Signed, Sealed and Delivered for 250 Years

"For the United States Postal Service, today is a milestone 250 years in the making," said Postmaster General and Chief Executive Officer David Steiner. "These stamps will serve as a window into our shared history. They represent enduring values that I — and every American — can learn from: perseverance, trust and imagination. As we unveil these stamps today, I ask all of you to use the mail to stay connected, especially when we feel ourselves starting to drift apart."

Amber McReynolds, USPS Board of Governors chairwoman, joined the newly appointed Postmaster General for the ceremony. "Today, we celebrate this magnificent organization which has shaped our nation's culture, powered its economy and connected each one of us to each other for 250 years. I hope these stamps will serve as reminders of the impact these tiny pieces of artwork have had on our shared democracy, our economy, and our connectivity as a nation."

The founding of the postal system in 1775 was vital to achieving independence and laying the foundation for a unified nation. Today, America's first communications network still serves the same ideals, connecting individuals, communities and businesses through an exchange of ideas, information and goods.

The Postal Service's 640,000 employees exemplify those ideals every day. Letter carriers make up more than half of the USPS workforce. In snow, rain, heat and gloom of night, carriers reach the American public where they live and work, six and sometimes seven days a week. They are friends, neighbors and in some cases, heroes. Making their appointed rounds regularly, Postal Service employees are members of our communities — a human presence with a unique, observant familiarity with the neighborhoods they serve.

In some situations, carriers go above and beyond the call of duty, being the first to recognize a problem and alert emergency personnel. These actions have saved lives on many occasions and are recognized under the Postmaster General Heroes' Program. Postal operations are often some of the first services restored after a natural disaster; the presence of carriers offers a sense of normalcy and helps maintain connections within communities.

Behind the scenes and at America's doorstep, 640,000 dedicated employees work toward a shared mission to provide the nation with reliable, affordable, universal mail service. Whether it's the carrier delivering mail, the mechanic keeping their vehicle running, the retail associate at a local Post Office location or the mail handlers ensuring that every envelope or package gets sent to the right destination, USPS employees are working together to serve the country.

The Postal Service is a marvel of the modern age and of the cumulative experience of 250 years. The everyday story of connecting Americans near and far by mail is meticulously depicted in the artwork for one of the stamp sets being released today: 250 Years of Delivering. Offering a bird's-eye view of a bustling town, each individual stamp is a frame of sequential art that tells the story of a mail carrier's journey as she walks her daily route. The story progresses clockwise through a year's four seasons.

The artwork also contains numerous postal icons such as collection boxes, a post rider on horseback and delivery vehicles. Collectively, the pane represents the faithful presence of USPS throughout the year.

Chris Ware created the stamp artwork and co-designed the pane with Antonio Alcalá, an art director for USPS.

The 250 Years of Delivering stamps are issued as a pane of 20 Forever stamps, which will always be equal in value to the current First-Class Mail 1-ounce price. News of the stamps is being shared with the hashtag #250YearsOfDelivering.

'Putting a Stamp on the American Experience' booklet

Postage stamps delight, entertain and educate, sparking curiosity about history, art, nature and science. Highlighting a wide range of subjects and history gives the U.S. stamp program its remarkable range. The 32-page prestige booklet, "Putting a Stamp on the American Experience," provides an in-depth look at some of the Postal Service's most popular stamps.

The booklet, only the fourth ever issued by the Postal Service, is illustrated with specially selected stamps and artwork from more than 75 previous issuances, both recent and vintage. Some pages in the booklet pay tribute to long-running series or spotlight interests such as national parks, sports, nature and flags. Other pages show how each new generation of designers commemorates traditional subjects in the visual language of their time. The booklet also points out recent innovations in printing and recognizes the importance of stamps that raise awareness of, and sometimes funds for, important causes.

Available exclusively with the "Putting a Stamp on the American Experience" booklet are two self-adhesive sheets of 10 stamps featuring the first postmaster general, Benjamin Franklin. The stamp represents both tradition and innovation by featuring a "reframed" modern interpretation of an 1875 reproduction of one of the first two official U.S. postage stamps from 1847.

As one of the first U.S. stamp subjects, Franklin is a longtime icon of the stamp program, appearing on more than 100 issuances in the 178-year history of American stamps. Appointed postmaster general of the Colonies by the Second Continental Congress in 1775, Franklin had previously served as both postmaster of Philadelphia and one of two deputy postmasters general appointed by the British Crown. He appreciated that the postal system could help unite the Colonies — and the nation they became. As a printer, scientist and diplomat, he played a monumental role in shaping American culture, and his postal legacy of adaptability and innovation continues to inspire the modern-day Postal Service.

Rendered in blue instead of the original reddish brown, the stamp reproduction was created by combining two printing techniques. The intaglio process, which incises the image into metal plates, was used to evoke the texture and appearance of classic engraved stamps. The surrounding area balances tradition with modernity by rendering it with smooth precision through offset printing.

The Benjamin Franklin stamps are issued as Forever stamps and will only be available through the purchase of the "Putting a Stamp on the American Experience" prestige booklet. Booklets are available for purchase through the Postal Store, by calling 844-737-7826, or by mail through USA Philatelic. News of the stamp and booklet is being shared with the hashtag #USPS250booklet.

Stamp Encore Contest

Today the U.S. Postal Service launches the Stamp Encore contest, offering the public a chance to vote on any of 25 preselected, previously issued stamps as part of the 2026 stamp program. The public can go to StampsForever.com/vote to cast votes and put a "stamp" on an upcoming release. Voting will take place from July 23 to Sept. 30.

Postal Products

Customers may purchase stamps and other philatelic products through the Postal Store at usps.com/shopstamps, by calling 844-737-7826, by mail through USA Philatelic, or at Post Office locations nationwide. For officially licensed stamp products, shop the USPS Officially Licensed Collection on Amazon. Additional information on stamps, First Day of Issue Ceremonies and stamp-inspired products can be found at StampsForever.com.

Please Note: The United States Postal Service is an independent federal establishment, mandated to be self-financing and to serve every American community through the affordable, reliable and secure delivery of mail and packages to nearly 169 million addresses six and often seven days a week. Overseen by a bipartisan Board of Governors, the Postal Service is implementing a 10-year transformation plan, Delivering for America, to modernize the postal network, restore long-term financial sustainability, dramatically improve service across all mail and shipping categories, and maintain the organization as one of America's most valued and trusted brands.

The Postal Service generally receives no tax dollars for operating expenses and relies on the sale of postage, products and services to fund its operations.

For USPS media resources, including broadcast-quality video and audio and photo stills, visit the USPS Newsroom. Follow us on X, formerly known as Twitter; Facebook; Instagram; Pinterest; Threads; and LinkedIn. Subscribe to the USPS YouTube Channel. For more information about the Postal Service, visit usps.com and facts.usps.com.

National contact: Melissa Chavez
[email protected]

Local contact: Mark Wahl
[email protected]
usps.com/news

SOURCE U.S. Postal Service