The United States Postal Service (USPS) has introduced a new series of stamps celebrating the iconic black-and-white photography of Ansel Adams, one of America’s most revered and influential artists. The dedication ceremony for these stamps took place at the Ansel Adams Gallery in Yosemite National Park, highlighting Adams’ enduring legacy in both art and environmentalism. The announcement has been widely shared with the hashtag #AnselAdamsStamps.
“As a masterful photographer and dedicated environmentalist, Ansel Adams allowed Americans from all corners of the nation to experience the wonders of our country in vivid detail,” said Daniel Tangherlini, a member of the USPS Board of Governors. “There have been many advances in photographic technology in recent decades, but the clarity and character of an Ansel Adams image is timeless and unsurpassed, just like you see on these stamps unveiled here today.”
Adams’ work is celebrated not only for its artistic merit but also for its significant impact on environmental policy. His photographs of national parks and other natural wonders, such as Yosemite Valley, the Tetons, and Denali, have become symbols of the environmental movement. Throughout his seven-decade-long career, Adams received numerous accolades, including honorary doctorates from the University of California, Berkeley, and Harvard and Yale universities. The Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York held a retrospective of his work in 1974, followed by the Museum of Modern Art in 1979. In 1980, President Jimmy Carter awarded Adams the Presidential Medal of Freedom.
Alan Ross, a photographer influenced by Adams, praised his legacy: “Ansel’s passion for his craft, willingness to share his approach and technique, and dedication to both protecting and preserving the environment had a profound influence on how I approached my own journey as a photographer. It’s wonderful to see Ansel’s artistry and love for natural wonders like Yosemite embodied on U.S. postage stamps.”
The stamps feature a selection of Adams’ most renowned images. The first row includes “Half Dome, Merced River, Winter, Yosemite National Park, California” (1938); “Oak Tree, Sunset City, Sierra Foothills, California” (1962); “Thundercloud, Ellery Lake, High Sierra, Sierra Nevada, California” (1934); and “Denali and Wonder Lake, Denali National Park, Alaska” (1947).
The second row showcases “The Golden Gate and Bridge from Baker Beach, San Francisco, California” (c.1953); “Road and Fog, Del Monte Forest, Pebble Beach, California” (1964); “Rock and Grass, Moraine Lake, Sequoia National Park, California” (1936); and “Leaves, Mount Rainier National Park, Washington” (c.1942).
The third row features “Monument Valley, Arizona” (1958); “Tetons and Snake River, Grand Teton National Park, Wyoming” (1942); “Jeffrey Pine, Sentinel Dome, Yosemite National Park, California” (1940); and “Mirror Lake, Mount Watkins, Spring, Yosemite National Park, California” (1935).
The fourth row includes “Maroon Bells, near Aspen, Colorado” (1951); “Aspens, Dawn, Autumn, Dolores River Canyon, Colorado” (1937); “Road After Rain, Northern California” (1960); and “Dunes, Oceano, California” (1963).
Adams’ influence extended beyond his photography; he was a vocal advocate for the recognition of photography as a fine art. He contributed extensively to the Sierra Club Bulletin, exhibited his work in museums nationwide, and lectured on the artistic value of photography. Additionally, he taught thousands of students and helped establish the first museum photography department at New York’s Museum of Modern Art.
“It’s an incredible honor for Ansel,” said Matthew Adams, his grandson. “It shows that his popularity continues 40 years after he passed. His work resonates across time. He would be excited and honored.”
Derry Noyes, an art director for USPS, designed the stamps using Adams’ existing photographs. The Postal Service printed 20 million Ansel Adams stamps, available in panes of 16. These stamps are issued as Forever stamps, always equal in value to the current First-Class Mail 1-ounce price.