Women Subjects on United States Postage Stamps

Queen Isabella of Spain appeared on seven stamps in the Columbian Exposition issue of 1893 — the first commemorative U.S. postage stamps. The first U.S. postage stamp to honor an American woman was the eight-cent Martha Washington stamp of 1902. The many stamps issued in honor of women since then are listed below.

Subject Denomination Date Issued
Columbian Exposition: Columbus Soliciting Aid from Queen Isabella January 1893
Columbian Exposition: Columbus Restored to Favor January 1893
Columbian Exposition: Columbus Presenting Natives 10¢ January 1893
Columbian Exposition: Columbus Announcing His Discovery 15¢ January 1893
Columbian Exposition: Queen Isabella Pledging Her Jewels $1 January 1893
Columbian Exposition: Columbus Describing His Third Voyage $3 January 1893
Columbian Exposition: Queen Isabella and Columbus $4 January 1893
Martha Washington December 1902
Pocahontas April 26, 1907
Martha Washington January 15, 1923
“The Greatest Mother” May 21, 1931
Mothers of America: Portrait of his Mother, by James A. McNeil Whistler May 2, 1934
Susan B. Anthony August 26, 1936
Virginia Dare August 18, 1937
Martha Washington 1½¢ May 5, 1938
Louisa May Alcott February 5, 1940
Frances E. Willard March 28, 1940
Jane Addams 10¢ April 26, 1940
Progress of Women July 19, 1948
Clara Barton September 7, 1948
Gold Star Mothers September 21, 1948
Juliette Gordon Low October 29, 1948
Moina Michael November 9, 1948
Betsy Ross January 2, 1952
Service Women September 11, 1952
Susan B. Anthony 50¢ August 25, 1955
American Woman June 2, 1960
Camp Fire Girls November 1, 1960
Nursing December 28, 1961
Girl Scout Jubilee July 24, 1962
Amelia Earhart July 24, 1963
Eleanor Roosevelt October 11, 1963
Homemakers October 26, 1964
General Federation of Women's Clubs September 12, 1966
Mary Cassatt, American Artist November 17, 1966
Lucy Stone 50¢ August 13, 1968
Grandma Moses May 1, 1969
Woman Suffrage August 26, 1970
Emily Dickinson, American Poet August 28, 1971
Willa Cather, American Novelist September 20, 1973
Elizabeth Blackwell, First Woman Physician 18¢ January 23, 1974
Sybil Ludington, Youthful Heroine March 25, 1975
International Women's Year 10¢ August 26, 1975
Clara Maass: She gave her life 13¢ August 18, 1976
The Seamstress for Independence 13¢ July 4, 1977
Black Heritage: Harriet Tubman 13¢ February 1, 1978
Frances Perkins 15¢ April 10, 1980
Dolley Madison 15¢ May 20, 1980
Emily Bissell, Crusader Against Tuberculosis 15¢ May 31, 1980
Helen Keller/Anne Sullivan 15¢ June 27, 1980
Edith Wharton 15¢ September 5, 1980
Blanche Stuart Scott, Pioneer Pilot 28¢ December 30, 1980
Rachel Carson 17¢ May 28, 1981
Edna St. Vincent Millay, American Poet 18¢ June 10, 1981
Babe Zaharias 18¢ September 22, 1981
The Barrymores, Performing Arts 20¢ June 8, 1982
Dr. Mary Walker, Army Surgeon, Medal of Honor 20¢ June 10, 1982
Pearl Buck June 25, 1983
Dorothea Dix September 23, 1983
Lillian M. Gilbreth 40¢ February 24, 1984
Eleanor Roosevelt 20¢ October 11, 1984
Black Heritage: Mary McLeod Bethune 22¢ March 5, 1985
Abigail Adams 22¢ June 14, 1985
Black Heritage: Sojourner Truth 22¢ February 4, 1986
Belva Ann Lockwood 17¢ June 18, 1986
Margaret Mitchell June 30, 1986
Julia Ward Howe 14¢ February 12, 1987
Mary Lyon February 28, 1987
Mary Cassatt 23¢ November 4, 1988
Black Heritage: Ida B. Wells 25¢ February 1, 1990
Marianne Moore, American Poet 25¢ April 18, 1990
Olympians: Helene Madison 25¢ July 6, 1990
Olympians: Hazel Wightman 25¢ July 6, 1990
Harriet Quimby, Pioneer Pilot 50¢ April 27, 1991
Summer Olympic Games: Women Hurdlers 29¢ July 12, 1991
Summer Olympic Games: Women Sprinters 29¢ July 12, 1991
Comedians: Fanny Brice 29¢ August 29, 1991
World War II, 1942: Millions of Women Join the War Effort 29¢ August 17, 1992
Literary Arts: Dorothy Parker, American Writer 29¢ August 22, 1992
Grace Kelly 29¢ May 24, 1993
Legends of American Music, Rock & Roll / Rhythm & Blues: Dinah Washington 29¢ June 16, 1993
Legends of American Music, Country & Western: The Carter Family 29¢ September 25, 1993
Legends of American Music, Country & Western: Patsy Cline 29¢ September 25, 1993
Classic Books: Rebecca of Sunnybrook Farm (by Kate Douglas Wiggin) 29¢ October 23, 1993
Classic Books: Little House on the Prairie (by Laura Ingalls Wilder) 29¢ October 23, 1993
Classic Books: Little Women (by Louisa May Alcott) 29¢ October 23, 1993
Stars of the Silent Screen: Theda Bara 29¢ April 27, 1994
Stars of the Silent Screen: Clara Bow 29¢ April 27, 1994
Stars of the Silent Screen: Zasu Pitts 29¢ April 27, 1994
Legends of American Music, Popular Singers: Ethel Merman 29¢ September 1, 1994
Legends of American Music, Popular Singers: Ethel Waters 29¢ September 1, 1994
Legends of American Music, Jazz and Blues Singers: Mildred Bailey 29¢ September 17, 1994
Legends of American Music, Jazz and Blues Singers: Billie Holiday 29¢ September 17, 1994
Legends of American Music, Jazz and Blues Singers: ‘Ma’ Rainey 29¢ September 17, 1994
Legends of American Music, Jazz and Blues Singers: Bessie Smith 29¢ September 17, 1994
Legends of the West: Annie Oakley 29¢ October 18, 1994
Legends of the West: Nellie Cashman 29¢ October 18, 1994
Legends of the West: Sacagawea 29¢ October 18, 1994
Virginia Apgar, Physician 20¢ October 24, 1994
Black Heritage: Bessie Coleman 32¢ April 27, 1995
Legends of Hollywood: Marilyn Monroe 32¢ June 1, 1995
Civil War: Clara Barton 32¢ June 29, 1995
Civil War: Mary Chesnut 32¢ June 29, 1995
Civil War: Phoebe Pember 32¢ June 29, 1995
Civil War: Harriet Tubman 32¢ June 29, 1995
Alice Hamilton, MD, Social Reformer 55¢ July 11, 1995
Alice Paul, Suffragist 78¢ August 18, 1995
Women's Suffrage 32¢ August 26, 1995
Ruth Benedict, Anthropologist 46¢ October 20, 1995
Jacqueline Cochran, Pioneer Pilot 50¢ March 9, 1996
Summer Olympic Games: Women’s running 32¢ May 2, 1996
Summer Olympic Games: Women’s diving 32¢ May 2, 1996
Summer Olympic Games: Women’s gymnastics 32¢ May 2, 1996
Summer Olympic Games: Women’s sailboarding 32¢ May 2, 1996
Summer Olympic Games: Women’s soccer 32¢ May 2, 1996
Summer Olympic Games: Women’s swimming 32¢ May 2, 1996
Summer Olympic Games: Women’s softball 32¢ May 2, 1996
Georgia O’Keeffe 32¢ May 23, 1996
Breast Cancer Awareness 32¢ June 15, 1996
Legends of American Music, Songwriters: Dorothy Fields 32¢ September 11, 1996
Merian Botanical Prints 32¢ March 3, 1997
Legends of American Music, Opera Singers: Lily Pons 32¢ September 10, 1997
Legends of American Music, Opera Singers: Rosa Ponselle 32¢ September 10, 1997
Women in Military Service 32¢ October 18, 1997
Black Heritage: Madam C. J. Walker 32¢ January 28, 1998
Celebrate the Century—1900s: Gibson Girl 32¢ February 3, 1998
Celebrate the Century—1920s: 19th Amendment 32¢ May 28, 1998
Celebrate the Century—1920s: Emily Post's Etiquette 32¢ May 28, 1998
Celebrate the Century—1920s: Margaret Mead, Anthropologist 32¢ May 28, 1998
Celebrate the Century—1920s: Flappers Do the Charleston 32¢ May 28, 1998
Legends of American Music, Gospel Singers: Mahalia Jackson 32¢ July 15, 1998
Legends of American Music, Gospel Singers: Roberta Martin 32¢ July 15, 1998
Legends of American Music, Gospel Singers: Sister Rosetta 32¢ July 15, 1998
Legends of American Music, Gospel Singers: Clara Ward 32¢ July 15, 1998
Lila and DeWitt Wallace 32¢ July 16, 1998
Four Centuries of American Art: Breakfast in Bed, by Mary Cassatt 32¢ August 27, 1998
Celebrate the Century—1930s: Eleanor Roosevelt 32¢ September 10, 1998
Celebrate the Century—1930s: America Survives the Depression (detail of Migrant Mother by Dorothea Lange) 32¢ September 10, 1998
Celebrate the Century—1930s: Gone With the Wind (by Margaret Mitchell) 32¢ September 10, 1998
Mary Breckenridge, Founder, Frontier Nursing Service 77¢ November 9, 1998
Celebrate the Century—1940s: Women Support War Effort 33¢ February 18, 1999
Alfred Lunt and Lynn Fontanne 33¢ March 2, 1999
Literary Arts: Ayn Rand 33¢ April 22, 1999
Celebrate the Century—1950s: "I Love Lucy" 33¢ May 26, 1999
Celebrate the Century—1970s: Women's Rights Movement 33¢ November 18, 1999
Black Heritage: Patricia Roberts Harris 33¢ January 27, 2000
Louise Nevelson (five designs) 33¢ April 6, 2000
American Illustrators: Neysa McMein 34¢ February 1, 2001
American Illustrators: Rose O’Neill 34¢ February 1, 2001
American Illustrators: Jessie Willcox Smith 34¢ February 1, 2001
Distinguished Americans: Hattie W. Caraway, Senator 76¢ February 21, 2001
Frida Kahlo 34¢ June 21, 2001
Legends of Hollywood: Lucille Ball 34¢ August 6, 2001
Masters of American Photography: Gertrude Käsebier 37¢ June 13, 2002
Masters of American Photography: Dorothea Lange 37¢ June 13, 2002
Masters of American Photography: Imogen Cunningham 37¢ June 13, 2002
Distinguished Americans: Edna Ferber, Author 83¢ July 29, 2002
Women in Journalism: Nellie Bly 37¢ September 14, 2002
Women in Journalism: Ida M. Tarbell 37¢ September 14, 2002
Women in Journalism: Ethel L. Payne 37¢ September 14, 2002
Women in Journalism: Marguerite Higgins 37¢ September 14, 2002
Literary Arts: Zora Neale Hurston 37¢ January 24, 2003
Legends of Hollywood: Audrey Hepburn 37¢ June 11, 2003
American Treasures: Mary Cassatt—Young Mother 37¢ August 7, 2003
American Treasures: Mary Cassatt—Children Playing on the Beach 37¢ August 7, 2003
American Treasures: Mary Cassatt—On a Balcony 37¢ August 7, 2003
American Treasures: Mary Cassatt—Child in a Straw Hat 37¢ August 7, 2003
American Choreographers: Martha Graham 37¢ May 4, 2004
American Choreographers: Agnes de Mille 37¢ May 4, 2004
Distinguished Americans: Wilma Rudolph, Athlete 23¢ July 14, 2004
Black Heritage: Marian Anderson 37¢ January 27, 2005
American Scientists: Barbara McClintock 37¢ May 4, 2005
Greta Garbo 37¢ September 23, 2005
Black Heritage: Hattie McDaniel 39¢ January 25, 2006
Literary Arts: Katherine Anne Porter 39¢ May 15, 2006
Distinguished American Diplomats: Frances E. Willis 39¢ May 30, 2006
Legends of Hollywood: Judy Garland 39¢ June 11, 2006
Black Heritage: Ella Fitzgerald 39¢ January 10, 2007
Distinguished Americans: Margaret Chase Smith, Senator 58¢ June 13, 2007
Distinguished Americans: Harriet Beecher Stowe, Author 75¢ June 13, 2007
Literary Arts: Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings 41¢ February 21, 2008
American Scientists: Gerty Cori, Biochemist 41¢ March 6, 2008
American Journalists: Martha Gellhorn 42¢ April 22, 2008
Vintage Black Cinema: Princess Tam-Tam (featuring Josephine Baker) 42¢ July 16, 2008
Legends of Hollywood: Bette Davis 42¢ September 18, 2008
Civil Rights Pioneers: Mary Church Terrell and Mary White Ovington 42¢ February 21, 2009
Civil Rights Pioneers: Oswald Garrison Villard and Daisy Gatson Bates 42¢ February 21, 2009
Civil Rights Pioneers: Medgar Evers and Fannie Lou Hamer 42¢ February 21, 2009
Civil Rights Pioneers: Ella Baker and Ruby Hurley 42¢ February 21, 2009
Distinguished Americans: Mary Lasker 78¢ May 15, 2009
Black Heritage: Anna Julia Cooper 44¢ June 11, 2009
Early TV Memories: I Love Lucy (featuring Lucille Ball and Vivian Vance as Lucy and Ethel) 44¢ August 11, 2009
Early TV Memories: The Dinah Shore Show (featuring Dinah Shore) 44¢ August 11, 2009
Early TV Memories: Kukla, Fran and Ollie (featuring Fran Allison) 44¢ August 11, 2009
Early TV Memories: Burns and Allen (featuring Gracie Allen) 44¢ August 11, 2009
Early TV Memories: Ozzie and Harriet (featuring Harriet Nelson) 44¢ August 11, 2009
Katharine Hepburn 44¢ May 12, 2010
Kate Smith 44¢ May 27, 2010
Mother Teresa 44¢ September 5, 2010
Literary Arts: Julia de Burgos 44¢ September 14, 2010

Since 2011, all commemorative stamps for the First-Class Mail one-ounce rate have been Forever stamps, equal in value to the current First-Class Mail one-ounce price. The value given in parentheses was the price of the stamp when first issued.

Subject Denomination Date Issued
Latin Music Legends: Carmen Miranda (44¢) March 16, 2011
Latin Music Legends: Selena (44¢) March 16, 2011
Latin Music Legends: Celia Cruz (44¢) March 16, 2011
Distinguished Americans: Oveta Culp Hobby (84¢) April 15, 2011
Helen Hayes (44¢) April 25, 2011
American Scientists: Maria Goeppert Mayer (44¢) June 16, 2011
Pioneers of American Industrial Design: Greta von Nessen (44¢) June 29, 2011
Black Heritage: Barbara Jordan (44¢) September 16, 2011
Twentieth-Century Poets: Elizabeth Bishop (45¢) April 21, 2012
Twentieth-Century Poets: Gwendolyn Brooks (45¢) April 21, 2012
Twentieth-Century Poets: Denise Levertov (45¢) April 21, 2012
Twentieth-Century Poets: Sylvia Plath (45¢) April 21, 2012
Edith Piaf (45¢) June 12, 2012
Innovative Choreographers: Isadora Duncan (45¢) July 28, 2012
Innovative Choreographers: Katherine Dunham (45¢) July 28, 2012
Lady Bird Johnson (45¢) November 30, 2012
Rosa Parks (46¢) February 4, 2013
Modern Art in America, 1913-1931: Georgia O'Keeffe (46¢) March 7, 2013
Music Icons: Lydia Mendoza (46¢) May 15, 2013
Black Heritage: Althea Gibson (46¢) August 23, 2013
Black Heritage: Shirley Chisholm (49¢) January 31, 2014
Music Icons: Janis Joplin (49¢) August 8, 2014
Celebrity Chefs: Julia Child (49¢) September 26, 2014
Celebrity Chefs: Edna Lewis (49¢) September 26, 2014
Celebrity Chefs: Joyce Chen (49¢) September 26, 2014
Maya Angelou (49¢) April 7, 2015
Literary Arts: Flannery O'Connor (93¢)* June 5, 2015
Legends of Hollywood: Ingrid Bergman (49¢) August 20, 2015
Music Icons: Sarah Vaughan (49¢) March 29, 2016
Legends of Hollywood: Shirley Temple (47¢) April 18, 2016
Black Heritage: Dorothy Height (49¢) February 1, 2017
Black Heritage: Lena Horne (50¢) January 30, 2018
Sally Ride (50¢) May 23, 2018
“Little Mo” (55¢) April 23, 2019
Black Heritage: Gwen Ifill (55¢) January 30, 2020
Voices of the Harlem Renaissance:
    Nella Larsen (55¢) May 21, 2020
    Anne Spencer (55¢) May 21, 2020
Ruth Asawa (ten designs) (55¢) August 13, 2020
19th Amendment: Women Vote (55¢) August 22, 2020
Chien-Shiung Wu (55¢) February 11, 2021
Literary Arts: Ursula K. Le Guin (95¢)* July 27, 2021
Black Heritage: Edmonia Lewis (58¢) January 26, 2022
Title IX (four designs) (58¢) March 3, 2022
Eugenie Clark (58¢) May 4, 2022
Women’s Rowing (four designs) (58¢) May 13, 2022
Distinguished Americans: Katharine Graham (78¢)** June 14, 2022
Nancy Reagan (58¢) July 6, 2022
Women Cryptologists of World War II (60¢) October 18, 2022
Women’s Soccer (63¢) February 16, 2023
Toni Morrison (63¢) March 7, 2023
Black Heritage: Constance Baker Motley (68¢) January 1, 2024
Underground Railroad:    
      Harriet Tubman (68¢) March 9, 2024
      Harriet Jacobs (68¢) March 9, 2024
      Catharine Coffin (68¢) March 9, 2024
      Laura Haviland (68¢) March 9, 2024
Betty Ford (68¢) April 5, 2024

* Three-ounce rate Forever stamp.
**Two-ounce rate Forever stamp.


HISTORIAN
UNITED STATES POSTAL SERVICE
JULY 2024