From the USPS on October 29, 2025:
As the nation marks the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence, the Postal Service pays tribute to the document that gave voice to America’s founding ideals. Designed and created by Juan Carlos Pagan, the stamp art features a typographic treatment of “1776,” the year the declaration was adopted. Each numeral takes the shape of a feather quill pen, a nod to the instruments used to sign the nation’s founding document. Pagan worked under the direction of Greg Breeding, an art director for USPS.
More details will be posted below the line, with the most recent information at the top.
Updated May 28th from the Postal Bulletin:
On July 4, 2026, in Philadelphia, PA, the United States Postal Service® will issue the Declaration of Independence stamp (Forever® priced at the First-Class Mail® rate), in one design, in a pressure-sensitive adhesive (PSA) pane of 20 stamps (Item 489000). This stamp will go on sale nationwide July 4, 2026, and must not be sold or canceled before the first-day-of-issue.
With this stamp, the U.S. Postal Service celebrates the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence. The bold stamp design in red, white, and blue features the year “1776” arranged vertically against a deeper blue background. Each numeral takes the shape of a feather quill pen, a nod to the instruments used to sign the nation’s founding document. Juan Carlos Pagan created the stamp design and typography. Greg Breeding art – directed the project.
Automatic distribution.
How to Order the First-Day-of-Issue Postmark:
The first-day-of-issue postmark is a postmark notating the day a stamp is first authorized for use by the Postal Service™. Customers have 120 days to obtain the first-day-of-issue postmark by mail. All requests for first-day-of-issue postmarks (Traditional or Digital Color Postmark) should be sent to the following address with the choice of Traditional or Digital Color Postmark identified. All orders must be postmarked by November 4, 2026.
FDOI – Declaration of Independence Stamp
USPS Stamp Fulfillment Services
8300 NE Underground Drive, Suite 300
Kansas City, MO 64144-9900
Technical Specifications:
Issue: Declaration of Independence Stamp
Item Number: 489000
Denomination & Type of Issue: First-Class Mail Forever®
Format: Pane of 20 (1 design)
Series: N/A
Issue Date & City: July 4, 2026, Philadelphia, PA 19104
Art Director: Greg Breeding, Charlottesville, VA
Designer: Juan Carlos Pagan, New York, NY
Typographer: Juan Carlos Pagan, New York, NY
Modeler: Sandra Lane / Michelle Finn
Manufacturing Process: Offset/Flexographic
Printer: Banknote Corporation of America
Press Type: Gallus RCS
Stamps per Pane: 20
Print Quantity: 15,000,000 stamps
Paper Type: Phosphor, Block Tag
Adhesive Type: Pressure-sensitive
Colors: PMS 199 C, PMS 2170 C, PMS 4144 C
Stamp Orientation (1): Vertical
Image Area (w x h): 0.8400 x 1.4200 in. / 21.3360 x 36.0680 mm.
Overall Size (w x h): 0.9800 x 1.5600 in. / 24.8920 x 39.6240 mm.
Full Pane Size (w x h): 5.9200 x 7.6500 in. / 150.3680 x 194.3100 mm.
Press Sheet Size (w x h): 11.8400 x 23.2000 in. / 300.7360 x 589.2800 mm.
Plate Size: 120 stamps per revolution
Plate Number: “B” followed by three (3) single digits
Marginal Markings:
Front: Header: The Declaration of Independence • Plate number in bottom two corners of pane
Back: © 2025 USPS • USPS logo • Two barcodes (489000) • Plate position diagram (6) • Promotional text
Updated February 17th:
This stamp will be issued July 4 in Philadelphia.
Just one stamp?
There also is a series of stamps on the American Revolution. They’re already on sale.
But this stamp really is about as hollow as a “historic” stamp could look.
Not at all impressed with the design.
The feather motif is so strong that the first time I saw it I thought the stamp was aviary in nature.
You actually have to see beyond the motif in order to make out the year.
I think the 250th anniversary of of the Declaration of Independence deserves a lot better design.
Are post offices Nation Wide going to open on July 4th ? I have heard conflicting reports on that
Will the stamps be issued only in Philadelphia? Only in the main Post Office?
What will the office hours be?
I bought the Bicentennial stamps in Philadelphia at the main post office in Philadelphia on July 4, 1976. I hope to get the special 250 stamps on this Fourth of July.
Where can we purchase the July 4th stamp on July 4th?
Why does the Postal Service never tell us this?
We should get an announcement about the first-day ceremony, and that would be at least one place where you can buy the stamp on July 4th. The ceremony announcements are generally sent out a month before the first-day date, although this one might be late because many Stamp Services people were at Boston 2026 this past week. For somewhere close to where you live, I’d check the “retail hours” of the main post office in a major city near you.
Dear U.S. Postal Service,
Where will the Fourth of July “Quill” stamp be sold, for sale physically, on this coming Fourth of July (2026)??
Will it be available for sale at the Philadelphia Post Office?
Will it be available for sale at any other Postal Service post office?
Anywhere else?