Dinosaurs Come to Life on Stamps
Dinosaurs have fascinated generations with their enormous size, unusual features, and mysterious disappearance. Stamps capture that excitement in miniature, combining dramatic artwork with discoveries that continue to reshape our understanding of prehistoric life.
One of the most important discoveries came in August 1990, when fossil hunter Sue Hendrickson spotted several large bones exposed in the South Dakota badlands. Excavation revealed SUE, one of the largest and most complete Tyrannosaurus rex skeletons ever found. Named in Hendrickson’s honor, the fossil has helped scientists learn more about the anatomy and life of this legendary predator.
Nearly three decades later, the US Postal Service celebrated the “king of the dinosaurs” with four Tyrannosaurus Rex Forever stamp designs. Issued August 29, 2019, two stamps feature lenticular printing, creating an image-changing effect when tilted. The designs trace the T. rex from a feathered hatchling to a powerful adult and even reveal its fossilized skeleton.
