The stamps were designed by USPS art director Ethel Kessler in collaboration with Mattel, using photography from Mattel. (US Postal Service)
The U.S. Postal Service (USPS) is honoring Barbie with a new series of 10 forever stamps in different careers — a registered nurse, surgeon, astronaut, firefighter, paleontologist, sign language teacher, robotics engineer, judge, soccer player, and musical artist.
The stamp series was designed by USPS art director Ethel Kessler in collaboration with Mattel, using photography from Mattel. The stamps were unveiled earlier this month at the annual National Barbie Doll Collectors Convention in Austin, Texas.
In 1961, Barbie stepped into an early professional role as a registered nurse. The nurse Barbie wears a white cotton nurse’s uniform with a graduate nurse’s cap, a blue cape and era-appropriate "cat-eye" glasses. (U.S. Postal Service) Barbie became a surgeon in 1973. The Malibu Barbie on the stamp is equipped with a stethoscope and is garbed in light blue scrubs and mask, with blond hair peeking out from underneath a surgical cap. (U.S. Postal Service) Two decades after Barbie first went to space, this 1986 astronaut suited up in a very ’80s broad-shouldered spacesuit in hot pink and silver lamé, with a bubble-helmet worn over dark brunette hair. (U.S. Postal Service) Firefighter Barbie arrived on the scene in 1995. The doll’s turnout gear consists of yellow helmet, jacket, pants and a white "Barbie Fire Rescue 1" T-shirt. A red ribbon secures a blond ponytail. (U.S. Postal Service) Paleontologist Barbie, introduced in 1996, is equipped for exploration with bucket hat, field bag, belted khaki shorts, dinosaur shirt, and pink earrings and kerchief.(U.S. Postal Service) Sign language teacher Barbie has blond hair and wears a light blue sweater, plaid skirt and a beaded necklace. American Sign Language teaching materials were included in the playset, introduced in 2000. (U.S. Postal Service) Robotics engineer Barbie sports goggles, a laptop computer and a tiny toy robot. With dark brown hair in a trendy updo, Barbie wears a faded jean jacket, black jeans and a T-shirt with a circuitry pattern. (U.S. Postal Service) Soccer player, Barbie is kitted up in green-trimmed white shorts and a flashy, red-striped, green jersey emblazoned with a team patch and the number 16. Released in 2022, this brown-haired doll — hair pulled back into a sporty ponytail — wears a red headband and carries a black and white soccer ball. (U.S. Postal Service) As a judge, the 2019 Barbie Career of the Year doll has a gavel to call the courtroom to order and make important decisions. Wearing traditional black judicial robes and a lacy jabot, this dark-haired Barbie stands for justice. (U.S. Postal Service) Musical artist Barbie rocks a sky-blue guitar and a bright pink-sparkle dress and shawl, with high-volume dark curls highlighted in pink and purple. (U.S. Postal Service) What they're saying:
"The original Barbie stamp has been one of our most memorable and beloved stamps, with appeal felt by Barbie fans young and old. As much as our customers loved that stamp, we wanted to feature a selection of the modern careers depicted across the decades during which Barbie has become the best-selling doll of all time," said Lisa Bobb-Semple, the Postal Service’s director of stamp services.
The backstory:
Barbie was created in 1959 by Mattel Inc. and became a symbol of possibilities for generations of children. Over the past 65 years, Barbie dolls have represented more than 250 careers.
What you can do:
The stamps are available for purchase through The Postal Store, by calling 844-737-7826, by mail through USA Philatelic, or at Post Office locations nationwide.
The Source: This article includes information from the U.S. Postal Service. This story was reported from Orlando.