Celebrating 250 Years of Colorful Delivery!
Pantone + USPS
We’re longtime fans of Pantone, the United States of America, and the USPS.
Pantone gets it. Not just for its mastery of color, but for the way it brings storytelling to life through hue, tone, and texture. So when Pantone teamed up with the United States Postal Service to commemorate 250 years of American connection, we couldn’t help but applaud (and repost).
In its beautifully crafted tribute (and amazing online experience), Pantone reimagines key moments in USPS history through a curated palette of colors, each one inspired by a milestone in the evolution of U.S. mail and communication. From USPS Parchment White, echoing the textured elegance of 18th-century paper, to USPS Pony Express, a rugged brown that channels the grit of frontier riders, the collection is a chromatic journey through time.
Each color tells a story—not just of postal innovation, but of the people and moments that shaped a nation. It’s a brilliant example of how Pantone continues to bring its brand to life through retail, partnerships, and immersive storytelling.
A nod to the animated mascot who helped embed ZIP Codes into American life.
This creamy white hue recalls the parchment of that era — textured, deliberate, and enduring. Just like the original Postmaster General, Benjamin Franklin.
USPS Gold Seal
Marks the transformation of the Post Office into the USPS in 1971.
Drawn from the bold hue of the original airmail stamp.
This earthy, saddle-toned brown captures the spirit of the Pony Express, a brief but iconic mail route that defied the odds.
Inspired by the emblem patch worn by mail carriers since 1965.
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You can explore the full story, written by Laurie Pressman, VP of the Pantone Color Institute, at The Colors that Carried Us.
Or experience the full journey at: Pantone’s official USPS 250th anniversary page