250 Years of the USA: United States (1776 – 2026)

On July 4, Americans celebrate their Independence Day. For many Americans, the national holiday revolves around fireworks displays and flag-waving. Pomp and circumstance. Patriotism. Yet, that day also has a deeper layer. July 4 marks the period that began 250 years ago, when the country came into existence. The state took on its first contours then with the appearance of two documents: first the Declaration of Independence and, somewhat later, the Constitution. The ideals, rights, and freedoms of citizens were written down for the first time.

250 Years of USA by Ralph Lauren

The U.S. Postal Service honors the nation's 250th anniversary with stamps featuring American icons, created by Ralph Lauren.

NEW YORK — The U.S. Postal Service (USPS) announced today that it will honor the 250th anniversary of the United States with the issuance of American Icons, a collection of 13 commemorative stamps created by legendary American designer Ralph Lauren.

The panel celebrates shared national values ​​and the enduring spirit that has characterized the American experience for 2,5 centuries. This is the first time the postal service has invited an individual to curate a complete official series of USPS stamps.

Ralph Lauren has influenced American style for nearly 60 years with his enduring creative vision, deeply rooted in rich American heritage, landscape, culture, and art. Lauren, who received the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2025, is living proof of the boundless possibilities of creativity, determination, and the American Dream. Born in 1939 in the Bronx, New York, Mr. Lauren began his remarkable journey by selling his first collection of ties from a single drawer in the Empire State Building and subsequently built one of the most iconic lifestyle brands in the world. Throughout his life, he has dedicated himself to the preservation of American cultural traditions, particularly through his commitment to the preservation and protection of the 1813 flag, which served as the inspiration for the American national anthem and became the national symbol—The Star-Spangled Banner—for future generations.

The American Icons stamp collection features 13 photos, selected from the Ralph Lauren archive and from images that inspired him and reflect the unique structure of the nation, with symbols such as freedom, independence, equality, opportunity, and the pursuit of happiness. The designs include:

• The American flag, our symbol of freedom, resilience, unity, and courage.
• The baseball glove that Jackie Robinson used is an enduring symbol of equality, teamwork, and perseverance.
• The worn and weathered pickup truck symbolizes the honesty of hard work.
• The faithful dog, always steadfast in loyalty and trust.
• The Empire State Building towers high above everything as a symbol of possibility and ingenuity.
• The barn, forever a metaphor for utility, purpose, and community.
• The Diné (Navajo) blanket, woven by Naiomi Glasses, is a tribute to the beauty of traditional craftsmanship.
• The teddy bear symbolizes compassion, kindness, and comfort.
• The lighthouse shines as a beacon of guidance, hope, and optimism.
• The hamburger, a central part of the American family gathering, with the barbecue and the celebrations that unite us.
• The racing sailboat embodies the passionate energy of competition.
• The horses, running around in the wild, embody the spirit of independence and the freedom that we all strive for.

The twelve stamps each feature the title “American Icons” and the words “FOREVER” and “USA” in white letters in the upper left or right corner. In the center of the stamp sheet, surrounded by blue denim and framed by the other twelve stamps, a thirteenth stamp depicts a knitted flag designed by Ralph Lauren, with the text “1776 to 2026”. At the top edge is the text “American Icons CURATED BY RALPH LAUREN” and the bottom line reads “Celebrating 250 Years of the United States of America”.

The American Icons stamps are issued in sheets of 13. Because they are Forever stamps, they always retain the same value as the current rate for a 1-ounce (approximately 28 grams) first-class letter.

The stamp for use in 2026

Inspired by the artistic design of the American Icons collection, the 2026 American flag stamp will feature a detailed photograph of a knitted interpretation of the American flag, taken from Ralph Lauren's iconic Flag Sweater. This stamp, one of the most durable and widely used in the U.S. postal service, will be available in sheets, booklets, and rolls in a smaller, standard size for general postal use.

Source: USPS Press Release.

250 years of Declaration of Independence (1776)

On July 4, 2026, the United States Postal Service will issue the Declaration of Independence stamp, in a single design, on a sheet of 20 self-adhesive stamps. With this stamp, the U.S. Postal Service celebrates the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence. The striking design in red, white, and blue displays the year “1776” placed vertically against a dark blue background. Each numeral is shaped like a quill, a reference to the instruments used to sign the nation’s founding document.

Figures of the American Revolution

BOSTON — Today saw a special reissue of the stamps featuring figures from the American Revolution at the 2026 Boston World's Fair, as part of the theme day honoring heroes.

The stamps featuring images of figures from the American Revolution have been released in honor of the 250th anniversary of the United States, which is being celebrated this year. The stamps display 25 individual portraits of some of the people whose actions contributed to the American Revolution and the establishment of U.S. independence.

The stamps were first unveiled during an interactive exhibition at the Smithsonian's National Postal Museum on April 10. This second unveiling at the World Stamp Show is intended to highlight the contributions of these important Americans in Boston, one of the cradles of the revolution.

“It is no exaggeration to say that this is one of the most ambitious stamp projects we have ever undertaken,” said Nicholas Sucich, Director of Digital Communications at the USPS. “Twenty-five stamps. Twelve different artists using diverse approaches and techniques. Oil paint, watercolor, chalk, acrylic, graphite, tempera, digital.”

“The team behind these stamps collaborated for years with historians and experts to ensure that the story and portrait of each person were accurate and scientifically substantiated. It was a monumental achievement. … We at the postal service naturally hope that you will buy the stamps. But even more importantly, we hope that you will want to know more about these early patriots and the guiding principles they established that continue to give us direction to this day.”

'Give me freedom or give me death!'

Before the start of the American Revolutionary War, resistance to British rule and taxation was growing in the thirteen colonies. This resistance came from all socioeconomic strata: writers and activists; women and men (both enslaved and free); Native Americans; and lawyers and legislators. France and Spain also provided crucial international support. Their alliance lent legitimacy to the struggle, showed the rest of the world that the fight for independence was serious, and strengthened the military position of the colonies. The American Revolution lasted nearly a decade and reshaped the young nation and world politics.

Work of art

Ethel Kessler, art director at USPS, was in charge of the ambitious project. “It is unusual to design a sheet of stamps with 25 different portraits,” she said. “But that number felt essential. How else could you tell the story of the complexity of the Revolution with fewer portraits?”

The 25 portraits are arranged in five rows of five. Below each portrait is the name of the person and a short description in black ink. At the bottom of each stamp are the words “USA” and “Forever” in gray. Each portrait is based on a historical image of the person depicted.

Some figures look the viewer directly in the eyes, while others look at their neighbors on the panel. Still others look further ahead, as if gazing into the future. An image of the American flag is placed behind the portraits. The flag has been edited so that the stars and stripes appear softly faded, forming a unifying background for the 25 faces, while the portraits remain visually dominant.

The block of stamps is set against a larger background featuring an image of the Declaration of Independence, adding an extra layer of historical context. At the very top of the sheet is the text: “Forging America’s bold new beginning through courage, leadership, and sacrifice.”

Front row ​​Abigail Adams, John Adams, Agwalongdongwas, James Armistead and Cornplanter.

In the second row are ​John Dickinson, Benjamin Franklin, Elizabeth Freeman, Bernardo de Gálvez and Nathanael Greene.

The third row shows Alexander Hamilton, Lemuel Haynes, Patrick Henry, John Jay and Thomas Jefferson.

In the fourth row stand Thaddeus Kosciuszko, Marquis de Lafayette, James Madison, Thomas Paine, and Esther DeBerdt Reed.

In the fifth and final row stand Paul Revere, Deborah Sampson, Baron von Steuben, Mercy Otis Warren, and George Washington.

Each portrait was created especially for the postal service by one of the 12 artists: Julia Bottoms, Kam Mak, Tim O'Brien, Alex Bostic, Gary Kelley, Michael J. Deas, Karla Ortiz, Roberto Parada, Dale Stephanos, Marc Burckhardt, Sharon Irla, and Julia Kolesova.

The diverse approaches of the artists reflect the individuality of the sitters. Some worked with traditional oil paint or egg tempera, others with pastel crayons or digital media, resulting in a collection that strikes a balance between historical likenesses and fresh, contemporary interpretations.

The stamps featuring images of the American Revolution are issued in sheets of 25. Because they are 'Forever' stamps, they always retain the same value as the current rate for a 1-ounce (approximately 28 grams) first-class letter.

View US stamps at PostBeeld here