Liberty stamp mistake: USPS uses Vegas replica on forever stamp

Liberty stamp mistake: The design is not based on the statue in New York Harbor but on a replica outside the New York-New York casino hotel in Las Vegas.

Postal officials say the stamp was designed from a photo provided by an agency which licensed it only as 'Statue of Liberty.'

© United States Postal Service All rights reserved

April 15, 2011

The Statue of Liberty forever stamp is a wannabe.

The design is not based on the statue in New York Harbor but on a replica outside the New York-New York casino hotel in Las Vegas.

Postal officials say they weren't aware of that until a stamp expert pointed it out. They say the stamp was designed from a photo provided by an agency which licensed it only as "Statue of Liberty."

However, USPS officials say they like the design and have no plans to pull it out of circulation.

The stamp was issued in December.

The Las Vegas Review-Journal first reported the story on Thursday.