African Americans on Postage Stamps

Harriet Tubman

Abolitionist

13-cent stamp featuring a painting of Harriet Tubman
Harriet Tubman was the first honoree in the Black Heritage series. This stamp was issued February 1, 1978.

Born a slave, abolitionist Harriet Tubman was the first African-American woman to be honored on a U.S. postage stamp. After escaping slavery in 1849, Tubman returned to the south many times to bring other slaves to freedom, including members of her own family. This dangerous work made her a conductor for the famed Underground Railroad, which helped many slaves escape to freedom before and during the Civil War. She served the Union Army during the Civil War as a scout and spy.

32-cent Harriet Tubman stamp
The Harriet Tubman stamp was issued June 29, 1995 in the year of the 130th Anniversary of the end of the Civil War.

The Black Experience