About Figures of the American Revolution

The Revolution was never the work of a single visionary or small circle of founders.

It unfolded through the decisions of people scattered across towns, battlefields, meetinghouses, and diplomatic courts, people whose convictions, doubts, risks, and ingenuity influenced the course of events.

Highlighting 25 individuals, the Figures of the American Revolution stamps display a compelling cross-section of the complexity that defined the Revolutionary era, revealing the overlapping efforts that pushed the colonies toward independence and shaped the uncertain years that followed.

To bring the stamp pane to life, art director Ethel Kessler enlisted 12 artists representing a wide range of media and techniques. Rather than pursue a single visual style, she sought artists capable of strong portraiture and thoughtful interpretation. Each figure would be represented by a single image, so clarity and experience depicting historical subjects were essential.

The goal was not uniformity, but a balance that let each honoree’s character shine while keeping the portraits connected as a shared moment.