American Presidents have been honored with postage stamps since long time ago. It was and remains one of the main themes for philatelic issues especially in the USA. In 1847 U.S. Post Office released its first two postage stamps featuring such leaders as George Washington and Benjamin Franklin. First Presidents issues were definitive stamps but later commemorative items began to appear.

The presidential theme in stamp designs would continue as the decades passed. In each period of the American history many of variations of the presidents’ portraits could be seen on the face of US postage stamps. The portrayals of American Presidents on philatelic issues have remained a significant subject and design theme on definitive postage throughout most of U.S. stamp issuance history.

The attractive stamps bearing the depictions of presidents include such outstanding politicians as George Washington foremost, Benjamin Franklin, Thomas Jefferson, Andrew Jackson and Abraham Lincoln etc. It should be noticed that USA Post Office had a tradition of issuing stamps honoring dead or seriously ill presidents. Later the tradition was changed and the portraits of American presidents made their first appearances on U.S. postage for very different reasons.

First appearances

Among the first definitive stamps that appeared in the United States were items depicting George Washington and Benjamin Franklin. They were released on July, 1847. Thomas Jefferson was first featured on U.S. postage in March 1856, nine years after the first issues were released. Only 15 years later Andrew Jackson was honored with a special postage item. Abraham Lincoln appeared on a U.S stamp on April 14, 1866, on occasion of the first anniversary of his death. With a run of history newly selected presidents began to be commemorated with different philatelic issues.

George Washington was the first President who was honored with a definitive stamp. This event happened in 1847. These were the  5-cent Franklin 1847 stamp  and the  10-cent Washington 1847 stamp .

The Washington-Franklin Issues were unique in the sense that these subjects were the only ones found on definitive stamps for more than a decade. Later the other variety of items with portrayals of George Washington became the theme of the new philatelic releases.

John Adams was the second President of the United States and the second long-serving leader who was depicted on a stamp. His portrait firstly appeared on the philatelic item on June 3, 1938. This was 2-cent John Adams stamp .

As a model for this postage issue was taken Daniel Chester French's marble bust of Adams displayed in the US Capitol's Senate Gallery.

It is worth noting that the third President of the United States, Thomas Jefferson, is not among the popular politicians featured on the postage stamp.

The first issue honoring Jefferson was introduced in 1856 - 5-cent Thomas Jefferson stamp , only nine years after the Post Office released its first two stamps of Washington and Franklin in 1847. (Before this time hand-stamps were used to mark and confirm payment of postage.)

Unlike other famous presidents Jefferson appeared on just two commemorative issues, one in 1904 -  LOUISIANA PURCHASE EXPOSITION - Thomas Jefferson stamp , the other on the AMERIPEX presidential issue of 1986 -  Thomas Jefferson 1986 AMERIPEX stamp .

James Madison was the fourth President of the United States, served from 1809–1817. It is known that Madison was honored with three Definitive issues.

The first item is a  2-dollar Madison stamp  that based on the engraving of Madison after his portrayal by Gilbert Stuart.

The second one is the dark blue  2-dollar Madison stamp issued on June 5, 1903 . It features the image designed by R. Ostrander Smith.

And finally the third 4c Madison stamp was released on July 1, 1938. It was part of the  Presidential series  that was issued that year.

Only in 2001 James Madison was honored with a commemorative stamp -  34c Madison stamp .

James Monroe was the fifth President of the United States who served two terms from 1817 to 1825. It is unusual that Monroe wasn't honored with definitive issues.

His first stamp was commemorative  3c stamp of 1904 - LOUISIANA PURCHASE EXPOSITION - James Monroe  stamp.

This item contains Monroe's image that was engraved by George F.C. Simille, modeled after a painting by John Vanderlyn which now hangs in City Hall, New York City. The five stamps of this set represent the first presidential images ever to appear on U.S. commemorative issues.

Later other commemorative regular and presidential stamp releases honoring James Monroe appeared.

John Quincy Adams was the sixth President of the United States. The item commemorated this leader is based on the engraved image of Adams. It appeared in 1938 and was a part of the special Presidential Series -  6-cent John Quincy Adams stamp .

The other stamp depicting Adams was part of the  Ameripex '86 issue , which commemorated all past deceased American Presidents.

Andrew Jackson was the seventh President of the United States. He was not only an outstanding politician but also the commander of the American forces at the Battle of New Orleans in 1815.

The peculiarity of the first stamp that was issued to honor Andrew Jackson is that it was designed and put into circulation 18 years after his death (in 1863) -  2c Andrew Jackson 1863 stamp . The item depicts a bust of the president sculpted by Hiram Powers.

The 3c issue of 1894 features an image of Jackson similar to those ones that appeared on the issues of 1873 and 1883. It was taken from a bust by Hiram Powers -  3c Andrew Jackson 1894 stamp .

Later the US Post released a great variety of commemorative and regular stamps honoring Andrew Jackson.

Martin Van Buren was the eighth President of the United States (from 1837 to 1841). He was the first US President to be born an American citizen.

The first item issued in honor of Van Burren was part of the Presidential Series of 1938. The 8-cent olive green denomination stamp depicts the sculpted bust of Van Buren that is on display in the US Capitol's Senate Gallery -  8c Martin Van Buren 1938 stamp .

William Henry Harrison was the ninth President of the United States and simultaneously served in the U.S. Army as an officer. Moreover William Harrison got the title of a hero in the War of 1812, he was the first president to die in office.

The first issue commemorating this politician was introduced in 1938. It was the  9-cent pink 1938 William Henry Harrison stamp depicting Harrison's bust. It was a part of Presidential Series issue.

The other commemorative issue honoring William Harrison was released on occasion of the 150th anniversary of Indiana statehood - INDIANA TERRITORY SESQUICENTENNIAL  3c William Henry Harrison stamp .

The president also appeared on the AMERIPEX presidential commemorative issues of 1986.

John Tyler was the tenth President of the United States (1841–1845) and the first who assumed the office immediately after the death of his predecessor.

A stamp dedicated to Tyler appeared in 1938 and had the orange-brown 10-cent denomination -  10c John Tyler stamp . The image of Tyler taken for the stamp was modeled after a bust by John Keck.

The second item commemorating the president was released in 1986. This was a 22-cent stamp of the AMERIPEX presidential issue -  John Tyler 1986 AMERIPEX stamp .

James Knox Polk was the 11th President of the United States (1845–1849). He was the Speaker of the House and Governor of Tennessee before being elected as a president. Polk was a devoted supporter and follower of Andrew Jackson and is considered to be the last strong pre-Civil war leader.

The item depicting James Polk appeared in 1938. The item had the 11-cent denomination and was the part of Presidential Series -  11c James K. Polk stamp . Polk's profile was designed after a medal struck by the US Mint.

The other items commemorating Polk were put into circulation in 1986 and in 1995 - 32c James Polk 1995 stamp .

Zachary Taylor was the 12th President of the United States and an American military leader. He was the first political leader elected as a president without having held any previous elected office. He also got the title of the national hero of the Mexican-American War. This fame led him to the Presidency.

Zachary Taylor was honored with three regular issues, a special stamp that was a part of the Presidential Series and two commemorative items that have a particular value for philatelists.

The first Taylor stamp was issued in 1875 and re-issued in 1879 and special-printed in 1880 -  5c Zachary Taylor stamp .

The second Taylor appears on the 12-cent stamp of the 1938 Presidential Series -  12c Zachary Taylor stamp .

Millard Fillmore was the 13th President of the United States (1850 until 1853). Firstly he was the Vice President and after the death of his predecessor he immediately assumed the Office. As such Fillmore was never actually elected president, and was the last member of the Whig Party to hold that office.

The first stamp honoring this politician appeared in 1938 and had the 13c denomination in that series -  13c Millard Fillmore stamp . The item featured the engraved image of Fillmore that was modeled after a bust by Robert Cushing.

The other stamp was released in 1986 in AMERIPEX.

Before Franklin Pierce having been elected as a president he was a successful American politician and lawyer. Then he became the 14th President of the United States, serving from 1853 to 1857.

The first issue honoring Pierce appeared in 1938 modelled after medal struck by the US Mint -  14c Franklin Pierce stamp .

The only  commemorative stamp honoring Pierce  was released as a part of AMERIPEX presidential issue on May 22, 1986.

James Buchanan was the 15th President of the United States (1857-1861) and the last President to be born in the 18th century. Some historians consider Buchanan’s presidency successful as he kept a divided nation together for so long while others fault him for failing to avert a civil war.

The image of James Buchanan appeared on the 15-cent issue in 1938 -  15c James Buchanan stamp . The president's portrait was designed after a sculpted bust by Henry Dexter.

The other stamp was released in 1986 on the AMERIPEX presidential issue.

Abraham Lincoln was the 16th President of the United States, serving from 1861 to 1865. Lincoln's main merit is that he successfully led the United States through its Civil War, bringing an end to slavery.

The president's personality was extremely popular that is why he was honored with the stamp issues quiet often, second only to the number of times George Washington has been featured on the face U.S. Postage.

His first appearance on U.S. Postage item came on or near the one-year anniversary of his death. This stamp was released in 1866 and remains to be one for the book for each philately lover -  Abraham Lincoln 15c stamp .

The designs of each  Lincoln's stamp  were made by prominent artists that is why each philatelic issue is special and has high value.

Andrew Johnson was the 17th President of the United States serving from 1865–1869. Johnson is thought to be the most prominent War Democrat. After Lincoln's death he presided over the Reconstruction era of the United States in the four years following the American Civil War. The first item released in honor of Andrew Jackson marked its appearance on October 27, 1938 -  17c Andrew Johnson stamp . It was unusual rose stamp with the engraving of Johnson's profile that was modeled after his a bust.

The only  commemorative stamp depicting Johnson  was a part of AMERIPEX presidential series and was issued in 1986.

Ulysses S. Grant was the 18th President of the United States and remains the youngest man theretofore elected president. He is also considered to be a national hero of the American Civil War.

Grant appeared on a postage stamp until some five years later after his death in 1890. Engravings were modeled after a photograph by William Kurtz -  5c Ulysses Grant stamp .

Later on he was honored with a number of stamps that have considerable philatelic value.

Rutherford Birchard Hayes was the 19th President of the United States. Before being elected as a president, he served in the army and was the Governor of Ohio for two separate terms. During his military service he was wounded on five separate incidents.

An 11c Postage stamp was issued in 1922 honoring the 100th anniversary of Hayes' birth. It was the first item released in the Regular Issues of 1922–1931 -  11c Rutherford B. Hayes stamp . The engraving of Hayes is designed after a photograph taken by prominent Civil War photographer Mathew Brady.

There was another definitive issue in 1938 - 19c 1938 Rutherford B. Hayes stamp and one commemorative stamp released in 1986 on the AMERIPEX presidential issue .

James Abram Garfield was the 20th President of the United States who is also very famous due to his military merits. He was a president only for 200 days and then was assassinated by by Charles J. Guiteau. An assassin's bullet ended his life and presidency and cut his time in office after serving only 200 days. Garfield was the only sitting member of the House of Representatives to have been elected President.

Garfield is one of the few presidents to appear on a postage stamp more than the usual one or two times. The first issue to honor him was released in 1882. The 5-cent Garfield was the second US postage stamp to honor an assassinated president within the year following his death and is also considered a 'mourning stamp' by many.

Chester Alan Arthur became the 21st President of the United States. Before becoming a president Chester Arthur worked as a lawyer. The engraving of Chester A. Arthur appears on the  21-cent value of the 1938 Presidential Series . The likeness was modeled after a marble bust of Arthur made by Augustus Saint-Gaudens in 1891. There is only one commemorative stamp issued in Arthur's honor, one item is from the  AMERIPEX Presidential issue of 1986 .

 

Stephen Grover Cleveland was the 22nd and 24th President of the United States. He is the only president ever to have served two non-consecutive terms. The  first stamp issued in honor of Cleveland  was unveiled in 1923. This precious philatelic item was modeled after the engraving that is listed by the Bureau of Engraving and Printing as “unknown.” The  12-cent Cleveland stamp was reprinted and released again in 1931. The other issues appeared in 1938 and in 1986.

Benjamin Harrison was the 23rd President of the United States. During American Civil War he served as an officer and got a lot of medals. The first stamp honoring Harrison was a commemorative item released in the World Columbian Exposition in Chicago, Illinois, in 1893. He was also honored with two more definitive issues and two commemorative stamps.

William McKinley Jr. was the 25th President of the United States, and the last veteran of the American Civil War to be elected to the office of the President. He was the last American president to serve in the 19th century and was the first President to serve in the 20th century.

William McKinley was honored with a number of interesting items, among them are three Regular Issues of, 1923, 1926 and 1927, the design, color and denomination of which are the same, and on the 1938 Presidential issue, but first it appeared on U.S. Postage in a commemorative issue, the Louisiana Purchase series of 1904 . The only commemorative stamp with the image of McKinley appeared in 1986 as part of a series of  stamps honoring U.S. Presidents .

Theodore Roosevelt was the 26th President of the United States. After the assassination of William McKinley, Roosevelt was elected as a president at the age of 42, taking office at the youngest age of any US President in history at that time. Roosevelt was a hero of the Spanish–American War. His other merit is that he negotiated an end to the Russo-Japanese War which later won him the Nobel Peace Prize.

Roosevelt was extremely popular figure for postage stamps images. The first issues appeared in 1922 and 1925. Among a great number of other stamps, special philatelic interest has a US Canal Zone stamp honoring Roosevelt was issued in November 1958, the 100th anniversary of his birth. Theodore Roosevelt is the only American president to be honored on a Canal Zone postage stamp.

William Howard Taft was the 27th President of the United States and later the 10th Chief Justice of the United States. Taft is the only person to have served in both offices.

The first stamp honoring this politician appeared in 1930 and had the denomination of the 4c -  4c William Taft stamp .

One more issue is the  50c Taft stamp that was part of the Presidential series of 1938. This item shows the engraved profile of Taft that was modeled after a bust sculpted specially for the stamp.

Taft was also depicted on the  AMERIPEX presidential issue of 1986 .

Thomas Woodrow Wilson was the 28th President of the United States. First known by the slogan "he kept us out of the war", Wilson was the president who declared war on Germany who was attacking all US vessels at high sea.

The  first stamp honoring Wilson  was released in 1925, immediately after his death. The image that appeared on the stamp is based on the photograph taken by Wilson’s widow. Woodrow Wilson was honored with three more commemorative issues that are extremely popular in the world of philately.

Warren Gamaliel Harding was the 29th President of the United States. Except of being successful politician, he also worked as a journalist and influential publisher.

Harding's unexpected death prompted the Harding 2c black stamp, 1923 , which is unofficially referred to as the Harding memorial Issue. Clair Aubrey Houston managed to design it in one day. Two years later the Post Office issued a similar Harding stamp, applying the same die that was used for the 1923 Harding Memorial issue. This time the item was brown and its denomination was now at 1 1/2 cents . Harding appeared on three more commemorative issues released in 1930, 1938 and 1986.

John Calvin Coolidge, Jr. was the 30th President of the United States. He is known as the first President of the United States to deliver a political speech on radio, and his 1925 inauguration was the first to be broadcast on radio. Known as "silent Cal" for being a man of few words in private while known for being an excellent orator at the pulpit.

The  first issue depicting Coolidge  was released in 1938. It was a part of the Presidential series. Coolidge was also honored with  1986 AMERIPEX commemorative issue .

Up through Coolidge, every president (with the two exceptions of Monroe and McKinley) had made his first appearance on U.S. Postage in a definitive series, only later being honored by a commemorative stamp. With subsequent presidents, the reverse is true: all have made their first appearances on commemoratives.

Herbert Clark Hoover was the 31st President of the United States. Hoover was a professional mining engineer and author. He is also known to be a great humanitarian and was actively involved into charity. After World War I, Hoover had massive shipments of food sent to feed starving millions in central Europe. He also provided much needed aid to Soviet Russia in 1921 which was then plagued with famine.

However, the historians consider Hover to be not very successful in his political career as he failed to bring the country out of the great depression that beset the USA in 1929, the year Hoover assumed office.

Hoover has never appeared on a U.S. definitive 5c stamp . He was only honored with three commemorative stamps; the first one was released in 1965.

Franklin Delano Roosevelt was the 32nd President of the United States. Many historians consider Roosevelt to be one of the most influential leaders in the mid-20th century, leading the United States during a time of worldwide economic crisis and world war.

FD Roosevelt was the only American president elected for more than two terms.

The first series of commemorative stamps was released only two months after Roosevelt's death. As this president was extremely popular, the US regularly issued a number of philatelic items honoring his life and political activity. Each stamp dedicated to Franklin Roosevelt is interesting and valuable in the philatelic circle.

Harry S. Truman was the 33rd President of the United States. Truman began his political career in politics as a county judge in 1922. He was Franklin D. Roosevelt's running mate in 1944.

The  first Harry Truman stamp  was put into circulation in 1973. It was created by Bradbury Thompson with the denomination of 8c. The president was honored with four more commemorative stamps that have high philatelic value.

Dwight David Eisenhower was an outstanding general of the United States Army and the 34th President of the United States. He also became the first supreme commander of NATO.

The first commemorative  stamp depicting Eisenhower  was released in 1969. The peculiarity of this issue is that it was larger than other commemorative stamps of that time. The Eisenhower commemorative issue was designed by Robert J. Jones of the Bureau of Engraving and Printing. It was fashioned after a photograph taken by Bernie Noble of the Cleveland Press. The president was depicted on four more philatelic items.

John Fitzgerald Kennedy was the 35th President of the United States. His statement has been quoted by each generation of the Americans: "Ask not what your country can do for you; ask what you can do for your country." This saying became a moto for the USA. Kennedy was the second-youngest President.

The  first stamp honoring Kennedy  was put on sale in 1964 on occasion of his 47th birthday. It was a memorial issue that has a high philatelic value today. Kennedy was depicted on two more commemorative stamps.

Lyndon B. Johnson became the 36th President immediately after Kennedy’s assassination in 1963. He won re-election in 1964 with 61 percent of the vote and served until January 20, 1969.

The  Lyndon Johnson memorial stamp  was released in 1973. It was designed by Bradbury Thompson and had the denomination of 8c. Johnson's last appearance (to date) on a US Postage stamp occurred in 1986 when he was honored on one of the stamps from the series called the  AMERIPEX issues of 1986 .

Richard Milhous Nixon was the 37th President of the United States. In 1968, Nixon won the presidency and was overwhelmingly re-elected in 1972. This politician was the only person to be elected twice to both the Presidency and the Vice Presidency. He was also the only US President to resign the office.

The  only stamp that was devoted to the figure of Richard Nixon  was released in 1995, immediately after his death. The issue was designed by Daniel Schwarz. It is extremely popular among the philatelists nowadays.

Gerald Rudolph Ford, Jr. was the 38th President of the United States. Ford was the first person appointed to the vice-presidency under the terms of the 25th Amendment, filling the vacancy left by Spiro Agnew. He became President upon Richard Nixon's resignation on August 9, 1974.

The only issue commemorated Gerald Ford was put on sale in 2007 and has the status of memorial stamp .

Ronald Wilson Reagan was the 40th President of the United States and served two terms from 1981 to 1989.

Reagan was depicted on the stamps oftener than his predecessor. The first philatelic item honoring the president was released in 2005 - Ronald Reagan stamps . The image of Reagan was modeled after a portrait painted by award-winning artist Michael J. Deas.

He was honored with two more commemorative issues.

United States Postal Service issued on 12 June 2019 a Forever stamp in honour of George Herbert Walker Bush, America's 41st President , who passed away on 30 November 2018.

There are currently six living former Presidents of the USA ( Jimmy Carter - 39th President , Bill Clinton - 42nd President , George W. Bush - 43d Perisident ,  Barack Obama - 44th President , Donald Trump - 45th President ), as well as the current President Joe Biden .

They have not been honored with commemorative stamp issues yet because of the postal rule that the USA has. It consists in the following: the living person cannot be depicted on a commemorative stamp !

 

This article is updated on 30 April 2024