List of People Featured on U.S. Postage Stamps

The United States has a rich history of honoring notable individuals on its postage stamps. Martin Luther King Jr. was the first African American to be featured on a U.S. postage stamp, in 1979.

Harriet Tubman, a prominent abolitionist and women's rights activist, was featured on a U.S. postage stamp in 1978. This recognition came 101 years after her death.

Abraham Lincoln, the 16th President of the United States, was featured on a U.S. postage stamp in 1869, just four years after his assassination.

The 6-cent Roosevelt stamp was issued in 1966 to honor the nation's thirty-first president, Franklin D. Roosevelt, who led the country through the Great Depression and World War II.

Roosevelt was a New York state senator from 1910 and later became president in 1932, proposing sweeping programs called the "New Deal" to bring recovery to business and agriculture and relief to the unemployed.

The 6-cent Roosevelt stamp was used to pay the domestic first-class letter rate when that rate became six cents on January 7, 1968.

The 10-cent Jackson stamp, on the other hand, was issued in 1967 to honor the seventh president of the United States, Andrew Jackson, who won fame for his military victory at the battle of New Orleans in the War of 1812.

Jackson's persona as a man of the people can best be stated in his own words, emphasizing the importance of equal protection under the law and the need to prevent the rich from getting richer and the powerful from getting more powerful.

The 4-cent Lincoln stamp is a notable example of a Prominent Americans stamp, featuring Abraham Lincoln's profile with a log cabin background. It was the first of its kind to be issued.

This stamp was designed by Bill Hyde, based on a Mathew Brady photograph. The background was inspired by a photograph of the Cooperage at the Onstott residence in New Salem, Illinois.

The 4-cent Lincoln stamp was printed as a sheet stamp from plates of four hundred, sold in panes of one hundred stamps with gauge 11 x 10.5 perforations.

The 5-cent Washington stamp has a fascinating history. George Washington, the first president, has appeared on more U.S. stamps than any individual, due to the reverence in which he is held.

The 5-cent blue stamp was issued in Washington, D.C. in 1966. It was printed from plates of 400 and sold in panes of 100 stamps with gauge 11 x 10.5 perforations.

The stamp was designed by Bill Hyde after a portrait by Rembrandt Peale, which is displayed at the National Gallery of Art. The engraving of the vignette was done by Charles A. Brooks, and the lettering was engraved by William R. Burnell.

The initial version of the stamp presented an unflattering image of Washington, leading to criticism. This led to a new engraved version, which was issued in 1967.

The 5-cent Washington stamp was initially used to pay the domestic first-class letter rate in effect from January 7, 1963.

The 10-cent Jackson stamp was issued on March 17, 1967, the 200th anniversary of Jackson's birth, in Hermitage, Tennessee.

It was produced in sheet format and sold in panes of 100 stamps with gauge 11 x 10.5 perforations. The stamp was designed by Lester Beall and was based on a portrait by Thomas Sully that hangs in the National Gallery of Art.

The engravers of the stamp were Arthur W. Dintaman, who worked on the vignette, and Howard F. Sharpless, who handled the lettering. The stamp paid a variety of rates and services, including the 10-cent domestic air mail letter and the return receipt fee.

More than 75 living people have been featured on U.S. stamps, often in subtle ways. This number has been documented over the years by a writer for Linn's who has been covering this topic for 35 years.

An 1866 statute still prohibits the placement of a living person's portrait on U.S. currency and securities. However, the U.S. Postal Service has modified its interpretation of this law over time.

In recent years, a postmaster general announced that the statute does not apply to stamps, but no stamps have been issued specifically honoring living people despite this. The writer has developed a list of instances where living people have been featured on U.S. stamps.

The list includes instances where living people have been shown explicitly, such as on the 1945 3¢ stamp commemorating the raising of the American flag on Iwo Jima.

In addition to the notable figures featured on U.S. postage stamps, there are many other stamps that showcase the country's rich history and culture.

The 1901 Pan-American Exposition stamp was issued to commemorate the world's fair held in Buffalo, New York.

The 1915 Panama-Pacific International Exposition stamp featured a design inspired by the California Tower.

The 1933 World's Fair stamp was a commemorative issue for the Century of Progress Exposition held in Chicago.

The 1954 United Nations stamp was a special issue to promote international cooperation and peace.

The 1964 New York World's Fair stamp was a souvenir of the event, which showcased American culture and innovation.