STRONGSVILLE, OH — The U.S. Postal Service celebrates the colorful sights of autumnal walks with the release of five new Vibrant Leaves postcard stamps. Each stamp showcases a single leaf from the aspen, sassafras, oak, maple and sweetgum trees.

Antonio Alcalá, an art director for USPS, designed the stamps using existing photographs.

“I am enchanted by the colors one finds in leaves, especially during the autumn season,” Alcala said. “I wanted to present a gradation of colors but with a variety of leaf shapes and trees.”

The aspen is often referred to as the “quaking aspen” because of the characteristic rustling sound that comes from its flat leaf stalks, which cause its silver-dollar-sized leaves to flutter with the gentlest of breezes. Aspen leaves typically appear heart-shaped or nearly round and are known for their brilliant golden color in the fall.

Sassafras leaves can have multiple lobes, sometimes giving them a mitten-like shape. The uniqueness of the sassafras tree’s smell comes from its citrusy leaves and cinnamon-scented bark. In the fall, sassafras trees are known for their spectacular yellow, orange, crimson, burgundy and purple colors.

The mighty oak is an essential part of a forest’s ecosystem. Its acorns are important food sources for many types of wildlife, and its trunks and branches provide homes to hundreds of birds, insects and animals. In the fall, oak trees tend to produce leaves that are vivid red, burgundy or reddish brown. 

Maple trees are prized for their sweet sap, which is then boiled and made into maple syrup. While all maples produce sap, sugar and black maples have the highest concentration of sugar, so they are most often used in maple sugar production. Their warm yellows, crisp oranges and brilliant reds make maple trees key players in New England’s brilliant autumn landscapes.

Sweetgums, also known as redgums because of their reddish-colored bark, are named for the sweet-smelling resin they produce. Their magenta, orange and purple star-shaped leaves make them a standout in the realm of ornamental fall trees.

The nondenominated Vibrant Leaves stamps are priced at the postcard rate and issued in panes of 20 or coils. The word “POSTCARD” on the stamps indicates their usage value.

News of the Vibrant Leaves stamps is being shared with the hashtag #VibrantLeavesStamps.

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.

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