Forever Stamps 2026 Figures of the American Revolution – Commemorative Issue, First-Class Postage

As the nation marks its 250th anniversary, this pane brings together portraits of 25 people whose vision, leadership, and sacrifices helped define the American Revolution. The honorees range from the well-known, such as George Washington, Abigail Adams, and Benjamin Franklin, to those less often recognized, including James Armistead, Deborah Sampson, and Cornplanter. Together, they remind us that independence was secured by the contributions of many.

Art director Ethel Kessler oversaw the ambitious project. “It’s unusual to design a pane of stamps featuring 25 different portraits,” she notes. “But that number felt essential. How else could you begin to tell the story of the Revolution’s complexity with fewer?”

Each portrait was newly created specially for the Postal Service by one of 12 artists. Their varied approaches reflect the individuality of the subjects. Some worked in traditional oil paints or egg tempera, others in pastels or digital media, resulting in a collection that balances historical likenesses with fresh, contemporary interpretations.