1794 Compass Rose Stamps Debut

Did you know that the image featured on the upcoming 1794 Compass Rose stamp was drawn by 10-year-old Lucia Wadsworth — the aunt of poet Henry Wadsworth Longfellow — in her school geography notebook? To find her work on a piece of American history more than 230 years later is quite an accomplishment!

On January 24, 2025, the U.S. Postal Service celebrated the release of the new round Global stamp featuring a colorful 32-point compass rose — a figure on a map used to help users orient themselves by showing the cardinal directions. The term “compass rose” comes from the resemblance of the directional points to the petals of roses.

The stamps can be used to send a one-ounce letter to any country where First-Class Mail International® service is offered. They are available to order at the links below.