The American Icons stamps are here
Fashion designer Ralph Lauren chose the images for this commemorative set
The Postal Service will dedicate its American Icons stamps on Tuesday, June 9, at the James A. Farley Post Office Building in New York City.
The images in this set of 13 commemorative stamps were chosen by American fashion designer Ralph Lauren. The collaboration marks the first time an individual was invited to curate a complete stamp issuance for USPS.
Lauren selected the images from his personal archives as well as other visuals that have inspired his work.
The center stamp in the collection shows a knit flag, designed by Lauren, with additional text that reads “1776” and “2026” written in blue and separated by a star.
The images on the 12 surrounding stamps include an American flag, a baseball glove used by Jackie Robinson, a pickup truck, a dog, the Empire State Building, a barn, a Diné (Navajo) blanket, a teddy bear, a lighthouse, a hamburger, a sailboat and horses.
The Forever stamps were designed by Greg Breeding, an art director for USPS.
They will be available in sheets of 13 at Post Offices and at usps.com.
The American Icons-inspired 2026 U.S. Flag mail-use stamp, which depicts Lauren’s knitted flag design, also will be released June 9.
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If you leave USPS, you still must follow ethics rules
Former employees have restrictions on communicating with the organization
The Postal Service is reminding employees that they must follow federal ethics rules even after they leave the organization.
Former employees can work wherever they choose, but there are restrictions if they communicate with USPS on behalf of their new employer.
Here are the most important post-employment limitations:
• Former employees who worked on projects, contracts or other matters involving outside organizations or individuals are not allowed to communicate with the Postal Service about the same project, contract or other matter on behalf of their new employer.
• For two years after leaving USPS, a former employee cannot communicate with the Postal Service on behalf of a new employer about projects, contracts or other matters that their subordinates worked on during the former employee’s last year of postal employment.
• Employees who retire with a salary at or above a set threshold ($195,231 for 2025) have a one-year “cooling off” period before they can communicate with the Postal Service regarding any matter on behalf of a new employer.
• Former employees are free to work for an outside employer on postal matters that they or their subordinates worked on, if they do not communicate directly with the Postal Service about those matters. However, they are prohibited from disclosing nonpublic, confidential or proprietary USPS information.
• Current USPS employees cannot give special treatment to former employees.
Employees who are leaving the Postal Service, as well as former employees, should seek guidance by emailing the USPS Ethics Office or calling 202-268-6346.
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‘Healthier Travel’
Postal Service employees can participate in an upcoming webinar that focuses on staying safe and healthy while traveling.
“Healthier Travel” will be held on Tuesday, June 16, from noon to 1 p.m. Eastern.
Representatives from United Healthcare, a provider of health insurance plans for federal employees, will lead the webinar.
Participation is voluntary, but participants must register before the event. Nonexempt employees must participate off the clock or during authorized breaks.
Employees with questions can email the USPS Benefits and Wellness team.
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The American Icons stamps are here
Fashion designer Ralph Lauren chose the images for this commemorative set
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If you leave USPS, you still must follow ethics rules
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Mail
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“The Postcrossing stamps are beautiful. The triangle shape and mail carriers’ delivery scenarios are very creative. I grew up with pen pals, writing letters to people I did not...”
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‘Healthier Travel’