The United States Bicentennial logo first appeared on a U.S. postage stamp in 1971.
The emblem was created years before the anniversary year itself, allowing federal agencies and the public to recognize the approaching 1976 commemoration. Its early appearance on postage helped establish the symbol as a national visual marker before the main celebrations began.
The design featured a white five-point star inside a stylized red-and-blue star, surrounded by the wording “American Revolution Bicentennial 1776–1976.” It later appeared on flags, letterhead, government facilities, souvenirs, and additional stamps.
The 1971 stamp date is easy to confuse with 1976 because the Bicentennial reached its climax in that year. The earlier issue demonstrates that the observance was planned and promoted throughout the 1970s, not launched only on Independence Day 1976.