6028 – 2025 First-Class Forever Stamp – SpongeBob SquarePants: SpongeBob SquarePants and Patrick Star

US #6028
2025 SpongeBob and Patrick Star

• One of four SpongeBob SquarePants stamps
• Features characters from beloved animated TV series

Stamp Category:  Commemorative
Set:  SpongeBob SquarePants
Value:  78¢, First Class Mail Rate (Forever)
First Day of Issue:  August 1, 2025
First Day City:  New York, New York
Quantity Issued:  9,000,000
Printed by:  Banknote Corporation of America
Printing Method:  Offset/Screen
Format:  Pane of 16
Perforations :  Die Cut

Why the stamp was issued:  This is one of four stamps issued to celebrate the beloved animated series, SpongeBob SquarePants.

About the stamp design:  USPS art director Greg Breeding designed the stamps using artwork from the show.

First Day City:  The First Day of Issue ceremony took place in Times Square in New York City.

About the SpongeBob SquarePants set:  SpongeBob SquarePants isn’t just one of the most beloved cartoons of all time – it’s a pop culture icon that started with a sponge and a big idea.
Creator Stephen Hillenburg was a marine biologist before becoming an animator.  His love of sea life led him to create The Intertidal Zone, a comic to teach kids about ocean creatures, which later inspired SpongeBob and his friends in Bikini Bottom.  The show’s setting under Bikini Atoll, a real location in the Pacific Ocean, and characters like jellyfish, starfish, and plankton all reflect Hillenburg’s scientific background.
But the show also draws from classic comedy and cartoons.  SpongeBob’s silly movements and dramatic expressions were influenced by silent film stars like Charlie Chaplin and Buster Keaton, as well as zany cartoon creators like Tex Avery, Chuck Jones, and John Kricfalusi.  With its mix of science, slapstick, and sharp animation, the show has connected with audiences of all ages since its debut in 1999.
SpongeBob SquarePants has become the longest-running American children’s animated series and one of the most recognizable cartoons in the world.  It has inspired movies, memes, and musicals.  And in 2025, it made waves again with a set of US stamps celebrating its unforgettable underwater world.  The colorful characters bring their irrepressible joy to our letters.

History the stamp represents: While SpongeBob SquarePants is packed with silly jokes and sea creatures, it’s also built on meaningful themes that give the show lasting appeal: friendship, positivity, community, and loyalty.
SpongeBob’s strong bond with Patrick shows how true friendship can survive anything, even jellyfish stings and boating school disasters.  No matter how many times he fails his boating test or gets yelled at by Squidward, SpongeBob keeps smiling and trying again.  His positive attitude and determination are a big part of what makes SpongeBob such a beloved character and the show so much fun to watch.
Bikini Bottom proves time and again to be a tight-knit community – always there for each other.  The town is full of unique characters, from Mr. Krabs to Sandy to Plankton, and even though they’re all different, they form a close underwater society.  Loyalty and trust also play a big role – SpongeBob’s trust in his friends and loyalty to the Krusty Krab show how important those values are, even in the deep sea.
These themes tie back to creator Stephen Hillenburg’s marine biology roots.  In the ocean, different species rely on one another to survive, just like the characters in the show.  Kids love the goofy humor, while adults appreciate the clever writing and life lessons – making SpongeBob a true all-ages favorite.