NEW YORK — From a teddy bear or Jackie Robinson’s baseball glove to a lighthouse or a vintage truck, Americans can now officially select their favorite Ralph Lauren-curated stamps.
On Tuesday, the United States Postal Service held a dedication ceremony — chock full of patriotic pomp and circumstance — at the James A. Farley Post Office for its American Icons stamp collection. The designer hand-picked the 12 images from his personal archives that he believes represent the fabric of the nation. They feature an “American Icons” title and “Forever” and “USA” in white text in the upper left or upper right corners and complement a 13th stamp that is a replica of a knit flag designed by Lauren on a patchwork denim background that reads: “1776 to 2026.”
A hamburger is among the images on the American Icons stamps.
Courtesy of Ralph Lauren
In the First Day of Issue ceremony, Elvin Mercado, chief retail and delivery officer and executive vice president of the U.S. Postal Service, told attendees that the agency “has a proud tradition of honoring our nation’s history through our stamp programs.” So to commemorate the country’s 250th anniversary next month, it turned to Lauren — “a creative vision who has helped shape American style and identity for nearly six decades,” to curate the edition that went on sale immediately following the dedication.
Mercado pointed out the designer’s fundraising efforts in 1998 that helped restore the 1813 flag that flew over Fort McHenry during the War of 1812, known as the Star-Spangled Banner, and inspired Francis Scott Key to write the song that would become the U.S. national anthem.
The stamp created from Ralph Lauren’s flag sweater design.
Courtesy of Ralph Lauren
The images Lauren selected for the stamps, he said, “embody the shared knowledge and natural freedom, independence, equality, opportunity, and the pursuit of happiness. They tell a story of America that is authentic and timeless…and celebrate the enduring spirit that has carried our nation through 250 years of history.”
But it wasn’t just his patriotism that was celebrated during the event. Katie Couric also spoke to his philanthropy and “advocacy for cancer research” that now includes facilities across the country, including those in communities where patients often lack access to care. Couric, a breast cancer survivor whose husband died of colon cancer at 42, said: “I think now, more than ever, we’re in desperate need of heroes, people we look up to and want to emulate. Individuals of this caliber are few and far between.”
Also speaking at the dedication was Frank Bennack Jr., executive vice chairman and former chief executive officer of Hearst, who is the son of a letter carrier. “Perhaps not since Norman Rockwell has anyone more vibrantly portrayed American imagery than Ralph Lauren,” he said. “He has been a great American storyteller, not in words, but in images, in apparel, in decor, in color, and intention, and today a new element is added. Each of us will imagine in our own way the meaning of these various images. The Jackie Robinson baseball glove suggests fair competition and equality. The weathered pickup truck speaks of work and utility, the teddy bear of love and tenderness, and the lighthouse of guidance. All who see them will have their own interpretations, but all will be inspired.”
The American Icons stamps are issued in panes of 13 and the Forever stamps will always be equal in value to the current first-class mail cost. The panes are now available at post offices nationwide as well as online.
And beyond the stamps, the History Channel will premiere a new special, “Ralph Lauren’s American Icons” on July 4 at 7:30 p.m. ET as part of its History Honors 250 campaign. The 30-minute documentary traces Lauren’s curation of the stamps and features an interview with David Lauren, chief branding and innovation officer, along with never-before-seen photographs and films from the Ralph Lauren archives. Others featured in the special include filmmaker Ken Burns, historian Yohuru Williams, Anthea Hartig, director of the Smithsonian’s National Museum of American History, as well as a close look at the Star-Spangled Banner flag and footage from Tuesday’s dedication ceremony.
