USPS issued the Ansel Adams Forever stamps on May 15, 2024, in Yosemite National Park. The indivisible pane contains 16 different black-and-white photographs by Adams—one image on each stamp—and is ordinary First-Class Mail Forever postage.
Issue facts
| Issue date | May 15, 2024 |
|---|---|
| First-day location | Yosemite National Park, California |
| Postage type | First-Class Mail Forever |
| Design count | 16 |
| Official format | Indivisible pressure-sensitive pane of 16 |
| Designer | USPS art director Derry Noyes, using existing Adams photographs |
The 16 photographs
- Half Dome, Merced River, Winter, Yosemite (1938): snow, rock and reflection build a quiet winter balance.
- Oak Tree, Sierra Foothills (1962): a single tree gives the landscape a clear focal point.
- Thundercloud, Ellery Lake (1934): cloud mass and mountain light create the drama.
- Denali and Wonder Lake (1947): mountain scale is set against the still lake.
- Golden Gate and Bridge from Baker Beach (about 1953): the bridge enters a coastal landscape rather than dominating it.
- Road and Fog, Del Monte Forest (1964): the road leads into layers of low visibility.
- Rocks and Grass, Lake Morena (1936): the close view turns texture into the subject.
- Leaves, Mount Rainier National Park (about 1942): plant detail replaces the monumental vista.
- Monument Valley (1958): isolated landforms emphasize distance and scale.
- The Tetons and the Snake River (1942): the river guides the eye toward the mountain range.
- Jeffrey Pine, Sentinel Dome (1940): the tree’s form stands against exposed granite.
- Mirror Lake, Mount Watkins, Spring (1935): reflection creates a near-symmetrical mountain scene.
- Maroon Bells, near Aspen (1951): alpine peaks and changing light define the composition.
- Poplars, Dawn, Autumn (1937): vertical trunks and seasonal contrast create rhythm.
- Road After Rain, Northern California (1960): the wet road becomes a line through the frame.
- Dunes, Oceano (1963): light and shadow reduce the sand to curves and tonal bands.
Current postage and collecting
Each genuine unused stamp remains ordinary Forever postage. Because USPS specified that the commemorative pane must not be split for original retail sale, an intact pane is a distinct format from a loose stamp. That difference can matter to collectors, but it does not prove a premium. Condition and completed sales for the same format are still required for valuation.
Continue through our nature Forever stamp guide or view the related Ansel Adams stamp product.
Source
USPS Stamp Announcement 24-17: Ansel Adams
Issue facts and photograph labels reviewed September 13, 2026.