Why Is FOREVER Crossed Out on Stamp Images?
The line through FOREVER that appears in many catalog and online images is usually a digital specimen mark intended to prevent image misuse. It is not normally printed that way on the physical stamp.
Image Protection, Not a Postal Rule
Postal administrations and retailers may display a defaced reference image with a line, overlay, or other alteration. That makes the online artwork less useful for copying. The mark belongs to the display image, not to the service definition of a Forever stamp.
What a Buyer Should Check
- Read the product description and inspect multiple images.
- Confirm the formal issue and postal category.
- Check whether the listing explicitly says the image is a sample.
- Inspect the delivered physical item and compare it with authoritative issue records.
Do Not Confuse It With Cancellation
A postal cancellation is applied after a stamp is used or processed. A catalog-image line through a word is a different thing. If a delivered unused stamp itself has unexplained printing or damage, pause before using it and ask the seller for clarification.
Image overlays should not be confused with physical cancellation marks; compare the actual product details shown in the current product listings.
Sources and Scope
A line or overlay in a product image can be an image-protection device. It does not by itself authenticate the physical stamp.