A Modern Tribute to a Postal Pioneer

Every stamp tells a story, with each one offering a glimpse into the creativity, culture, and history that shape our nation. With the Putting a Stamp on the American Experience prestige booklet, the U.S. Postal Service proudly commemorates the 250th anniversary of our nation’s postal system while celebrating the enduring impact of stamps on our shared heritage.

The U.S. Postal Service so rarely issues a prestige booklet that many customers may not be familiar with the format — or with the curiosity they inspire. Featuring new stamps supplemented by text and illustrations, only three prestige booklets have been issued by the Postal Service before this year: U.S. Navy Submarines in 2000, Old Glory in 2003, and Lewis and Clark in 2004. 

Designed to provide an attractive presentation for a new Benjamin Franklin stamp while evoking more than 175 years of history, Putting a Stamp on the American Experience is illustrated with specially selected stamps and stamp artwork from more than 75 previous issuances, both recent and vintage. A sampling of George Washington stamp art, for example, shows how each generation of designers commemorates traditional subjects in the visual language of their times. Other pages in the booklet pay tribute to long-running series or spotlight topical interests, such as national parks, sports, nature, or flags. The booklet also points out recent innovations in printing and recognizes the importance of stamps that raise awareness of — and sometimes funds for — important causes.

With its portrait of Benjamin Franklin, the new First-Class™ Forever® stamp — available exclusively with this prestige booklet — “reframes” a reproduction of the earliest Franklin stamp with an interplay of tradition and innovation, a longtime hallmark of our postal system.

Franklin is the ultimate philatelic honoree, appearing not only on one of the first U.S. postage stamps but also more than 100 issuances in the 178-year history of American stamps that followed. Appointed Postmaster General of the colonies by the Second Continental Congress in 1775 after serving earlier as both postmaster of Philadelphia and one of two deputy postmasters general appointed by the British Crown, Franklin appreciated that the postal system could help unite the colonies — and the nation they became. As a printer, scientist, and diplomat, he played a monumental role in shaping American culture, and his postal legacy of adaptability and innovation continues to inspire the modern-day Postal Service.

“He had a brilliant mind that seemed to be at work every minute of the day and night,” says USPS art director Ethel Kessler, who designed the stamp. “There’s no one who better symbolizes our postal system from its inception.”

Eager for this new issuance to reflect the ways that previous stamps ensured Franklin’s status as a national icon, Kessler became intrigued by the idea of updating a traditional portrait with a fresh, contemporary reframing.

“Along with George Washington, Franklin was one of the most prominent figures on early U.S. postage,” she explains. “I was looking for an image that most people weren’t necessarily familiar with — but one they’d recognize as Franklin in a split second.”

Franklin and Washington were honored on the first two official U.S. postage stamps in 1847, with Franklin featured on a 5-cent stamp and Washington on a 10-cent stamp. The designs were reproduced in 1875 as official collectibles and printed from new plates in preparation for the 1876 Centennial International Exhibition in Philadelphia. Issued in low quantities, the 1875 reproductions were not valid for postage and are rare compared to the 1847 originals. One of the 1875 Franklin reproductions serves as the basis for the 2025 stamp.

Rendered in blue instead of the original reddish brown, this new stamp also combines two printing techniques, further embodying the balance of tradition and modernity that keeps the U.S. stamp program relevant and engaging. The Franklin stamp image is printed in intaglio to evoke the texture and appearance of classic engraved stamps, while the surrounding area is rendered with smooth precision through offset printing.

The Franklin stamp also highlights how far we’ve come. The U.S. stamp program now honors individuals from every field of human achievement. Stamps delight, entertain, and educate, sparking curiosity about history, art, nature, and science. Long-running series such as Love and Black Heritage have become American institutions in their own right, while a diverse array of holiday stamps allows Americans to learn about each other and share their cherished traditions.

As we celebrate the 250th anniversary of our postal system this year and the 250th birthday of the United States in 2026, the prestige booklet affirms that U.S. stamps will always celebrate the best of our nation while also embracing the future. In the years ahead, stamps will continue to honor our shared national experience — while celebrating individuals who made all the difference.

Art by Benedict Anton Osnis