Announced by the USPS on November 3, 2023:

This stamp release marks the 50th anniversary of Dungeons & Dragons, described by its owners as the World’s Greatest Role-playing Game, that has become a cultural phenomenon. By inviting participants to imagine themselves as wizards, warriors and other adventurers in exciting and treacherous fantasy worlds, Dungeons & Dragons opened doors to whole new universes of creativity for generations of players. The pane of 20 stamps features 10 different designs that highlight characters, creatures and encounters familiar to players of the game. Greg Breeding, an art director for USPS, designed the stamps and pane with existing illustrations.

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

Updated September 6^th:
The Scott catalogue numbers for this issue

• 5909 Bronze Dragon with Necklace and Blue Plesiosaur
• 5910 Five-headed Tiamat
• 5911 Character in Maze
• 5912 Character in Blue Robe Casting Spell
• 5913 Archlich Acererak Raising Army of the Dead
• 5914 Drizzt Do’Urden Holding Sword
• 5915 Warrior Fighting Red Dragon
• 5916 Character Holding Container of Toxic Green Dragon’s Blood Above Her Head
• 5917 Death Knight Riding Nightmare Leading Army of the Undead
• 5918 Purple Worm
• b. Block of 10, #5909-5918
• c. Imperforate block of 10, #5909a-5918a

Updated June 28^th:
On August 1, 2024, in Indianapolis, IN, the United States Postal Service® will issue the Dungeons & Dragons stamps (Forever® priced at the First-Class Mail® rate), in 10 designs, in a pressure-sensitive adhesive (PSA) pane of 20 stamps (Item 485400). These stamps will go on sale nationwide August 1, 2024, and must not be sold or canceled before the first-day-of-issue. The Dungeons & Dragons commemorative pane of 20 stamps must not be split and the stamps must not be sold individually.

These stamps mark the 50th anniversary of DUNGEONS & DRAGONS®, the iconic fantasy roleplaying game that has become a cultural phenomenon. This pane of 20 stamps features 10 different designs that highlight characters, creatures, and encounters familiar to players of the game. The selvage depicts a party of adventurers fighting a dragon, a gold 20-sided die, and a detail of a typical Dungeons & Dragons map.

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 – Dungeons & Dragons 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 December 1, 2024.

Technical Specifications:

Issue: Dungeons & Dragons Stamps
Item Number: 485400
Denomination & Type of Issue: First-Class Mail Forever
Format: Pane of 20 (10 designs)
Series: N/A
Issue Date & City: August 1, 2024, Indianapolis, IN 46206
Art Director: Greg Breeding, Charlottesville, VA
Designer: Greg Breeding, Charlottesville, VA
Existing Art: Wizards of the Coast
Modeler: Sandra Lane / Michelle Finn
Manufacturing Process: Offset
Printer: Banknote Corporation of America
Press Type: Alprinta 74
Stamps per Pane: 20
Print Quantity: 45,000,000
Paper Type: Phosphor, Block Tag
Adhesive Type: Pressure-sensitive
Colors: Cyan, Magenta, Yellow, Black
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): 9.9000 x 7.3800 in. / 251.4600 x
187.4520 mm
Press Sheets Size (w x h): 20.0500 x 22.5150 in. / 509.2700 x 571.8810 mm
Plate Size: 120 stamps per revolution
Plate Number: “B” followed by four (4) single digits in bottom two corners
Marginal Markings:
Front: Header: DUNGEONS & DRAGONS • Plate number in bottom two corners
Back: DUNGEONS & DRAGONS® is a trademark of Wizards of the Coast, LLC • © 2023 USPS • USPS Logo • Two barcodes (485400) • Plate position diagram (6) • Promotional text

Here are the first-day postmarks for this issue:
The Digital Color Postmark for this issue measures 2.60″ x 0.98 The Pictorial Postmark measures 2.71″ x 1.25″

Updated June 5^th:

[press release] [click on any of the pictures for larger versions]
Unleash Your Imagination: DUNGEONS & DRAGONS Stamps To Be Released at Gen Con Indy 2024

What: The U.S. Postal Service will commemorate the 50th anniversary of DUNGEONS & DRAGONS, referred to as The World’s Greatest Role-Playing Game and a cultural phenomenon, at the Gen Con Indy 2024 gaming convention.

The Postal Service will unveil the stamps and have activities and retail sales in two locations.

• Lucas Oil Stadium, as a part of the Gen Con Indy convention, near the Wizards of the Coast. Retail sales and cancelations of the stamps will be available for the four days of the convention on the west concourse. Entry into Gen Con requires the purchase of a pass, which can be found at the Gen Con website.
• Indianapolis Main Post Office located at 125 W. South St., Indianapolis 46206, across the street from Lucas Oil Stadium. The Post Office will hold retail sales and cancelations on Aug. 1 for collectors and others who do not wish to purchase passes to Gen Con Indy.

Greg Breeding, the art director for the stamps, will be available for autographs at 10 a.m. EDT Thursday, following the unveiling of the stamps at Lucas Oil Stadium.

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

When: Thursday, Aug. 1, 2024, at 10 a.m. EDT

Background: DUNGEONS & DRAGONS, celebrating its 50th anniversary in 2024, brought a bold new type of game to tabletops all over the world, one in which players collaborate by telling an open-ended story guided by books, dice and their own imaginations. By inviting participants to imagine themselves as wizards, warriors and other adventurers in exciting and treacherous fantasy worlds, the game opened doors to whole new universes of creativity for generations of players.

From its Midwestern roots as a niche pastime, DUNGEONS & DRAGONS has grown into a global phenomenon, with an estimated 64 million fans worldwide since its debut in 1974.

Greg Breeding, an art director for USPS, served as both art director and designer for the stamps.

DUNGEONS & DRAGONS are being issued as Forever stamps and will always be equal in value to the current First-Class Mail one-ounce rate.

Updated May 20^th:
These stamps will be issued August 1 in Indianapolis, Indiana. As predicted here on December 18, 2023, by VSC member Misha Eletsky, this is the first day of GenCon.

Updated December 3, 2023:
Additional details about the stamps from Jim McKean of the USPS, via David Dresdner of Colorano and Foster Miller of Everywhere. Click on the thumbnails for larger versions:

A bronze dragon wearing a necklace glances down at a blue plesiosaur in an illustration that appeared in the 2023 book The Practically Complete Guide to Dragons.

The five-headed Tiamat, queen of evil dragons, appears in an illustration that appeared in the 2021 book Fizban’s Treasury of Dragons. Tiamat has been featured in D&D materials since the 1970s and was first encountered by name in the 1977 Monster Manual.

A lone figure lost in a maze, perhaps the victim of a ten-minute “maze” spell, appears in an illustration that appeared in the 2020 book Wizards and Spells: A Young Adventurer’s Guide.

A blue-robed figure casts a “magic missile” spell in artwork that appeared in the 2014 edition of the Player’s Handbook.

The archlich Acererak raises an army of the dead in an illustration that appeared on the cover of the 2014 edition of the Dungeon Master’s Guide. Acererak has appeared in D&D materials since 1978, when he debuted in the classic adventure Tomb of Horrors.

Drizzt Do’Urden, the heroic drow ranger featured in dozens of novels and numerous D&D gaming materials since 1988, stands against a wintry backdrop. Drizzt is known for breaking from an evil cult in the Underdark in favor of heroism and friendship on the surface.

A warrior with his back to the viewer fights a massive red dragon in a detail from an illustration that appeared on the box cover of the popular 1983 D&D Basic Set, often known simply as the “red box.” This illustration has since become one of the most recognizable pieces of art in the history of the game.

A character holds a pan of toxic green dragon’s blood over her head, preparing to bathe in it in the hope of gaining magical powers, in an illustration that appeared in the 2021 book Fizban’s Treasury of Dragons.

A death knight rides a nightmare, backed by an army of the undead and a sinister, flame-shrouded castle, in an illustration that appeared in the 2020 book Beasts and Behemoths: A Young Adventurer’s Guide.

A purple worm, a fearsome creature that burrows through the earth and leaves massive tunnels in its wake, rises from the ground and coils, its teeth on display, in an illustration that appeared in the 2014 edition of the Monster Manual.

On the left side of the pane, the selvage features a detail of an illustration showing a party of adventurers encountering a massive green dragon amid a gold-strewn ruin. The illustration previously appeared on the box cover of the D&D Starter Set.

Below the illustration is a photograph of a gold 20-sided die above the Dungeons & Dragons logo with its distinctive ampersand formed from a fire-breathing dragon. Below the logo is a detail of a hand-drawn map of a typical “dungeon,” a network of caverns where D&D players might encounter monsters, traps, and treasure.

Here’s a quick list of the issues announced so far (as of November 30, 2023):

• • • Lunar New Year — Year of the Dragon
    • Love
    • U.S. Flags
    • Constance Baker Motley
    • $1 Floral Geometry
    • Pillars of Creation (Priority Mail)
    • Cosmic Cliffs (Priority Mail Express)
    • Low Denomination Flowers (1, 2, 3, 5 and 10 cents)
    • Save Manatees
    • Underground Railroad
    • Radiant Star
    • Wedding Blooms
    • Celebration Blooms
    • Garden Delights
    • Saul Bellow
    • Pinback Buttons
    • Protect Sea Turtles
    • Shaker Design
    • Horses
    • Bluegrass
    • First Continental Congress, 1774
    • Autumn Colors
    • Christmas Madonna and Child
    • Kwanzaa
    • Hanukkah
    • Winter Whimsy
    • Dungeons & Dragons
    • John Wooden
    • Carnival Nights
    • Ansel Adams

Announced October 23, 2023:

Four new stamps in a booklet of 20 celebrate the winter season with lacy, symmetrical graphic forms inspired by snowflakes. Each stamp in the block of four includes a unique design in white against a background of a single color: navy blue, teal, tan or dark blue-green. Greg Breeding was the art director for the project. Bailey Sullivan designed and illustrated the stamps.

Further information will be posted below the line, with the newest information at the top.

Updated September 5^th:
Here are the first-day postmarks for this issue: The Digital Color Postmark for this issues measures 2.83″ x 1.25″ There is no Pictorial Postmark for this issue, just the FDOI “Killer Bar.”

From the Postal Bulletin:
On October 10, 2024, in Park City, UT, the United States Postal Service® will issue the Winter Whimsy 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 685200). These stamps will go on sale October 10, 2024, and must not be sold or canceled before the first-day-of-issue.

The four new stamps in a booklet of 20 celebrate the winter season with lacy, symmetrical graphic forms inspired by snowflakes. Each stamp in the block of four includes a unique design in white against a background of a single rich color—either navy, teal, tan, or dark blue-green. Greg Breeding was art director for the stamps. Bailey Sullivan designed and illustrated the stamps.

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 – Winter Whimsy 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 February 10, 2025.

Technical Specifications:

Issue: Winter Whimsy Stamps
Item Number: 685200
Denomination & Type of Issue: First-Class Mail Forever
Format: Double-Sided Booklet of 20 (4 designs)
Series: N/A
Issue Date & City: October 10, 2024, Park City, UT 84060
Art Director: Greg Breeding, Charlottesville, VA
Designer: Bailey Sullivan, Brooklyn, NY
Illustrator: Bailey Sullivan, Brooklyn, NY
Modeler: Joseph Sheeran
Manufacturing Process: Offset
Printer: Ashton Potter
Press Type: Muller A76
Stamps per Booklet: 20
Print Quantity: 220,000,000
Paper Type: Nonphosphored Type III, Block Tag Applied
Adhesive Type: Pressure-sensitive
Colors: PMS 2379C, PMS 3302C, PMS 2456C, PMS 7535C
Stamp Orientation: Vertical
Image Area (w x h): 0.7700 x 1.0500 in / 19.5580 x 26.6700 mm
Stamp Size (w x h): 0.9100 x 1.1900 in / 23.1140 x 30.2260 mm
Booklet Size (w x h): 5.7600 x 2.3800 in / 146.3040 x 60.4520 mm
Plate Size: 880 stamps per revolution
Plate Numbers: “P” followed by four (4) single digits
Marginal Markings: Header: “Winter Whimsy” 20 First-Class Forever Stamps • © 2023 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 October 10 in Park City, Utah. There will not be a “headquarters” first-day ceremony.

Announced October 23, 2023:

The Postal Service will issue its 10th stamp celebrating Kwanzaa in 2024. Observed from Dec. 26 to Jan. 1, the annual pan-African holiday brings together family, community and culture. The artwork for this colorful stamp is a digital collage depicting three figures: a male drummer and two female dancers. The art was inspired by a live performance witnessed by the artist, Ekua Holmes, during a Kwanzaa event. Ethel Kessler, an art director for USPS, designed the stamp.

Further information will be posted below the line, with the newest information at the top.

Updated November 5^th:
The Scott catalogue number for this issue is 5946.

Updated August 26^th:
[press release] [click on any of the pictures for larger versions]
Postal Service Issues Vibrant New Stamp to Honor Kwanzaa

What: The U.S. Postal Service continues its longstanding tradition of celebrating Kwanzaa, the annual Pan-African holiday that has united countless African American families and communities since its inception in 1966.
The first-day-of-issue event for the Kwanzaa stamp is free and open to the public. News of the stamp is being shared with the hashtag #KwanzaaStamp.

Who: Roderick Sallay, USPS director of legislative policy and strategic development

When: Wednesday, Sept. 25, at 12:30 p.m. EDT

Where:
Sen. John Heinz History Center
1212 Smallman Street
Pittsburgh, PA 15222

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

Background: Kwanzaa, observed from Dec. 26 to Jan. 1, celebrates family, community and culture. Rooted in ancient and modern first-harvest festivals, Kwanzaa incorporates traditions from across the African continent to foster unity and pride.

Centered around the holiday’s seven founding principles — unity (umoja), self-determination (kujichagulia), collective work and responsibility (ujima), cooperative economics (ujamaa), purpose (nia), creativity (kuumba), and faith (imani), the holiday emphasizes the rich heritage and aspirations of the African American community.

It is a festive time for rejoicing in the prospect of health, prosperity and good luck in the coming year. It is also a time for contemplation and recollection of past hardships, faced by both individuals and communities, and the ways in which history can inform and affect future happiness.

Ethel Kessler, an art director for USPS, designed the stamp with original artwork by Ehua Holmes.

The Kwanzaa stamp is being issued as a Forever stamp in panes of 20. This stamp will always be equal in value to the current First-Class Mail 1-ounce price.

Updated August 22^nd:
Here are the first-day postmarks for this issue:The DCP measures 2.76″ x 1.32″ The Pictorial Postmark measures 2.49″ x 1.22″

On September 25, 2024, in Pittsburgh, PA, the United States Postal Service® will issue the Kwanzaa stamp (Forever® priced at the First-Class Mail® rate), in one design, in a pressure-sensitive adhesive (PSA) pane of 20 stamps (Item 581600). This stamp will go on sale nationwide September 25, 2024, and must not be sold or canceled before the first-day-of-issue.

In 2024, the Postal Service™ issues its tenth stamp in celebration of Kwanzaa, the Pan-African holiday that brings family, community, and culture together for many African Americans over 7 days, from December 26 to January 1, each year. The stylized stamp design was inspired by a live performance during a Kwanzaa event as witnessed by the artist. Rendered as a digital collage, the artwork depicts three young performers: a male drummer and, behind and to either side of him, two female dancers. Art director Ethel Kessler designed the stamp with original artwork by Ekua Holmes.

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 – Kwanzaa 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 January 25, 2025.

Technical Specifications:

Issue: Kwanzaa Stamp
Item Number: 581600
Denomination & Type of Issue: First-Class Mail Forever
Format: Pane of 20 (1 design)
Series: N/A
Issue Date & City: September 25, 2024, Pittsburgh, PA 15290
Art Director: Ethel Kessler, Bethesda, MD
Designer: Ethel Kessler, Bethesda, MD
Artist: Ekua Holmes, Boston, MA
Modeler: Joseph Sheeran
Manufacturing Process: Offset, Microprint
Printer: Ashton Potter
Press Type: Muller A76
Stamps per Pane: 20
Print Quantity: 12,000,000
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): 0.8180 x 1.0500 in. / 20.7770 x 26.6700 mm
Overall Size (w x h): 0.9100 x 1.1900 in. / 23.1140 x 30.2260 mm
Full Pane Size (w x h): 5.5500 x 5.7600 in. / 140.9700 x 146.3040 mm
Plate Size: 320 stamps per revolution
Plate Number: “P” followed by four (4) single digits in four corners
Marginal Markings:
Front: Plate number in four corners
Back: © 2023 USPS • USPS Logo • Two barcodes (581600) • Plate position diagram (8) • Promotional text

Updated May 20^th:
This stamp will be issued September 25 in Pittsburgh, Pa.

Announced October 23, 2023:

A new stamp celebrating the joyous Jewish holiday of Hanukkah will be issued in 2024. The art is a graphic depiction of a hanukiah, the nine-branch candelabra used only at Hanukkah, with all candles lighted, signifying the last evening of the holiday. The artwork is created mostly in blue and white, common Hanukkah colors. Antonio Alcalá, an art director for USPS, designed and illustrated the stamp art.

Further information will be posted below the line, with the newest information at the top.

Updated November 5^th:
The Scott catalogue number for this issue is 5945

Updated September 20^th:
The Postal Bulletin notes that there are no press sheets for this issue. That item has been removed from the Technical Specifications here.

Updated August 9^th:
Here are the first-day postmarks for this issue:The Digital Color Postmark measures 2.69″ x 1.15″ The Pictorial Postmark measures 2.60″ x 1.19″

From the Postal Bulletin:

On September 19, 2024, in Washington, DC, the United States Postal Service® will issue the Hanukkah 2024 stamp (Forever® priced at the First-Class Mail® rate), in one design, in a pressure-sensitive adhesive (PSA) pane of 20 stamps (Item 581500). This stamp will go on sale nationwide September 19, 2024, and must not be sold or canceled before the first-day-of-issue.

This new stamp celebrates the joyous Jewish holiday of Hanukkah. The stamp art features a simple ink drawing of a hanukiah (or menorah), the nine-branch candelabra used only at Hanukkah. The illustrator digitally added the traditional Hanukkah colors of blue to the stamp background and white to the hanukiah. The flames are rendered in yellow. Art director Antonio Alcalá designed and illustrated the stamp art.

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 – Hanukkah 2024 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 January 19, 2025.

Technical Specifications:

Issue: Hanukkah 2024 Stamp
Item Number: 581500
Denomination & Type of Issue: First-Class Mail Forever
Format: Pane of 20 (1 design)
Series: N/A
Issue Date & City: September 19, 2024, Washington, DC 20066
Art Director: Antonio Alcalá, Alexandria, VA
Designer: Antonio Alcalá, Alexandria, VA
Illustrator: Antonio Alcalá, Alexandria, VA
Modeler: Sandra Lane / Michelle Finn
Manufacturing Process: Offset, Microprint
Printer: Banknote Corporation of America
Press Type: Alprinta 74
Stamps per Pane: 20
Print Quantity: 10,000,000
Paper Type: Phosphor, Block Tag
Adhesive Type: Pressure-sensitive
Colors: PMS 2394C, PMS 115C, 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
Full Pane Size (w x h): 5.5500 x 5.7600 in. / 140.9700 x 146.3040 mm
Plate Size: 320 stamps per revolution
Plate Number: “B” followed by three (3) single digits in four corners
Marginal Markings:
Front: Plate number in four corners
Back: © 2023 USPS • USPS Logo • Two barcodes (581500) • Plate position diagram (8) • Promotional text

Updated May 20^th:
This stamp will be issued September 19 in Washington, DC. Hanukkah begins on the 25th of Kislev — which this year is the evening of December 25th, Christmas Day.

Announced October 23, 2023:

A new traditional Christmas stamp will be issued in 2024 featuring the Madonna and Child from the Workshop of Sassoferrato. Giovanni Battista Salvi da Sassoferrato (1609-1685), gained popularity for his modestly scaled depictions of the Madonna and Child. It is not known whether he painted this work or if it was painted by another artist in his workshop. The painting is in the collection of the Indianapolis Museum of Art at Newfields. William Gicker was the art director for the project. Greg Breeding designed the stamp, which will be sold in booklets of 20.

Further information will be posted below the line, with the newest information at the top.

Updated November 5^th:
The Scott catalogue numbers for this issue are 5940 and 5940a for the Convertible booklet pane of 20

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 1.19″ The Pictorial Postmark measures 2.72″ x 1.21″

From the Postal Bulletin:

On September 14, 2024, in Washington, DC, the United States Postal Service® will issue the Christmas Madonna and Child stamp (Forever® priced at the First-Class Mail® rate), in one design, in a pressure-sensitive adhesive (PSA) double-sided booklet of 20 stamps (Item 685100). This stamp will go on sale nationwide September 14, 2024, and must not be sold or canceled before the first-day-of-issue.

This Christmas stamp features the serene Madonna and Child from the workshop of the 17th century Italian artist Giovanni Battista Salvi, called “Sassoferrato” (1609–1685). He and his workshop produced many versions of this painting; this one is from the collection of the Indianapolis Museum of Art at Newfields. William Gicker was the art director for the project. Greg Breeding designed the stamp, which will be sold in booklets 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 – Christmas Madonna and Child 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 January 14, 2025.

Technical Specifications:

Issue: Christmas Madonna and Child Stamp
Item Number: 685100
Denomination & Type of Issue: First-Class Mail Forever
Format: Double-Sided Booklet of 20 (1 design)
Series: N/A
Issue Date & City: September 14, 2024, Washington, DC 20066
Art Director: William Gicker, Washington, DC
Designer: Greg Breeding, Charlottesville, VA
Existing Art: Workshop of Sassoferrato
Modeler: Sandra Lane / Michelle Finn
Manufacturing Process: Offset, Microprint
Printer: Banknote Corporation of America
Press Type: Alprinta 74
Stamps per Booklet: 20
Print Quantity: 210,000,000 stamps
Paper Type: Phosphor, Block Tag
Adhesive Type: Pressure-sensitive
Colors: Cyan, Magenta, Yellow, Black, PMS 871C
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 x 60.3250 mm
Plate Size: 800 stamps per revolution
Plate Number: “B” followed by five (5) single digits
Marginal Markings: Header: CHRISTMAS Madonna and Child Twenty First-Class Forever Stamps • © 2023 USPS in peel strip area • Barcode • USPS Logo • Artwork courtesy of the Indianapolis Museum of Art at Newfields • Promotional Text • Plate number in peel strip area

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

Announced October 23, 2023:

The radiant beauty of fall will be celebrated with 10 new stamps in a pane of 20, featuring a portfolio of brilliant photographs taken in a variety of locations around the United States. Ethel Kessler, an art director for USPS, designed the stamps with existing photographs by renowned nature and garden photographer Allen Rokach (1941–2021).

Further information will be posted below the line, with the newest information at the top.

Updated September 6^th:
The Scott catalogue numbers for this issue

• 5929 Trees, Purple Shadow at Lower Right
• 5930 Trees Covering Wagon Path
• 5931 Trees and Grassy Path
• 5932 Canopies of Trees with Green, Yellow, Orange and Red Leaves
• 5933 Tree with Orange Brown Leaves and Trunk at Lower Right
• 5934 Grove of Trees with Purple shadowed Trunks Right
• 5935 Trees with Blue and Purple Shadows
• 5936 Tree with Red Orange Leaves, Tree with Green Leaves at Upper Right
• 5937 Tree with Brown and Green Leaves
• 5938 Tree With Orange Leaves, Blue Sky in Background
• b. Block of 10, #5929-5938
• c. Imperforate block of 10, #5929a-5938a

Updated July 11^th: Jump to Details • Postmarks • Ceremony
On August 16, 2024, in Hartford, CT, the United States Postal Service® will issue the Autumn Colors stamps (Forever® priced at the First-Class Mail® rate), in 10 designs, in a pressure-sensitive adhesive (PSA) pane of 20 stamps (Item 485600). These stamps will go on sale nationwide August 16, 2024, and must not be sold or canceled before the first-day-of-issue. The Autumn Colors commemorative pane of 20 stamps must not be split and the stamps must not be sold individually.

Autumn Colors celebrates the radiant beauty of fall with 10 new stamps in a pane of 20, featuring images from a variety of locations around the U.S. taken by renowned nature and garden photographer Allen Rokach (1941–2021). Rokach often used what he called the “Rokach effect,” a technique that gives photos an impressionistic cast. Art director Ethel Kessler designed the stamps.

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 – Autumn Colors 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 December 16, 2024.

Technical Specifications:

Issue: Autumn Colors Stamps
Item Number: 485600
Denomination & Type of Issue: First-Class Mail Forever
Format: Pane of 20 (10 designs)
Series: N/A
Issue Date & City: August 16, 2024, Hartford, CT 06101
Art Director: Ethel Kessler, Bethesda, MD
Designer: Ethel Kessler, Bethesda, MD
Existing Photos: Allen Rokach
Modeler: Joseph Sheeran
Manufacturing Process: Offset, Flexographic
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, PMS Cool Gray 7C
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): 7.5000 x 7.7300 in. / 190.5000 x 196.3420 mm
Press Sheets Size (w x h): 22.5000 x 23.1900 in. / 571.5000 x 589.0260 mm
Plate Size: 180 stamps per revolution
Plate Number: “P” followed by five (5) single digits in the bottom corners
Marginal Markings:
Front: Header: AUTUMN COLORS
Plate number in bottom corners
Back: © 2023 USPS • USPS Logo • Two barcodes (485600) • Plate position diagram (9) • Promotional text

Here are the first-day postmarks for this issue:The Digital Color Postmark measures 2.66″ x 1.45″ The Pictorial Postmark measures 2.65″ x 1.13″ Also available on the first-day: This Americover pictorial, which measures 2.95″ x 1.56″

[press release] [click on any of the pictures for larger versions]
Autumn Colors Stamps to Be Issued at Great American Stamp Show

What: The U.S. Postal Service celebrates the radiant beauty of fall with Autumn Colors, new Forever stamps to be issued in conjunction with the Great American Stamp Show in Hartford, CT.

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

Who: Heather Dyer, USPS vice president, chief information security officer

When: Friday, Aug. 16, at 11 a.m. EDT

Where: :
The Great American Stamp Show
Connecticut Convention Center
Hall AB
100 Columbus Blvd.
Hartford, CT 06103

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

Background: In many parts of the United States, autumn rivals spring as the most resplendent time of year, thanks to the rich palette of reds, yellows and oranges that bursts onto the landscape every fall. The Postal Service celebrates this radiant annual display with its Autumn Colors stamps.

As days shorten and summer’s warmth begins to fade, the trees around us prepare for the biochemical changes that will soon transform their bright green foliage into the golden ochres, flaming vermilions and burnt oranges so characteristic of autumn.

During spring and summer, leaves appear green due to the continuous creation of chlorophyll, a result of photosynthesis. As the light diminishes and nights become crisper, photosynthesis begins to slow and finally stops altogether. Leaves lose their green color and reveal carotenoids, yellow and orange pigments that were present all year but masked by the abundant chlorophyll. Sunny, warm days and cool nights also trigger the production of anthocyanins, the vibrant red and purple pigments observed in trees such as the black gum, red maple and sumac.

The pane of 20 stamps shows a portfolio of 10 brilliant photographs taken by renowned nature and garden photographer Allen Rokach (1941–2021). Rokach often used what he called the “Rokach effect,” a technique that gives photos an impressionistic cast. In addition to the classic autumn colors of orange, red and yellow, the photographs show flashes of vermilion, ocher, violet and cobalt in different landscapes.

There are many places across the United States to experience autumn leaves in all their glory. New England, where weather conditions provide the optimal environment for the range of intense colors, attracts millions of “leaf-peepers” each fall, and the Blue Ridge Parkway and Maryland’s Eastern Shore follow the patterns of their leaf cousins in the northeast.

Other places with spectacular fall color include Aspen, CO, named for the golden aspens that surround this Rocky Mountain town; Taos, NM, and surrounding desert; the Great Smoky Mountains; and the Columbia River Gorge in Oregon.

Ethel Kessler, an art director for USPS, designed the stamps with existing photographs by Allen Rokach.

Autumn Colors stamps are being issued in panes of 20. Because they are Forever stamps, they will always be equal in value to the current First-Class Mail one-ounce price.

Updated December 19^th:
These stamps will be issued Friday, August 16, at Great American Stamp Show in Hartford, Conn.

Announced October 23, 2023:

In 2024, the Postal Service commemorates the 250th anniversary of the First Continental Congress. Made up of delegates from 12 of the 13 Colonies, the First Continental Congress convened in 1774 to decide how the Colonies should respond to increasing threats to their freedom. In addition to denouncing taxation without representation, the Congress called for a general boycott of British goods. It also issued a declaration of rights that included life, liberty, property and trial by jury, and laid the foundation for government during the American Revolution. The stamp art features a quote from the Congress’s protest letter to the King of England. The 12 stars stand for the 12 Colonies represented at the meeting. (Georgia did not agree with the protest and did not send representatives.) Antonio Alcalá served as art director, designer and typographer for this stamp.

Further information will be posted below the line, with the newest information at the top.

Updated October 7^th:
The Scott catalogue number for this issue is 5939.

Updated August 7^th:
[press release] [click on any of the pictures for larger versions]
Peace, Liberty and Postage Stamps

What: Sept. 5, 1774, marked a turning point in the lead-up to the American Revolution as the First Continental Congress convened at Carpenters’ Hall in Philadelphia. In honor of the 250th anniversary of the compact, the U.S. Postal Service will release First Continental Congress, 1774, a Forever stamp commemorating the gathering and its place in our nation’s history.

The first-day-of-issue event for the First Continental Congress, 1774, stamp is free and open to the public. News of the stamp is being shared with the hashtag #FirstContinentalCongressStamp.

Who: The Honorable Roman Martinez IV, chairman, U.S. Postal Service Board of Governors

Michael Norris, executive director, Carpenters’ Hall

When: Thursday, Sept. 5, at 11 a.m. ET

Where: Carpenters’ Hall
320 Chestnut St.
Philadelphia, PA 19106

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

Background: The formation of the First Continental Congress was one of the first indications that a new government — and ultimately, a new nation — was emerging.
Participation in the compact by the Colonies laid the groundwork for what would become democracy as we know it.

The new Forever stamp will honor the 56 delegates from 12 Colonies who joined together to advocate for equality, eventually earning our nation’s independence.

The stamp art, evocative of the U.S. flag, is dominated by a vertical blue band bordered on either side by white stripes. Text at the top of the band reads: “12 COLONIES UNITE IN PROTEST.” The center features the congress’s plea to King George III: “We ask but for Peace, Liberty and Safety.” The title of the stamp — “FIRST CONTINENTAL CONGRESS, 1774” — appears at the bottom. A red stripe with 12 white stars representing the number of Colonies that participated in the Congress delineates the left side.

Antonio Alcalá served as art director, designer and typographer for this stamp.

The First Continental Congress, 1774, 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.

Updated July 25^th:
On September 5, 2024, in Philadelphia, PA, the United States Postal Service® (USPS®) will issue the First Continental Congress, 1774 stamp (Forever® priced at the First-Class Mail® rate), in one design, in a pressure-sensitive adhesive (PSA) pane of 20 stamps (Item 485700). This stamp will go on sale nationwide September 5, 2024, and must not be sold or canceled before the first-day-of-issue.

With this stamp, USPS commemorates the 250th anniversary of the First Continental Congress, which convened in Philadelphia in 1774 to decide how the Colonies should respond to increasing threats to their freedom. The stamp art, evocative of the U.S. flag, is dominated by a vertical blue band bordered on either side by white stripes. The text at the top of the band reads, “12 COLONIES UNITE IN PROTEST.” The center features a plea taken from a petition sent by the Congress to King George III: “We ask but for Peace, Liberty and Safety.” The title of the stamp — “FIRST CONTINENTAL CONGRESS, 1774” — appears at the bottom. A red stripe with 12 white stars representing the number of Colonies that participated in the Congress delineates the left side. Antonio Alcalá served as art director, designer, and typographer for this stamp.

Automatic distribution.

How to Order the First-Day-of-Issue Postmark:
Customers have 120 days to get 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 – First Continental Congress, 1774 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 January 5, 2025.

Technical Specifications:

Issue: First Continental Congress, 1774 Stamp
Item Number: 485700
Denomination & Type of Issue: First-Class Mail Forever
Format: Pane of 20 (1 design)
Series: N/A
Issue Date & City: September 5, 2024, Philadelphia, PA 19104
Art Director: Antonio Alcalá, Alexandria, VA
Designer: Antonio Alcalá, Alexandria, VA
Typographer: Antonio Alcalá, Alexandria, VA
Modeler: Joseph Sheeran
Manufacturing Process: Offset, Microprint
Printer: Ashton Potter
Press Type: Muller A76
Stamps per Pane: 20
Print Quantity: 18,000,000
Paper Type: Nonphosphored Type III, Block Tag Applied
Adhesive Type: Pressure-sensitive
Colors: PMS Dark Blue C, PMS 199 C Red, PMS 7681 C Light Blue, Black
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): 6.4800 x 7.2600 in. / 164.5920 x 184.4040 mm
Press Sheets Size (w x h): 12.9600 x 21.7800 in. / 329.1840 x 553.2120 mm
Plate Size: 240 stamps per revolution
Plate Number: “P” followed by four (4) single digits in four corners
Marginal Markings:
Front: Plate number in four corners
Back: © 2023 USPS • USPS Logo • Two barcodes (485700) • Plate position diagram (6) • Promotional text

Here are the first-day postmarks for this issue:The Digital Color Postmark measures 2.99″ x 1.40″ The Pictorial Postmark measures 2.72″ x 1.23″

Updated May 20^th:
This stamp will be issued September 5 in Philadelphia, Pa.

Announced October 23, 2023:

Bluegrass music combines elements of country music, sacred songs, string band music, the blues and traditions of Scotland and Ireland into a style that is uniquely American. The stamp art showcases a graphic design that includes four of the string instruments typically used by bluegrass bands: guitar, fiddle, five-string banjo and mandolin. Antonio Alcalá, an art director for USPS, designed the stamp with original art by Heather Moulder.

Further information will be posted below the line, with the newest information at the top.

Updated May 7^th:
The Scott catalogue number for this issue is 5844.

Updated April 16^th:
The USPS has added a philatelic product for this issue: 484760 Matted Stamp, $9.95.

Updated February 8^th:
Here are the first-day postmarks for this issue:The Digital Color Postmark measures 2.40″ x 1.24″The Pictorial Postmark measures 1.87″ x 1.24″

[press release] [click on any of the pictures for larger versions]
Postal Service to Pay Tribute to Bluegrass Music

What: The U.S. Postal Service will commemorate the rich history of bluegrass music in the United States. The stamp dedication ceremony will occur before Bluegrass Music Hall of Fame inductee Ricky Skaggs’ concert.

News of the stamp is being shared with the hashtag #BluegrassStamp.-

Who: The Honorable Robert M. Duncan, Member, Postal Service Board of Governors-

When: Friday, March 15, 2024, at 6:00 p.m. Central time zone-

Where: Bluegrass Music Hall of Fame & Museum
311 W 2nd St
Owensboro, KY 42301

RSVP: Those interested in attending, should RSVP at usps.com/bluegrassstamp.

Background: Bluegrass is a singularly American music style, bluegrass blends old-time folk and fiddle music with elements of the blues, jazz, country and gospel. Born in the mid-20th century, bluegrass defies time, drawing inspiration from the past while also openly embracing innovation.

The signature sound of bluegrass relies on a mix of acoustic string instruments. The five-string banjo dominates and, along with guitar, mandolin, and bass, sets the rhythmic foundation of this often fast-paced music. Fiddle, mandolin, banjo, and guitar evoke a range of melodic flavors and emotions in their solos and backup.

From the Postal Bulletin:
On March 15, 2024, in Owensboro, KY, the United States Postal Service® will issue the Bluegrass stamp (Forever® priced at the First-Class Mail® rate) in one design, in a pressure-sensitive adhesive (PSA) pane of 20 stamps (Item 484700). This stamp will go on sale nationwide March 15, 2024, and must not be sold or canceled before the first-day-of-issue.

With this stamp, USPS® celebrates the rich history of bluegrass. Inspired by vintage bluegrass concert posters, the stamp art features four acoustic string instruments typical of bluegrass bands — guitar, five-string banjo, fiddle, and mandolin — below the word “Bluegrass.” Text at the top of the stamp reads “High Lonesome Sound,” the title of a 1963 documentary about Appalachian folk music and a familiar nickname for bluegrass. Art director Antonio Alcalá worked with designer and illustrator Heather Moulder to produce the stamp art.

Availability to Post Offices: Item 484700, Bluegrass (Forever Priced at the First-Class Mail Rate) Pane of 20 Stamps: 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 – Bluegrass 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 July 15, 2024.

Technical Specifications:

Issue:-Bluegrass Stamp
Item Number:-484700
Denomination & Type of Issue:-First-Class Mail Forever
Format:-Pane of 20 (1 design)
Series:-N/A
Issue Date & City:-March 15, 2024, Owensboro, KY 42301
Art Director:-Antonio Alcalá, Alexandria, VA
Designer:-Heather Moulder, Woodbury, TN
Illustrator:-Heather Moulder, Woodbury, TN
Modeler:-Sandra Lane / Michelle Finn
Manufacturing Process:-Offset, Microprint
Printer:-Banknote Corporation of America
Press Type:-Alprinta 74
Stamps per Pane:-20
Print Quantity:-15,000,000
Paper Type:-Phosphor, Block Tag
Adhesive Type:-Pressure-sensitive
Colors:-Cyan, Magenta, Yellow, Black
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):-5.9200 x 7.2400 in. / 150.3680 x
183.8960 mm
Press Sheets Size (w x h):-11.8400 x 21.7200 in. / 300.7360 x
551.6880 mm
Plate Size:-240 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 • Two barcodes (484700) • Plate position diagram (6) • Promotional text

Updated January 27^th:
Although no plans for a ceremony have been announced, the Garfield-Perry Stamp Club’s March Party stamp show will be in session that day and may provide an opportunity for unofficial-location postmarks.

Updated November 30^th:
This stamp will be issued Friday, March 15, in Owensboro, KY, which includes the International Bluegrass Music Museum and hosts the annual River of Music Party festival (ROMP) each year — but in June 2024, not March.

Announced October 23, 2023:

This stamp issuance celebrates America’s love of horses. Once instrumental in the early economic development of the United States, horses are now valued athletes and loyal companions, and are important in law enforcement, forestry, entertainment, equine therapy and cattle ranching. This pane of 20 stamps features five photographs of beautiful equines, each in profile. The selvage showcases a sixth horse. Derry Noyes, an art director for USPS, designed these stamps with existing photographs by Stephanie Moon and Karen Wegehenkel.

Further information will be posted below the line, with the newest information at the top.

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

• 5891 Horse with Brown Spots Facing Left
  a. Imperforate
• 5892 Brown Horse with White Blaze Facing Forward
  a. Imperforate
• 5893 Half-Arabian Horse Facing Right
  a. Imperforate
• 5894 Brown Horse with Bridle Facing Left
  a. Imperforate
• 5895 Horse with Long White Mane
  a. Imperforate
  b. Vert. strip of 5, #5891-5895
  c. Imperforate vert. strip of 5, #5891a-5895aUpdated May 17^th:
  [media advisory] [click on any of the pictures for larger versions]
  Horses Gallop Into Limelight With New Postage Stamps To Debut at Pony Express Re-Ride

  What: The U.S. Postal Service will release Horses, a set of five new stamps that pay tribute to the unwavering loyalty, tireless dedication and wild beauty of America’s equines.

  The first-day-of issue ceremony will be held before the start of the 164th Pony Express Re-Ride. USPS will help cheer on participants as they set off on the 1,966 mile run from St. Joseph, MO to Sacramento, CA. The ceremonial event is free and open to the public. News of the stamps is being shared with the hashtag #HorsesStamps.

  More information about the Pony Express Re-Ride, including the 2024 Re-Ride schedule, can be found at https://nationalponyexpress.org/re-ride/current-reride/.

  Who: Jamiel Freeman, postmaster, St. Joseph, MO

  Pam Dixon Simmons, president, National Pony Express Association

  Gary Chilcote, Missouri State president, National Pony Express Association

  When: Monday, June 17, 2024, at 2 p.m. Central

  Where:
  Patee House Museum
  1202 Penn St.
  St. Joseph, MO 64503

  RSVP: 164th Commemorative Pony Express Re-Ride Attendees are encouraged to register at: usps.com/horsesstamps.

  Background: Once vital to the early economic development of the United States, horses are now valued for their roles in sports and recreation, beloved as companions, and admired for their timeless beauty.

  The pane of 20 stamps features five photographs of individual horses. Three of the five appear in their natural environments against a background of green foliage: a gray-maned dappled white stallion; a horse with a russet coat, copper mane and white facial markings; and a golden chestnut with a chalky white mane. A horse with a brown spotted coat and light-colored mane is standing against a snowy wooded background, and a chestnut horse with a white blaze is photographed against a simple black background. The selvage depicts a chestnut horse with a black muzzle and mane peering out of a Dutch barn window.

  Derry Noyes, an art director for USPS, designed the stamps using existing photographs by Stephanie Moon and Karen Wegehenkel.

  Updated May 16^th:
  On June 17, 2024, in St. Joseph, MO, the United States Postal Service® will issue the Horses stamps (Forever® priced at the First-Class Mail® rate) in five designs, in a pressure-sensitive adhesive (PSA) pane of 20 stamps (Item 485200). These stamps will go on sale nationwide June 17, 2024, and must not be sold or canceled before the first-day-of-issue. The Horses commemorative pane of 20 stamps must not be split and the stamps must not be sold individually.

  This issuance of 20 stamps pays tribute to horses. Five new stamps feature five photographs of individual horses. Known for their loyalty, industriousness, and steadfast character, horses were instrumental in the early economic development of the United States. Today, these valued athletes and loyal companions also work in law enforcement, forestry, entertainment, equine therapy, and cattle ranching. Art director Derry Noyes designed the stamps with existing photographs by Stephanie Moon and Karen Wegehenkel. The selvage features the title of the issuance and showcases a photograph of another horse taken by Stephanie Moon.

  Item number 485200, 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 – Horses 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 17, 2024.

  Technical Specifications:

  Issue: Horses Stamps
  Item Number: 485200
  Denomination & Type of Issue: First-Class Mail Forever
  Format: Pane of 20 (5 designs)
  Series: N/A
  Issue Date & City: June 17, 2024, St. Joseph, MO 64501
  Art Director: Derry Noyes, Washington, DC
  Designer: Derry Noyes, Washington, DC
  Existing Photo: Karen Wegehenkel
  Existing Photos: Stephanie Moon
  Existing Photo: Stephanie Moon
  Modeler: Sandra Lane / Michelle Finn
  Manufacturing Process: Offset
  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: Cyan, Magenta, Yellow, Black, PMS 476C
  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
  31.8770 mm
  Full Pane Size (w x h): 7.2400 x 9.4500 in. / 183.8960 x
  240.0300 mm
  Press Sheets Size (w x h): 19.1500 x 22.2200 in. / 486.4100 x
  564.3880 mm
  Plate Size: 120 stamps per revolution
  Plate Number: “B” followed by five (5) single digits in bottom two corners
  Marginal Markings:
  Front: Header: HORSES • Plate number in bottom two corners
  Back: © 2023 USPS • USPS logo • Two barcodes (485200) • Plate position diagram (6) • Promotional text

  Updated April 17^th:
  These stamps will be available online for pre-ordering on May 17. 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 17 in St. Joseph, Missouri. The Pony Express Museum is located there.