U.S. Postal Service Commemorates the Life of Phillis Wheatley

New Black Heritage stamp honors 'Mother of African American Literature'

BOSTON, Jan. 29, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- The U.S. Postal Service held a first-day-of-issue stamp dedication to commemorate the life of Phillis Wheatley at the historic Old South Meeting House.

"An important goal of the Postal Service's stamp program is to honor the people, places and things that represent the very best of our nation," said Chenise R. LeDoux, USPS vice president of Southern Area retail and delivery operations, who served as the dedicating official. "That is what our Black Heritage stamps are all about. Introduced in 1978, the Black Heritage series has put a spotlight on distinguished African Americans and their notable contributions to our nation."

The 49th stamp in the Black Heritage series honors poet Phillis Wheatley (ca 1753-1784), the first author of African descent in the American Colonies to publish a book. An enslaved woman with an education and prominent social connections, Wheatley occupied a rare place in Colonial America. Her poems charmed readers on both sides of the Atlantic and offer subtle commentary on her times, while Wheatley herself has inspired generations of writers.

Born in West Africa and brought to Boston on a slave ship, the child who would become known as Phillis Wheatley was enslaved by merchant John Wheatley and educated in his household. By age 11, she had already begun to compose her own poems. Her 1773 collection, "Poems on Various Subjects, Religious and Moral," showcased her mastery of forms ranging from hymns and elegies to philosophical and narrative verse.

As a figure whose life and writing speak to the complexity of her times, Wheatley is especially relevant in 2026 as we reflect on the Revolutionary era as part of our nation's 250th anniversary celebrations. Wheatley was freed from slavery in 1773, and her later poems reflected growing support for the American Revolution. In late 1775, while George Washington was encamped near British-occupied Boston, Wheatley sent him an ode, published the following year, in which she suggests that the nations of the world are closely watching him to see if a new age in human history is dawning. Washington replied with praise for Wheatley's poetic talents and extended an invitation to meet if she found herself near his headquarters.

Wheatley kept writing but was unable to publish a second book before her death in her early 30s. Her poetry continued to circulate widely, and her book was reprinted several times in the United States. Before the Civil War, abolitionists republished her work as an argument against slavery. Abolitionists and emancipationists invoked her name and accomplishments to affirm a shared humanity and the intellectual ability of people of African descent.

Her legacy endures today: Schools, libraries, community centers and university buildings across the country bear her name, and she has inspired numerous children's books. In 2003, a statue of Wheatley was included in the new Boston Women's Memorial, all part of an ongoing effort to recognize the poet often praised as "the mother of African American literature."

The Forever stamps are available at Post Office locations nationwide and online at usps.com/shopstamps.

News about the stamp is being shared on social media using the hashtag #BlackHeritageStamp. 

Stamp design

The stamp art features a black-and-white ink-on-paper portrait of Phillis Wheatley by Kerry James Marshall, who imagines her later in life, working on her second, unpublished book of poems.

Marshall's image draws from the one known portrait of Wheatley made during her lifetime, the engraved frontispiece of her 1773 book. While the 1773 portrait shows Wheatley in profile, Marshall's stamp art shows her looking directly at the viewer, wearing similar clothing and sitting at the same chair and desk as in the original. Next to Wheatley's left hand is a copy of the only book she published during her lifetime, "Poems on Various Subjects, Religious and Moral." In the stamp art, she has begun to write on a paper that reads "Preface to my second volume," a reference to the book she was unable to publish.

Antonio Alcalá, an art director for USPS, designed the stamp using Marshall's artwork.

The Phillis Wheatley stamp will be issued in panes of 20. As a Forever stamp, it will always be equal in value to the current First-Class Mail 1-ounce price.

A video about the stamps will be posted after today's event on the Postal Service's Facebook page at facebook.com/USPS and on X, formerly known as Twitter, at x.com/usps.

Postal products

Customers may purchase stamps and other philatelic products through the Postal Store at usps.com/shopstamps, by calling 844-737-7826, by mail through USA Philatelic or at Post Office locations nationwide. For officially licensed stamp products, shop the USPS Officially Licensed Collection on Amazon. Additional information on stamps, first-day-of-issue ceremonies and stamp-inspired products can be found at StampsForever.com.

Please Note: The United States Postal Service is an independent federal establishment, mandated to be self-financing and to serve every American community through the affordable, reliable and secure delivery of mail and packages to nearly 170 million addresses six and often seven days a week. Overseen by a bipartisan Board of Governors, the Postal Service is implementing a 10-year transformation plan, Delivering for America, to modernize the postal network, restore long-term financial sustainability, dramatically improve service across all mail and shipping categories, and maintain the organization as one of America's most valued and trusted brands.

The Postal Service generally receives no tax dollars for operating expenses and relies on the sale of postage, products and services to fund its operations.

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National contact: Albert Ruiz
[email protected] 

Local contact: Amy Gibbs
[email protected]  
usps.com/news

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SOURCE U.S. Postal Service