PHILADELPHIA — The U.S. Postal Service will release a new Forever stamp commemorating the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence during a July 4 ceremony in Philadelphia.
The first-day-of-issue event is scheduled for 10 a.m. Eastern at the B Free Franklin Post Office, 316 Market St. Lucy Trout, secretary of the USPS Board of Governors, will speak. The event is free and open to the public, with registration encouraged at usps.com/declarationofindependence.
Adopted by the Second Continental Congress on July 4, 1776, the Declaration announced the colonies’ separation from Great Britain. It articulated foundational principles including that governments derive their just powers from the consent of the governed and that all people are created equal with unalienable rights to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.
The new stamp will be issued in panes of 20. As a Forever stamp, it will always equal the current First-Class Mail one-ounce rate. News of the issue is being shared with the hashtag #DeclarationofIndependenceStamp.
The Postal Service has a long tradition of issuing stamps that mark significant historical milestones. This release coincides with nationwide observances of the nation’s semiquincentennial. The ceremony at the historic post office in Philadelphia, the city where the Declaration was adopted and signed, underscores the document’s enduring role in American civic life.
Maryland residents, including those in Southern Maryland, can purchase the stamps at local post offices once available or through usps.com. The issue provides an opportunity for collectors and the public to reflect on the nation’s founding principles and their continued relevance.
