Forever Stamps 2026 Bald Eagle: Hatchling to Adult – Nature Series, First-Class Postage

On June 20, 1782, an Act of Congress officially adopted the bald eagle as America’s national symbol. Often associated with patriotism, Congress chose the bald eagle, which is native to North America, to embody American ideals like freedom, courage, strength, and power. A bald eagle is the centerpiece of America’s Great Seal, which is used to authenticate formal government documents, emphasizing the eagle’s importance as a symbol of the United States. On the seal, a bald eagle is shown supporting a shield on its breast, with 13 red and white stripes representing the 13 original states. A bald eagle also appears in the logo for the U.S. Postal Service and on currency and military insignia, as well as on countless buildings, flags, and commercial products across the country.

Bald eagles are also important to many Native American cultures. Eagle feathers have been used in cultural and religious ceremonies for thousands of years, and eagles themselves are the focus of many Native legends.

Designed by art director Derry Noyes, the Bald Eagle: Hatchling to Adult stamps continue a long tradition of featuring these iconic birds of prey on U.S. stamps. Two of the earliest stamps with an illustration of a bald eagle were released in 1869. Since then, bald eagles have appeared multiple times on stamps at many different rates as well as on stamped envelopes and stamped cards with designs as varied as an art deco illustration and a photograph of a carving from a wall plaque. For this stamp project, Noyes chose to go in a different direction, using naturalistic images rather than the stylized art of most past issuances.