USPS unveils new stamps: what to know

The U.S. Postal Service (USPS) is set to release a new set of commemorative postage stamps. The first day of issue will be in about a month, on May 14.

The stamps will honor the U.S. national bird, the Bald Eagle.

Why It Matters

The new stamps spotlight America’s national bird. However, the Bald Eagle (Haliaeetus leucocephalus), a large bird of prey found across North America, was reinstated as the United States’ national bird more recently than one may think.

The bird, which has been a national emblem in the U.S. for years, having appeared on the Great Seal of the U.S. and been used on U.S. documents since as early as 1782, was not officially designated as the country’s national bird until 2024.

Former President Joe Biden gave the Bald Eagle the official title toward the end of his time in office.

And while the species once teetered on the brink of extinction, the birds’ population has had a significant population recovery, in an environmental success story that demonstrates the impact of conservation efforts and policy changes.

What To Know

The Bald Eagle has graced U.S. stamps since 1869, but these stamps will feature the Bald Eagle through its life from a hatchling to an adult. There are five illustrations in total, which show the Bald Eagle as it grows.

A press release from the USPS states that “Intrinsic to the national identity of the United States since the early days of the republic, the Bald Eagle has been a favorite stamp subject for more than a century.”

That release continued: “These latest stamps offer a new take on the American icon and feature realistic illustrations of the bird at different stages of life.”

The stamps were designed by Derry Noyes, an art director for USPS. The designs were made using original paintings by noted ornithologist and illustrator David Allen Sibley.

News of the stamps can be shared with the hashtag BaldEagleStamps.

The stamps will be issued in panes of 20.

There are multiple places where customers are able to purchase these stamps. This includes the official U.S. Postal Store, shopping by mail at USA Philatelic or at Post Office locations across the country. Products can also be purchased on Amazon.

If you’re a stamp enthusiast, 2026 will be a good year, as the USPS has announced a new slate of stamps, designed as part of its preparations for the nation’s 250th anniversary.