Note further down that the date of issue was changed from October 1 to 3 and anyone who had registered to attend the event must re-register.

Announced July 9^th:

[press release] [click on any of the pictures for larger versions]
USPS Announces Thank You Healthcare Community Stamp
Stamp to Be Issued in Conjunction with U.S. Dept. of Health and Human Services

WASHINGTON, DC — The U.S. Postal Service today announced it will pay tribute to the health care community with a new commemorative Forever stamp.

In conjunction with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, USPS will recognize health care workers, who dedicate their lives to protect our health, safety and well-being, often at great personal risk.
The artwork consists of health-related icons spelling out the stacked words “thank you” against a pristine white background. Running across the lower right edge of the stamp are the words “Healthcare” in gray and “Community” in surgical green.

Bryan Duefrene was the art director and stamp designer.

The Thank You Healthcare Community stamp will be issued in panes of 20. As a Forever stamp, it will always be equal in value to the current First-Class Mail 1 ounce price.

The official release date and stamp dedication ceremony location will be announced later.

News of the stamp is being shared with the hashtag #ThankYouHealthcareStamp.

New information will appear below the line, with latest at the top.

Updated November 5^th:
The Scott catalogue number for this issue is 5947.

Updated September 5^th:
Here are the first-day postmarks for this issue:The Digital Color Postmark measures 2.23″ x 1.51″ The Pictorial Postmark measures 2.75″ X 1.06″

Updated August 22^nd:
On October 1, 2024, in Washington, DC, the United States Postal Service® will issue the Thank You, Healthcare Community stamp (Forever® priced at the First-Class Mail® rate), in one design, in a pressure-sensitive adhesive (PSA) pane of 20 stamps (Item 485800). This stamp will go on sale nationwide October 1, 2024, and must not be sold or canceled before the first-day-of-issue.

With this stamp, sold in a pane of 20, the Postal Service™ pays tribute to the healthcare community, whose members, sometimes at great personal risk, dedicate their lives to our health, safety, and well-being. The artwork consists of health-related icons spelling out the stacked words “Thank you” against a pristine white background. Running across the lower right edge of the stamp are the words “Healthcare” in gray and “Community” in surgical green. Bryan Duefrene was the art director and stamp designer.

Automatic Distribution.

How to Order the First-Day-of-Issue Postmark:
Customers have 120 days to obtain the first-day-of-issue postmark by mail. They may purchase new stamps at their local Post Office® or at The Postal Store® website at store.usps.com/store/home. They must affix the stamps to envelopes of their choice, address the envelopes (to themselves or others), and place them in a larger envelope addressed to:

FDOI – Thank You, Healthcare Community Stamp
USPS Stamp Fulfillment Services
8300 NE Underground Drive, Suite 300
Kansas City, MO 64144-9900

After applying the first-day-of-issue postmark, the Postal Service will return the envelopes through the mail. There is no charge for the postmark up to a quantity of 50. There is a 5-cent charge for each additional postmark over 50. All orders must be postmarked by February 1, 2025.

Technical Specifications:

Issue: Thank You, Healthcare Community Stamp
Item Number: 485800
Denomination & Type of Issue: First-Class Mail Forever
Format: Pane of 20 (1 design)
Series: N/A
Issue Date & City: October 1, 2024, Washington, DC 20066
Art Director: Bryan Duefrene, Washington, DC
Designer: Bryan Duefrene, Washington, DC
Modeler: Sandra Lane / Michelle Finn
Manufacturing Process: Offset, Microprint
Printer: Banknote Corporation of America
Press Type: Alprinta 74
Stamps per Pane: 20
Print Quantity: 20,000,000
Paper Type: Phosphor, Block Tag
Adhesive Type: Pressure-sensitive
Colors: Cyan, Magenta, Yellow, Black, PMS Cool Gray 8C, PMS 2413C
Stamp Orientation: Horizontal
Image Area (w x h): 1.4200 x 0.8400 in. / 36.0680 x 21.3360 mm
Overall Size (w x h): 1.5600 x 0.9800 in. / 39.6240 x 24.8920 mm
Full Pane Size (w x h): 7.2400 x 6.5000 in. / 183.8960 x 165.1000 mm
Press Sheets Size (w x h): 21.7200 x 19.7500 in. / 551.6880 x 501.6500 mm
Plate Size: 180 stamps per revolution
Plate Number: “B” followed by six (6) single digits in bottom two corners
Marginal Markings:
Front: Header: Thank You, Healthcare Community • Plate number in bottom two corners
Back: © 2024 USPS • USPS Logo • Two barcodes (485800) • Plate position diagram (9) • Promotional text

Updated August 19^th:
The stamp will be issued Tuesday, October 1, with a ceremony in Washington attended by the Postmaster General and the Secretary of HHS:

[press release] [click on any of the pictures for larger versions]
Healthcare Community Recognized on New Forever Stamp

What: Together with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, the U.S. Postal Service will pay tribute to the healthcare community with a new commemorative Forever stamp.

The first-day-of-issue event is free and open to the public. News of the stamp is being shared with the hashtag #ThankYouHealthcareStamp.-

Who:
• Louis DeJoy, postmaster general and chief executive officer of the U.S. Postal Service
• Xavier Becerra, secretary of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services-

When: Tuesday, Oct. 3, at 2:30 p.m. EDT.   Change in date “due to a scheduling conflict.”

Where:
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services [right]
Hubert H. Humphrey Building
200 Independence Ave. SW
Washington, DC 20201

RSVP: Anyone who previously registered for the event will need to re-register at usps.com/thankyouhealthcarecommunitystamp by 5:00 p.m. on Oct. 2. Each person must register individually.

Background: The healthcare community encompasses physicians, surgeons, dentists, nurses, midwives, pharmacists, lab technicians, orderlies, home health aides, hospital custodians and emergency medical workers, among others. It also includes public health professionals such as epidemiologists, microbiologists and data analysts. USPS will recognize the healthcare community, as these individuals dedicate their lives to protect our health, safety and well-being, often at great personal risk.

The stamp artwork consists of health-related icons spelling out the stacked words “thank you” against a pristine white background. Running across the lower right edge of the stamp are the words “Healthcare” in gray and “Community” in surgical green.

Bryan Duefrene was the art director and stamp designer.

The Thank You Healthcare Community stamp will be issued in panes of 20. As a Forever stamp, it will always be equal in value to the current First-Class Mail 1 ounce price.

Updated July 16^th:
The new issue of Philatelic, the Postal Service’s philatelic catalogue, has a poster that puts this stamp in the fourth quarter of this year.

[press release] [click on any of the pictures for larger versions]
CLUE: This Naturalized U.S. Citizen Is Now Honored With a Forever Stamp
CORRECT RESPONSE: Who Is Alex Trebek?

WASHINGTON — On the June 21 episode of “Jeopardy!”, host Ken Jennings announced that the U.S. Postal Service will issue a Forever stamp honoring beloved former host Alex Trebek concurrent with the show’s 60th Diamond Celebration that was launched earlier this year to celebrate the remarkable legacy of America’s Favorite Quiz Show. Presales for this special stamp begin today, June 21, at usps.com.

The first-day-of-issue event for the Alex Trebek stamp is free and open to the public. Details about the event are below. News of the stamp is being shared with the hashtag #AlexTrebekStamp.

Who:
• Michael Elston, Secretary of the Board of Governors of the U.S. Postal Service
• Ken Jennings, “Jeopardy!” host
• Jean Trebek, wife of Alex Trebek

When: Monday, July 22, 2024, at 4 p.m. Pacific time

Where: John Calley Park
Sony Pictures Studios
10371 Culver Blvd.
Culver City, CA 90232

RSVP: In order to enter the Sony Studios lot, attendees must register at:usps.com/alextrebekstamp

Background: This stamp commemorates Alex Trebek (1940–2020), the longtime host of the television quiz show “Jeopardy!” who became a respected and beloved presence in millions of homes.

The grid of 20 identical stamps resembles the array of video monitors that form the “Jeopardy!” game board.

On the stamp is written the prompt, “THIS NATURALIZED U.S. CITIZEN HOSTED THE QUIZ SHOW ‘Jeopardy!’ FOR 37 SEASONS” and underneath, upside down, is the correct response: “Who is Alex Trebek?”

On the stamp pane, relevant category headers appear at the top of each column of stamps, and to the left is a photograph of Trebek with a portion of the “Jeopardy!” set behind him.

Antonio Alcalá, an art director for USPS, designed the stamps using photography provided by Sony Pictures Entertainment and hand lettering by Marti Davila.

The Alex Trebek stamp will be issued in panes of 20. As Forever stamps, they will always be equal in value to the current First-Class Mail one-ounce price.

About Sony Pictures Television:
Sony Pictures Television (SPT) is one of the television industry’s leading content providers, producing, distributing and carrying programming worldwide in every genre and for every platform. In addition to managing one of the industry’s largest libraries of award-winning feature films, television shows and formats, SPT is home to a thriving global content business, operating a robust portfolio of wholly owned and joint-venture production companies across the United States, Europe, Latin America and Asia Pacific, as well as linear and digital channels around the world. SPT is a Sony Pictures Entertainment Co., a subsidiary of Tokyo-based Sony Group Corp.

About Jeopardy! :
Jeopardy!, America’s Favorite Quiz Show™, is in its 40th season in syndication. With a weekly audience of more than 20 million viewers, Jeopardy! is the top-rated quiz show on television. The show has won a total of 44 Emmy® Awards, holds the Guinness World Records® title for the most Emmy® Awards won by a TV game show, and received a Peabody Award for “celebrating and rewarding knowledge.” It originally debuted on March 30, 1964. Jeopardy! is produced by Sony Pictures Television, a Sony Pictures Entertainment Co.; it is distributed domestically by CBS Media Ventures

On July 22, 2024, in Culver City, CA, the United States Postal Service® will issue the Alex Trebek stamp (Forever® priced at the First-Class Mail® rate), in one design, in a pressure-sensitive adhesive (PSA) pane of 20 stamps (Item 485300). This stamp will go on sale nationwide July 22, 2024, and must not be sold or canceled before the first-day-of-issue. The Alex Trebek commemorative pane of 20 stamps must not be split and the stamps must not be sold individually.

This stamp commemorates Alex Trebek (1940–2020) who, as longtime host of the challenging television quiz show Jeopardy!, became a respected and beloved presence in millions of homes. The grid of 20 identical stamps resembles the array of video monitors that form the Jeopardy! playing board. On the stamp is written the prompt, “This naturalized U.S. citizen hosted the quiz show ‘Jeopardy!’ for 37 seasons” and underneath, upside down, is the correct response: “Who is Alex Trebek?” Above the stamps are category headers at the top of each column, and to the left is a photograph of Trebek with a portion of the Jeopardy! set behind him. Antonio Alcalá was the art director and designer for this stamp project, using photography provided by Sony Pictures Entertainment and hand lettering by Marti Davila.

Automatic distribution.

How to Order the First-Day-of-Issue Postmark:
Customers have 120 days to obtain the first-day-of-issue postmark by mail. They may purchase new stamps at their local Post Office® or at The Postal Store® website at store.usps.com/store/home. They must affix the stamps to envelopes of their choice, address the envelopes (to themselves or others), and place them in a larger envelope addressed to:

FDOI – Alex Trebek Stamp
USPS Stamp Fulfillment Services
8300 NE Underground Drive, Suite 300
Kansas City, MO 64144-9900

After applying the first-day-of-issue postmark, the Postal Service will return the envelopes through the mail. There is no charge for the postmark up to a quantity of 50. There is a 5-cent charge for each additional postmark over 50. All orders must be postmarked by November 22, 2024.

Technical Specifications:

Issue: Alex Trebek Stamp
Item Number: 485300
Denomination & Type of Issue: First-Class Mail Forever
Format: Pane of 20 (1 design)
Series: N/A
Issue Date & City: July 22, 2024, Culver City, CA 90230
Art Director: Antonio Alcalá, Alexandria, VA
Designer: Antonio Alcalá, Alexandria, VA
Existing Photos: Sony Pictures Entertainment
Modeler: Sandra Lane / Michelle Finn
Manufacturing Process: Offset, Microprint
Printer: Banknote Corporation of America
Press Type: Alprinta 74
Stamps per Pane: 20
Print Quantity: 30,000,000
Paper Type: Phosphor, Block Tag
Adhesive Type: Pressure-sensitive
Colors: Pantone 2736C, Pantone Cool Gray 9C, and Black
Stamp Orientation: Horizontal
Image Area (w x h): 1.4200 x 1.0850 in. / 36.0680 x
27.5590 mm
Overall Size (w x h): 1.5600 x 1.2250 in. / 39.6240 x
31.1150 mm
Full Pane Size (w x h): 9.5000 x 7.5000 in. / 241.3000 x
190.5000 mm
Press Sheets Size (w x h): 19.5000 x 23.0000 in. / 495.3000 x
584.2000 mm
Plate Size: 120 stamps per revolution
Plate Number: “B” followed by three (3) single digits in bottom two corners
Marginal Markings:
Front: Header: Alex Trebek • Jeopardy! host and television personality 1940–2020 • Plate number in bottom two corners
Back: © 2024 Jeopardy Productions, Inc. All rights reserved • © 2024 USPS • USPS Logo • Two barcodes (485300) • Plate position diagram (6) • Promotional text

Here are the first-day postmarks for this issue: The Digital Color Postmark measures 2.56″ x 1.50″ The Pictorial Postmark measures 2.16″ x 1.22″

Updated September 6^th:
The Scott catalogue number for this issue is 5907.

Updated August 5^th:
Here are the Scott catalogue numbers:
RW91 $25 Northern Pintail Hunting Permit Stamp
RW91A $25 Northern Pintail Hunting Permit Stamp sheet of 1

From the Postal Bulletin May 16^th:

On June 28, 2024, in Hanover, MD, the U.S. Department of the Interior will issue the $25 Migratory Bird Hunting and Conservation stamp for the 2024–2025 waterfowl hunting season. The pressure-sensitive adhesive (PSA) stamp will go on sale nationwide June 28, 2024, and is valid through June 30, 2025.

Item 337100, Pane of One: No automatic distribution but post offices may order it.
Item 337200, Pane of 20: No automatic distribution, and only sold by the USPS through Stamp Fulfillment Services.

Technical Specifications — Pane of 1:

Issue: Migratory Bird Hunting and Conservation Stamp
Item Number: 337100
Denomination & Type of Issue: $25.00, Special
Format: Pane of 1 (1 design)
Series: Federal Duck
Issue Date & City: June 28, 2024, Hanover, MD 21076
Art Director: Suzanne Fellows, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
Artist: Chuck Black
Modeler: Joseph Sheeran
Manufacturing Process: Offset, Flexographic, Microprint
Printer: Ashton Potter
Press Type: Muller A76
Stamps per Pane: 1
Print Quantity: 1,282,180 stamps
Paper Type: Nonphosphored Type III
Adhesive Type: Pressure-sensitive
Colors: Black, Cyan, Magenta, Yellow, Invisible Fluorescent
Stamp Orientation: Horizontal
Image Area (w x h): 1.7190 x 1.2660 in. / 43.6630 x
32.1560 mm
Overall Size (w x h): 1.8900 x 1.4170 in. / 48.0060 x
35.9920 mm
Full Pane Size (w x h): 6.1250 x 2.6250 in. / 155.5800 x
66.6750 mm
Plate Size: 36 stamps per revolution
Plate Numbers: N/A
Marginal Markings:
Front: Selvage Text: U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service • 2024–2025 Migratory Bird Hunting and Conservation Stamp • Celebrating the 25th Anniversary of the Harvest Information Program • Informative text • Artist: Chuck Black, Northern Pintail © • If applicable, sign your stamp.
Back: Verso-text • Ordering information • Barcode • U.S. Department of the Interior logo • U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service logo

Technical Specifications — Pane of 20:

Issue: Migratory Bird Hunting and Conservation Stamp
Item Number: 337200
Denomination & Type of Issue: $25.00, Special
Format: Pane of 20 (1 design)
Series: Federal Duck
Issue Date & City: June 28, 2024, Hanover, MD 21076
Art Director: Suzanne Fellows, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
Artist: Chuck Black
Modeler: Joseph Sheeran
Manufacturing Process: Offset, Flexographic, Microprint
Printer: Ashton Potter
Press Type: Muller A76
Stamps per Pane: 20
Print Quantity: 43,600 stamps
Paper Type: Nonphosphored Type III
Adhesive Type: Pressure-sensitive
Colors: Black, Cyan, Magenta, Yellow, Invisible Fluorescent
Stamp Orientation: Horizontal
Image Area (w x h): 1.7190 x 1.2660 in. / 43.6630 x
32.1560 mm
Overall Size (w x h): 1.8900 x 1.4170 in. / 48.0060 x
35.9920 mm
Full Pane Size (w x h): 8.2500 x 8.2500 in. / 209.5500 x
209.5500 mm
Plate Size: 180 stamps per revolution
Plate Numbers: “P” followed by five (5) single digits
Marginal Markings:
Front: Selvage Text: • Department of the Interior 20 x $25.00 (2 locations) • Artist: Chuck Black (4 locations) • Plate number (4 corners)
Back: Verso-text behind each stamp • Four barcodes • Plate position diagram (9)

Earlier press release from the Fish & Wildlife Service:

[press release] [click on any of the pictures for larger versions]
Montana Artist Chuck Black Wins 2023 Federal Duck Stamp Art Contest
Federal Duck Stamp Supports Wildlife Conservation

(Sep 16, 2023) — After two days of competition, Chuck Black of Belgrade, Montana, emerged as the winner of the 2023 Federal Duck Stamp Art Contest with an oil painting of a northern pintail. The announcement was made at an event and via live stream at the Olmstead Center at Drake University in Des Moines, Iowa.

Black’s oil painting will be made into the 2024-2025 Federal Migratory Bird Hunting and Conservation Stamp, or “Duck Stamp” which will go on sale in late June 2024. The Service produces the Federal Duck Stamp, which sells for $25 and raises approximately $40 million in sales each year. These funds support critical conservation to protect wetland habitats in the National Wildlife Refuge System for the benefit of wildlife and the enjoyment of people.

Earlier this week, the Migratory Bird Conservation Commission, chaired by Secretary of the Interior Deb Haaland, approved the allocation of more than $50.6 million in grants through the North American Wetlands Conservation Act and funds from the Migratory Bird Conservation Fund. The fund is made up partly of Duck Stamp dollars, to support the acquisition of lands from willing sellers for the Refuge System. The new areas provide additional access to the public to some of the most spectacular places available for hunting, fishing, birdwatching, hiking and other outdoor activities.

“I encourage everyone to buy a Duck Stamp as they have such a significant impact in conserving wetlands for waterfowl and so many other species,” said Service Director Martha Williams. “The art entries for this contest are impressive, and they serve as an important reminder of the wildlife and habitats the Duck Stamp is designed to protect.”

Since it was first established in 1934, Federal Duck Stamp sales to hunters, bird watchers, outdoor enthusiasts and collectors have raised more than $1.2 billion to conserve over 6 million acres of habitat for birds and other wildlife and provide countless opportunities for wildlife-oriented recreation on public lands.

Waterfowl hunters age 16 and older are required to purchase and carry the current Federal Duck Stamp. Many non-hunters, including birdwatchers, conservationists, stamp collectors and others, also purchase the stamp in support of habitat conservation. Additionally, a current Federal Duck Stamp can be used for free admission to any national wildlife refuge that charges an entry fee.

In addition to Chuck Black, Adam Grimm of Wallace, South Dakota, placed second with an acrylic painting of a northern pintail pair, and Gerald Mobley of Claremore, Oklahoma, took third place with an acrylic painting of a northern pintail.

Des Moines, Iowa, was chosen as the site of this year’s contest because of its importance in the conservation history of the Federal Duck Stamp. The Jay N. Darling Legacy Institute, located at Drake University, houses artifacts and other memorabilia used in the creation of the first Duck Stamp and interprets this important tie between art and conservation.

Of 199 entries judged in this year’s competition, 24 entries made it to the final round of judging. Eligible species for this year’s Federal Duck Stamp Contest were the snow goose, American black duck, northern pintail, ring-necked duck and harlequin duck. View the online gallery of the 2023 Federal Duck Stamp Art Contest entries.

For the first time in Federal Duck Stamp Contest history, the judging panel was comprised completely of females. The judges for this year’s Contest were Gail Anderson, MJ Davis, Rebecca Humphries, Rue Mapp, Dr. Karen Waldrop, and the alternate judge was Jennifer Scully.

According to Virtual Stamp Club member Foster Miller, a U.S. Postal Service representative said there will be a stamp for Hank Aaron. Word came at the first-day ceremony for Underground Railroad.

The person did not reveal a date. Best guess would be during “Induction Weekend” at the Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown. The Hall of Fame induction ceremony is Sunday, July 21. However, there are events Friday through Monday.

The photo shown here is from 1974, his last year with the Milwaukee/Atlanta Braves. Assuming this photo was taken during spring training, as is likely, it is from right before he broke the home run record at the Atlanta home opener on April 8, 1974.

Henry Louis Aaron died in January 2021 at the age of 86, so under current rules, this year is the first opportunity to honor him with a stamp. He has, however, been honored by the USPS before: At the end of the 1973 season, Aaron received a plaque from the postal agency for receiving more mail (930,000 pieces) than any person excluding politicians. The Wikipedia entry is here.

Further information will be posted as we get it.

Updated September 6^th:
The Scott catalogue number for this issue is 5908.

Updated June 28^th:
[press release] [click on any of the pictures for larger versions]
Baseball Legend Hank Aaron Memorialized on New Forever Stamp

What: The U.S. Postal Service will honor Henry “Hank” Aaron with a commemorative Forever stamp.

The first-day-of-issue event is free and open to the public. News of the stamp is being shared with the hashtag #HankAaronStamp.

Who: Thomas J. Marshall, U.S. Postal Service general counsel and executive vice president, will serve as dedicating official.

When: Wednesday, July 31, at 10 a.m. EDT

Where:
Truist Park
755 Battery Ave. SE
Atlanta, GA 30339

RSVP: Attendees are encouraged to RSVP at usps.com/hankaaronstamp.

Background: A giant both on and off the field, Hank Aaron (1934–2021) rose from humble beginnings to rewrite the record books while prevailing in the face of racism. The stamp art features a portrait of Aaron as a member of the Atlanta Braves, based on a 1968 photo, showing Aaron’s famous right-handed batting stance from the waist up.
Greg Breeding, an art director for USPS, designed the stamp and pane with original art by Chuck Styles and typography by Kevin Cantrell.
The Hank Aaron stamp is being issued in panes of 20. The Forever stamp will always be equal in value to the current First-Class Mail one-ounce price.-

On July 31, 2024, in Atlanta, GA, the United States Postal Service® will issue the Hank Aaron stamp (Forever® priced at the First-Class Mail® rate), in one design, in a pressure-sensitive adhesive (PSA) pane of 20 stamps (Item 484900). This stamp will go on sale nationwide July 31, 2024, and must not be sold or canceled before the first-day-of-issue.

This stamp celebrates the life and career of Hank Aaron (1934–2021), a giant of baseball both on and off the field, who rose from humble beginnings to rewrite the record books while prevailing in the face of racism. The stamp art features a digital painting of Aaron as a member of the Atlanta Braves™, showing Aaron’s famous right-handed batting stance from the waist up. The selvage showcases a digital painting of Aaron watching the ball he had just hit for his record-breaking 715th home run. Art director Greg Breeding designed the stamp and pane with original art by Chuck Styles and typography by Kevin Cantrell.

Automatic distribution.

How to Order the First-Day-of-Issue Postmark:
Customers have 120 days to obtain the first-day-of-issue postmark by mail. They may purchase new stamps at their local Post Office® or at The Postal Store® website at store.usps.com/store/home. They must affix the stamps to envelopes of their choice, address the envelopes (to themselves or others), and place them in a larger envelope addressed to:

FDOI – Hank Aaron Stamp
USPS Stamp Fulfillment Services
8300 NE Underground Drive, Suite 300
Kansas City, MO 64144-9900

After applying the first-day-of-issue postmark, the Postal Service will return the envelopes through the mail. There is no charge for the postmark up to a quantity of 50. There is a 5-cent charge for each additional postmark over 50. All orders must be postmarked by November 30, 2024.

Technical Specifications:

Issue: Hank Aaron Stamp
Item Number: 484900
Denomination & Type of Issue: First-Class Mail Forever
Format: Pane of 20 (1 design)
Series: N/A
Issue Date & City: July 31, 2024, Atlanta, GA 30304
Art Director: Greg Breeding, Charlottesville, VA
Designer: Greg Breeding, Charlottesville, VA
Artist: Chuck Styles
Typographer: Kevin Cantrell, Mantua, UT
Modeler: Joseph Sheeran
Manufacturing Process: Offset, Microprint
Printer: Ashton Potter
Press Type: Muller A76
Stamps per Pane: 20
Print Quantity: 30,000,000
Paper Type: Nonphosphored Type III, Block Tag Applied
Adhesive Type: Pressure-sensitive
Colors: Black, Cyan, Magenta, Yellow
Stamp Orientation: Vertical
Image Area (w x h): 1.0850 x 1.4200 in. / 27.5590 x
36.0680 mm
Overall Size (w x h): 1.2250 x 1.5600 in. / 31.1150 x
39.6240 mm
Full Pane Size (w x h): 9.8100 x 7.3800 in. / 249.1740 x
187.4520 mm
Press Sheets Size (w x h): 19.7450 x 22.3900 in. / 501.5230 x
568.7060 mm
Plate Size: 120 stamps per revolution
Plate Number: “P” followed by four (4) single digits in bottom two corners
Marginal Markings:
Front: Header: Hank Aaron • 1934 x 2021 • Plate number in bottom two corners
Back: Major League Baseball trademarks and copyrights are used with permission of Major League Baseball • © 2024 USPS • USPS Logo • Two barcodes (484900) • Plate position diagram (6) • Promotional text

Here are the first-day postmarks for this issue:
The Digital Color Postmark for this issue measures 2.29″ x 1.10″ .
The Pictorial Postmark for this issue measures 2.80″ x 1.15″

Updated May 20^th:
This stamp will be issued July 31 in Atlanta, GA. The Atlanta Braves are on the road that day — in Milwaukee!

Updated April 8^th, the 50^th of the 715^th home run:

[press release] [click on any of the pictures for larger versions]
USPS Unveils Henry “Hank” Aaron Stamp
On 50th Anniversary of Eclipsing Homerun Record

ATLANTA — The U.S. Postal Service today announced it will honor baseball legend Henry “Hank” Aaron with a commemorative Forever stamp.

This stamp celebrates the life and career of Aaron (1934–2021), a giant both on and off the field, who rose from humble beginnings to rewrite the record books while prevailing in the face of racism.

The stamp art features a digital painting of Aaron as a member of the Atlanta Braves, showing his famous right-handed batting stance from the waist up. The selvage showcases a digital painting of Aaron watching the ball he had just hit for his record-breaking 715th home run on April 8, 1974.

Greg Breeding, an art director for USPS, designed the stamp and pane with original art by Chuck Styles.

The Hank Aaron stamp will be issued in panes of 20. As a Forever stamp, it will always be equal in value to the current First-Class Mail 1 ounce price.

The official first day of issue and stamp dedication ceremony location will be announced at a later date.

News of the stamp is being shared with the hashtag #HankAaronStamp.

[On this page, because of the nature of the announcement, the latest information is at the end.]

[press release] [click on any of the pictures for larger versions] Announced March 6, 2024
USPS Unveils Betty Ford Stamp
Dedication Will Take Place April 5 in Rancho Mirage, CA

WASHINGTON — On March 6, the U.S. Postal Service revealed the artwork of a commemorative Forever stamp celebrating the life and legacy of former First Lady Betty Ford.

The stamp design was unveiled at the White House by First Lady Jill Biden, Postmaster General Louis DeJoy and Susan Ford Bales, daughter of former President Gerald R. Ford and former First Lady Betty Ford.

The dedication ceremony for the Forever stamp will be held April 5 — three days before the 106th anniversary of her birth. The event will take place at the Annenberg Health Sciences Building located at Eisenhower Health in Rancho Mirage, CA.

“Betty Ford changed the role of first lady,” said Postmaster General DeJoy. “She used the role not just as a platform to represent the nation and advance and support her husband, she used it to speak openly and honestly about issues she cared about, and about personal issues she faced.”[The stamp is unveiled by (L-R) First Lady Jill Biden, daughter Susan Ford Bales, Dr. Joseph Lee and Postmaster General Louis DeJoy.]

Elizabeth Anne Bloomer Ford (1918–2011), wife of the 38th president, was first lady of the United States from 1974 to 1977. After the Watergate scandal forced the resignation of President Richard Nixon on Aug. 9, 1974, and an earlier scandal pushed out Vice President Spiro Agnew, Gerald Ford became the first U.S. president who had never been elected president or vice president. In her new role as first lady, Betty Ford, impressed the American public in interviews by showing humor and frankness about controversial issues facing the country.

“Mom would be humbled and grateful beyond words for the extraordinary tribute of her commemorative stamp,” said daughter Susan Ford Bales [right], who attended the White House event. “To Mom, the stamp would be a heartwarming reminder of joys of millions of breast cancer and substance use disorder survivors who have overcome their diseases and individually added to her legacy of candor and courage.”

While the Fords never intended to inhabit the White House, Betty Ford embraced the role, becoming the most politically outspoken first lady since Eleanor Roosevelt and helping mold the position’s modern role. [First Lady Jill Biden, shown on the left, said that Mrs. Ford promised to be herself in the White House. “”That was exactly what the country needed: A warm, charming, friendly First Lady, who would help restore a wearied nation’s faith in government.”]

Throughout her husband’s political career, Mrs. Ford openly fought for women’s rights, often conflicting with the Republican Party’s stances. She campaigned tirelessly for the Equal Rights Amendment, which would have mandated constitutional equality for all Americans, regardless of gender.

After being diagnosed with breast cancer, Mrs. Ford underwent a mastectomy on Sept. 28, 1974. While medical issues of previous first ladies weren’t always disclosed, Mrs. Ford chose to share the story of her treatment for the once-taboo medical condition.

In 1964, Mrs. Ford had begun taking prescription pain pills for a pinched nerve in her neck, developing a substance use disorder over time. In 1978, after an intervention, she entered the Naval Regional Medical Hospital in Long Beach, CA, for treatment. As with her breast cancer, she publicly acknowledged her substance use disorder, changing its perception and putting a face to the disease.

In 1982, Mrs. Ford and former ambassador and close family friend Leonard Firestone established the Betty Ford Center for substance dependency. She agreed to lend her name to the center, hoping to destigmatize substance use disorder treatment at a time when it wasn’t spoken about openly — especially by women — and options for treatment were scarce. Her work helped change the way treatment options and those seeking it are viewed by American society. [On the left, speaking at the unveiling, Dr. Joseph Lee, president and CEO, Hazelden Betty Ford Foundation.]

The Forever stamp honoring Betty Ford is being issued in panes of 20. News of the stamp will be shared with the hashtag #BettyFordStamp.

Dedication [First Day] Ceremony Information

What: The U.S. Postal Service will commemorate the life and legacy of former First Lady Betty Ford with the issuance of a Forever stamp.

When: April 5, 2024, 11 a.m. PDT

Where: Eisenhower Health
Annenberg Health Sciences Building
Helene Galen Auditorium
39000 Bob Hope Drive
Rancho Mirage, CA 92270

RSVP: Dedication ceremony attendees are encouraged to register at: usps.com/bettyfordstamp

Updated March 7^th:
On April 5, 2024, in Rancho Mirage, CA, the United States Postal Service® will issue the Betty Ford stamp (Forever® priced at the First-Class Mail® rate) in one design, in a pressure-sensitive adhesive (PSA) pane of 20 stamps (Item 484800). This stamp will go on sale nationwide April 5, 2024, and must not be sold or canceled before the first-day-of-issue.

This stamp celebrates the life of Betty Ford (1918–2011), wife of the 38th president, Gerald R. Ford, and first lady of the United States from 1974 to 1977. As first lady, Mrs. Ford won widespread admiration for her candor and support for women’s rights. The stamp art is a detail from the official 1977 White House portrait by Felix de Cossio (1913–1999). The oil-on-canvas portrait shows Mrs. Ford dressed in a pale blue chiffon dress. The seated portrait was cropped to accommodate the stamp format. Art director Derry Noyes designed the stamp.

Automatic distribution.

How to Order the First-Day-of-Issue Postmark:
Customers have 120 days to obtain the first-day-of-issue postmark by mail. They may purchase new stamps at their local Post Office™ or at The Postal Store® website at store.usps.com/store/home. They must affix the stamps to envelopes of their choice, address the envelopes (to themselves or others), and place them in a larger envelope addressed to:

FDOI – Betty Ford Stamp
USPS Stamp Fulfillment Services
8300 NE Underground Drive, Suite 300
Kansas City, MO 64144-9900

After applying the first-day-of-issue postmark, the Postal Service will return the envelopes through the mail. There is no charge for the postmark up to a quantity of 50. There is a 5-cent charge for each additional postmark over 50. All orders must be postmarked by August 5, 2024.

Technical Specifications:

Issue: Betty Ford Stamp
Item Number: 484800
Denomination & Type of Issue: First-Class Mail Forever
Format: Pane of 20 (1 design)
Series: N/A
Issue Date & City: April 5, 2024, Rancho Mirage, CA 92270
Art Director: Derry Noyes, Washington, DC
Designer: Derry Noyes, Washington, DC
Existing Art: Felix de Cossio
Modeler: Sandra Lane / Michelle Finn
Manufacturing Process: Offset, Microprint
Printer: Banknote Corporation of America
Press Type: Alprinta 74
Stamps per Pane: 20
Print Quantity: 12,000,000
Paper Type: Phosphor, Block Tag
Adhesive Type: Pressure-sensitive
Colors: Cyan, Magenta, Yellow, Black, PMS 6114C
Stamp Orientation: 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): 6.0400 x 7.8800 in. / 153.4160 x 200.1520 mm
Press Sheets Size (w x h): 24.1600 x 15.7600 in. / 613.6640 x 400.3040 mm
Plate Size: 160 stamps per revolution
Plate Number: “B” followed by five (5) single digits
Marginal Markings:
Front: Header: BETTY FORD • Plate number in bottom two corners
Back: © 2024 USPS • USPS logo • Two barcodes (484800) • Plate position diagram (8) • Promotional text

Updated March 22^nd:
Here are the first-day postmarks for this issue:The Digital Color Postmark measures 2.80″ x 1.48″The Pictorial Postmark measures 2.62″ x 1.37″

Updated May 7^th:
The Scott catalogue number for this issue is 5852.

[press release] [click on any of the pictures for larger versions]
U.S. Postal Service Reveals Holiday Joy Stamps for 2024

WASHINGTON, DC — The U.S. Postal Service today announced four new stamp designs for the 2024 holiday season. Holiday Joy, along with other stamps announced last year, make up only a partial list, with more to be revealed in the weeks and months ahead. All stamp designs are preliminary and subject to change.

Holiday Joy: Four new art-inspired holiday stamp designs feature two colorful Christmas ornaments, a vibrant poinsettia surrounded by greenery, and a whimsical blue flower centered against green leaves and delicate scrollwork. Antonio Alcalá, an art director for USPS, designed the stamps and booklet of 20, using original digital illustrations by Michelle Muñoz.

Here are larger versions of the four designs:

Additional information will be posted below the line, with the most recent at the top.

Updated November 5^th:
The Scott catalogue numbers for this issue are

• 5941 Poinsettia
• 5942 Red Pointed Ornament and Blue Flowers
• 5943 Green Round Ornament and Pink Flowers
• 5944 Blue Flower and Green Leaves
• a. Block of 4, #5941-5944
• b. Convertible booklet pane of 20, 5 each #5941-5944

Updated August 20^th:
[press release] [click on any of the pictures for larger versions]
U.S. Postal Service to Unveil New Holiday Stamps at the Smithsonian’s National Postal Museum

When: Saturday, Sept. 14, at 10:30 a.m. EDT

What: The U.S. Postal Service will host a special stamp dedication ceremony at the Smithsonian’s National Postal Museum to unveil the highly anticipated 2024 Christmas Madonna and Child stamp and Holiday Joy stamps.

These stamps capture the spirit of the season, celebrating both the traditional and contemporary aspects of holiday festivities.

The event will include remarks from prominent postal officials and be followed by the National Postal Museum’s Holiday Stamps Family Festival, with guest artist Katie Kirk.

Who: Sheila Holman, USPS vice president of marketing, and Mark Guilfoil, USPS vice president of supply management, will serve as the dedicating officials.

Where: National Postal Museum
2 Massachusetts Ave. NE
Washington, DC 20002

Details: The Madonna and Child stamp has been a beloved part of the Postal Service’s holiday stamp offerings for decades, featuring iconic images of the Virgin Mary and Child from various artistic traditions. This year’s design continues that tradition, offering a beautiful representation of this timeless theme.

The Holiday Joy stamps, meanwhile, offer a vibrant and festive option for holiday greetings, with designs that evoke the joy and warmth of the holiday season.

The dedication ceremony will feature a first-day-of-issue event, where attendees will have the opportunity to purchase the new stamps and get them postmarked with a special first-day-of-issue cancellation.

The event is free and open to the public.
• Visuals: The unveiling of the new stamps
• Remarks from speakers
• A live holiday-themed family festival
• Attendees purchasing and cancelling their stamps
• Autographs by special guests and VIPs

RSVP: Attendees are encouraged to register at usps.com/holidaystampsceremony.

To ensure seating and access to interviews with event speakers and special guests, members of the media are encouraged to RSVP on the USPS media sign-in website.
About the Stamps

Christmas Madonna and Child features the serene Madonna and Child from the workshop of the 17th-century Italian artist Giovanni Battista Salvi, called “Sassoferrato” (1609-1685). William Gicker was the art director and Greg Breeding designed the stamp, which will be sold in booklets of 20.

Holiday Joy, four stamps inspired by Mexican folk art, were designed by Antonio Alcalá, an art director for USPS, using original digital illustrations by Michelle Muñoz.

Christmas Madonna and Child and Holiday Joy are being issued as Forever stamps, which are always equal in value to the current First-Class Mail 1-ounce rate.

Updated August 9^th:
Here are the first-day postmarks for this issue:The Digital Color Postmark measures 2.71″ x 1.25″ There is no pictorial postmark for this issue, just the FDOI “Killer Bar” hand cancel.

From the Postal Bulletin:

On September 14, 2024, in Washington, DC, the United States Postal Service® will issue the Holiday Joy stamps (Forever® priced at the First-Class Mail® rate), in four designs, in a pressure-sensitive adhesive (PSA) double-sided booklet of 20 stamps (Item 685000). These stamps will go on sale nationwide September 14, 2024, and must not be sold or canceled before the first-day-of-issue.

Four new folk art-inspired holiday stamps feature two colorful Christmas ornaments, a vibrant poinsettia surrounded by greenery, and a whimsical blue flower centered against green leaves and delicate scrollwork. Art director Antonio Alcalá designed the stamps using original digital illustrations by Michelle Muñoz.

Automatic distribution.

How to Order the First-Day-of-Issue Postmark:
Customers have 120 days to obtain the first-day-of-issue postmark by mail. They may purchase new stamps at their local Post Office® or at The Postal Store® website at store.usps.com/store/home. They must affix the stamps to envelopes of their choice, address the envelopes (to themselves or others), and place them in a larger envelope addressed to:

FDOI – Holiday Joy Stamps
USPS Stamp Fulfillment Services
8300 NE Underground Drive, Suite 300
Kansas City, MO 64144-9900

After applying the first-day-of-issue postmark, the Postal Service™ will return the envelopes through the mail. There is no charge for the postmark up to a quantity of 50. There is a 5-cent charge for each additional postmark over 50. All orders must be postmarked by January 14, 2025.

Technical Specifications:

Issue: Holiday Joy Stamps
Item Number: 685000
Denomination & Type of Issue: First-Class Mail Forever
Format: Double-Sided Booklet of 20 (4 designs)
Series: N/A
Issue Date & City: September 14, 2024, Washington, DC 20066
Art Director: Antonio Alcalá, Alexandria, VA
Designer: Antonio Alcalá, Alexandria, VA
Artist: Michelle Muñoz, Moreno Valley, CA
Modeler: Sandra Lane / Michelle Finn
Manufacturing Process: Offset
Printer: Banknote Corporation of America
Press Type: Alprinta 74
Stamps per Booklet: 20
Print Quantity: 500,000,000 stamps
Paper Type: Phosphor, Block Tag
Adhesive Type: Pressure-sensitive
Colors: Cyan, Magenta, Yellow, Black
Stamp Orientation: Vertical
Image Area (w x h): 0.7700 x 1.0500 in. / 19.5580 x 26.6700 mm
Overall Size (w x h): 0.9100 x 1.1900 in. / 23.1140 x 30.2260 mm
Booklet Size (w x h): 5.7430 x 2.3750 in. / 145.8720 x60.3250 mm
Plate Size: 800 stamps per revolution
Plate Number: “B” followed by four (4) single digits
Marginal Markings: Header: HOLIDAY JOY 20 FIRST-CLASS FOREVER STAMPS • © 2024 USPS in peel strip area • Barcode • USPS Logo • Promotional Text • Plate number in peel strip area

Updated May 20^th:
These stamps will be issued September 14 in Washington, DC.

Announced by the USPS on November 3, 2023:

One of the most renowned and influential artists of the 20th century, Ansel Adams (1902-1984) made thousands of awe-inspiring photographs that collectively create a rich visual portrait of the American landscape. A masterful photographer and dedicated environmentalist, Adams sought to imbue each of his black-and-white prints with the power and wonder he felt in the presence of nature. These 16 stamps feature some of Adams’s most famous images in his signature “straight photography” style, an approach defined by its precision and directness. Derry Noyes, an art director for USPS, designed the stamps.

Additional information will be posted below the line, with the most recent info near the top.

Updated July 2^nd:
Here are the basic Scott catalogue numbers for this issue. Each imperforate stamp (from the imperforate press sheet) has its own number, too, which you can find here:

Sc. 5854 pane of 16
a. Half Dome, Merced River, Winter, Yosemite National Park, California, 1938
b. Oak Tree, Sunset City, Sierra Foothills, California, 1962
c. Thundercloud, Ellery Lake, High Sierra, Sierra Nevada, California, 1934
d. Denali and Wonder Lake, Denali National Park, Alaska, 1947
e. The Golden Gate and Bridge from Baker Beach, San Francisco, California,1953
f. Road and Fog, Del Monte Forest, Pebble Beach, California, 1964
g. Rock and Grass, Moraine Lake, Sequoia National Park, California, 1936
h. Leaves, Mount Rainier National Park, Washington, c. 1942
i. Monument Valley, Arizona, 1958
j. Tetons and Snake River, Grand Teton National Park, Wyoming, 1942
k. Jeffrey Pine, Sentinel Dome, Yosemite National Park, California, 1940
l. Mirror Lake, Mount Watkins, Spring, Yosemite National Park, California, 1935
m. Maroon Bells, near Aspen, Colorado, 1951
n. Aspens, Dawn, Autumn, Dolores River Canyon, Colorado, 1937
o. Road After Rain, Northern California, 1960
p. Dunes, Oceano, California, 1963

Updated April 17^th:
These stamps are now available online for pre-ordering. USPS collectibles have been added to the U.S. 2024 Stamp Program listing for this issue (“USPS Order Numbers”).

Updated April 4^th:
Here are the first-day postmarks for this issue:The Digital Color Postmark measures 2.98″ x 1.40″The Pictorial Postmark measures 2.65″ x 1.25″

From the Postal Bulletin:

On May 15, 2024, in Yosemite National Park, CA, the United States Postal Service® will issue the Ansel Adams stamps (Forever® priced at the First-Class Mail® rate) in 16 designs, in a pressure-sensitive adhesive (PSA) pane of 16 stamps (Item 485000). These stamps will go on sale nationwide May 15, 2024, and must not be sold or canceled before the first-day-of-issue. The Ansel Adams commemorative pane of 16 stamps must not be split and the stamps must not be sold individually.

This stamp issuance honors Ansel Adams (1902–1984), one of the most influential artists of the 20th century, best known for his awe-inspiring black-and-white photographs of the American landscape. These 16 stamps feature some of Adams’ most famous images in his signature “straight photography” style, an approach defined by its precision and directness. Art director Derry Noyes designed the stamps using existing photographs.
Automatic distribution.

How to Order the First-Day-of-Issue Postmark:
Customers have 120 days to obtain the first-day-of-issue postmark by mail. They may purchase new stamps at their local Post Office™ or at The Postal Store® website at store.usps.com/store/home. They must affix the stamps to envelopes of their choice, address the envelopes (to themselves or others), and place them in a larger envelope addressed to:

FDOI – Ansel Adams Stamps
USPS Stamp Fulfillment Services
8300 NE Underground Drive, Suite 300
Kansas City, MO 64144-9900

After applying the first-day-of-issue postmark, the Postal Service will return the envelopes through the mail. There is no charge for the postmark up to a quantity of 50. There is a 5-cent charge for each additional postmark over 50. All orders must be postmarked by September 15, 2024.

Technical Specifications:

Issue: Ansel Adams Stamps
Item Number: 485000
Denomination & Type of Issue: First-Class Mail Forever
Format: Pane of 16 (16 designs)
Series: N/A
Issue Date & City: May 15, 2024, Yosemite National Park, CA 95389
Art Director: Derry Noyes, Washington, DC
Designer: Derry Noyes, Washington, DC
Existing Photos: Ansel Adams
Modeler: Sandra Lane / Michelle Finn
Manufacturing Process: Offset
Printer: Banknote Corporation of America
Press Type: Alprinta 74
Stamps per Pane: 16
Print Quantity: 20,000,000
Paper Type: Phosphor, Block Tag
Adhesive Type: Pressure-sensitive
Colors: Black
Stamp Orientation: Horizontal
Image Area (w x h): 1.4200 x 1.0850 in. / 36.0680 x
27.5590 mm
Overall Size (w x h): 1.5600 x 1.2250 in. / 39.6240 x
31.1150 mm
Full Pane Size (w x h): 7.2400 x 7.4100 in. / 183.8960 x
188.2140 mm
Press Sheets Size (w x h): 21.7200 x 22.2300 in. / 551.6880 x
564.6420 mm
Plate Size: 144 stamps per revolution
Plate Number: “B” followed by one (1) single digit
Marginal Markings:
Front: Header: ANSEL ADAMS • photographer, 1902 – 1984 • Plate number in bottom two corners
Back: Ansel Adams photographs © The Ansel Adams Publishing Rights Trust • © 2023 USPS • USPS logo • Two barcodes (485000) • Plate position diagram (9) • Promotional text

Updated April 3^rd:

[press release] [click on any of the pictures for larger versions]
Postal Service to Honor Ansel Adams With Stamps Showcasing 16 Stunning Portraits of the American Landscape

What: First-day-of-issue dedication ceremony for the Ansel Adams Forever stamps featuring 16 photographs made by the esteemed artist and environmentalist. The first-day-of-issue event for the Ansel Adams Forever stamps is free and open to all visitors of Yosemite National Park. News of the stamps is being shared with the hashtag #AnselAdamsStamps.

Who: The Hon. Daniel Tangherlini, a member of the U.S. Postal Service Board of Governors, will serve as the dedicating official.
Matthew Adams, grandson of Ansel Adams
Cicely Muldoon, superintendent, Yosemite National Park
Scott Gediman, public affairs officer, Yosemite National Park
Shelton Johnson, park ranger, Yosemite National Park
Alan Ross, photographer

When: May 15, 2024, at 11 a.m. PDT

Where: The Ansel Adams Gallery
9031 Village Drive
Yosemite National Park, CA 95389

RSVP: Ceremony attendees are encouraged to RSVP at usps.com/anseladamsstamps.

Background: Experience the wonder of the American West through the lens of one of America’s most iconic photographers, Ansel Adams (1902-1984). This pane of 16 stamps features some of Adams’ most famous images in his signature “straight photography” style, an approach defined by its precision and directness.The first row of stamps, left to right, features “Half Dome, Merced River, Winter, Yosemite National Park, California” (1938); “Oak Tree, Sunset City, Sierra Foothills, California” (1962); “Thundercloud, Ellery Lake, High Sierra, Sierra Nevada, California” (1934); and “Denali and Wonder Lake, Denali National Park, Alaska” (1947).The second row, left to right, features “The Golden Gate and Bridge from Baker Beach, San Francisco, California” (c.1953); “Road and Fog, Del Monte Forest, Pebble Beach, California” (1964); “Rock and Grass, Moraine Lake, Sequoia National Park, California” (1936); and “Leaves, Mount Rainier National Park, Washington” (c.1942).

The third row, left to right, features “Monument Valley, Arizona” (1958); “Tetons and Snake River, Grand Teton National Park, Wyoming” (1942); “Jeffrey Pine, Sentinel Dome, Yosemite National Park, California” (1940); and “Mirror Lake, Mount Watkins, Spring, Yosemite National Park, California” (1935).The fourth row, left to right, features “Maroon Bells, near Aspen, Colorado” (1951); “Aspens, Dawn, Autumn, Dolores River Canyon, Colorado” (1937); “Road After Rain, Northern California” (1960); and “Dunes, Oceano, California” (1963).

As evidenced by the striking images in this collection, Adams devoted much of his career to the advancement of photography as a fine art. Derry Noyes, an art director with USPS, designed the stamps using existing photographs.

Updated February 23^rd:
These stamps will be issued May 15 at Yosemite National Park in California.

Announced by the USPS on November 3, 2023:

Carnival Nights celebrates one of America’s favorite pastimes. The stomach-twisting thrill rides, the indulgent snacks and sweets and the general spirit of lighthearted fun make the nation’s carnivals and fairs a place for visitors of any age to enjoy. Ten new stamps in a pane of 20 feature photographs that convey the energy and color of a summer carnival at night. Greg Breeding, an art director for USPS, designed the stamps with existing photographs.

Additional information will be posted below the line, with the most recent info near the top.

Updated August 5^th:
Here are the Scott catalogue numbers:

• 5855 Wave Swinger Ride, Photograph by Annette Shaff
• 5856 Midway Gondola Wheel and a Ring of Fire, Photograph by Annette Shaff
• 5857 Gondola Wheels, Photograph by Aleff Gripp
• 5858 Gondola Wheel, Photograph by Pamela Hennessey
• 5859 Gondola Wheel, Photograph by Phil Roeder
• 5860 Gondola Wheel, Wave Swinger and Midway Food and Game Booths, Photograph by Timothy Hughes
• 5861 Gondola Wheel, Photograph by Joseph Sohm
• 5862 Round-Up Ride, Photograph by Bob Davidson
• 5863 Carousel, Photograph by Sarah Beard Buckley
  a. Imperforate
  5864 Gondola Wheel and Wave Swinger, Photograph by Anthony Totah
  b. Block of 10, #5855-5864
  c. Imperforate block of 10, #5855a-5864aUpdated May 7^th:
  [media advisory] [click on any of the pictures for larger versions]
  Celebrate the Magic of Carnival Nights StampsWhat: The U.S. Postal Service is celebrating one of America’s favorite pastimes with its Carnival Nights stamps. The first-day-of-issue ceremony is free and open to the public. News of these Forever stamps is being shared with the hashtag#CarnivalNightsStamps.

  Who: June Martindale, U.S. Postal Service, Alabama-Mississippi District manager

  Lynda Franc, North American Midway Entertainment, corporate marketing director

  Matt McDonnell, Mississippi Coast Coliseum and Convention Center, executive director

  Greg Chiecko, Outdoor Amusement Business Association, president and CEO

  When: Thursday, June 6, 2024, at 6 p.m. Central.

  Where: South Mississippi Summer Fair
  Mississippi Coast Coliseum and Convention Center
  2350 Beach Blvd.
  Biloxi, MS 39531

  RSVP: Attendees are encouraged to register at usps.com/carnivalnights

  Background:
  Celebrate the thrill and nostalgia of carnival nights with this colorful pane of 20 stamps featuring 10 new images that convey the energy and color of a summer carnival after the sun goes down.

  A variety of rides is shown in vibrant neon hues against a black night sky. Fireworks burst from behind a panorama of lights, and a row of glittering amusement booths invite passersby to try their luck.

  The photographs depict:

  Row one (left to right)1. Wave Swinger Ride; photograph by Annette Shaff
  2. Midway Gondola Wheel and a Ring of Fire; photograph by Annette Shaff
  3. Gondola Wheel; photograph by Joe Sohm
  4. Round-Up Ride; photograph by Bob Davidson

  Row two (left to right)5. Gondola Wheels; photograph by Aleff Gripp
  6. Gondola Wheel; photograph by Pamela Hennessey
  7. Carousel; photograph by Sarah Beard Buckley
  8. Gondola Wheel and Wave Swinger; photograph by Anthony Totah

  Row three (left to right)9. Gondola Wheel; photograph by Phil Roeder
  10. Gondola Wheel, Wave Swinger and Midway Food and Game Booths; photograph by Timothy Hughes

  The next 10 stamps repeat in the same order as the first 10.

  Greg Breeding, an art director for USPS, designed the stamps using existing photographs.

  The Carnival Nights stamps will travel this summer
  The Postal Service will brand a North American Midway Entertainment Ferris wheel with a Carnival Nights stamps banner at the fair. The branded wheel and banner will travel to four fairs throughout the summer:

  • Marion County Fair, Indianapolis, June 28 to July 7
  • Northern Wisconsin State Fair, Chippewa Falls, WI, July 10 to July 14
  • Indiana State Fair, Indianapolis, Aug. 2 to Aug. 18
  • Du Quoin State Fair, Du Quoin, IL, Aug. 23 to Sept. 2

  Updated May 2^nd:
  On June 6, 2024, in Biloxi, MS, the United States Postal Service® will issue the Carnival Nights stamps (Forever® priced at the First-Class Mail® rate) in 10 designs, in a pressure-sensitive adhesive (PSA) pane of 20 stamps (Item 485100). These stamps will go on sale nationwide June 6, 2024, and must not be sold or canceled before the first-day-of-issue. The

  Carnival Nights celebrates one of America’s favorite pastimes. Ten new stamps in a pane of 20 feature photographs that convey the energy and color of a summer carnival at night. A panoply of rides, an amusement booth, and fireworks are shown in vibrant neon hues against the black, night sky. Art director Greg Breeding designed the stamps with existing photographs.

  Pane of 20, automatic distribution

  How to Order the First-Day-of-Issue Postmark:
  Customers have 120 days to obtain the first-day-of-issue postmark by mail. They may purchase new stamps at their local Post Office™ or at The Postal Store® website at store.usps.com/store/home. They must affix the stamps to envelopes of their choice, address the envelopes (to themselves or others), and place them in a larger envelope addressed to:

  FDOI – Carnival Nights Stamps
  USPS Stamp Fulfillment Services
  8300 NE Underground Drive, Suite 300
  Kansas City, MO 64144-9900

  After applying the first-day-of-issue postmark, the Postal Service™ will return the envelopes through the mail. There is no charge for the postmark up to a quantity of 50. There is a 5-cent charge for each additional postmark over 50. All orders must be postmarked by October 6, 2024.

  Technical Specifications:

  Issue: Carnival Nights Stamps
  Item Number: 485100
  Denomination & Type of Issue: First-Class Mail Forever
  Format: Pane of 20 (10 designs)
  Series: N/A
  Issue Date & City: June 6, 2024, Biloxi, MS 39530
  Art Director: Greg Breeding, Charlottesville, VA
  Designer: Greg Breeding, Charlottesville, VA
  Existing Photo: Sarah Beard Buckley
  Existing Photo: Bob Davidson
  Existing Photo: Aleff Gripp
  Existing Photo: Pamela Hennessey
  Existing Photo: Timothy Hughes
  Existing Photo: Phil Roeder
  Existing Photo: Joseph Sohm
  Existing Photo: Anthony Totah
  Existing Photos: Annette Shaff
  Modeler: Sandra Lane / Michelle Finn
  Manufacturing Process: Offset
  Printer: Banknote Corporation of America
  Press Type: Alprinta 74
  Stamps per Pane: 20
  Print Quantity: 18,000,000
  Paper Type: Phosphor, Block Tag
  Adhesive Type: Pressure-sensitive
  Colors: Cyan, Magenta, Yellow, Black
  Stamp Orientation: Horizontal
  Image Area (w x h): 1.4200 x 0.8400 in. / 36.0680 x 21.3360 mm
  Overall Size (w x h): 1.5600 x 0.9800 in. / 39.6240 x 24.8920 mm
  Full Pane Size (w x h): 7.2400 x 6.4800 in. / 183.8960 x 164.5920 mm
  Press Sheet Size (w x h): 21.7200 x 20.4400 in. / 551.6880 x 519.1760 mm
  Plate Size: 180 stamps per revolution
  Plate Number: “B” followed by four (4) single digits in bottom two corners
  Marginal Markings:
  Front: Header: CARNIVAL NIGHTS • Plate number in bottom two corners
  Back: © 2023 USPS • USPS logo • Two barcodes (485100) • Plate position diagram (9) • Promotional text

  Here are the first day postmarks for this issue:The Digital Color Postmark measures 2.32″ x 1.39″The Pictorial Postmark measures 2.63″ x 1.20″

  Updated April 17^th:
  These stamps will be available online for pre-ordering on May 6. USPS collectibles have been added to the U.S. 2024 Stamp Program listing for this issue (“USPS Order Numbers”).

  Updated February 23^rd:
  These stamps will be issued June 6 in Biloxi, Mississippi, which this year is celebrating its 325th birthday.

Announced by the USPS on November 3, 2023:

Legendary coach John Wooden (1910-2010) led the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) Bruins to a record-setting 10 Division I men’s basketball national championships. Often considered the greatest coach in the history of American sports, Wooden coached the Bruins to 88 consecutive wins and four perfect (30-0) seasons. The stamp features a portrait of Wooden. In the “UCLA blue” background, a player defends a shot. The numbers on the two players’ jerseys, 4 and 10, evoke the Bruins’ four perfect seasons and the 10 national championships during Wooden’s tenure. Antonio Alcalá, an art director for USPS, designed the stamp using original artwork by Alexis Franklin.

Additional information will be posted below the line, with the most recent info near the top.

Updated April 16^th:
The USPS has added a philatelic product: 484525 Framed Stamp, $29.95.

Updated April 1^st:
The Scott catalogue number for this issue is 5833.

Updated February 22^nd:

[press release] [click on any of the pictures for larger versions]
U.S. Postal Service to Release Stamp Honoring John Wooden

When: Saturday, Feb. 24, at 1 p.m. PST

What: The first-day-of-issue event for the new commemorative Forever stamp celebrating the legacy of legendary basketball coach John Wooden.

Who: The Honorable Derek Kan, member of the USPS Board of Governors, will serve as the dedicating official.

Where: Pauley Pavilion, East Plaza
University of California, Los Angeles
325 Westwood Plaza
Los Angeles, CA 90095

RSVP: Attendees are encouraged to register at usps.com/johnwoodenstamp.

Details: The dedication ceremony will feature special guests, a presentation on the significance of the stamp, and photo opportunities. The event is free and open to the public.

Customers can preorder the John Wooden stamp online at The Postal Storebeginning Jan. 24.

News of the stamp is being shared on social media with the hashtag#JohnWoodenStamp.

About the Stamp
Legendary coach John Wooden (1910-2010) led the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) Bruins to a record-setting 10 Division I men’s basketball national championships. Often considered the greatest coach in the history of American sports, Wooden coached the Bruins to 88 consecutive wins and four perfect (30-0) seasons.

The stamp features a portrait of Wooden. In the “UCLA blue” background, a player defends a shot. The numbers on the two players’ jerseys, 4 and 10, evoke the Bruins’ four perfect seasons and the 10 national championships during Wooden’s tenure.

Antonio Alcalá, an art director for USPS, designed the stamp using original artwork by Alexis Franklin.

The John Wooden stamp will be issued as a Forever stamp in panes of 20, with 18 million scheduled for production.

Forever stamps will always be equal in value to the current First-Class Mail 1-ounce price.

Customers may purchase stamps and other philatelic products online at The Postal Store, by calling 844-737-7826 or at Post Office locations nationwide. For officially licensed stamp products, shop the USPS Officially Licensed Collection on Amazon.

Updated January 28^th:
From the Postal Bulletin
On February 24, 2024, in Los Angeles, CA, the United States Postal Service® will issue the John Wooden stamp (Forever® priced at the First-Class Mail® rate) in one design, in a pressure-sensitive adhesive (PSA) pane of 20 stamps (Item 484500). This stamp will go on sale nationwide February 24, 2024, and must not be sold or canceled before the first-day-of-issue.

This stamp issuance honors John Wooden (1910–2010), the legendary coach who led the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) Bruins to a record-setting 10 Division I men’s basketball national championships. The stamp features a portrait of Wooden looking intently out beyond the viewer. In the deep “UCLA blue” background, a player defends a shot. The numbers on the two players’ jerseys, 4 and 10, evoke the Bruins’ four perfect seasons and the 10 national championships during Wooden’s tenure. Art director Antonio Alcalá designed the stamp using original artwork by Alexis Franklin, based on a photograph by Norm Schindler from the early 1970s.

Automatic distribution.

How to Order the First-Day-of-Issue Postmark:
Customers have 120 days to obtain the first-day-of-issue postmark by mail. They may purchase new stamps at their local Post Office™ or at The Postal Store® website at store.usps.com/store/home. They must affix the stamps to envelopes of their choice, address the envelopes (to themselves or others), and place them in a larger envelope addressed to:

FDOI – John Wooden Stamp
USPS Stamp Fulfillment Services
8300 NE Underground Drive, Suite 300
Kansas City, MO 64144-9900

After applying the first-day-of-issue postmark, the Postal Service will return the envelopes through the mail. There is no charge for the postmark up to a quantity of 50. There is a 5-cent charge for each additional postmark over 50. All orders must be postmarked by June 24, 2024.

Technical Specifications:

Issue: John Wooden Stamp
Item Number: 484500
Denomination & Type of Issue: First-Class Mail Forever
Format: Pane of 20 (1 design)
Series: N/A
Issue Date & City: February 24, 2024, Los Angeles, CA 90052
Art Director: Antonio Alcalá, Alexandria, VA
Designer: Antonio Alcalá, Alexandria, VA
Artist: Alexis Franklin, DeSoto, TX
Modeler: Sandra Lane / Michelle Finn
Manufacturing Process: Offset, Microprint
Printer: Banknote Corporation of America
Press Type: Alprinta 74
Stamps per Pane: 20
Print Quantity: 18,000,000
Paper Type: Phosphor, Block Tag
Adhesive Type: Pressure-sensitive
Colors: Cyan, Magenta, Yellow, Black
Stamp Orientation: Horizontal
Image Area (w x h): 1.4200 x 1.0850 in. / 36.0680 x
27.5590 mm
Overall Size (w x h): 1.5600 x 1.2250 in. / 39.6240 x
31.1150 mm
Full Pane Size (w x h): 7.2400 x 7.1200 in. / 183.8960 x 180.8480 mm
Press Sheets Size (w x h): 21.7200 x 21.3600 in. / 551.6880 x 542.4400 mm
Plate Size: 180 stamps per revolution
Plate Number: “B” followed by four (4) single digits in four corners
Marginal Markings:
Front: Plate number in four corners
Back: © 2023 USPS • USPS logo • Coach John Wooden™ licensed by John Wooden Legacy, LLC, c/o Luminary Group, LLC • Two barcodes (484500) • Plate position diagram (9) • Promotional text

Updated January 25^th:
Here are the first-day postmarks for this issue:The Digital Color Postmark measures 2.48″ x 1.46″The Pictorial Postmark (which I think is really clever) measures 2.52″ x 1.24″

Updated January 11^th:
This stamp will be issued February 24^th in Los Angeles.

[press release] [click on any of the pictures for larger versions]
U.S. Postal Service to Release Stamp Honoring John Wooden

When: Saturday, Feb. 24, at 1 p.m. PST

What: The first-day-of-issue event for the new commemorative Forever stamp celebrating the legacy of legendary basketball coach John Wooden.

Who: The Honorable Derek Kan, member of the USPS Board of Governors, will serve as the dedicating official.

Where: Pauley Pavilion, East Plaza
University of California, Los Angeles
325 Westwood Plaza
Los Angeles, CA 90095

RSVP: Attendees are encouraged to register at usps.com/johnwoodenstamp.

Details: The dedication ceremony will feature special guests, a presentation on the significance of the stamp, and photo opportunities. The event is free and open to the public.

Customers can preorder the John Wooden stamp online at The Postal Store beginning Jan. 24.

News of the stamp is being shared on social media with the hashtag#JohnWoodenStamp.

About the Stamp: Legendary coach John Wooden (1910-2010) led the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) Bruins to a record-setting 10 Division I men’s basketball national championships. Often considered the greatest coach in the history of American sports, Wooden coached the Bruins to 88 consecutive wins and four perfect (30-0) seasons.

The stamp features a portrait of Wooden. In the “UCLA blue” background, a player defends a shot. The numbers on the two players’ jerseys, 4 and 10, evoke the Bruins’ four perfect seasons and the 10 national championships during Wooden’s tenure.

Antonio Alcalá, an art director for USPS, designed the stamp using original artwork by Alexis Franklin.

The John Wooden stamp will be issued as a Forever stamp in panes of 20, with 18 million scheduled for production.

Forever stamps will always be equal in value to the current First-Class Mail 1-ounce price.

Customers may purchase stamps and other philatelic products online at The Postal Store, by calling 844-737-7826 or at Post Office locations nationwide. For officially licensed stamp products, shop the USPS Officially Licensed Collection on Amazon.