Richard Allen

Description

The Richard Allen stamp was issued in 2016 in recognition of the work of Richard Allen, an influential African–American minister, educator, and abolitionist. Born a slave in Philadelphia in 1760, Allen was freed in 1783 and quickly became a leader in the abolitionist movement. In 1794, he founded the African Methodist Episcopal (AME) Church, the first independent black denomination in the United States.

The AME Church has grown to become one of the largest Protestant denominations in the United States. The portrait on the stamp is based on an oil painting by Charles Willson Peale, which hangs in the Smithsonian National Portrait Gallery. 

The stamp was designed by Gregory Manchess and was issued as a Forever stamp, meaning that it will always be valid for the cost of first–class postage. The Richard Allen stamp is a tribute to the life and legacy of an important figure in African–American history. Allen‘s contributions to the abolitionist movement and his founding of the AME Church revolutionized the religious landscape of the United States and helped pave the way for future African–American leaders. The issuance of the stamp is an important recognition of Allen‘s life and work, and it serves to remind us of the importance of his legacy.