The U.S. Postal Service held a dedication ceremony today at the B. Free Franklin Post Office in Philadelphia to debut the new Declaration of Independence Forever stamp. The release marks the 250th anniversary of the historic document, which announced the original American colonies’ separation from Great Britain.
The ceremony took place inside Independence National Historical Park, a location that honors both the document and the early history of the postal system under Benjamin Franklin. Speakers at the event included Lucy Trout, secretary to the USPS Board of Governors, alongside representatives from the National Society of the Children of the American Revolution, the Daughters of the American Revolution, and Independence National Historical Park.
Adopted on July 4, 1776, the original declaration established a government based on the consent of the governed and listed 27 specific grievances against British rule, including taxation without representation. The momentum for the document built rapidly in early 1776 following the publication of Thomas Paine’s pamphlet “Common Sense” before Thomas Jefferson drafted the initial text.
The new commemorative stamp features a vertical red, white, and blue design created by Juan Carlos Pagan with art direction by Greg Breeding. The layout displays the year “1776” against a deep blue background, with each number shaped like a feather quill pen to represent the 56 signers of the document.
The stamps are available in panes of 20 and will always equal the price of a current First-Class Mail 1-ounce letter. The physical Declaration of Independence document remains on display and is preserved at the U.S. National Archives Museum in Washington, D.C.
Follow us on social media
Facebook • Instagram • Tiktok • Newsbreak
Visit our other sites
Finding Connecticut • Finding New York City • Finding The Hudson Valley • Finding Lehigh Valley • Finding Westport
