USPS Honors Colorado’s 150th Birthday with Scenic Forever Stamp
In a celebration of natural beauty and historical significance, the United States Postal Service has announced plans to commemorate Colorado’s sesquicentennial with a striking new Forever stamp. Set for release on January 24, 2026, this special stamp features a breathtaking landscape photograph of Jagged Mountain captured by renowned Colorado photographer John Fielder, who dedicated his life to documenting the state’s majestic wilderness before his passing in 2023. The timing of this postal tribute holds particular meaning, as Colorado earned its nickname as the “Centennial State” when it joined the Union on August 1, 1876—exactly 100 years after America’s founding document, the Declaration of Independence, was signed. Through this stamp, the USPS continues its tradition of celebrating significant American landmarks and anniversaries through miniature works of art that travel across the country and beyond.
The unveiling ceremony promises to be a meaningful convergence of postal tradition and Colorado heritage. Scheduled for 9:00 a.m. Mountain Standard Time at Denver’s History Colorado Center, the first-day-of-issue event will be presided over by Amber F. McReynolds, chairwoman of the USPS Board of Governors. What makes this occasion particularly special is its conjunction with the opening of “Mountains Majesty: On the Summit with John Fielder,” an exhibition showcasing approximately 5,000 selections from Fielder’s extraordinary photographic legacy. Before his death, Fielder generously donated his entire life’s work—over 200,000 photographs captured across five decades—to the History Colorado Center, ensuring that his vision of Colorado’s natural splendor would be preserved for future generations. The stamp’s release thus becomes not only a celebration of Colorado’s statehood but also a tribute to one of the state’s most devoted visual storytellers.
For collectors and everyday mail senders alike, the Colorado Statehood Forever stamp will be widely accessible through various purchasing channels after its January 2026 release. The USPS has made arrangements for the stamp to be available online through the Postal Service’s dedicated Postal Store, by telephone orders, through mail requests, and at participating post office locations nationwide. In an expansion of traditional offerings, officially licensed merchandise related to the stamp will also be available through Amazon, providing enthusiasts with additional ways to celebrate this milestone in Colorado’s history. As with all Forever stamps, this commemorative piece will retain its value regardless of future postal rate changes, making it both a practical postage solution and a collectible keepsake marking the state’s 150-year journey.
The Colorado stamp represents more than just a postal necessity—it’s part of the USPS’s ongoing commitment to creating meaningful cultural touchpoints through its stamp program. Lisa Bobb-Semple, director of Stamp Services at USPS, eloquently captured this mission when she described each stamp as “a small work of art—an entryway into a larger story that connects people, places and moments in history.” Her statement emphasizes how these miniature canvases serve as vehicles for storytelling and commemoration, bridging geographical distances while honoring significant achievements, natural wonders, and historical milestones. The Colorado Statehood stamp continues this tradition, joining a diverse collection of subjects that collectively weave a tapestry of American experience through images that travel from hand to hand across the country.
The first-day-of-issue ceremony on January 24, 2026, will offer stamp enthusiasts and Colorado history buffs a chance to be part of postal history. The USPS has opened this event to the public at no cost, though interested attendees are encouraged to register in advance through the provided online portal. These ceremonies have become cherished traditions in the philatelic community, offering collectors the opportunity to purchase stamps on their first day of availability and have them postmarked with the special first-day-of-issue cancellation. Beyond the immediate excitement of the Colorado stamp release, the Postal Service has indicated that additional 2026 Forever stamp designs will be announced in the coming weeks, building anticipation for what other American stories, landscapes, and achievements might be honored through this unique art form.
As we look toward this future celebration of Colorado’s sesquicentennial, the stamp serves as a reminder of how postal traditions continue to evolve while maintaining their cultural significance in an increasingly digital age. Behind each stamp lies a carefully considered design process that balances artistic merit with historical accuracy and cultural relevance. The selection of Fielder’s Jagged Mountain photograph represents a perfect marriage of subject and occasion—capturing the rugged beauty that has defined Colorado’s identity since its founding while honoring the work of a photographer who dedicated his career to preserving these vistas for posterity. For those interested in learning more about this stamp and others in the 2026 collection, the USPS has created dedicated resources at stampsforever.com, where visitors can explore the stories and significance behind these miniature ambassadors of American heritage, natural beauty, and cultural achievement as they prepare to commemorate Colorado’s 150 years of statehood.
