USPS celebrates 250th anniversary with stamp honoring first postmaster general
The United States Postal Service is celebrating its 250th anniversary with a special stamp featuring a familiar face.
scripps news
The stamps come in a new never-before-seen shade: Barbie pink.
The U.S. Postal Service has teamed up with Mattel to release a set of Barbie stamps this summer “featuring Barbie dolls from across the years dressed as 10 iconic careers.”
From soccer players to astronauts, the designs aim to encourage Barbie fans to “dream big” and “explore a wide range of possibilities.”
Barbie, also known as the “best-selling doll of all time,” has had more than 250 careers since 1959, according to a May 1 USPS news release.
USPS Art Director Ethel Kessler worked closely with the global theatrical and family entertainment company on both the stamp and panel designs.
To maximize the visibility of the dolls and their career outfits, the team opted for a rarely used format that costs one-third more than a typical vertical commemorative stamp.
Kessler said in a statement that the team approached the project “with a fun spirit,” using bright, cheerful colors, primarily the famous “Barbie pink,” to evoke feelings of joy.
Here’s everything we know about the Barbie Stamp Set, including when it will be released.
When is it available?
The commemorative Barbie stamps will go on sale July 11, the last day of the 2026 National Barbie Doll Collectors Convention in Austin. According to the USPS, the stamp is a permanent stamp, so its value will always be the same as the current price of an ounce of first-class mail.
Customers can purchase stamps and “other philatelic items” online, in person at select post offices nationwide, or by phone at 844-737-7826.
Stamps can also be ordered through USA Philatelic, the only official supplier of the United States Postal Service’s complete line of current stamps and stamp products. Officially licensed stamp products are available on Amazon.
