Chris Ware Stamps 1st Day Release
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Today was the First Day Release ceremonies for the United States Postal Service’s 250 Anniversary stamps.
WASHINGTON — In celebration of two and a half centuries of continuous service, the U.S. Postal Service today unveiled two stamp releases at its headquarters building. The two stamp designs capture the essence of USPS, one honoring its deep-rooted history, the other highlighting its ubiquitous presence in everyday life.
Yeah, two releases. One featuring the first U. S. Postmaster General Ben Franklin and another, more important to our cause, the cartoonist Chris Ware-designed 20 stamp pane.
The Postal Service is a marvel of the modern age and of the cumulative experience of 250 years. The everyday story of connecting Americans near and far by mail is meticulously depicted in the artwork for one of the stamp sets being released today: 250 Years of Delivering. Offering a bird’s-eye view of a bustling town, each individual stamp is a frame of sequential art that tells the story of a mail carrier’s journey as she walks her daily route. The story progresses clockwise through a year’s four seasons.
The artwork also contains numerous postal icons such as collection boxes, a post rider on horseback and delivery vehicles. Collectively, the pane represents the faithful presence of USPS throughout the year.
Chris Ware created the stamp artwork and co-designed the pane with Antonio Alcalá, an art director for USPS.
Our friend Mike Rhode, who covers the comics world in Washington, D.C., was there covering this event.
Chris Ware wasn’t at his stamp release event, but I was. I took the day off because I had never been to one of these ceremonies before. This was held at the US Post Office headquarters in L’Enfant Plaza, or actually on the sidewalk outside it.
I seriously underestimated the crowd the event would draw…
Also Mike tells us that the USPS is taking votes for favorite past stamps to rerelease, including Peanuts, Disney, Pixar, Warner Bros., and DC Comics (“but not Marvel”) stamps:
The Postal Service is introducing Stamp Encore, a contest that lets the public vote to bring back a favorite stamp from the past for reprinting in 2026.
USPS employees may participate in the contest, which is part of the Postal Service’s 250th anniversary celebration.
The contest will run from Wednesday, July 23, through Tuesday, Sept. 30.
Participants can vote online at the Stamps Forever website or by printing a paper ballot and mailing it in. The website has more information, including a list of frequently asked questions.
Participants can vote as often as they wish.
The Postal Service has selected 25 stamp releases for participants to choose from:
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