What year did the USPS issue its first Hanukkah-themed postage stamp? The USPS issued its first Hanukkah-themed postage stamp in 1996.
The stamp was a 32-cent design featuring a menorah and was released as a joint issue with Israel Post. Its appearance marked a notable step in recognizing Hanukkah in the United States’ national postage program.
The 1996 stamp was reissued in 1997, and the menorah design returned in later years with updated denominations. It was followed by a 33-cent version in 1999, a 34-cent version in 2001, and a 37-cent version in 2002.
A common mistake is choosing 2001 because that year brought a denomination change, not the first release. Another milestone came in 2004, when the USPS introduced a dreidel design after several years of reissuing the menorah design. The question asks for the first USPS Hanukkah issue, making 1996 the canonical answer.