Freedom, Neighbors, Monsters, and More: A Rundown of Stamp Encore Contestants
Which stamp contestant is your favorite?
In honor of its 250th birthday, USPS is going to revive a classic stamp from a recent decade.
Last summer, the Postal Service hosted a contest, Stamp Encore, which gave collectors, aficionados, and enthusiasts of all kinds the opportunity to vote for the stamp they want to receive a new lease on life. Out of 25 stamp contestants, only one can win, and that winner will be announced this May at the Boston 2026 World Expo.
This batch of contestants is as varied as the nation itself. Some honor historic milestones, like the Emancipation Proclamation, the 1818 Flag Act, and a selection of the Postal Service’s earliest stamps. Some commemorate people and classic franchises, including Mister Rogers, Charles M. Schulz, Peanuts, and Star Trek, that highlight our shared humanity and inspire our best selves. Others celebrate heritage livestock breeds or the chance to brighten someone’s day with a friendly monster or a festive birthday greeting.
As different as these stamps may seem from one another, they are all classics. Whichever contestant comes out on top, each one is worth revisiting.
Emancipation Proclamation (2013)
With this 2013 stamp, the U.S. Postal Service commemorated the 150th anniversary of the Emancipation Proclamation, which President Abraham Lincoln signed on January 1, 1863. Lincoln’s proclamation, issued nearly two years into the Civil War, declared that all slaves in rebel-held areas of the Confederacy “are, and henceforward shall be free.”
The stamp art uses that powerful statement, “Henceforward Shall Be Free,” on a design evocative of broadsides from the Civil War era. “In giving freedom to the slave, we assure freedom to the free,” Lincoln wrote in a message to Congress one month before signing the Emancipation Proclamation. In the spirit of that sentiment, the word “Freedom” appears in large type on the selvage of The Emancipation Proclamation stamp.
Flag Act of 1818 (2018)
This 2018 issuance marks the 200th anniversary of the Flag Act of 1818, which gave us the basic design of the current American flag: 13 stripes symbolizing the original 13 colonies and one star for each state in the Union. Prior to the passage of the Flag Act of 1818, also known as the third Flag Act, the nation’s official flag from 1795 to 1818 showed 15 stars and 15 stripes. The “Star-Spangled Banner” that flew over Fort McHenry during the War of 1812 is the best-known example of this design.
The stamp art celebrating this anniversary shows a flag with 20 stars, the number of states in the Union when the Flag Act of 1818 went into effect. The flag's crisp folds and layering effect convey a sense of the dynamism of the young nation.
Classics Forever (2016)
USPS issued this 2016 souvenir sheet in celebration of the long history of U.S. postage stamps — and in appreciation of stamp collectors and philatelists everywhere. The elaborately designed sheet features handsome new versions of six stamps first issued in the mid-19th century. The stamps were printed using the intaglio printing method, as were the originals.
The designs featured on the souvenir sheet are George Washington (1851, originally 12 cents), Benjamin Franklin (1851, originally one cent), George Washington (1860, originally 24 cents), George Washington (1860, originally 90 cents), Abraham Lincoln (1866, originally 15 cents), and Benjamin Franklin (1861, originally one cent). The selvage is composed of postal cancellations and script from envelopes contemporaneous with the stamps. These elements are arranged on a buff-colored background with a textured look to evoke stationery of the period.
Heritage Breeds (2021)
These stamps from 2021 pay tribute to heritage breeds, pre-industrial farm animals prized for their versatility, adaptability, and unique genetic traits. Heritage breeds of livestock take us back to our agricultural roots and show the way to a more sustainable future. They possess a priceless genetic diversity that can help farmers and society at large adapt to variable conditions, ranging from new consumer tastes to a landscape altered by a changing climate.
The stamps feature photographs of 10 heritage breeds: the American Mammoth Jackstock donkey, the Narragansett turkey, the Cayuga duck, the San Clemente Island goat, the Mulefoot hog, the Cotton Patch goose, the American Cream draft horse, the Barbados Blackbelly sheep, the Milking Devon cow, and the Wyandotte chicken.
Mister Rogers (2018)
In 2018, USPS issued this stamp honoring Fred Rogers (1928–2003), who was known as a beloved television neighbor to generations of children. His groundbreaking public television series Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood inspired and educated young viewers with warmth, sensitivity, and honesty. Each episode began with its host welcoming the audience into his television house. While singing the show’s theme song, “Won't You Be My Neighbor?,” Rogers always put on his trademark cardigan, changed into sneakers, and then introduced the day’s topic. He discussed many of the experiences of growing up, like sharing and friendship, and difficult subjects like anger, fear, divorce, and death.
The stamp features Walt Seng’s photograph of Rogers in a red cardigan and also includes puppet King Friday XIII, a Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood character hailing from “The Neighborhood of Make-Believe.” The words “Forever” and “USA” appear in the left corner.
Peanuts (2001)
This 2001 stamp pane commemorates the comic strip Peanuts, which celebrated its 50th anniversary in 2000. Drawn by Charles M. Schulz (1922–2000), Peanuts began in syndication on October 2, 1950. The installment published on Sunday, February 13, 2000, was the last original comic strip by Schulz, who died the previous day.
Peanuts focuses on the anxieties and joys of childhood as expressed by an ensemble cast of children who often seem wise beyond their years. Among them are the lovable Charlie Brown, who perseveres despite continuous failure; the philosophical, blanket-carrying Linus; the fussbudget Lucy, who dispenses psychological advice for a nickel from behind a concession stand; and toy-piano virtuoso Schroeder. Central to the comic strip is Charlie Brown’s dog, Snoopy, who first stood on his hind legs in 1958 and became extremely popular for his imaginative adventures as a number of characters — among them the World War I flying ace depicted on this stamp.
Charles M. Schulz (2022)
This 2022 issuance celebrates the centennial of cartoonist Charles M. Schulz’s birth with stamps featuring his beloved Peanuts characters. Each one reflects Schulz’s rich imagination and great humanity. Charlie Brown, at the heart of Peanuts, is often defeated but always resilient. Schulz’s resonant stories found humor in life’s painful realities, including rejection, insecurity, and unrequited love.
The sheet of 20 stamps includes 10 different designs that showcase the unforgettable friends from the most successful comic strip in the history of the medium. They are: Charlie Brown, Lucy, Franklin, Sally, Pigpen, Linus, Snoopy (with Woodstock), Schroeder, Peppermint Patty, and Marcie. The characters form a frame around a 1987 photograph of the cartoonist, and Schulz’s surname signature appears in black, reading vertically upward along the right-hand side of each stamp.
Star Trek™ (2016)
In 2016, USPS celebrated the 50th anniversary of Star Trek with four new stamps. Star Trek premiered on September 8, 1966. Centered on the interstellar voyages of the U.S.S. Enterprise, the prime-time television program's mission was “to boldly go where no man has gone before.” Star Trek deftly combined action, adventure, drama, fantasy, and allegory. Episodes alluded to the Cold War, the Vietnam War, the population explosion, the growing generation gap, and race relations. Eventually, the once fledgling sci-fi program blossomed into a franchise that included an animated television series, multiple live-action series, and a string of motion pictures.
Each stamp showcases one of four digital illustrations inspired by elements of the classic TV show: the Starship Enterprise inside the outline of a Starfleet insignia against a gold background, the silhouette of a crewman in a transporter against a red background, the silhouette of the Enterprise from above against a green background, and the Enterprise inside the outline of the Vulcan salute (Spock's iconic hand gesture) against a blue background. The words “SPACE... THE FINAL FRONTIER,” from Captain Kirk's famous voice-over, appear beneath the stamps against a background of stars.
Message Monsters (2021)
With Message Monsters in 2021, USPS unleashed the most playful, participatory postage stamps ever — stamps that welcome you to customize a collection of cute and crazy critters. Each monster’s mode, mood, and message is customizable — to the delight of sender and recipient alike. Makeover magic transforms the four different designs into countless creature creations. Postage stamps have never been so interactive!
With accessories aplenty, you can adorn a roundish, rosy rascal; dress up a silly, striped imp; enhance a squiggly, squid-ly critter; and add flair to a reddish rapscallion. Deck the monsters out with hats, hearts, stars, crazy daisies, and more. There are even cartoony voice balloons and thought bubbles with salutations and exclamations. Decorated to delight your addressees, these stamps guarantee smiles across the miles.
Happy Birthday (2021)
This Happy Birthday stamp from 2021 conveys exuberant greetings by calling to mind the childhood excitement of a birthday party. The celebration of birthdays in the United States has its origins in a wide array of cultural traditions. Folklorists and historians claim to see the origins of birthday parties in older practices that resemble our customs, such as candles on a cake, which existed in some form in both ancient Greece and early modern Germany. When we gather to sing, brighten our spirits with candles, and make a wish, these deeply rooted rituals connect us to loved ones and invite everyone to share in the birthday fun.
In the digital illustration featured on the stamp, the word “HAPPY” appears most prominently in all capital letters, with each of the five letters inspired by a different party decoration: a red and green piñata, an orange and yellow striped birthday hat, a red piece of frosted cake, a green birthday candle, and an orange balloon sculpture. The word “BIRTHDAY” appears below it in blue, with “Forever” and “USA” centered in smaller red lettering at the bottom. Surrounding all of the design elements is a flurry of multicolored ribbons and confetti.
Classics never go out of style
From landmark moments in history to festive birthday greetings and friendly neighborhoods to the final frontier, these stamps explore the breadth of human experience and beyond.
Stamp Encore is bringing back a classic stamp, but more than that, it is giving us all a chance to look back at so many old favorites. Regardless of the outcome, the real winners of this contest are everyone who has gained a new appreciation for the artistic and storytelling power of a single square-inch postage stamp.