U.S. Postal Service Releases Linda McCartney Stamps

The U.S. Postal Service today honored Linda McCartney (1941–1998), a photographer, musician, cookbook author, and animal rights activist, with a pane of stamps featuring her still life and landscape images. A dedication ceremony for the stamps was held at The Museum of Modern Art in New York City.

Postmaster General David Steiner remarked that McCartney's work represents "art that endures… art that enriches… art that uplifts people and art that is universal." He added that the stamps aim to capture McCartney's legacy, which was led by heart and compassion across all facets of her life, from art and music to advocacy.

Linda McCartney, born Linda Eastman, was a multifaceted artist known for her intimate and often joyful portraits of musicians such as the Rolling Stones, Janis Joplin, and Jimi Hendrix. Her photographs were published on the cover of Rolling Stone magazine in 1968, making her the first female photographer to achieve this distinction. In 1974, McCartney also became the first person to both photograph a cover and be featured on it, alongside her husband Paul McCartney.

Beyond her photography, McCartney was a significant figure in the vegetarian movement. She launched the successful Linda McCartney Foods company and published a popular vegetarian cookbook. Her advocacy for animal rights and the environment was considerable, and she is credited as a key driver of the meat-free movement.

The pane of 20 stamps showcases five distinct photographs taken by McCartney, representing various periods and themes from her career. A self-portrait from 1992 is also featured on the selvage of the stamp pane. The stamps are now available at post offices and through the U.S. Postal Service's online store.