Distinguished Americans series facts for kids

The Distinguished Americans series is a special collection of definitive stamps. These are stamps that are always available, unlike special commemorative stamps. The United States Postal Service started this series in the year 2000. The very first stamp in this collection showed Joseph W. Stilwell and cost 10 cents.

The first nine stamps in this series looked a bit like an older collection called the Great Americans series. However, the new designs were a little less formal. These first nine stamps were made with black lines on a white background. But in 2008, when the stamp for James A. Michener came out, the Postal Service added some color to the designs.

Just like the Great Americans series, the first twelve stamps in this collection were all the same size: about 0.84 inches by 0.99 inches. A designer named Mark Summers, from Waterdown, Ontario, created all of these early stamps. In 2011, with the Oveta Culp Hobby stamp, the series changed. The stamps became larger and featured full-color pictures with colorful backgrounds.

What Makes These Stamps Special?

The stamps in the Distinguished Americans series have some unique features.

Different Formats for Some Stamps

The stamp honoring Wilma Rudolph, released in 2004, is special because it was the only one in the series that came out in two different ways. You could buy it as a full sheet of stamps or as a smaller booklet.

Perforation Differences

Some stamps in the series have slight differences in their perforations. Perforations are the tiny holes that make it easy to tear stamps apart.

• The 2001 stamp for Hattie W. Caraway had some variations in its perforations.
• The stamps for Edna Ferber, first issued in 2002 and then again in 2003, also had different perforation patterns. The 2003 version had 11¼ x 11¼ perforations.

Who Is Honored in the Series?

The Distinguished Americans series honors many important people from American history. Each stamp features a different person and has a specific value.

• 2000, August 24: 10¢ stamp for General Joseph W. Stilwell.
• 2000, September 7: 33¢ stamp for Senator Claude Pepper.
• 2001, February 21: 76¢ stamp for Senator Hattie W. Caraway.
• 2002, July 29: 83¢ stamp for Author Edna Ferber. This stamp was reissued in 2003 with different perforations.
• 2004, July 14: 23¢ stamp for Athlete Wilma Rudolph.
• 2006, March 9: 63¢ stamp for Medical scientist Jonas Salk.
• 2006, March 9: 87¢ stamp for Virologist Albert Sabin.
• 2007, June 13: 58¢ stamp for Senator Margaret Chase Smith.
• 2007, June 13: 75¢ stamp for Author Harriet Beecher Stowe.
• 2008, May 12: 59¢ stamp for Author James A. Michener.
• 2008, May 12: 76¢ stamp for Physician Edward Trudeau.
• 2009, May 15: 78¢ stamp for Philanthropist Mary Lasker.
• 2011, April 15: 84¢ stamp for Stateswoman Oveta Culp Hobby. This stamp was for three-ounce first-class mail.
• 2012, April 26: "Forever" stamp for Actor José Ferrer. "Forever" stamps are always valid for first-class mail, no matter how much the price changes.
• 2014, March 13: 70¢ stamp for Aviator C. Alfred "Chief" Anderson. This stamp was for two-ounce first-class mail.
• 2017, April 11: 70¢ stamp for Teacher and pioneer of deaf studies Robert Panara. This stamp was also for two-ounce first-class mail.