What do Elvis, cherry blossom trees, and German shepherds have in common? They’re all subjects of some of the most popular U.S. Postal Service stamps from the past 15 years.
Every year, the service debuts new designs, each one serving as an “entryway into a larger story that connects people, places, and moments in history,” Lisa Bobb-Semple, the agency’s stamp services director, said in a statement in October. The 2026 releases, for instance, celebrate cultural markers like Colorado’s 150th anniversary, the Year of the Horse, and lowriders.
Since the country’s first official postage stamps were issued in 1847, featuring Benjamin Franklin and George Washington, hundreds of billions have been printed (13.82 billion in 2024 alone) — but some have made a larger impression in the zeitgeist than others. Below, take a look at 15 of the most popular stamps since 2011, according to data from the Postal Service, and learn the stories behind six of our favorites.
La Florida | 2013
Five hundred years before these stamps were released in 2013, Spanish explorer Juan Ponce de León, who had previously accompanied Christopher Columbus on his second journey to the Americas in 1493, landed on Florida’s east coast in April 1513. He named it “La Florida” after “Pascua Florida,” meaning “Feast of the Flowers,” an Easter celebration in Spain.
De León also derived the moniker from the lush vegetation seen from his ship as it approached land, which he believed to be an island. The La Florida stamp designs, appropriately released April 3, feature tropical flowers native to the state, including red and pink hibiscus, yellow cannas, and white and purple passionflowers.
Farmers Markets | 2014
These four adorable stamps aren’t just nice to look at — they’re also an ode to the evolution of farmers markets, and by extension, agriculture, in the U.S. “Farmers markets have a long history of connecting customers directly with the people that grow our food,” Tom Vilsack, who served as agriculture secretary at the time, said in a news release. “Across the country, farmers markets play a key role in the sustainability of family farms, revitalizing communities and helping to grow rural and urban economies.”
The designs, released on Aug. 7 during the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Farmers Market Week, also highlighted a victory of the Farmer-to-Consumer Direct Marketing Act, which was passed in 1976. Thanks to that law, the USDA was able to better support farmers markets’ growth, resulting in an increase from 1,750 listed in the department’s directory in 1994 to more than 8,200 in 2014.
Elvis Presley | 2015
The King of Rock ‘n’ Roll’s first Postal Service stamp was released in 1993, and Priscilla Presley declared it “the most popular U.S. commemorative stamp of all time,” per a press release issued alongside his second stamp more than two decades later. Launched in 2015 to mark what would have been the year of his 80th birthday, the Forever stamp was fitting, she noted, “because Elvis is forever in our hearts and in the hearts of millions of his fans around the world.”
To celebrate the more recent release, thousands of fans gathered on the front lawn of Graceland on Aug. 12, 2015, along with Priscilla and then-Postmaster General Megan Brennan. Also included in the year’s Elvis Week festivities were the debut of a new version of his song “If I Can Dream” and a CD release featuring the King’s hits.
Gifts of Friendship | 2015
After Japan gave the U.S. 3,020 cherry trees in 1912, then-first lady Helen Taft and the Viscountess Iwa Chinda, wife of the Japanese ambassador, planted two of them along the Potomac River in Washington, D.C. Then in 1915, former President William Taft offered a gift of his own by sending 50 flowering dogwood trees to Japan — and 100 years later, the Postal Service honored that gesture by releasing stamps with both flowering dogwood and cherry trees during D.C.’s Cherry Blossom Festival.
The tradition between the two nations continued throughout the 20th century and into the 21st, with trees being shipped across the ocean in 1952, 1965, 1982, and 2012. “These trees bring renewed life each spring after the long winter months and are celebrated on both sides of the Pacific Ocean with annual festivals that echo the spirit of friendship,” Nagisa Manabe, former Postal Service chief sales and marketing officer, said in a press release.
Have a Ball! | 2017
Not only do these eight stamps look like balls used in popular sports — baseball, basketball, football, golf, kickball, soccer, tennis, and volleyball — but they feel a little like them, too. The first-of-their-kind designs, which are round instead of the traditional square or rectangle, feature a coating that gives them a texture closer to the real thing, whether it’s a baseball’s stitching or a golf ball’s dimples.
The stamps debuted during the U.S. Golf Association’s Flag Day celebration at the U.S. Open Championship on June 14 in Hartford, Wisconsin.
Military Working Dogs | 2019
On Aug. 1 in Omaha, Nebraska, the U.S.’ brave military working dogs got their due. The Postal Service released a booklet of stamps with designs depicting a German shepherd, Labrador retriever, Dutch shepherd, and Belgian Malinois, four breeds that frequently serve in the armed forces. Los Angeles creative studio DKNG Studios initially hand-sketched the dogs, then used Adobe Illustrator to make the colorful artwork, with the service’s stamp design art director, Greg Breeding, fashioning the final looks.
Pups have served in conflicts such as World War I and the Korean War, although the Postal Service noted that their military presence has dropped substantially over time. “These dogs are born and raised to serve alongside soldiers, sailors, marines, airmen and women, and members of the Coast Guard,” David C. Williams, former vice chairman of the U.S. Postal Service Board of Governors, said in a press release. “They are heroes deserving of our respect and gratitude.”
See below for more popular designs from the past 15 years that have made their (post)mark on America.
Send a Hello | 2011
New England Coastal Lighthouses | 2013
Harry Potter | 2013
Muscle Cars | 2013
Rosa Parks | 2013
National Parks | 2016
Hot Wheels | 2018
O Beautiful | 2018
Scooby Doo | 2018
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