Stamp Design and the Visual Arts

Topical Reference Page
a blank stamp frame

Find resources about stamp art and design on the museum's website.

September 26, 2008 - October 12, 2015
Exhibition

This exhibition presented an alphabet of philately through 26 topics, in which each letter represented some aspect of stamp collecting or the sending of mail.

Learn more

Exhibition

Telling the Story of a Nation
From the early colonial period to the present day, American artists have captured their interpretation of the American experience using different forms of art. These pieces of fine art have been adapted to portray famous American individuals, events, and geography on postage stamps. Postage stamps depicting fine art have become another looking glass into this country and its many themes.

Learn more

July 30, 2003 - February 24, 2004
Exhibition

On view were 100 original drawings and artworks that were used to create postage stamps, including entries for the famous Elvis stamp design competition.

Learn more

July 11, 2011 - August 5, 2012
Exhibition

Art of the Stamp: Owney the Postal Dog featured Bill Bonds’s original painting of Owney that was produced for the stamp. It was accompanied by 6 sketches illustrating various poses of Owney that Mr. Bonds created as he developed his...

Learn more

July 1, 2004 - July 10, 2006
Exhibition

This exhibition explored the history of rare and collectible Federal Duck Stamps created as a result of this extraordinary conservation program.

Learn more

painting of a mail carrier walking through a mountainous landscape
Exhibition
On post office walls throughout the United States, painted scenes reflect America's...
Engraved die, 1851 stamp essay
Exhibition
Learn to create your own stamp engraving at home with a few simple materials.
October 20, 2017 - July 14, 2019
Exhibition

Flowering Plants on Stamps
This exhibition highlighted the variety of flowering plants commemorated on US postage stamps during the past 50 years and explored artistic themes that emerged during this period.

Learn more

Pages

Related Blogs

A Stamp that Changed History: How the Panama Canal was Almost the Nicaragua Canal

Never underestimate the power of a stamp! Postage stamps not only have the ability to document history, they can also change it. In fact, one such Nicaraguan stamp changed both American and world history by playing a role in the completion of the Panama Canal.

Kadir Nelson: The Artist Behind the Stamp

Explore the work of Kadir Nelson, a prolific contemporary artist and illustrator who has created numerous postage stamps often highlighting the lives and accomplishments of African Americans. 

Video Tutorial: How to Make a Time Capsule

Bel Mills, a collage artist and book designer, demonstrates the simple steps to create your own time capsule and explains the origin of the craft and its relevance during the pandemic. 

Between Stamp Art and Quarantine: Recreate the Stamp Challenge

The National Postal Museum invites you to partake in a new quarantine challenge: recreating a postage stamp using items from your home!

Pages