This article lists people who have been featured on United States
postage stamps, listed by their name, the year they were first featured on a stamp, and a short description of their notability. Since the United States Post Office issued its first stamp in 1847, over 4,000 stamps have been issued and over 800 people featured. Many of these people (especially the earlier presidents) have been featured on multiple stamps. Most every one was deceased at the time their face appeared on a stamp.
For the purpose of this list, "featured" may mean:
The likeness of a person,
The name of a person, or
People who have neither their likeness nor name on a stamp, but are documented by the
United States Postal Service as being the subject of a stamp (see
Reference).
United States Postal Service (2008). The Postal Service Guide to U.S. Stamps (35th ed.). Washington, D.C.: HarperResource.
ISBN978-0-06-166263-8.
Kloetzell, James E., ed. (2005). 2006 Scott Standard Postage Stamp Catalogue. Vol. 1. Sidney, Ohio: Scott Publishing Company. pp. 1–160.
ISBN0-89487-351-2.
^"1969 First Moon Landing" 54¢ 'forever' United States postage stamp, reproducing Neil Armstrong's famed July 20, 1969 (July 21, UTC) photograph of Aldrin on the Moon, with Armstrong reflected in the center Aldrin's visor. Aldrin's name tag is legible on the life support system in front of his chest.
^"1969 First Moon Landing" 54¢ 'forever' United States postage stamp, reproducing Neil Armstrong's famed July 20, 1969 (July 21, UTC) photograph of Aldrin on the Moon, with Armstrong himself reflected in the center Aldrin's visor. Armstrong is not named on the stamp, though Aldrin's name tag is legible.
^Youngblood, Wayne (March 2013). "Promotional FDCs Created for Many Reasons". American Philatelist. 127 (3). Bellefonte, Pennsylvania: American Philatelic Society, Inc.: 218–222.
ISSN0003-0473.
^
abcd"U.S. New Issues". American Philatelist. 124 (5). Bellefonte, Pennsylvania: American Philatelic Society, Inc.: 500–502 May 2010.
ISSN0003-0473.
^
abcdefgh"Index for 2012 New Issues". American Philatelist. 127 (12). Bellefonte, Pennsylvania: American Philatelic Society, Inc.: 1198 December 2012.
ISSN0003-0473.
^
abcd"U.S. New Issues". American Philatelist. 126 (6). Bellefonte, Pennsylvania: American Philatelic Society, Inc.: 598 June 2012.
ISSN0003-0473.
^"Scott New Issues Update". Linn's Stamp News. 86 (4425). Sidney, Ohio: Amos Press, Inc.: 60 August 19, 2013.
ISSN0161-6234.
^
abcBigalke, Jay; Baadke, Michael (September 23, 2013). "Two ceremonies for stamp honoring Ray Charles". Linn's Stamp News. 86 (4430). Sidney, Ohio: Amos Press, Inc.: 1 and 24.
ISSN0161-6234.
^
abcdefghijklmnopqrstuvwxyzaaabacKoepsel, Bob (August 2013). "Wisconsin on Stamps". American Philatelist. 127 (8). Bellefonte, Pennsylvania: American Philatelic Society, Inc.: 754–762.
ISSN0003-0473.
^"Scott new Issues Update". Linn's Stamp News. 87 (4455). Sidney, Ohio: Amos Press, Inc.: 60–61 March 17, 2014.
ISSN0161-6234.
^Wentz, Charlie (March 2013). "Letters to the editor: Jacqueline Cochran". American Philatelist. 127 (3). Bellefonte, Pennsylvania: American Philatelic Society, Inc.: 204.
ISSN0003-0473.
^Hamilton, James C. (March 2010). "Philatelic Images for Captain James Cook's Journals". American Philatelist. 124 (3). Bellefonte, Pennsylvania: American Philatelic Society, Inc.: 222–231.
ISSN0003-0473.
^
abcdefghijkl"Scott New Issues Update". Linn's Stamp News. 86 (4412). Sidney, Ohio: Amos Press, Inc.: 52–53 May 20, 2013.
ISSN0161-6234.
^
abcdefghijk"Scott New Issues Update". Scott Stamp Monthly. 28 (7). Sidney, Ohio: Amos Press, Inc.: 46 July 2010.
ISSN0737-0741.
^
abcdefghij"U.S. New Issues". American Philatelist. 124 (3). Bellefonte, Pennsylvania: American Philatelic Society, Inc.: 282–283 March 2010.
ISSN0003-0473.
^McMaster, Len (March 2010). "A Philatelic Memoir: What I Collect". American Philatelist. 124 (3). Bellefonte, Pennsylvania: American Philatelic Society, Inc.: 246–251.
ISSN0003-0473.
^Bigalke, Jay (August 19, 2013). "Althea Gibson stamp 36th in Black Heritage series; ceremony to take place Aug. 23 in Flushing, N.Y.". Linn's Stamp News. 86 (4425). Sidney, Ohio: Amos Press, Inc.: 1 and 34–36.
ISSN0161-6234.
^
abYoungblood, Wayne (February 2013). "Promotional FDCs Served as Both Message & Medium". American Philatelist. 127 (2). Bellefonte, Pennsylvania: American Philatelic Society, Inc.: 120–124.
ISSN0003-0473.
^"Scott New Issues Update". Linn's Stamp News. 86 (4420). Sidney, Ohio: Amos Press, Inc.: 55–56 July 15, 2013.
ISSN0161-6234.
^"U.S. New Issues". American Philatelist. 127 (6). Bellefonte, Pennsylvania: American Philatelic Society, Inc.: 594–595.
ISSN0003-0473.
^"Harvey Milk". USPSStamps.com. United States Postal Service. Retrieved June 23, 2014.
^Hotchner, John M. (April 16, 2012). "U.S. Notes - Elvis wasn't the first; the public voted on Gettysburg design". Linn's Stamp News. 85 (4355). Sidney, Ohio: Amos Press, Inc.: 4.
ISSN0161-6234.
^"U.S. New Issues". American Philatelist. 125 (3). Bellefonte, Pennsylvania: American Philatelic Society, Inc.: 285 March 2011.
ISSN0003-0473.
^Russell was the photographer who memorialized the driving of the "golden spike" connecting the Union Pacific and Central Pacific Railroads in 1869.
"Completion of First Transcontinental Railroad" 3₵ United States postage stamp depicts A.J. Russell photographing Leland Stanford driving the "golden spike" at Promontory Point, Utah. Russell is toward the right side of the stamp.
^"Completion of First Transcontinental Railroad" 3₵ United States postage stamp depicts Stanford driving the "golden spike" at Promontory Point, Utah. Stanford is not identified by name in the stamp, but is depicted holding a sledgehammer in front of a train as photographer A.J. Russell to the right prepares to capture the image for posterity.