12-String Bass Postage Stamps

Starting in 2004, the United States Postal Service, through its licensed vendors, allowed custom postage stamps to be created from personal photos. These stamps were available in a variety of different denominations and were popular for wedding announcements, births, and other special events. By 2020 only one vendor was still selling custom-designed postage stamps, and the service was discontinued in June of 2020. The US Postal Service cited declining sales and legal frustration involving lawsuits about what was and wasn't permitted on postage stamps.

Sheet of 20 actual postage stamps showing Mark Rowe and his fretless Hamer B12L 12-string bass.

This sheet of 20 stamps showing Mark Rowe and his fretless Hamer B12L 12-string bass may be the only such stamps to include a 12-string bass. Two sheets of 20 stamps each were printed, with a few of these stamps being used to mail letters to friends and family.

Artist mock-up of an unrealized postage stamp design. It also includes the fretless Hamer B12L 12-string bass.

Cheap Trick Local Post Stamps

These “Music Local Post” stamps appeared in early 2026 in Australia. Local post stamps such as these are not valid for mailing letters or paying postage. Typically, they are used as fund raising stamps for community projects or personal profit. Both stamps show images of Cheap Trick.