WASHINGTON — The U.S. Postal Service launched its Vibrant Leaves postcard stamps on March 17, 2025, celebrating the vivid hues of fall foliage. The set of five stamps features individual leaves from the aspen, sassafras, oak, maple, and sweetgum trees, capturing the season’s natural splendor in a collectible format.
Designed by USPS art director Antonio Alcalá, the stamps utilize existing photographs to highlight the diversity of leaf shapes and colors. “I am enchanted by the colors one finds in leaves, especially during the autumn season,” Alcalá said. “I wanted to present a gradation of colors but with a variety of leaf shapes and trees.” His vision brings a spectrum of autumn tones to mailboxes nationwide.
The aspen stamp showcases the “quaking aspen,” named for the rustling sound its flat, heart-shaped leaves make in the breeze. Known for their golden brilliance, aspens thrive in western U.S. forests, per the U.S. Forest Service. The sassafras leaf, with its mitten-like lobes, reflects a citrusy scent and a palette of yellow, orange, crimson, burgundy, and purple in fall. Its cinnamon-scented bark adds to its distinctiveness.
The oak leaf stamp honors a forest cornerstone, with acorns feeding wildlife and branches sheltering countless species. Oaks turn vivid red, burgundy, or reddish-brown in autumn, anchoring ecosystems across the country. The maple leaf, synonymous with New England’s fall landscapes, boasts warm yellows, oranges, and reds. Sugar and black maples, prized for their sap’s high sugar content, fuel the maple syrup industry, yielding over 4 million gallons annually, according to the USDA.
The sweetgum leaf, star-shaped and vibrant in magenta, orange, and purple, represents a tree valued for its resin and reddish bark. Often called redgums, sweetgums shine as ornamental standouts in southern and eastern states.
Issued at the postcard rate, these nondenominated stamps are available in panes of 20 or coils, marked with “POSTCARD” to denote their value. They join a USPS tradition of nature-themed releases, following sets like the 2023 Waterfalls stamps. The Vibrant Leaves collection is promoted with the hashtag #VibrantLeavesStamps, encouraging enthusiasts to share their excitement online.
Available nationwide starting today, the stamps offer a practical and picturesque option for postcard mailers while celebrating autumn’s fleeting beauty.
