The United States Postal Service (USPS) is honoring Phillis Wheatley—the first published African American poet—with a Black Heritage Forever stamp.
A first-day-of-issue ceremony for the Phillis Wheatley Black Heritage stamp will be held Jan. 29 at the Old South Meeting House in Boston. The event is free and open to the public. Attendees are encouraged to register at www.usps.com/philliswheatley.
Born in West Africa and brought to Boston aboard a slave ship, Wheatley was enslaved but educated by the Wheatley household. In 1773, she published her first poetry collection, Poems on Various Subjects, Religious and Moral.
The groundbreaking work demonstrated her remarkable command of multiple poetic forms, including hymns, elegies, and narrative verse, firmly securing her place in American literary history. Freed from slavery later that same year, Wheatley went on to correspond with prominent figures of the era, including George Washington, who praised her poetic talent.
The stamp was designed by USPS art director Antonio Alcalá and features an existing portrait by acclaimed artist Kerry James Marshall.
The Phillis Wheatley stamp will be issued in panes of 20. As a Forever stamp, it will always be equal in value to the current First-Class Mail one-ounce price.