[press release] [click on any of the pictures for larger versions]
U.S. Postal Service to Honor Nation’s 250th Anniversary
With American Icons Stamps Curated by Ralph Lauren

NEW YORK — The U.S. Postal Service (USPS) has announced it will honor the nation’s 250th anniversary with the release of American Icons, a collection of 13 commemorative stamps, curated by legendary American designer Ralph Lauren.

The pane celebrates shared national values and the enduring spirit that has defined the American experience for 2 1/2 centuries.

This marks the first time the Postal Service has invited an individual to curate a complete official USPS stamp issuance.

For nearly 60 years, Ralph Lauren has influenced American style with his enduring creative vision that is deeply rooted in the tapestry of American heritage, landscapes, cultures and artistry. A 2025 recipient of the Presidential Medal of Freedom, Lauren is a profound testament to the boundless possibilities of creativity, determination and the American dream. Born in 1939 in the Bronx NY, Mr. Lauren began his remarkable journey by selling his first line of neckties from a single drawer in the Empire State Building and subsequently built one of the most iconic global lifestyle brands in the world. Throughout his life, he has been dedicated to protecting America’s cultural traditions, most notably through his commitment to preserve and conserve the 1813 flag that inspired the nation’s national anthem and became the national symbol — “The Star-Spangled Banner” — for generations to come.

The American Icons stamp collection features 13 photographs selected from Ralph Lauren’s archive and from visuals that have inspired him and that reflect the unique fabric of the nation, representing freedom, independence, equality, opportunity and the pursuit of happiness. The designs include:

• The American Flag, our standard for freedom, resilience, unity, and bravery.
• The Baseball Glove, used by Jackie Robinson is an enduring symbol of equality, teamwork, and perseverance.
• The Pickup Truck, worn and weathered, evokes the honesty of hard work.
• The Faithful dog, always steadfast in loyalty and trust.
• The Empire State Building stands tall as a landmark of possibility and ingenuity.
• The Barn, forever a metaphor for utility, purpose, and community.
• The Diné (Navajo) Blanket, woven by Naiomi Glasses, celebrates the beauty of traditional artistry.
• The Teddy Bear represents compassion, kindness, and comfort.
• The Lighthouse shines as a beacon of guidance, hope, and optimism.
• The Hamburger, a centerpiece of the American family cookout and the celebrations that unite us.
• The Racing Sailboat captures the passionate energy of competition.
• The Horses, running wild, embody the spirit of independence and the freedom we all strive for.

The 12 stamps each include the “American Icons” title and “FOREVER” and “USA” in white text in the upper left or upper right corners. In the center of the stamp pane, surrounded by blue denim and framed by the other 12 stamps, a 13th stamp shows a knit flag designed by Ralph Lauren with text that reads “1776 to 2026.” The text at the top of the selvage reads “American Icons CURATED BY RALPH LAUREN” and the bottom row reads “Celebrating 250 Years of the United States of America.”

The American Icons stamps will be issued in panes of 13. As Forever stamps, they will always be equal in value to the current First-Class Mail 1-ounce price.

The 2026 Mail Use Stamp
Inspired by the artistry of the American Icons collection, the 2026 U.S. Flag Mail Use Stamp will feature a detailed photograph of a knitted interpretation of the U.S. flag taken from Ralph Lauren’s iconic Flag Sweater. One of the most enduring and widely used stamps in the U.S. postal system, it will be available in panes, booklets and coils in a smaller, definitive format for widespread mail use.

News about the stamps is being shared on social media using the hashtag #AmericanIconsStamps.These stamps will be available at most Post Offices, usps.com/shopstamps, or by calling 844.737.7826.

A First Look: USPS Stamp Unveiling
The dedication ceremony will take place Tuesday, June 9, at 11 a.m. Eastern at the iconic James A. Farley Post Office Building, 421 Eighth Ave., New York. Elvin Mercado, the Postal Service’s chief retail and delivery officer, will serve as the dedicating official; attendees are encouraged to register atusps.com/americaniconsstamps.

“The Postal Service and the United States share a 250-year legacy rooted in binding the nation,” said Sheila Holman, USPS vice president of marketing. “We are honored to have legendary American designer Ralph Lauren curate the American Icons stamps. His remarkable visual archive beautifully captures the aspirational spirit and shared values that have united Americans since before our nation’s founding.”

American Icons Commemorative Capsule Collection
In celebration of the issuance, a licensed commemorative capsule collection will debut on June 9 at select Ralph Lauren retail stores globally, on RalphLauren.com. The capsule includes the 2026 U.S. Flag stamp reimagined as Ralph Lauren’s iconic American Flag Sweater, a classic Polo Shirt and a Ball Cap.

About Ralph Lauren
Ralph Lauren Corporation (NYSE:RL) is a global leader in the design, marketing and distribution of luxury lifestyle products in five categories: apparel, handbags, footwear & accessories, home, fragrances, and hospitality. For nearly 60 years, Ralph Lauren has sought to inspire the dream of a better life through authenticity and timeless style. Its reputation and distinctive image have been developed across a wide range of products, brands, distribution channels and international markets. The Company’s brand names — which include Ralph Lauren, Ralph Lauren Collection, Ralph Lauren Purple Label, Double RL, Polo Ralph Lauren, Lauren Ralph Lauren, Polo Ralph Lauren Children and Chaps, among others — constitute one of the world’s most widely recognized families of consumer brands. For more information, visit ralphlauren.com

The latest information on the issue will appear below the line, with the most recent at the top.

Updated June 10^th:
Here are the first-day postmarks for this issue:The Digital Color Postmark measures 2.41″ x 1.20″The Pictorial Postmark also measures 2.41″ x 1.20″.

Updated May 28^th from the Postal Bulletin:

On June 9, 2026, in New York, NY, the United States Postal Service® will issue the American Icons stamps (Forever® priced at the First-Class Mail® rate), in 13 designs, in a pressure-sensitive adhesive (PSA) pane of 13 stamps (Item 582400). These stamps will go on sale nationwide June 9, 2026, and must not be sold or canceled before the first-day-of-issue. The American Icons commemorative pane of 13 stamps must not be split and the stamps must not be sold individually.

As we come together to celebrate the 250th birthday of our nation, the U.S. Postal Service presents a pane of 13 commemorative stamps curated by American fashion designer Ralph Lauren. Selected from his own unparalleled archive and from visuals that have inspired him, the images Ralph Lauren chose for the stamps embody our shared values and reflect the unique fabric of our nation: a U.S. flag in a rural setting, a baseball glove worn by Jackie Robinson, a teddy bear, a pickup truck, a dog, the Empire State Building, a barn, a sailboat, a Diné (Navajo) blanket, a lighthouse, a hamburger, wild horses, and a knit U.S. flag. Text on the back of the stamp pane highlights the significance of each image. Greg Breeding served as USPS art director for this issuance.

Automatic distribution, special postmark for local use.

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) must be sent to the following address with the choice of Traditional or Digital Color Postmark identified. All orders must be postmarked by October 9, 2026.

FDOI – American Icons Stamps
USPS Stamp Fulfillment Services
8300 NE Underground Drive, Suite 300
Kansas City, MO 64144-9900

Technical Specifications:

Issue: American Icons Stamps
Item Number: 582400
Denomination & Type of Issue: First-Class Mail Forever®
Format: Pane of 13 (13 designs)
Series: N/A
Issue Date & City: June 9, 2026, New York, NY 10199
Art Director: Greg Breeding, Charlottesville, VA
Curated by: Ralph Lauren
Existing Photo: Matt Albiani
Existing Photo: Valentina Cantera
Existing Photo: Gilles de Chabaneix
Existing Photo: Miguel Flores-Vianna
Existing Photo: Naiomi Glasses
Existing Photo: Tim Holmes
Existing Photo: Kurt Markus
Existing Photo: Scott Rudin
Existing Photos: Carter Berg
Existing Photos: Mary Randolph Carter
Modeler: Sandra Lane / Michelle Finn
Manufacturing Process: Offset
Printer: Banknote Corporation of America
Press Type: Alprinta 74
Stamps per Pane: 13
Print Quantity: 23,010,000 stamps
Paper Type: Phosphor, Block Tag
Adhesive Type: Pressure-sensitive
Colors: PMS 871 C, PMS 289 C, Cyan, Magenta, Yellow, Black
Stamp Orientation (1): Vertical
Image Area (1) (w x h): 1.0850 x 1.4200 in. / 27.5590 x 36.0680 mm.
Overall Size (1) (w x h): 1.2250 x 1.5600 in. / 31.1150 x 39.6240 mm.
Stamp Orientation (2): Square
Image Area (2) (w x h): 1.6800 x 1.6800 in. / 42.6720 x 42.6720 mm.
Overall Size (2) (w x h): 1.8200 x 1.8200 in. / 46.2280 x 46.2280 mm.
Full Pane Size (w x h): 7.8200 x 9.7800 in. / 198.6280 x248.4120 mm.
Press Sheet Size (w x h): 19.6850 x 23.7100 in. / 499.9990 x 602.2340 mm.
Plate Size: 78 stamps per revolution
Plate Number: “B” followed by six (6) single digits
Marginal Markings:
Front: Header: American Icons • CURATED BY RALPH LAUREN • Celebrating 250 Years of the United States of America • Plate number in bottom two corners of pane
Back: Descriptive text identifying the 12 stamps surrounding the center flag • © 2026 USPS • USPS logo • Two barcodes (582400) • Plate position diagram (6) • Promotional text

Updated May 14^th, 2026:
Just adding a neat photo from the USPS:

Updated May 12^th, 2026:
Although the center stamp is referred to as a “mail use stamp,” the USPS confirms to The VSC that all the stamps on the pane are valid for postage or mail use. Also, the “unveiling” is the first-day ceremony.