YOSEMITE
NATIONAL PARK, Calif., May 15, 2024
/PRNewswire/ -- Today, the Postal Service shined new light on the
majestic black-and-white photography of Ansel Adams with stamps celebrating his iconic
work. Adams was one of America's most renowned and influential
artists. A dedication ceremony for the stamps was held at the
Ansel Adams Gallery in Yosemite National Park. News of the stamps is
being shared with the hashtag #AnselAdamsStamps.
"As a masterful photographer and dedicated environmentalist,
Ansel Adams allowed Americans from
all corners of the nation to experience the wonders of our country
in vivid detail," said Daniel
Tangherlini, a member of the USPS Board of Governors. "There
have been many advances in photographic technology in recent
decades, but the clarity and character of an Ansel Adams image is timeless and unsurpassed,
just like you see on these stamps unveiled here today."
As an artist, Adams sought to imbue each of his black-and-white
prints with the power and wonder he felt in the presence of nature.
As an activist, he influenced U.S. environmental policy by
employing his photographs as lobbying tools. Many of his images of
the country's most beautiful places — including the Yosemite
Valley, the Tetons and Denali — became icons of the environmental
movement.
Throughout a photographic career spanning seven decades, Adams
received praise and recognition for his work. The University of California, Berkeley, and
Harvard and Yale universities awarded him honorary doctorates.
The Metropolitan Museum of Art in New
York held a retrospective exhibition of his photography in
1974, as did the Museum of Modern Art, in 1979. In 1980, President
Jimmy Carter awarded Adams the
Presidential Medal of Freedom.
"Ansel's passion for his craft, willingness to share his
approach and technique, and dedication to both protecting and
preserving the environment had a profound influence on how I
approached my own journey as a photographer," said Alan Ross. "It's wonderful to see Ansel's
artistry and love for natural wonders like Yosemite embodied on U.S. postage stamps."
The first row of stamps, left to right, features "Half
Dome, Merced River, Winter, Yosemite
National Park, California" (1938); "Oak Tree, Sunset City,
Sierra Foothills, California"
(1962); "Thundercloud, Ellery Lake,
High Sierra, Sierra Nevada, California" (1934); and "Denali and
Wonder Lake, Denali National Park,
Alaska" (1947).
The second row, left to right, features "The Golden Gate
and Bridge from Baker Beach, San
Francisco, California" (c.1953); "Road and Fog, Del
Monte Forest, Pebble Beach, California" (1964); "Rock and
Grass, Moraine Lake, Sequoia National
Park, California" (1936); and "Leaves,
Mount Rainier National Park,
Washington" (c.1942).
The third row, left to right, features "Monument Valley,
Arizona" (1958); "Tetons and Snake
River, Grand Teton National Park,
Wyoming" (1942); "Jeffrey
Pine, Sentinel Dome, Yosemite
National Park, California" (1940); and "Mirror
Lake, Mount Watkins, Spring, Yosemite
National Park, California" (1935).
The fourth row, left to right, features "Maroon Bells, near
Aspen, Colorado" (1951); "Aspens,
Dawn, Autumn, Dolores River Canyon, Colorado" (1937); "Road After Rain,
Northern California"
(1960); and "Dunes, Oceano,
California" (1963).
As evidenced by the striking images in this collection, Adams
devoted much of his career to the advancement of photography as a
fine art. He wrote and photographed extensively for
the Sierra Club Bulletin, exhibited his
prints at museums across the country, gave lectures on
photography's artistic merit, taught thousands of students in
workshops, and helped create the first museum photography
department, at New York's Museum
of Modern Art.
"It's an incredible honor for Ansel," said Matthew Adams, his grandson. "It shows that his
popularity continues 40 years after he passed. His work resonates
across time. He would be excited and honored."
Derry Noyes, an art director for
USPS, designed the stamps using existing photographs. The Postal
Service printed 20 million Ansel
Adams stamps, which come in panes of 16. The stamps are
issued as Forever stamps, which are always equal in value to the
current First-Class Mail 1‑ounce price.
Postal Products
Customers may purchase stamps and other philatelic products
through the Postal Store at usps.com/shopstamps,
by calling 844-737-7826, by mail through USA Philatelic or at Post Office locations
nationwide. For officially licensed stamp products, shop the
USPS Officially Licensed Collection on Amazon. Additional
information on stamps, First Day of Issue Ceremonies and stamp
inspired products can be found at StampsForever.com.
Please Note: The United States Postal Service is an
independent federal establishment, mandated to be self-financing
and to serve every American community through the affordable,
reliable and secure delivery of mail and packages to 167 million
addresses six and often seven days a week. Overseen by a bipartisan
Board of Governors, the Postal Service is implementing a
10-year transformation plan, Delivering for America,
to modernize the postal network, restore long-term financial
sustainability, dramatically improve service across all mail and
shipping categories, and maintain the organization as one of
America's most valued and trusted brands.
The Postal Service generally receives no tax dollars for
operating expenses and relies on the sale of postage, products and
services to fund its operations.
For USPS media resources, including broadcast-quality video and
audio and photo stills, visit the USPS Newsroom. Follow us
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Postal Service, visit usps.com and facts.usps.com
National contact: David P.
Coleman
Cell: 202-425-1476
david.p.coleman@usps.gov
Local contact: Meiko Patton
meiko.s.patton@usps.gov
usps.com/news
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SOURCE U.S. Postal Service