Holiday Delights (U.S. 2020)

Announced by the USPS on July 28th:

Celebrate the holidays with Holiday Delights. Inspired by folk art but with a modern graphic vibe, these charming stamps will add a touch of whimsy to your holiday mailings. With a traditional palette of red, green and white, illustrator Kirsten Ulve channeled her love of Christmas, vintage ornaments and Scandinavian folk art to create unique digital illustrations of four holiday icons: a prancing reindeer with antlers; an ornament tied with a bow and ready to hang; a tree topped with a star; and a stocking holding a teddy bear and a sprig of holly. Art director Antonio Alcalá designed the stamps.

These stamps will be issued September 24th.

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


Updated August 18th:

Here are the first-day postmarks for this issue: The Digital Color Postmark measures 2.69″ x 1.43″ The Pictorial Postmark measures 2.56″ x 1.23″

Updated August 14th from the Postal Bulletin:
On September 24, 2020, in Frankenmuth, MI, the United States Postal Service® will issue the Holiday Delights stamps (Forever® priced at the First-Class Mail® rate) in four designs, in a pressure-sensitive adhesive (PSA) booklet of 20 stamps (Item 682800). The stamps will go on sale nationwide September 24, 2020, and must not be sold or canceled before the first-day-of-issue.

Celebrate the holidays with Holiday Delights, four new stamps inspired by folk art but with a modern graphic vibe. These charming stamps will add a touch of whimsy to your holiday mailings. With a traditional palette of red, green, and white, illustrator Kirsten Ulve channeled her love of Christmas, vintage ornaments, and Scandinavian folk art to create unique digital illustrations of four holiday icons:

  • A prancing reindeer with antlers,
  • An ornament tied with a bow and ready to hang,
  • A tree topped with a star, and
  • A stocking holding a teddy bear and a sprig of holly.

Art director Antonio Alcalá designed the stamps.

No automatic distribution of Item 682800, Holiday Delights booklet of 20 stamps

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 usps.com/shop. 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 Delights 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 24, 2021.

Technical Specifications:

Issue: Holiday Delights Stamps
Item Number: 682800
Denomination & Type of Issue: First-Class Mail Forever
Format: Double-sided Booklet of 20 (4 designs)
Series: Christmas Contemporary
Issue Date & City: September 24, 2020, Frankenmuth, MI 48734
Art Director: Antonio Alcalá, Alexandria, VA
Designer: Antonio Alcalá, Alexandria, VA
Illustrator: Kirsten Ulve, New York, NY
Modeler: Sandra Lane/Michelle Finn
Manufacturing Process: Offset
Printer: Banknote Corporation of America
Press Type: Alprinta 74
Stamps per Booklet: 20
Print Quantity: 450,000,000 stamps
Paper Type: Phosphor Tagged Paper, Block Tagged
Adhesive Type: Pressure-sensitive
Processed at: Banknote Corporation of America
Colors: Black, Pantone 2035 Red, Pantone 1765 Lt Red, Pantone 355 Green
Stamp Orientation: Vertical
Image Area (w x h): 0.77 x 1.05 in./19.558 x 26.67 mm
Overall Size (w x h): 0.91 x 1.19 in./23.114 x 30.226 mm
Full Booklet Size (w x h): 5.743 x 2.375 in./145.872 x 60.325 mm
Plate Size: 800 stamps per revolution
Plate Numbers: “B” followed by four (4) single digits in peel strip area
Marginal Markings: Header: Holiday Delights 20 First-Class Forever Stamps • Plate number in peel strip area • ©2020 USPS in peel strip area • Barcode • Promotional text in peel strip area

Winter Scenes (U.S. 2020)

Announced by the USPS on July 28th:

Winter Scenes celebrates the beauty and serenity of seasonal sights amid snowy landscapes. The 10 different photographs featured in this booklet of 20 stamps showcase the special allure of winter, with iconic scenes from the northern United States. Art director Derry Noyes designed the stamps with existing images taken by various photographers. New information will appear below the line, with the latest at the top.


Updated December 5th:
The Scott catalogue numbers for this issue are:
5532 Deer
5533 Northern cardinal
5534 trees and gold sky
5335 red barn with wreath
5536 barred owl
5537 blue jay
5538 red barn with snowy roof
5539 cottontail rabbit
5540 snowy path in woods
5541 two horses

Updated September 16th:
Here are the first-day postmarks for this issue: The Digital Color Postmark measures 2.97″ x 1.42″ The pictorial postmark measures 1.94″ x 1.19″

Updated September 10th from the Postal Bulletin:

On October 16, 2020, in Winter Park, FL, the United States Postal Service® will issue the Winter Scenes stamps (Forever® priced at the First-Class Mail® rate) in 10 designs, in a pressure-sensitive adhesive (PSA) double-sided booklet of 20 stamps (Item 683000). The stamps will go on sale nationwide October 16, 2020, and must not be sold or canceled before the first-day-of-issue.

Winter Scenes celebrates the beauty and serenity of seasonal sights amid snowy landscapes. The ten different photographs featured in this booklet of 20 stamps showcase the special allure of winter with iconic scenes from the northern part of the United States. Art director Derry Noyes designed the stamps with existing images taken by various photographers.

No 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 usps.com/shop. 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 Scenes 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 16, 2021.

Technical Specificiatons:

Issue: Winter Scenes Stamps
Item Number: 683000
Denomination & Type of Issue: First-Class Mail Forever
Format: Double-Sided Booklet of 20 (10 designs)
Series: N/A
Issue Date & City: October 16, 2020, Winter Park, FL 32789
Art Director: Derry Noyes, Washington, DC
Designer: Derry Noyes, Washington, DC
Modeler: Joseph Sheeran
Manufacturing Process: Offset
Printer: Ashton Potter (USA) Ltd. (APU)
Press Type: Muller A76
Stamps per Booklet: 20
Print Quantity: 400,000,000 stamps
Paper Type: Nonphosphored Type III, Block Tag
Adhesive Type: Pressure-sensitive
Processed at: Ashton Potter (USA) Ltd. (APU)
Stamp Orientation: Vertical
Image Area (w x h): 0.77 x 1.05 in./19.558 x 26.67 mm
Stamp Size (w x h): 0.91 x 1.19 in./23.114 x 30.226 mm
Full Booklet Size (w x h): 5.76 x 2.38 in./146.304 x 60.452 mm
Colors: Black, Cyan, Magenta, Yellow
Plate Size: 880 stamps per revolution
Plate Numbers: “P” followed by four (4) single digits in four corners
Marginal Markings: Header: “Winter Scenes” Twenty First-Class Forever Stamps • Plate number in peel strip area • ©2020 USPS in peel strip area • Barcode • Promotional text in peel strip area

Our Lady of Guapulo (Christmas) (U.S. 2020)

Announced by the USPS on July 28th:

This Christmas stamp (Our Lady of Guápulo) features a detail of the painting “Our Lady of Guápulo.” Painted in the 18th century by an unknown artist in Cuzco, Peru, “Our Lady of Guápulo” is from the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York. Enrobed in a pyramidal gown speckled with jewels and holding a scepter woven with roses and leaves, a crowned Virgin Mary looks down at a similarly adorned Christ Child in her left arm. Art director Greg Breeding designed the stamp.

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


Updated December 5th:
The Scott catalogue number for this issue is 5525.

Updated September 16th:
Here are the first-day postmarks for this issue: The Digital Color Postmark for this issue measures 2.91″ x 1.26″ The pictorial postmark measures 2.58″ x 1.07″

Updated September 10th from the Postal Bulletin:

On October 20, 2020, in New York, NY, the United States Postal Service® will issue the Our Lady of Guápulo 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 682900). The stamp will go on sale nationwide October 20, 2020, and must not be sold or canceled before the first-day-of-issue.

This Christmas stamp features a detail of the painting Our Lady of Guápulo. Painted in the 18th century by an unknown artist in Cuzco, Peru, Our Lady of Guápulo is from the collection of The Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York. Enrobed in a pyramidal gown speckled with jewels and holding a scepter woven with roses and leaves, a crowned Virgin Mary looks down at a similarly adorned Christ Child in her left arm. Art director Greg Breeding designed the stamp.

No 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 usps.com/shop. 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 – Our Lady of Guápulo 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 20, 2021.

Technical Specificiatons:

Issue: Our Lady of Guápulo Stamp
Item Number: 682900
Denomination & Type of Issue: First-Class Mail Forever
Format: Double-Sided Booklet of 20 (1 design)
Series: N/A
Issue Date & City: October 20, 2020, New York, NY 10199
Art Director: Greg Breeding, Charlottesville, VA
Designer: Greg Breeding, Charlotesville, VA
Existing Art: Unknown, 18th c, Cuzco, Peru
Modeler: Sandra Lane/Michelle Finn
Manufacturing Process: Offset, Microprint
Printer: Banknote Corporation of America
Press Type: Alprinta 74
Stamps per Booklet: 20
Print Quantity: 200,000,000 stamps
Paper Type: Phosphor Tagged Paper, Block Tag
Adhesive Type: Pressure-sensitive
Stamp Orientation: Vertical
Image Area (w x h): 0.77 x 1.05 in./19.558 x 26.67 mm
Stamp Size (w x h): 0.91 x 1.19 in./23.114 x 30.226 mm
Full Booklet Size (w x h): 5.743 x 2.375 in./145.872 x 60.325 mm
Colors: Cyan, Magenta, Yellow, Black, Pantone 8003
Plate Size: 800 stamps per revolution
Plate Number: “B” followed by five (5) single digits
Marginal Markings: Header: CHRISTMAS Our Lady of Guápulo • Twenty First-Class Forever Stamps • USPS logo • Barcode • Plate number in peel strip area • ©2020 USPS in peel strip area • Promotional text in peel strip area

U.S. Announces 2020 Holiday Stamps

[press release]
Something for Everyone This Coming Holiday Season
Five New 2020 Forever Stamps Announced

WASHINGTON, DC — The 2020 holiday season will be here before you know it. In that spirit, the U.S. Postal Service today revealed five new Forever holiday stamps. Details about the issue dates will be announced later. All images are preliminary and are subject to change prior to printing. USPS is also announcing holiday favorites from years past that will continue to be available.

Our Lady of Guápulo
This Christmas stamp features a detail of the painting “Our Lady of Guápulo.” Painted in the 18th century by an unknown artist in Cuzco, Peru, “Our Lady of Guápulo” is from the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York. Enrobed in a pyramidal gown speckled with jewels and holding a scepter woven with roses and leaves, a crowned Virgin Mary looks down at a similarly adorned Christ Child in her left arm. Art director Greg Breeding designed the stamp.

Winter Scenes
Winter Scenes celebrates the beauty and serenity of seasonal sights amid snowy landscapes. The 10 different photographs featured in this booklet of 20 stamps showcase the special allure of winter, with iconic scenes from the northern United States. Art director Derry Noyes designed the stamps with existing images taken by various photographers.

Holiday Delights
Celebrate the holidays with Holiday Delights. Inspired by folk art but with a modern graphic vibe, these charming stamps will add a touch of whimsy to your holiday mailings. With a traditional palette of red, green and white, illustrator Kirsten Ulve channeled her love of Christmas, vintage ornaments and Scandinavian folk art to create unique digital illustrations of four holiday icons: a prancing reindeer with antlers; an ornament tied with a bow and ready to hang; a tree topped with a star; and a stocking holding a teddy bear and a sprig of holly. Art director Antonio Alcalá designed the stamps.

Hanukkah
This new stamp celebrates the joyous Jewish holiday of Hanukkah. The stamp art’s colorful digital illustration shows the lighting of the nine-branched Hanukkah menorah on the last evening of the holiday. All eight of the Hanukkah candles have been lit, and the child is reaching up to replace the shamash, the helper candle used to light the others in the menorah. Art director Ethel Kessler designed the stamp with original art by Jing Jing Tsong.

Kwanzaa
With this new stamp, the Postal Service continues its tradition of celebrating Kwanzaa. The annual Pan-African holiday, which takes place over seven days from Dec. 26 to Jan. 1, brings family, community and culture together for many African Americans. The stamp design features the face of a woman in profile with her eyes closed. Her contemplative demeanor signifies the ways in which observers of Kwanzaa reflect on the seven founding principles, the Nguzo Saba, and their role in everyday life. A kinara (candleholder) with the seven lit candles (mishumaa saba) sits in front of her. Cool tones evoke a sense of inner peace, and vibrant design elements give the artwork a celebratory feel. Art director Antonio Alcalá designed the stamp with original artwork by Andrea Pippins.

Additionally, the following holiday stamps from recent years will be available for purchase while supplies last:   [click on the issue to go to its page]

Innovation (U.S. 2020)

[press release]
U.S. Postal Service Reveals Addition to 2020 Stamp Program
New Stamps Celebrate Innovation

WASHINGTON, DC — The U.S. Postal Service today announced the addition of the Innovation stamps to its 2020 stamp releases. Additional details, including the date these new Forever stamps will be available to purchase, will be announced soon. All images are preliminary and are subject to change prior to printing.

This release celebrates the American spirit of innovation with a pane of 20 stamps featuring five different designs, each representing an area in which U.S. scientists and engineers have made significant contributions: computing, biomedicine, genome sequencing, robotics and solar technology. Art director Antonio Alcalá designed the stamps, choosing a detail of an existing photograph for each.

These stamps will be issued Thursday, August 20th, as part of the Virtual Stamp Show, with a virtual ceremony. The first day city (postmark) will be Bellefonte, PA, where the American Philatelic Society headquarters are.

More information will be added under the line, with the newest at the top.


The Scott catalogue numbers for this issue are:

5514 Computing
5515 Biomedicine
5516 Genome Sequencing
5517 Robotics
5518 Solar Technology
a. Horiz. strip of 5, #5514-5518

To attend the free 2 p.m. EDT ceremony, go to youtu.be/Gh4hbJ_O1g8

Updated August 13th:
[press release]
U.S. Postal Service Premieres Two New Stamp Issuances
Stamp Show to Host Dedication Ceremonies for Innovation and Thank You Forever Stamps

WHAT: The U.S. Postal Service will dedicate stamps in two new sets, one celebrating the American spirit of innovation and the second offering expressions of thanks.

News of these Forever stamps is being shared with the hashtags #InnovationStamps and #ThankYouStamps.

WHERE:
Separate events for these designs will be held during the American Philatelic Society Virtual Stamp Show and will be posted on the Postal Service’s Facebook and Twitter pages. Please visit usps.com/innovations and usps.com/thankyou for details of the virtual stamp dedication ceremonies.

WHEN:
Thursday, Aug. 20, 2020, at 2 p.m. EDT
Innovation Forever Stamps
Dedicating official: Acting Chief Customer and Marketing Officer Steven Monteith

Friday, Aug. 21, 2020, at 2 p.m. EDT
Thank You Forever Stamps
Dedicating official: Chief Commerce and Business Solutions Officer Jacqueline Krage Strako

BACKGROUND:
Innovation stamps feature five new stamp designs in a pane of 20, showcasing fields in which U.S. scientists and engineers have made significant contributions that have touched lives around the world.

Each stamp design features a photograph of a subject representing Computing, Biomedicine, Genome Sequencing, Robotics and Solar Technology. The word INNOVATION overlays each image in a holographic foil.

Thank You stamps will add visual appeal to notes, cards and letters of thanks to acknowledge a favor, an act of kindness, a job well done or gifts received for any occasion.

The words “Thank You” are highlighted in gold foil in cursive script. An elegant floral design swirls through and around the words. Each of the four stamps features a background color of soft maroon, muted green, grayish blue and purple.

Pre-orders of Innovation and Thank You Forever Stamps can be made online at usps.com and by phone at 800-STAMP24 (800-782-6724).

Updated August 4th:
Here are the first-day cancels for this issue: The Digital Color Postmark measures 2.93″ x 1.48″ The Pictorial Postmark for this issue measures 2.66″ x 1.33″

Updated July 31st from the Postal Bulletin:
Technical Specifications:

Issue: Innovation Stamps
Item Number: 476200
Denomination & Type of Issue: First Class Mail® Forever®
Format: Pane of 20 (5 designs)
Series: N/A
Issue Date & City: August 20, 2020, Bellefonte, PA 16823
Art Director: Antonio Alcalá, Alexandria, VA
Designer: Antonio Alcalá, Alexandria, VA
Typographer: Antonio Alcalá, Alexandria, VA
Modeler: Sandra Lane/Michelle Finn
Manufacturing Process: Offset, Hot Foil Stamping
Printer: Banknote Corporation of America
Press Type: Alprinta 74
Stamps per Pane: 20
Print Quantity: 14,000,000 stamps
Paper Type: Phosphor Tagged Paper, Block Tagged
Adhesive Type: Pressure-sensitive
Processed at: Banknote Corporation of America
Stamp Orientation: Vertical
Image Area (w x h): 0.84 x 1.42 in./21.336 x 36.068 mm
Stamp Size (w x h): 0.98 x 1.56 in./24.892 x 39.624 mm
Full Pane Size (w x h): 5.92 x 7.24 in./150.368 x 183.896 mm
Colors: Cyan, Magenta, Yellow, Black, Gray PMS 431 C
Other: Foil
Plate Size: 120 stamps per revolution
Plate Numbers: “P” followed by five (5) single digits in four corners
Marginal Markings: Plate position diagram (6) • 2 barcodes (476200) • ©2020 USPS • USPS logo • Promotional text

Updated July 17th from the Postal Bulletin:

On August 20, 2020, in Bellefonte, PA, the United States Postal Service will issue the Innovation stamps (Forever® priced at the First-Class Mail rate) in five designs, in a pressure-sensitive adhesive (PSA) pane of 20 stamps (Item 476200). The stamps will go on sale nationwide August 20, 2020, and must not be sold or canceled before the first-day-of-issue. The Innovation pane of 20 stamps may not be split and the stamps may not be sold individually.

This issuance celebrates the American spirit of innovation with a pane of 20 stamps featuring five different designs, each representing an area in which U.S. scientists and engineers have made significant contributions:

  • Computing,
  • Biomedicine,
  • Genome sequencing,
  • Robotics, and
  • Solar technology.

Art director Antonio Alcalá designed the stamps, and chose a detail of an existing photograph for each.

Item 476200, Innovation (Forever Priced at the First-Class Mail Rate) PSA Pane of 20 Stamps: No 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 usps.com/shop. 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 – Innovation 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 20, 2020.

No Technical Specifications yet.

Bugs Bunny’s 80th Anniversary

What’s up, doc? Maybe putting an end to that wascally “only anniversaries in multiples of 50” excuse for why significant historical events are commemorated.

The U.S. also issued a Bugs Bunny stamp in 1997 (Sc. 3137), shown on the right here.

[press release]
New Stamps Celebrating Bugs Bunny’s 80th Birthday Coming Soon to a Post Office Near You

WASHINGTON, DC — The U.S. Postal Service will issue commemorative Forever stamps celebrating Bugs Bunny’s 80th birthday. The Postal Service and Warner Bros. Consumer Products are excited to dedicate these stamps at a virtual ceremony on July 27, the 80th anniversary of Bugs Bunny’s official screen debut.

Bugs has always been known for his impeccable impersonations and his masterful masquerades, so the soon-to-be-revealed 10 designs on this pane of 20 stamps each showcase a costumed Bugs Bunny in some of his most memorable getups.

The original stamp artwork is based on Bugs Bunny’s iconic moments and was created especially for this issuance by Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc., featuring work from Warner Bros. Animation artists, who also created the sketches on the reverse side of the stamp pane. Greg Breeding was the designer and William J. Gicker served as art director.

Customers may pre-order stamps at usps.com/shopstamps or by calling 800-STAMP24 (800-782-6724), beginning June 29.

The stamps are being issued as Forever stamps, which will always be equal in value to the current First-Class Mail 1-ounce price.

Stay tuned for a sneak peak of the stamps at facebook.com/usps. Please visit usps.com/bugsbunny for details for the upcoming virtual stamp dedication ceremony. News of the stamps are being shared with hashtags #BugsBunnyStamps and #BugsBunny80.

The Postal Service receives no tax dollars for operating expenses and relies on the sale of postage, products and services to fund its operations.

Note that the USPS is already planning on a virtual first-day ceremony (next to last paragraph) and the 10 designs have not yet been released.

Additional information will appear below the line, with the latest first.


Updated September 9th:
Here are the individual Scott catalogue numbers for this issue:
5494 (55¢) Bugs Bunny, 80th Anniv. – Barber
5495 (55¢) Bugs Bunny, 80th Anniv. – Basketball player
5496 (55¢) Bugs Bunny, 80th Anniv. – Hollywood celebrity
5497 (55¢) Bugs Bunny, 80th Anniv. – Court jester
5498 (55¢) Bugs Bunny, 80th Anniv. – Brunhilde
5499 (55¢) Bugs Bunny, 80th Anniv. – Mermaid
5500 (55¢) Bugs Bunny, 80th Anniv. – Piano player
5501 (55¢) Bugs Bunny, 80th Anniv. – Super-Rabbit
5502 (55¢) Bugs Bunny, 80th Anniv. – Baseball player
5503 (55¢) Bugs Bunny, 80th Anniv. – Soldier
a. Block of 10, #5494-5503

Updated July 17th:

The stamp designs weren’t in this week’s Postal Bulletin, but are in the new USA Philatelic catalogue: Here are the first-day postmarks: There will also be a “special” postmark that may be used by local post offices: The Digital Color Postmark measures 2.43″ x 1.49″ The pictorial postmark measures 3.0″ x 1.36″ The “special” postmark that other post offices may use measures 2.73″ x 1.23″

And here’s the first of the stamp designs: Updated July 6th:

Additional information from the USPS online sales area:

This issuance celebrates Bugs Bunny and the marvelous masquerades he has employed to foil foes over the course of his 80-year career. The sheet of 20 stamps features Bugs in 10 classic costumes.

Original stamp artwork is based on iconic moments of Bugs Bunny’s career.

On the first row of stamps Bugs appears as a barber with white smock and pointy scissors;achieves “airness” on the brink of a slam-dunk in his basketball jersey; is debonair in beret, ascot, smoking jacket, and shades as a screen idol in his Hollywood digs; jokes it up as a jester in bright green garb and fool’s cap; and does a diva turn as an operatic Brunhilde in blonde braids and winged helmet.

On the second row of stamps, Bugs is a mermaid in a curly 1940s up-do; is classically composed in white tie and tails at the piano; heroically poses as the carrot-powered Super-Rabbit with blue suit and red cape; warms up to pitch a big-league ballgame; and helps save the planet as a World War II U.S. Army staff sergeant in combat uniform with an American-flag backdrop.

Since his debut in the short-subject cartoon, “A Wild Hare” in 1940, generations of audiences have cheered Bugs’s gleeful gusto, quick wit, and endless clever resource. To outwit the opposition he can conjure dynamite, cherry pies, and mallets out of thin air, dance like a seasoned hoofer, play piano, and conduct orchestras. He summons up any talent—and any costume—that will help him thwart his relentless foes.

Born of a team of young animators who produced Looney Tunes and Merrie Melodies cartoons for Warner Bros., Bugs’s name came from one of those early cartoonists; “Bugs” and “Bugsy” were trendy nicknames at the time, signifying a crazed or wacky disposition. The catchy alliterative sound of “Bugs Bunny” partnered well with the names of cohorts Porky Pig and Daffy Duck.

Bugs’s very first line, “What’s up, Doc?”—unusual slang blurted out with the accent and wise-guy attitude of a street-smart New Yorker—had audiences howling and became the instant catchphrase of the “wascally wabbit,” as he was called by his first foe, the dim-witted hunter Elmer Fudd.

With global star power, Bugs Bunny has graced screens of all sizes from television and movies, to phones and tablets. Eighty 11-minute episodes of the new Looney Tunes Cartoons reintroduce Bugs Bunny along with other marquee Looney Tunes characters in gag-driven shorts that include classic storylines adapted for present-day audiences. The Oscar-winning rabbit has also been honored with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.

Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc. created original stamp artwork especially for this issuance featuring work from Warner Bros. Animation artists, who also created the selvage artwork and verso sketches. Greg Breeding was the designer, and William J. Gicker served as art director.

From the above, here is a stamp-by-stamp breakdown:Click on the image above to open, in a new window, an actual-size version at 300 dpi.

First row:

  • Bugs appears as a barber with white smock and pointy scissors
  • achieves “airness” on the brink of a slam-dunk in his basketball jersey
  • is debonair in beret, ascot, smoking jacket, and shades as a screen idol in his Hollywood digs
  • jokes it up as a jester in bright green garb and fool’s cap
  • and does a diva turn as an operatic Brunhilde in blonde braids and winged helmet.

Second row:

  • Bugs is a mermaid in a curly 1940s up-do
  • is classically composed in white tie and tails at the piano
  • heroically poses as the carrot-powered Super-Rabbit with blue suit and red cape
  • warms up to pitch a big-league ballgame
  • and helps save the planet as a World War II U.S. Army staff sergeant in combat uniform with an American-flag backdrop.

Updated July 3rd, from the Postal Bulletin:

On July 27, 2020, in Burbank, CA, the United States Postal Service® will issue the Bugs Bunny stamps (Forever® priced at the First-Class Mail® rate) in 10 designs, in a pressure-sensitive adhesive pane of 20 stamps (Item 478500). The stamps will go on sale nationwide July 27, 2020, and must not be sold or canceled before the first-day-of-issue.

The Bugs Bunny pane of 20 stamps may not be split and the stamps may not be sold individually. The Bugs Bunny stamps image, special dedication postmarks, and first-day-of-issue postmarks will be revealed in a future edition of the Postal Bulletin.

This stamp issuance celebrates Bugs Bunny, the “wascally wabbit” who has gleefully foiled foes and delighted cartoon audiences for 80 years. Bugs has always been known for his impeccable impersonations and his masterful masquerades, so the 10 designs on this pane of 20 stamps each showcase a costumed Bugs Bunny in some of his most memorable getups. The reverse side of the pane includes modern-day sketches that evoke the appearance of early Bugs Bunny with his exaggerated slapstick elasticity.

The drawings represent a wide range of Bugs’s postures, gestures, and expressions. Original stamp artwork is based on iconic moments of Bugs Bunny’s career and was created especially for this issuance by Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc., featuring work from Warner Bros. Animation artists, who also created the verso sketches. Greg Breeding was the designer, and William J. Gicker served as art director.

Availability to Post Offices: Item 478500, Bugs Bunny (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 usps.com/shop. 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 – Bugs Bunny 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 November 27, 2020.

Technical Specifications:

Issue: Bugs Bunny Stamps
Item Number: 478500
Denomination & Type of Issue: First-Class Mail Forever
Format: Pane of 20 (10 designs)
Series: N/A
Issue Date & City: July 27, 2020, Burbank, CA 91505
Art Director: William J. Gicker, Washington, DC
Designer: Greg Breeding, Charlottesville, VA
Artist: Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc., Burbank, CA
Modeler: Sandra Lane/Michelle Finn
Manufacturing Process: Offset
Printer: Banknote Corporation of America
Press Type: Alprinta 74
Stamps per Pane: 20
Print Quantity: 50,000,000 stamps
Paper Type: Phosphor, Overall
Adhesive Type: Pressure-sensitive
Processed at: Banknote Corporation of America
Colors: Cyan, Magenta, Yellow, Black
Stamp Orientation: Vertical
Image Area (w x h): 1.085 x 1.42 in./ 27.559 x 36.068 mm
Overall Size (w x h): 1.225 x 1.56 in./31.115 x 39.624 mm
Full Pane Size (w x h): 7.12 x 9.13 in./180.85 x 231.902 mm
Press Sheets Size (w x h): 18.5 x 21.86 in./469.9 x 555.244 mm
Plate Size: 120 stamps per revolution
Plate Number: “B” followed by four (4) single digits in bottom two corners
Marginal Markings:
Front: Header: Bugs Bunny • Plate number in bottom two corners
Back: 80 years of Bugs Bunny Looney Tunes™ logo • Line drawings • TM Warner Bros. Entertainment, Inc. proprietary information • ©2020 USPS • USPS logo • one barcode (478500) • Plate position diagram (6) • Promotional text

Four U.S. 2020 Press Sheets Sell Out

Linn’s Stamp News reported last month that “all” 2020 U.S. “press sheets” had been removed from online sales, because quantities were too low. Since press sheets are rarely sold by USPS operations other than Stamp Fulfillment Services, and that operation is only taking orders by mail, in effect the press sheets were no longer available.

Press sheets are multi-pane sheets, as they come off the printing press. They are then perforated and cut apart to form the panes or “sheets” sold in post offices. There are often eight panes in a press sheet.

Postal Service spokesman Roy Betts tells The Virtual Stamp Club that only the first four 2020 press sheets have been taken off sale, and those are now completely sold out. However, the USPS continues to produce press sheets.

They are produced by the U.S. Postal Service in limited quantities, and often sell out quickly. This apparently has been the case in 2020.

The four 2020 issues whose press sheets have sold out are Year of the Rat, Made of Hearts, Gwen Ifill and Arnold Palmer. No press sheet was produced for the Maine Statehood stamp.

VSC also asked if ceremony programs had been produced, and then not put on sale, for ceremonies that had been canceled. “Ceremony Programs were not produced for cancelled events, Betts replied.

U.S. Adds Two 2020 Issues

[press release]
U.S. Postal Service Reveals Additional Stamps for 2020
U.S. Flag Envelope and Ruth Asawa Coming Soon

WASHINGTON, D.C. — The U.S. Postal Service today announced two new stamp subjects for 2020. Details about the stamp dedication ceremonies and dates these new products will be available to purchase will be announced soon. All images are preliminary and are subject to change prior to printing.

U.S. Flag Stamped EnvelopeA familiar sight on public buildings and private homes alike, the American flag has been portrayed in myriad ways on U.S. postage. This stamped envelope features a graphic design of the flag that evokes a rich sense of history even as it presents a recognizable icon in a fresh, contemporary way. Kit Hinrichs created the artwork for this stamped envelope. Ethel Kessler served as art director. [Further details will be posted here.]

Ruth Asawa
With these stamps, the U.S. Postal Service honors pioneering Japanese American artist Ruth Asawa (1926-2013). Showcasing Asawa’s wire sculptures, the pane includes 20 stamps, with two each of 10 designs, featuring photographs by Dan Bradica and Laurence Cuneo. The selvage features a photograph of Asawa taken by Nat Farbman in 1954 for Life magazine. Ethel Kessler served as art director and designer. [Further details will be posted here.]

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Artist Ruth Asawa (U.S. 2020)

Announced by the USPS April 3rd, 2020, with no date of issue given: With these stamps, the U.S. Postal Service honors pioneering Japanese American artist Ruth Asawa (1926-2013). Showcasing Asawa’s wire sculptures, the pane includes 20 stamps, with two each of 10 designs, featuring photographs by Dan Bradica and Laurence Cuneo. The selvage features a photograph of Asawa taken by Nat Farbman in 1954 for Life magazine. Ethel Kessler served as art director and designer.

These stamps will be issued Thursday, August 13, in San Francisco, CA.

The stamps may be purchased here. The Scott catalogue numbers for this issue are:

5504 Three Untitled Sculptures from 1958, 1978 and 1959
5505 Untitled Sculpture from 1959
5506 Untitled Sculpture from 1958
5507 Untitled Sculpture from 1955
5508 Untitled Sculpture from 1955, different
5509 Untitled Sculpture from 1980
5510 Untitled Sculpture from 1978
5511 Untitled Sculpture from 1952
5512 Untitled Sculpture from 1954
5513 Six Untitled Sculptures from various years
a. Block of 10, #5504-5513

Further information will appear below the line, with the newest items at the top.


Updated August 6th:
This will have a virtual first day ceremony:

[press release]
U.S. Postal Service Honors Sculptor and Arts Education Advocate Ruth Asawa With Forever Stamps

WHAT: The U.S. Postal Service will dedicate stamps honoring pioneering Japanese American artist Ruth Asawa (1926-2013), who is perhaps best known for her intricate abstract wire sculptures.

News of the stamps is being shared with the hashtag #RuthAsawaStamps.

WHO: Sharon Owens, vice president, Pricing and Costing, U.S. Postal Service

George Takei, trustee, chair emeritus of the board of trustees and founding member, Japanese American National Museum

Jonathan Laib, director, David Zwirner

WHEN: Thursday, Aug. 13, 2020, at 1:30 p.m. EDT

WHERE: The virtual stamp event will be hosted on the U.S. Postal Service’s Facebook and Twitter pages. For more information, visit usps.com/asawastamps.

BACKGROUND: Inspired by natural elements such as plants, snail shells, spiderwebs, insect wings and water droplets, Ruth Asawa transformed industrial material into transparent and seemingly weightless works of art that challenged traditional definitions of sculpture. When shown together, her sculptures can evoke an undersea domain, a magical upside-down world or an environment all their own. A tireless advocate of community-based arts education, she is also acclaimed for her drawings, paintings, prints and large public projects.

Showcasing Asawa’s wire sculptures, this pane features 20 stamps, two each of 10 designs:

  • Installation view, three looped wire sculptures (left to right): Untitled (S.114, Hanging Six-Lobed Continuous Form Within a Form With One Suspended and Two Tied Spheres), circa 1958; Untitled (S.077, Hanging Miniature Seven-Lobed Continuous Form Within a Form), circa 1978; and Untitled (S.036, Hanging Seven-Lobed, Multilayered Interlocking Continuous Form Within a Form, With Spheres in the First, Sixth and Seventh Lobes), 1959
  • Untitled (S.039, Hanging Five Spiraling Columns of Open Windows), 1959
  • Untitled (S.157, Hanging Two-Lobed, Three-Layered Continuous Form Within a Form), circa 1958
  • Untitled (S.250, Hanging Seven-Lobed Continuous Interlocking Form With Four Interior Spheres), circa 1955
  • Untitled (S.055, Hanging Asymmetrical Nine Interlocking Bubbles), circa 1955
  • Untitled (S.018, Hanging Miniature Single-Lobed, Three-Layered Continuous Form Within a Form), circa 1980
  • Untitled (S.306, Hanging Miniature Five Interlocking Double Trumpets), circa 1978
  • Untitled (S.030, Hanging Eight Separate Cones Suspended Through Their Centers), circa 1952
  • Untitled (S.042, Hanging Three-Lobed Continuous Form, With a Sphere in the Second Lobe and an Open Sphere Suspended From the Bottom), 1954
  • Installation view, six looped wire sculptures (left to right): Untitled (S.227, Hanging Five-Lobed Continuous Form With Spheres Suspended in the Second, Fourth and Fifth Lobes), circa 1962; Untitled (S.154, Hanging Nine-Lobed, Single-Layered Continuous Form), circa 1958; Untitled (S.142, Hanging Five-Lobed, Multilayered Continuous Form Within a Form), 1990; Untitled (S.155, Hanging Seven-Lobed, Multilayered Interlocking Continuous Form With a Sphere Suspended in the Top and Fifth Lobes), circa 1958; Untitled (S.065, Hanging Seven-Lobed, Multilayered Continuous Form Within a Form With Spheres in the Second, Third, Fourth and Sixth Lobes), circa 1960-1963; and Untitled (S.143, Hanging Five-Lobed, Multilayered Continuous Form Within a Form), 1996

The selvage features a photograph of Asawa taken by Nat Farbman in 1954 for Life magazine.

Asawa began making sculptures in 1947 and soon discovered that, in addition to single-layered sculptures, she could also create continuous or intersecting surfaces. Sensual and organic, these multilayered yet still transparent works created a dynamic interplay between interior and exterior surfaces.

Since her death in 2013, public and critical appraisal of her work has continued to reach wider audiences, with much-lauded exhibitions and publications organized by major museums and galleries across the country.

Ethel Kessler served as art director and designer for this stamp pane.
The Ruth Asawa stamps are being issued as Forever stamps, which means they will always be equal in value to the current First-Class Mail 1-ounce price.

Updated July 12th:
Here are the first-day postmarks for this issue:The Digital Color Postmark measures 2.49″ x 1.50″ The pictorial postmark measures 2.54″ x 1.04″The “special” postmark other post offices may use for this issue measures 2.19″ x 1.0″

Updated July 3rd, from the Postal Bulletin:

On August 13, 2020, in San Francisco, CA, the United States Postal Service® will issue the Ruth Asawa stamps (Forever® priced at the First-Class Mail® rate) in 10 designs, in a pressure-sensitive adhesive pane of 20 stamps (Item 476300). The stamps will go on sale nationwide August 13, 2020, and must not be sold or canceled before the first-day-of-issue. The Ruth Asawa pane of 20 stamps may not be split and the stamps may not be sold individually.

With these stamps, the Postal Service™ honors pioneering Japanese American artist Ruth Asawa (1926–2013). Showcasing Asawa‘s wire sculptures, the pane includes 20 stamps, two each of 10 designs, featuring photographs by Laurence Cuneo and Dan Bradica for David Zwirner gallery. The selvage features a photograph of Asawa taken by Nat Farbman in 1954 for Life magazine. Ethel Kessler served as art director and designer for this issuance.

Availability to Post Offices: Item 476300, Ruth Asawa (Forever Priced at the First-Class Mail Rate) Pane of 20 Stamps: No 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 usps.com/shop. 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 – Ruth Asawa 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 13, 2020.

Technical Specifications:

Issue: Ruth Asawa Stamps
Item Number: 476300
Denomination & Type of Issue: First-Class Mail Forever
Format: Pane of 20 (10 designs)
Series: N/A
Issue Date & City: August 13, 2020, San Francisco, CA 94188
Art Director: Ethel Kessler, Bethesda, MD
Designer: Ethel Kessler, Bethesda, MD
Existing Art: Ruth Asawa
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 stamps
Paper Type: Phosphor, Block Tag
Adhesive Type: Pressure-sensitive
Processed at: Banknote Corporation of America
Colors: Custom Pantone Black 6, Cyan, Magenta, Yellow, Black
Stamp Orientation: Vertical
Image Area (w x h): 0.84 x 1.42 in./ 21.336 x 36.068 mm
Overall Size (w x h): 0.98 x 1.56 in./24.892 x 39.624 mm
Full Pane Size (w x h): 7.93 x 7.12 in./201.422 x 180.848 mm
Press Sheets Size (w x h): 21.61 x 24.596 in./548.894 x 624.738 mm
Plate Size: 180 stamps per revolution
Plate Numbers: “B” followed by five (5) single digits in two corners
Marginal Markings:
Front: Header: Ruth Asawa — Artist 1926-2013 • Plate number in bottom two corners
Back: ©2020 USPS • USPS logo • 2 barcodes (476300) • Plate position diagram (9) • Promotional text

Chrysanthemum Global (U.S. 2020)

Announced by the USPS on December 30, 2019:

Chrysanthemum (Global)
Chrysanthemum is a new Global Forever international rate stamp that can be used to mail a 1-ounce letter to any country where First-Class Mail International service is available. The stamp is round and features a photograph of a pink chrysanthemum on a white background. Taken from above, the photograph highlights the intricate beauty of the bloom. The art director was William J. Gicker. Greg Breeding designed the stamp with an existing photograph by Hong Vo. This stamp will be issued April 24 in Burlingame, CA. Details about the dedication event will be announced at a later date.

Further updates will appear below the illustration.


The Scott catalogue number for this issue is 5460.

Updated April 17th:
Here are the first-day postmarks for this issue:The Digital Color Postmark measures 2.95″ x 1.49″ The pictorial postmark measures 2.73″ x 0.88″

Updated March 31st:
The first-day ceremony was to be held at the WESTPEX stamp show, which was canceled.

From the Postal Bulletin:
On April 24, 2020, in Burlingame, CA, the United States Postal Service® will issue the Chrysanthemum Global Forever® international rate stamp in one design, in a pressure-sensitive adhesive (PSA) pane of 10 stamps (Item 572600). The stamp will go on sale nationwide April 24, 2020, and must not be sold or canceled before the first-day-of-issue.

Chrysanthemum is a new Global Forever® international rate stamp that can be used to mail a 1-ounce letter to any country in which First-Class Mail International® service is available. The stamp is round and features a photograph of a pink chrysanthemum arranged against a white background. Taken from above, the photograph highlights the intricate beauty of the bloom. The art director was William J. Gicker. Greg Breeding designed the stamp with an existing photograph by Hong Vo.

No 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 usps.com/shop. 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 – Chrysanthemum 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 24, 2020.

Technical Specifications:

Issue: Chrysanthemum Stamp
Item Number: 572600
Denomination & Type of Issue: Global Forever International Rate
Format: Pane of 10 (1 design)
Series: N/A
Issue Date & City: April 24, 2020, Burlingame, CA 94010
Art Director: William J. Gicker, Washington, DC
Designer: Greg Breeding, Charlottesville, VA
Typographer: Greg Breeding, Charlottesville, VA
Existing Art: Hong Vo
Modeler: Joseph Sheeran
Manufacturing Process: Offset, Microprint
Printer: Ashton Potter (USA) Ltd. (APU)
Press Type: Muller A76
Stamps per Pane: 10
Print Quantity: 65,000,000 stamps
Paper Type: Nonphosphored Type III, Block Tag
Adhesive Type: Pressure-sensitive
Processed at: Ashton Potter (USA) Ltd. (APU)
Stamp Orientation: Round
Image Area (w x h): 1.2 x 1.2 in./30.48 x 30.48 mm
Stamp Size (w x h): 1.41 x 1.41 in./35.814 x 35.814 mm
Full Pane Size (w x h): 8.5 x 4.09 in./215.9 x 103.886 mm
Colors: Black, Cyan, Magenta, Yellow, Pantone Pink C, Pantone Black 6C
Plate Size: 180 stamps per revolution
Plate Number: “P” followed by six (6) single digits
Marginal Markings:
Front: Plate number in four corners of pane
Back: ©2019 USPS • USPS logo • Barcode (572600) behind each stamp • Plate position diagram (9) • Promotional text