The mystery is what happens to you if you fall for this scam. The real address in the FROM field is hiddenfindsbox.sbs”. “sbs” is not a particular country. I did not check out what is at that URL. 
Warning: Mystery Box Scam
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Author Archives: VSC
What else will be issued by US in 2026?
So what issues have not be announced yet? We know that 20 issues (I think someone said 71 stamps) isn’t the entire program, and that the USPS likes to announce attention-getting subjects separately.
Among “names” born in 1926, I won’t be surprised if there are stamps for Tony Bennett (and 2026 will be just 3 years since he died), Chuck Berry, and Ralph Abernathy (although his tell-all book angered other civil rights leaders). A dark horse candidate would be Jerry Lewis, whom the French considered a comic genius but here IMHO would more likely be honored for his philanthropic work on behalf of the fight against Muscular Dystrophy.
(This photo, from Wikipedia, is by John Mathew Smith & www.celebrity-photos.com)
Who or what do you think will be added to the program?
—Lloyd A. de Vries, VSC
Sikh Soldiers Remembered (Canada 2025)
[press release] [click on any of the pictures for larger versions]
Canada Post honours courage and sacrifice of Sikh soldiers with Remembrance Day stamp
Private Singh stamp pays tribute to forgotten heroes who served in the Canadian military, paving the road to inclusion
KITCHENER, ON – At the annual Sikh Remembrance Day Ceremony, held in Kitchener, 
Ontario, on Sunday, Canada Post unveiled its Remembrance Day stamp recognizing the long history of Sikh soldiers serving with the Canadian military.
More than a quarter million Sikh soldiers answered the call of duty for Britain and its allies during both world wars. In Canada, discrimination prevented many Sikhs from enlisting. Only 10 broke the barrier in the First World War – most fighting with the Canadian Expeditionary Force in Europe – including eight who joined before conscription.
As followers of Sikhism, which promotes equality regardless of race, class, gender or religion, the majority of these soldiers had the surname Singh (“lion” in Punjabi). Nearly a century later, research brought to light the forgotten stories of these and other Sikh soldiers in Canada, whose courage and resilience 
inspired future generations and helped build a more inclusive country.
Heart of a lion: Private Buckam Singh
At 22 years old, Private Buckam Singh was the youngest Canadian Sikh soldier to enlist. He was wounded and returned to action after recovering in hospital – only to be injured again. He was later diagnosed with tuberculosis and died from the disease in 1919. Private Singh’s resting place at Mount Hope Cemetery in Kitchener is the only known military grave in Canada of a Sikh soldier from the world wars. The Remembrance Day ceremony held at the site is one of the largest annual gatherings of Sikh soldiers and veterans in North America.
About the stamp
Designed by Larry Burke and Anna Stredulinsky from Burke & Burke and illustrated by 
Parm Singh, the Private Singh stamp features an illustration of a Canadian Sikh soldier paying his respects in remembrance of those who have served. The background is an illustration of Private Buckam Singh’s grave at Mount Hope Cemetery in Kitchener, the stamp’s cancel location. The Poppy Design is a registered trademark of the Royal Canadian Legion, Dominion Command, and is used under licence.
The stamps and collectibles are available at canadapost.ca and postal outlets across Canada.
Christmas (UK 2025)
[press release] [click on any of the pictures for larger versions]
Royal Mail Reveals Stamps for Christmas 2025
- Issue date: 4 November 2025
- Royal Mail celebrates Christmas 2025 with a series of five stamps, exclusively designed by illustrator Paula Doherty
- The stamps focus on key characters within the Nativity: Mary, Joseph, the shepherds, the Wise Men, an angel and Baby Jesus
- The stamps and a range of collectible products are available now at www.royalmail.com/christmas2025 and by telephone on 03457 641641
As people across the nation prepare to write their Christmas cards, Royal Mail today reveals its Christmas 2025 stamps, featuring scenes of the Nativity. The stamps have been 
exclusively designed by award-winning illustrator Paula Doherty.
The illustrations for this year’s Christmas stamps celebrate the beauty of surface and texture. The designs evoke the richness of inlaid marble, enamelling, marquetry, and collage—each suggesting a tactile, crafted quality. These techniques share a common thread: assemblage. Through various fragments brought together in 
harmony, Paula’s work offers a fresh and vibrant interpretation of the Nativity story.
The stamps depict:
- Angel – 2nd Class
- Mary and Joseph – 2nd Large Letter
- Mary and the Baby Jesus – 1st Class
- Shepherds – 1st Large Letter
- Three Wise Men – £3.40
Royal Mail also worked with Professor Ben Quash, Professor of Christianity and the Arts at King’s College London, and Professor Andrew Davison, Regius Professor of Divinity at the University of Oxford, on the stamp issue.
David Gold, Director of External Affairs & Policy, Royal Mail, said: “For many people, once the Christmas stamps go on 
sale, the seasonal preparations can begin! There’s something truly magical about this time of year, and these stamps capture that spirit perfectly. We are very grateful to Paula Doherty for these beautiful illustrations, which set the perfect tone for the festive season.”
Illustrator Paula Doherty said: “I’m so delighted that my designs will finally be out in print and feel excited and slightly overwhelmed to think that 
they will be on envelopes flying all around the world this Christmas. The hardest part of the whole process was keeping my involvement under wraps as the unveiling of the Christmas stamps is part of the magic so I couldn’t tell anyone until their release. It was a long time to keep a secret!”
Autumn Palette (Netherlands 2025)
[drawn from the press release] [click on any of the pictures for larger versions]
Autumn Palette
Issue date: 24 October
Sheetlet with five different stamps for domestic use, up to 20 grams
Item #850069
Design: Yvonne Warmerdam, Orange Licensing, Gouda
Illustrations: Janneke Brinkman-Salentijn
Cost: A sheetlet of five stamps costs €6.55.
In addition to the official issue program, PostNL offers a framework stamp program every year. This program is flexible. Each issue is designed based on a fixed layout, with a fixed number of framework stamps. The stamps are available exclusively through the webshop and from Collect Club customer service at +31 88 868 99 00, while supplies last.
Janneke Brinkman-Salentijn is best known as an illustrator and watercolorist of nature 
subjects, who has a master’s degree in microbiology. Her watercolors have been featured on planners, calendars, greeting cards, puzzles, bed and kitchen linens, and a wide variety of other products for over 30 years. In 2017, Brinkman-Salentijn celebrated her 25th anniversary as a botanical artist with a special exhibition at Slot Zeist, which PostNL commemorated with a silver stamp entitled “25 Years of Passion for Flowers.”
She loves this time of year. “Autumn is the best season there is. I think it’s a truly wonderful time, when you can often go outside without a coat. Everyone’s back from vacation, looking tanned and well-rested, ready to get back out there. The same goes for nature, which is still full of autumn flowers, berries, and other fruits. The sun no longer shines brightly but gently, so the colors are much more vibrant, especially warm shades of red, orange, and brown. Truly vibrant colors, as you can see on the beautiful Autumn Palette stamp sheet. It’s a beautiful design, and I still consider it a great honor when your work is chosen to be featured on stamps.”
The subjects on the stamps and selvage include a maple leaf, a feather, dahlias, a butterfly and berries.
“It all fits,” says issue designer Yvonne Warmerdam. “[Brinkman-Salentijn] always draws her inspiration from nature or gardens. The dahlias on the stamp sheet, for example, come from the Het Zoete Land picking garden, near Leiden where she lives. She found the feather on the street, and the rose is from her own garden. So she always finds something from everywhere.”
The flowers, plants, and fruits on the stamp sheet capture the desired autumnal atmosphere, with red-orange and purple as the dominant colors.
Note: PostNL does not sell directly to collectors in North America. Its website refers to a company called Nordfirm, which says it sells Dutch new issues at face value. The Virtual Stamp Club has no connection to this company.
Collectors may also wish to contact the U.S. firm Bombay Stamps, which can also obtain first day covers upon request, with lower shipping fees. The email is sales@bombaystamps.com Again, The Virtual Stamp Club has no connection to this company.
Scott Catalogue Update (November 2025)
6032 (78¢) William F. Buckley
6033 (78¢) Amaryllis Flowers
6034 (78¢) Holly Wreath
6035 (78¢) Evergreen Branch
6036 (78¢) Cardinals on Mistletoe
6036a Block of 4
6036b Booklet pane of 20
6037 ($1.07) Elie Wiesel
6038 (78¢) House and Snow-Covered Trees
6039 (78¢) Snow-Covered Trees and Fence
6040 (78¢) Snow-Covered Trees and Barn
6041 (78¢) Ice-Covered Structure
6042 (78¢) Snow-Covered Trees
6042a Vertical strip of 5
6042b Booklet pane of 20
6043 Jimmy Carter
Bills Is New AFDCS Membership Chair
[press release] [click on any of the pictures for larger versions]
AFDCS Names Trevor Bills Membership Chair
The American First Day Cover Society has chosen Trevor Bills of Texas to chair its Membership Department. The Board of Directors unanimously confirmed the appointment.
Bills, who holds a Public Service and Administration master’s degree from Texas A&M and 
an MBA from Angelo State University, is an alumnus of the American Philatelic Society’s Young Philatelic Leadership Fellowship. At Angelo State, he was student body president. The 23-year-old served an apprenticeship in Marketing and Logistical Operations at a vineyard and lists Digital Marketing as one of his skills. In addition to the AFDCS, he is also a member of the APS, the American Topical Association, Postmark Collectors Club, Ebony Society of Philatelic Experiences and Reflections, and the American Ceremony Program Society. He also has reported on first-day ceremonies for Linn’s Stamp News.
He has produced cachets under the name Trevor’s Covers for occasional first-days and space and special events, winning honors in the annual AFDCS cachetmaking contest.
The AFDCS Membership Department is responsible for recruitment, membership renewals, and chapter memberships, although the actual record-keeping is performed by 
the Executive Secretary. The Chair of the Membership Department is a member of the Executive Committee, which meets throughout the year in-person and via the internet.
“I am honored to step into the role of Membership Chair and look forward to contributing to the continued growth of our organization,” Bills said. “I look forward to fostering stronger connections among members and welcoming new individuals to our community.”
The American First Day Cover Society is a not-for-profit educational organization. It publishes its bimonthly award-winning journal First Days as well as handbooks and catalogues and maintains a YouTube channel. The AFDCS also promotes the collecting of both modern and “classic” issues and cachets, as well as exhibiting FDCs. It offers awards for outstanding first day cover exhibits and an annual contest for cachetmakers, and is a co-host of the annual Great American Stamp Show.
AFDCS officers are not compensated for their services or travel and only receive reimbursement for some expenses.
For more information about the AFDCS, visit www.afdcs.org, e-mail afdcs@afdcs.org or write the AFDCS at Post Office Box 57, Somerset, WI 54025-0057.
Squirrels & Chipmunks in Winter (U.S. 2026)
From the USPS on October 29, 2025:
This booklet of 20 stamps features three of winter’s most spirited small mammals: two eastern chipmunks, an eastern gray squirrel, and an American red squirrel. The designs capture the resourcefulness and adaptability that help these animals thrive when temperatures drop. From busy foragers to cozy hibernators, they remind us that winter can be full of charm. “When you see the booklet as a whole, the animals’ faces popping up from the snow has a playful effect,” explains Derry Noyes, an art director for USPS who designed the issuance. “The stamps are fun and uplifting. I hope they make people smile, especially in the heart of winter.”
More details will be posted below the line, with the most recent information at the top.
Sarah Orne Jewett (U.S. 2026)
From the USPS on October 29, 2025:
The 35th stamp in the Literary Arts series honors Sarah Orne Jewett (1849-1909), a 
lifelong resident of Maine and a foundational figure in American literary regionalism. Her strong female characters have led to a renewed interest in her work, which includes hundreds of short stories as well as novels, poetry and essays. Ethel Kessler, an art director for USPS, designed the stamp using an original portrait of Jewett by Mark Summers, with the Maine coast as background, broken by a large ray of sunshine that evokes a scene from her best-known novel, “The Country of the Pointed Firs” (1896).
More details will be posted below the line, with the most recent information at the top.
Declaration of Independence (U.S. 2026)
From the USPS on October 29, 2025:
As the nation marks the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence, the Postal Service pays tribute to the document that gave voice to America’s founding ideals. Designed and created by Juan Carlos Pagan, the stamp art features a typographic treatment of “1776,” the year the declaration was adopted. Each numeral takes the shape of a feather quill pen, a nod to the instruments used to sign the nation’s founding document. Pagan worked under the direction of Greg Breeding, an art director for USPS.
More details will be posted below the line, with the most recent information at the top.
Updated May 28th from the Postal Bulletin:
On July 4, 2026, in Philadelphia, PA, the United States Postal Service® will issue the Declaration of Independence stamp (Forever® priced at the First-Class Mail® rate), in one design, in a pressure-sensitive adhesive (PSA) pane of 20 stamps (Item 489000). This stamp will go on sale nationwide July 4, 2026, and must not be sold or canceled before the first-day-of-issue.
With this stamp, the U.S. Postal Service celebrates the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence. The bold stamp design in red, white, and blue features the year “1776” arranged vertically against a deeper blue background. Each numeral takes the shape of a feather quill pen, a nod to the instruments used to sign the nation’s founding document. Juan Carlos Pagan created the stamp design and typography. Greg Breeding art – directed the project.
Automatic distribution.
How to Order the First-Day-of-Issue Postmark:
The first-day-of-issue postmark is a postmark notating the day a stamp is first authorized for use by the Postal Service™. Customers have 120 days to obtain the first-day-of-issue postmark by mail. All requests for first-day-of-issue postmarks (Traditional or Digital Color Postmark) should be sent to the following address with the choice of Traditional or Digital Color Postmark identified. All orders must be postmarked by November 4, 2026.
FDOI – Declaration of Independence Stamp
USPS Stamp Fulfillment Services
8300 NE Underground Drive, Suite 300
Kansas City, MO 64144-9900
Technical Specifications:
Issue: Declaration of Independence Stamp
Item Number: 489000
Denomination & Type of Issue: First-Class Mail Forever®
Format: Pane of 20 (1 design)
Series: N/A
Issue Date & City: July 4, 2026, Philadelphia, PA 19104
Art Director: Greg Breeding, Charlottesville, VA
Designer: Juan Carlos Pagan, New York, NY
Typographer: Juan Carlos Pagan, New York, NY
Modeler: Sandra Lane / Michelle Finn
Manufacturing Process: Offset/Flexographic
Printer: Banknote Corporation of America
Press Type: Gallus RCS
Stamps per Pane: 20
Print Quantity: 15,000,000 stamps
Paper Type: Phosphor, Block Tag
Adhesive Type: Pressure-sensitive
Colors: PMS 199 C, PMS 2170 C, PMS 4144 C
Stamp Orientation (1): Vertical
Image Area (w x h): 0.8400 x 1.4200 in. / 21.3360 x 36.0680 mm.
Overall Size (w x h): 0.9800 x 1.5600 in. / 24.8920 x 39.6240 mm.
Full Pane Size (w x h): 5.9200 x 7.6500 in. / 150.3680 x 194.3100 mm.
Press Sheet Size (w x h): 11.8400 x 23.2000 in. / 300.7360 x 589.2800 mm.
Plate Size: 120 stamps per revolution
Plate Number: “B” followed by three (3) single digits
Marginal Markings:
Front: Header: The Declaration of Independence • Plate number in bottom two corners of pane
Back: © 2025 USPS • USPS logo • Two barcodes (489000) • Plate position diagram (6) • Promotional text
Updated February 17th:
This stamp will be issued July 4 in Philadelphia.
