On September 5, 2024, in Philadelphia, PA, the United States Postal Service® (USPS®) will issue the First Continental Congress, 1774 stamp (Forever® priced at the First-Class Mail® rate), in one design, in a pressure-sensitive adhesive (PSA) pane of 20 stamps (Item 485700). This stamp will go on sale nationwide September 5, 2024, and must not be sold or canceled before the first-day-of-issue.
With this stamp, USPS commemorates the 250th anniversary of the First Continental Congress, which convened in Philadelphia in 1774 to decide how the Colonies should respond to increasing threats to their freedom. The stamp art, evocative of the U.S. flag, is dominated by a vertical blue band bordered on either side by white stripes. The text at the top of the band reads, “12 COLONIES UNITE IN PROTEST.” The center features a plea taken from a petition sent by the Congress to King George III: “We ask but for Peace, Liberty and Safety.” The title of the stamp — “FIRST CONTINENTAL CONGRESS, 1774” — appears at the bottom. A red stripe with 12 white stars representing the number of Colonies that participated in the Congress delineates the left side. Antonio Alcalá served as art director, designer, and typographer for this stamp.
Availability to Post Offices: Item 485700, First Continental Congress, 1774 (Forever Priced at the First-Class Mail Rate) Pane of 20 Stamps
Stamp Fulfillment Services will make an automatic push distribution to Post Offices of a quantity to cover approximately 30 days of sales. Distribution quantities for the automatic push distribution will be available by logging on to SFS Web at sfsweb.usps.gov/sfsweb. Post Offices may begin ordering stamps before the first-day-of-issue through SFS Web; offices need to check the amount they will receive on their automatic push distribution.