phones and tablets. Eighty 11-minute episodes of the new “Looney Tunes Cartoons” reintroduce Bugs Bunny along with other marquee Looney Tunes characters in gag-driven shorts that include classic storylines adapted for present-day audiences. The Oscar-winning rabbit has also been honored with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.

U.S. Forever Pane of 20 Postage Stamps Celebrating Bugs Bunny and His Marvelous Masquerades Over His 80-Year Career This issuance celebrates Bugs Bunny and the marvelous masquerades he has employed to foil foes over the course of his 80-year career. The sheet of 20 Bugs Bunny stamps features bugs in 10 classic costumes. Original stamp artwork is based on iconic moments of Bugs Bunny’s career.

On the first row of stamps bugs appear as a barber with a white Smock and pointy scissors; achieves “Airness” on the brink of a slam-dunk in his basketball jersey; Debonair is a beret, ascot, smoking jacket, and shades as a screen Idol in his Hollywood digs; jokes it up as a jester in bright green garb and fool’s cap; and does a diva turn as an operatic Brunhilde in blonde braids and winged helmet. On the second row of stamps, Bug is a mermaid in a curly 1940s up-do; is classically composed in white tie and tails at the piano; heroically poses as the carrot-powered Super-Rabbit with a blue suit and red cape; warms up to pitch a big-league ballgame, and helps save the planet as a World War II U.S. Army staff sergeant in combat uniform with an American-flag backdrop. The oscar-winning rabbit has also been honored with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame Warner Brothers entertainment Inc. created original stamp artwork, especially for this issuance featuring work from Warner Brothers animation artist, who also created the selvage artwork and Verso sketches.

Best known for his impeccable impersonations and his masterful masquerades, the 10 designs on this page showcase a costumed Bugs Bunny in some of his most memorable getups. “Bugs” and “Bugsy” were trendy nicknames at the time, signifying a crazed or wacky disposition. Since his debut in the short-subject cartoon “A Wild Hare” in 1940, generations of audiences have cheered Bugs’ gleeful gusto, quick wit, and endless clever resourcefulness. In addition to the stamps, 80 new eleven-minute Looney Tunes Cartoons adapted for present-day audiences from classic storylines will be aired on HBO Max. The stamps and the reverse of the pane were created especially for this issue by Warner Bros. animation artists.