Ireland stamp recognizes the 250th anniversary of the American Declaration of Independence

By Linn’s Staff

Ireland’s postal service, An Post, commemorates the 250th anniversary of the American Declaration of Independence with a Feb. 26 stamp featuring John Dunlap, the Irish immigrant who printed the first copies of the document.

The nondenominated (€3.95) stamp covers the rate for standard letters sent internationally.

“The history of modern Ireland is inextricably linked with that of the US,” An Post said, adding that more than six million Irish-born people have emigrated to the United States since 1820.

John Dunlap emigrated from Ireland to Philadelphia much earlier, around 1757, as a young boy and apprenticed as a printer and bookseller with his uncle, William Dunlap.

Dunlap eventually bought his uncle’s printing business and served as an officer during and after the Revolutionary War.

On the night of July 4, 1776, he printed approximately 200 broadside copies of the Declaration of Independence. Only a small number of these “Dunlap broadsides” survive today.

In addition to government printing, Dunlap published newspapers, books and official documents, including journals of the Continental Congress. He later printed the U.S. Constitution in partnership with David Claypool.

Ireland and the United States have recognized the ties between the two countries on several previous stamp issues. James Hoban (1755-1831), the Irish-American architect of the White House, is honored on a 1981 joint issue between the two countries (United States Scott 1935-1936 and Ireland Scott 504).

Subjects of other joint issues between the two countries include singer John McCormack (United States Scott 2090 and Ireland Scott 594) and immigration to the United States from Ireland (United States 3286 and Ireland 1168).

Ireland issued four stamps (Scott 389-392) in 1976 to celebrate the American Bicentennial, and in 2024 issued a stamp (Scott 2427) recognizing 100 years of diplomatic relations between Ireland and the United States.

When discussing the new Declaration of Independence stamp, An Post said: “Today, as before, government relations between the United States and Ireland are based on shared ancestral ties and values in politics and economics; in medical research and education; and in extensive cooperation in culture and the arts.”

The self-adhesive stamp measures 30 millimeters by 40.5mm. Royal Joh. Enschede printed the stamp by lithography in sheets of four.

A first-day cover is included with the issue. The pictorial postmark shows the text “America 1776 2026” set in a script typeface.

The American Declaration of Independence 250 Years stamp and FDC are available through the An Post website at www.anpost.com/shop.

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