USPS Releases 25 New Forever Stamps Honoring American Revolution Figures

The collection features portraits of influential men and women who helped shape America's independence.

Published on Mar. 8, 2026

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The U.S. Postal Service (USPS) has announced the release of a pane of 25 new Forever stamps honoring diverse figures of the American Revolution. The collection, titled "Figures of the American Revolution," features portraits of political leaders, writers, and military figures, both well-known and lesser-known, who played instrumental roles in America's fight for independence. The stamps were created by 12 different artists under the art direction of USPS Art Director Ethel Kessler.

Why it matters

As the nation prepares to celebrate 250 years of independence, this stamp collection provides a visual narrative of the courage, conviction, and collective effort that went into forging the United States. By highlighting a diverse array of influential figures, the stamps aim to reflect the complexity and inclusivity of the American Revolution.

The details

The 25-stamp pane features five rows of five stamps, each with a portrait specifically commissioned for this release. The collection includes illustrations by artists such as Tim O'Brien, Dale Stephanos, Marc Burckhardt, and Kam Mak, using a variety of mediums from traditional oil paints to digital media. While some of the figures, like George Washington, Abigail Adams, and Benjamin Franklin, are well-known, the collection also features lesser-known but equally important individuals, including James Armistead, Deborah Sampson, and Cornplanter.

  • The stamps will be released on Friday, April 10, 2026.
  • The first-day-of-issue event will take place from April 10 to April 12, 2026 at the Smithsonian National Postal Museum in Washington, D.C.

The players

Ethel Kessler

USPS Art Director who oversaw the design and art direction of the "Figures of the American Revolution" stamp collection.

Tim O'Brien

One of the artists who contributed illustrations to the stamp collection.

Dale Stephanos

One of the artists who contributed illustrations to the stamp collection.

Marc Burckhardt

One of the artists who contributed illustrations to the stamp collection.

Kam Mak

One of the artists who contributed illustrations to the stamp collection.

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What they’re saying

“It's unusual to design a pane of stamps featuring 25 different portraits. But that number felt essential. How else could you begin to tell the story of the Revolution's complexity with fewer?”

— Ethel Kessler, USPS Art Director (USPS press release)

What’s next

The first-day-of-issue event for the "Figures of the American Revolution" stamp collection will take place on Friday, April 10, 2026 at the Smithsonian National Postal Museum in Washington, D.C. and will continue through the weekend.

The takeaway

This stamp collection provides a comprehensive and inclusive representation of the diverse individuals who played pivotal roles in the American Revolution, honoring their courage, conviction, and collective effort in forging the United States. By highlighting both well-known and lesser-known figures, the stamps aim to reflect the complexity and significance of this historic event.