Announced by the USPS on October 24, 2022.

The 46th stamp in the Black Heritage series honors Ernest J. Gaines (1933-2019). Best known for such novels as “The Autobiography of Miss Jane Pittman” [paperback on Amazon] [Kindle edition], [DVD] and “A Lesson Before Dying,” Gaines drew from his childhood as the son of sharecroppers on a Louisiana plantation to explore the untold stories of rural African Americans, adding a vital voice to American literature. The stamp features an oil painting of Gaines, based on a 2001 photograph. Mike Ryan designed the stamp with art by Robert Peterson. Greg Breeding served as art director.

Click here to see Gaines’ books on Amazon

New information will appear below the line, with the most recent at the top.

Updated March 7^th:
The Scott catalogue number for this issue is 5753.

Updated January 23^rd:
You can see the University of Louisiana version of the USPS day-of-issuance press release here.

Updated December 28^th:
Here are the first-day postmarks for this issue:The Digital Color Postmark for this issue measures 2.72″ x 1.19″The pictorial postmark measures 2.72″ x 1.27″

Updated December 15^th from the Postal Bulletin:
On January 23, 2023, in Lafayette, LA, the United States Postal Service® will issue the Ernest J. Gaines stamp (Forever® priced at the First-Class Mail® rate) in one design, in a pressure-sensitive adhesive (PSA) pane of 20 stamps (Item 482900). This stamp will go on sale nationwide January 23, 2023, and must not be sold or canceled before the first-day-of-issue.

The 46th stamp in the Black Heritage series honors author Ernest J. Gaines (1933–2019). Best known for such novels as The Autobiography of Miss Jane Pittman and A Lesson Before Dying, Gaines drew from his childhood as the son of sharecroppers on a Louisiana plantation to explore the untold stories of rural African Americans. The stamp features an oil painting of Gaines based on a 2001 photograph by Raoul Benavides. Mike Ryan designed the stamp with art by Robert Peterson. Greg Breeding served as art director.

Automatic distribution

Item 482900

How to Order the First-Day-of-Issue Postmark:
Customers have 120 days to obtain the first-day-of-issue postmark by mail. They may purchase new stamps at their local Post Office™ or at The Postal Store® website at store.usps.com/store/home. They must affix the stamps to envelopes of their choice, address the envelopes (to themselves or others), and place them in a larger envelope addressed to:

FDOI – Ernest J. Gaines Stamp
USPS Stamp Fulfillment Services
8300 NE Underground Drive, Suite 300
Kansas City, MO 64144-9900

After applying the first-day-of-issue postmark, the Postal Service will return the envelopes through the mail. There is no charge for the postmark up to a quantity of 50. There is a 5-cent charge for each additional postmark over 50. All orders must be postmarked by May 23, 2023.

Technical Specifications:

Issue: Ernest J. Gaines Stamp
Item Number: 482900
Denomination &
Type of Issue: First-Class Mail Forever
Format: Pane of 20 (1 design)
Series: Black Heritage
Issue Date & City: January 23, 2023, Lafayette, LA, 70501
Art Director: Greg Breeding, Charlottesville, VA
Designer: Mike Ryan, Charlottesville, VA
Artist: Robert Peterson, Lawton, OK
Modeler: Sandra Lane / Michelle Finn
Manufacturing Process: Offset, Microprint
Printer: Banknote Corporation of America
Press Type: Alprinta 74
Stamps per Pane: 20
Print Quantity: 35,000,000 stamps
Paper Type: Phosphor, Block Tag
Adhesive Type: Pressure-sensitive
Colors: Cyan, Magenta, Yellow, Black, Pantone 3597
Stamp Orientation: Vertical
Image Area (w x h): 0.84 x 1.42 in / 21.336 x 36.068 mm
Overall Size (w x h): 0.98 x 1.56 in / 24.892 x 39.624 mm
Full Pane Size (w x h): 6.00 x 8.50 in / 152.40 x 215.90 mm
Press Sheets Size (w x h): 18.0 x 25.75 in./ 457.20 x 654.05 mm
Plate Size: 180 stamps per revolution
Plate Number: “B” followed by four (4) single digits in two corners
Marginal Markings:
Front: Header: “Black Heritage, Celebrating Ernest J. Gaines, 46th in a series” • Plate number in bottom 2 corners
Back: ©2022 USPS • USPS logo • Two barcodes (482900) • Plate position diagram (9) • Promotional text