WPA Posters is a 2017 USPS Forever stamp issue with 10 Depression-era poster designs, printed twice each in a double-sided booklet of 20. The source posters came from the Library of Congress WPA Poster Collection and promoted work, recreation, travel, safety, wildlife and public infrastructure.
WPA Posters stamp facts
| Issue date and city | March 7, 2017; Hyde Park, New York |
|---|---|
| USPS item | 674600 |
| Original denomination | Forever, introduced at 49 cents |
| Format | Double-sided booklet of 20 |
| Design count | 10; two of each design |
| Art director | Antonio Alcalá |
| Designers | Antonio Alcalá and Maribel O. Gray |
| Print quantity | 100 million stamps |
The ten poster subjects
- Work Pays America: a direct message connecting employment and national recovery.
- Field Day: an energetic tennis composition promoting recreation.
- Discover Puerto Rico U.S.A.: a tropical travel image.
- City of New York Municipal Airports: aircraft and public aviation infrastructure.
- See America — Welcome to Montana: a mountain travel scene.
- Visit the Zoo: a bold bird-centered invitation.
- Work with Care: a safety-focused cycling image.
- The National Parks Preserve Wild Life: bighorn sheep and conservation.
- Hiking: outdoor recreation under a strong tree silhouette.
- The Foreign Trade Zone: an industrial and maritime commerce scene.
Why the WPA made posters
The Works Progress Administration was created in 1935 and renamed the Work Projects Administration in 1939. Its Federal Art Project employed artists during the Great Depression. Poster workshops created practical public messages for jobs, health, education, travel, conservation, culture and civic programs. The stamp booklet samples that broader design record rather than documenting every WPA poster.
How USPS adapted the originals
USPS used poster images from the Library of Congress Prints and Photographs Division. The booklet keeps the strong color blocks and simplified forms that made the originals readable at a distance, while adding consistent WPA Posters and Forever USA typography for the stamp format.
Can the stamps still be used?
Yes. Genuine, unused WPA Posters stamps remain valid at the current domestic First-Class Mail one-ounce letter rate. Their original 49-cent price does not limit present postal value. A complete collectible booklet should contain all 10 designs twice; loose examples may still be valid postage but are not an intact booklet.
Collecting checklist
- Confirm USPS item 674600 and the March 7, 2017 issue date.
- For a full booklet, verify 20 stamps and all 10 designs.
- Separate an intact booklet from loose singles, covers, reproductions or framed products.
- Check folds, adhesive and booklet cover condition before assigning any collectible premium.
Place the issue within its year using our 2017 USPS stamp directory.
Official sources
The USPS stamp announcement provides the format, credits, print quantity and production specifications. The USPS dedication release explains the New Deal and Federal Art Project context. Original source records can be explored through the Library of Congress WPA Poster Collection.
Issue facts checked September 2, 2026.