New issues on 4 July 2026

To mark the 250th anniversary of the independence of the United States of America, the Principality of Monaco is issuing a series of stamps dedicated to iconic American figures.

FOUNDING FATHERS OF AMERICA: THOMAS JEFFERSON AND BENJAMIN FRANKLIN

Major figures in American history, Thomas Jefferson (1743-1826) and Benjamin Franklin (1706-1790) collaborated on drafting the Declaration of Independence in 1776. Benjamin Franklin was renowned for his intelligence, scientific discoveries, and exceptional diplomatic skills. Thomas Jefferson, for his part, championed the ideals of liberty, democracy, and individual rights. Both men shared the values of Enlightenment philosophers and sought to build a more just society. Through their political and intellectual contributions, they played a significant role in the birth and development of the United States and remain symbols of freedom and progress.

Design and line-engraving: Sophie BEAUJARD
Printing process: 3 colours steel-engraving
Size of the stamp: 52 x 40,85 mm horizontal
Quantity of issue: 36 000 stamps
Sheet of 6 stamps with illuminations

CIVIL AND WOMEN'S RIGHTS: ROSA PARKS AND MARTIN LUTHER KING

Rosa Parks (1913-2005) and Martin Luther King Jr. (1929-1968) are two major figures in the fight against racial segregation in the United States. In 1955, Rosa Parks refused to give up her seat to a white passenger on a bus in Montgomery, Alabama. Her arrest sparked a massive protest movement. Martin Luther King Jr. became the leading figure of this peaceful movement for equal rights. Both championed nonviolence and fought for justice and freedom for African Americans. Their commitment contributed to changing laws and attitudes in the United States during the 1950s and 1960s. Today, Rosa Parks and Martin Luther King Jr. remain universal symbols of courage and civil rights.

Design and line-engraving: Sarah LAZAREVIC
Printing process: 2 colours steel-engraving
Size of the stamp: 52 x 40,85 mm horizontal
Quantity of issue: 36 000 stamps
Sheet of 6 stamps with illuminations

POLITICS: FRANKLIN D. ROOSEVELT AND JOHN F. KENNEDY

Iconic 20th century presidents, admired for their leadership and their commitment to advancing the nation, Franklin D. Roosevelt (1882-1945) and John Fitzgerald Kennedy (1917-1963) are pivotal figures in the political history of the United States. During the Great Depression of the 1930s, Roosevelt implemented the New Deal, which stimulated the economy and provided support to struggling citizens. He played a crucial role in the Allied victory and the fight against Nazism during World War II. Admired for his charisma and intelligence, JFK embodied youth, dynamism, and hope for many Americans. His handling of the Cuban Missile Crisis in 1962 prevented a nuclear war with the Soviet Union. JFK championed the civil rights of African Americans and promoted equality in American society. His assassination in 1963 shocked the world.

Design and line-engraving: Pierre ALBUISSON
Printing process: 2 colours steel-engraving
Size of the stamp: 52 x 40,85 mm horizontal
Quantity of issue: 36 000 stamps
Sheet of 6 stamps with illuminations

MARILYN MONROE

Born in 1926 in Los Angeles as Norma Jeane Mortenson, Marilyn Monroe is one of the greatest icons of Hollywood cinema. She became a symbol of beauty and glamour with films like Niagara and Gentlemen Prefer Blondes. Her performance in Some Like It Hot earned her a Golden Globe. Although primarily known for her acting and modeling career, Marilyn Monroe also left a significant mark on the music world thanks to her smooth and sensual voice. Despite her worldwide fame, her personal life was marked by hardship and great emotional fragility. She died in 1962 at the age of 36, but remains a legend of cinema and popular culture to this day.

Design and line-engraving: Martin MÖRCK
Printing process: 2 colours steel-engraving
Size of the stamp: 40 x 31,77 mm horizontal
Quantity of issue: 40 000 stamps
Sheet of 10 stamps with illuminations

ERNEST HEMINGWAY

Born in 1899 in Oak Park, Illinois, Ernest Hemingway is one of the most influential writers of the 20th century, celebrated for his spare style and direct, minimalist prose. His experience as an ambulance driver during World War I profoundly marked his work. Among his best-known novels are The Old Man and the Sea and A Farewell to Arms. He received the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1954 for his entire body of work. Ernest Hemingway died in 1961, leaving a major legacy in world literature.

Design and line-engraving: Martin MÖRCK
Printing process: 3 colours steel-engraving
Size of the stamp: 40 x 31,77 mm horizontal
Quantity of issue: 40 000 stamps
Sheet of 10 stamps with illuminations

FRANK SINATRA

Born in 1915 in Hoboken, New Jersey, Frank Sinatra is one of the greatest voices of the 20th century. Nicknamed "The Voice", he was distinguished by his unique timbre and exceptional interpretive skills. He achieved immense success with songs like My Way and New York, New York. Alongside his musical career, he pursued a brilliant acting career and won an Oscar for his role in From Here to Eternity. An iconic figure of the Rat Pack, he embodied the glamour and culture of America in the 1950s and 1960s. Frank Sinatra died in 1998, leaving behind an immense musical and cultural legacy.

Design: Martin MÖRCK
Line-engraving: Pierre BARA
Printing process: 2 colours steel-engraving
Size of the stamp: 40 x 31,77 mm horizontal
Quantity of issue: 40 000 stamps
Sheet of 10 stamps with illuminations

DICK FOSBURY

Born in 1947 in Portland, Oregon, Dick Fosbury developed a passion for the high jump in his teens. He pioneered a revolutionary technique called the "Fosbury Flop," which involved clearing the bar with his back to the ground first. This technique enabled him to win the gold medal at the 1968 Mexico City Olympics, clearing 2.24 meters. His innovation permanently transformed the high jump, making him a key figure in the sport.

These issues will be on sale at the “Office des Timbres”, the “Musée des Timbres et des Monnaies”, the post offices and philatelic counters of the Principality, the Monaco stamp-dealers as well as the “Carré d’Encre” in Paris, France. They will be included, with other values, in the 2nd Part of the philatelic programme 2026 and offered to our subscribers and customers.