Announced by the USPS on October 24, 2022.

Sailboats stamps celebrate a favorite American outdoor activity with two colorful new postcard stamps. They feature abstract illustrations that capture the joyful sensation of being on the water on a beautiful day. The graphic art was designed and created by artist Libby VanderPloeg, who also created the lettering for the word “postcard,” freehand on a digital tablet. Antonio Alcalá was art director for the project.

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

Updated March 7^th:
Here are the Scott catalogue numbers for this issue:

5747 (48¢) Two Sailboats, serpentine die cut 11¼x11
5748 (48¢) One Sailboat, serpentine die cut 11¼x11
a. Horiz. or vert. pair, #5747-5748
5749 (48¢) One Sailboat coil stamp, serpentine die cut 9½ vert.
5750 (48¢) Two Sailboats coil stamp, serpentine die cut 9½ vert.
a. Pair, #5749-5750

Updated December 28^th:
The First Day Of Issue “killer bars” is the only postmark for this issue.

Updated December 15^th from the Postal Bulletin:
On January 22, 2023, in Lahaina, HI, the United States Postal Service® will issue the Sailboats stamps (Non-denominated priced at the Postcard rate) in two designs, in a pressure-sensitive adhesive (PSA) pane of 20 stamps (Item 122500) and a PSA coil of 100 stamps (Item 740600). These stamps will go on sale nationwide January 22, 2023, and must not be sold or canceled before the first-day-of-issue.

Sailboats celebrates a favorite American outdoor activity with two colorful postcard stamps featuring different graphic illustrations that capture the joyful sensation of being on the water on a beautiful day. Artist Libby VanderPloeg started with pencil sketches, then moved into Adobe Illustrator to create the final work in bright, crisp color. VanderPloeg designed the stamps and created the lettering for the word “postcard.” Antonio Alcalá served as art director for the project.

Item 122500, Sailboats (Non-denominated, Postcard Rate) Pane of 20 Stamps
Item 740600, Sailboats (Non-denominated, Postcard Rate) Coil of 100 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. Each cover must have sufficient postage to meet First-Class Mail® requirements. 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 – Sailboats 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 May 22, 2023.

Technical Specifications – Pane of 20:
Issue: Sailboats Stamps
Item Number: 122500
Denomination & Type of Issue: Postcard Rate Non-denominated, Mail-use
Format: Pane of 20 (2 designs)
Series: N/A
Issue Date & City: January 22, 2023, Lahaina, HI 96761
Art Director: Antonio Alcalá, Alexandria, VA
Designer: Libby VanderPloeg
Typographer: Libby VanderPloeg
Illustrator: Libby VanderPloeg
Modeler: Joseph Sheeran
Manufacturing Process: Offset
Printer: Ashton Potter (USA) Ltd (APU)
Press Type: Muller A76
Stamps per Pane: 20
Print Quantity: 120,000,000 stamps
Paper Type: Nonphosphored Type III, Block Tag
Adhesive Type: Pressure-sensitive
Colors: Black, Cyan, Magenta, Yellow
Stamp Orientation: Vertical
Image Area (w x h): 0.73 x 0.84 in / 18.542 x 21.336 mm
Stamp Size (w x h): 0.87 x 0.98 in / 22.098 x 24.892 mm
Pane Size (w x h): 5.35 x 4.93 in / 135.89 x 125.222 mm
Plate Size: 400 stamps per revolution
Plate Number: “P” followed by four (4) single digits
Front: Plate number in four (4) corners of pane
Back: ©2022 USPS • USPS logo • Two barcodes (122500) • Plate position diagram (10) • Promotional text

Technical Specifications – Coil of 100:

Issue: Sailboats Stamps
Item Number: 740600
Denomination & Type of Issue: Postcard Rate Non-denominated, Mail-use
Format: Coil of 100 (2 designs)
Series: N/A
Issue Date & City: January 22, 2023, Lahaina, HI 96761
Art Director: Antonio Alcalá, Alexandria, VA
Designer: Libby VanderPloeg
Typographer: Libby VanderPloeg
Illustrator: Libby VanderPloeg
Modeler: Joseph Sheeran
Manufacturing Process: Offset
Printer: Ashton Potter (USA) Ltd (APU)
Press Type: Muller A76
Stamps per Coil: 100
Print Quantity: 350,000,000 stamps
Paper Type: Nonphosphored Type III, Block Tag
Adhesive Type: Pressure-sensitive
Colors: Black, Cyan, Magenta, Yellow
Stamp Orientation: Vertical
Image Area (w x h): 0.73 x 0.84 in. / 18.542 x 21.336 mm
Stamp Size (w x h): 0.90 x 0.98 in. / 22.86 x 24.892 mm
Plate Size: 720 stamps per revolution
Plate Number: “P” followed by four (4) single digits
Coil Number Frequency: Plate number every 30th stamp below stamp image

Updated November 30^th:
These stamps will be issued Sunday, January 22, in Lahaina, Hawaii, without a ceremony. Neither of Lahaina’s post offices is open on Sundays.

Announced by the USPS on October 24, 2022.

The handsome face of a red fox (Vulpes vulpes) graces this new 40-cent stamp. Sold in panes of 20 and in self-adhesive coils of 3,000 and 10,000, the stamp is intended for use by bulk mailers for items such as circulars, newsletters and catalogs. It can also be used by customers who enjoy using a variety of stamps on their envelopes and packages. The stamp art features a pencil-and-watercolor illustration from preexisting artwork by wildlife illustrator Dugald Stermer (1936-2011). His penciled calligraphy on the stamp indicates the animal’s common name and its scientific classification. Art director Ethel Kessler designed the stamp.

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

Updated December 28^th:
The First Day Of Issue “killer bars” is the only postmark for this issue.

Updated December 5^th from the Postal Bulletin:
On January 5, 2023, in Fox, AR, the United States Postal Service® will issue the 40-cent Red Fox denominated stamp in one design, in a pressure-sensitive adhesive (PSA) pane of 20 (Item 122100), coil of 3,000 (Item 751200), and coil of 10,000 (Item 761300). This stamp will go on sale nationwide January 5, 2023, and must not be sold or canceled before the first-day-of-issue.

Red Fox is a 40-cent stamp intended for use by bulk mailers for items such as circulars, newsletters, and catalogs. It can also be used by customers who enjoy placing a variety of stamps on their envelopes and packages. The stamp art features a pencil-and-watercolor illustration of the face of a red fox from preexisting artwork by wildlife illustrator Dugald Stermer (1936–2011). Art director Ethel Kessler designed the stamp.

Availability to Post Offices: Item 122100, Red Fox, 40 Cents, PSA Pane of 20 Stamps
Availability to Post Offices: Item 751200, Red Fox, 40 Cents, PSA Coil of 3,000 Stamps
Availability to Post Offices: Item 761300, Red Fox, 40 Cents, PSA Coil of 10,000 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. Each cover must have sufficient postage to meet First-Class Mail® requirements. 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 – Red Fox 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 May 5, 2023.

Technical Specifications – Pane of 20:

Issue: Red Fox Stamp
Item Number: 122100
Denomination &
Type of Issue: 40-cent Denominated, Mail-use
Format: Pane of 20 (1 design)
Series: N/A
Issue Date & City: January 5, 2023, Fox, AR 72051
Designer: Ethel Kessler, Bethesda, MD
Art Director: Ethel Kessler, Bethesda, MD
Artist: Dugald Stermer
Modeler: Sandra Lane/Michelle Finn
Manufacturing Process: Offset, Microprint
Printer: Banknote Corporation of America
Press Type: Gallus RCS
Stamps per Pane: 20
Print Quantity: 10,000,000 stamps
Paper Type: Phosphor, Block Tag
Adhesive Type: Pressure-sensitive
Colors: Cyan, Magenta, Yellow, Black, Pantone 4745
Stamp Orientation: Vertical
Image Area (w x h): 0.73 x 0.84 in./18.542 x 21.336 mm
Overall Size (w x h): 0.87 x 0.98 in./22.098 x 24.892 mm
Full Pane Size (w x h): 5.35 x 4.93 in./135.89 x 125.222 mm
Plate Size: 160 stamps per revolution
Plate Numbers: “B” followed by five (5) single digits
Marginal Markings:
Front: Plate numbers in four corners of pane
Back: ©2022 USPS • USPS logo • Two barcodes (122100) • Plate position diagram (8) • Promotional text

Technical Specifications – Coil of 3,000:

Issue: Red Fox Stamp
Item Number: 751200
Denomination & Type of Issue: 40-cent Denominated, Mail-use
Format: Coil of 3,000 (1 design)
Series: N/A
Issue Date & City: January 5, 2023, Fox, AR 72051
Designer: Ethel Kessler, Bethesda, MD
Art Director: Ethel Kessler, Bethesda, MD
Artist: Dugald Stermer
Modeler: Sandra Lane/Michelle Finn
Manufacturing Process: Offset, Microprint
Printer: Banknote Corporation of America
Press Type: Alprinta 74
Stamps per Coil: 3,000
Print Quantity: 15,000,000
Paper Type: Phosphor, Overall
Adhesive Type: Self-adhesive
Colors: Cyan, Magenta, Yellow, Black, Pantone 4745
Stamp Orientation: Vertical
Image Area (w x h): 0.73 x 0.84 in./18.542 x 21.336 mm
Stamp Size (w x h): 0.87 x 0.98 in./22.098 x 24.892 mm
Plate Size: 540 stamps per revolution
Plate Numbers: “B” followed by five (5) single digits
Coil Number Frequency: Plate numbers every 27th stamp below stamp image

Technical Specifications – Coil of 10,000:

Issue: Red Fox Stamp
Item Number: 761300
Denomination & Type of Issue: 40-cent Denominated, Mail-use
Format: Coil of 10,000 (1 design)
Series: N/A
Issue Date & City: January 5, 2023, Fox, AR 72051
Designer: Ethel Kessler, Bethesda, MD
Art Director: Ethel Kessler, Bethesda, MD
Artist: Dugald Stermer
Modeler: Sandra Lane/Michelle Finn
Manufacturing Process: Offset, Microprint
Printer: Banknote Corporation of America
Press Type: Alprinta 74
Stamps per Coil: 10,000
Print Quantity: 75,000,000
Paper Type: Phosphor, Overall
Adhesive Type: Self-adhesive
Colors: Cyan, Magenta, Yellow, Black, Pantone 4745
Stamp Orientation: Vertical
Image Area (w x h): 0.73 x 0.84 in./18.542 x 21.336 mm
Stamp Size (w x h): 0.87 x 0.98 in./22.098 x 24.892 mm
Plate Size: 540 stamps per revolution
Plate Numbers: “B” followed by five (5) single digits
Coil Number Frequency: Plate numbers every 27th stamp below stamp image

Updated November 30^th:
This stamp will be issued Thursday, January 5, in Fox, AR, without a ceremony. There are no cities nearby.

Announced by the USPS on October 24, 2022.

Celebrate the fun and tradition of piñatas with a colorful new booklet of 20 stamps. The stamp art features four lively, digital illustrations of two traditional piñata designs — a donkey and a seven-point star. The bright, saturated color palette was inspired by Mexican culture, including the vibrant colors of small-town houses, traditional hand-sewn dresses, handmade toys and flowers, and classic piñatas themselves. Víctor Meléndez created the original art and designed the stamps. Antonio Alcalá was the art director.

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

Updated November 7^th:
Here are the Scott catalogue numbers for this issue:

• 5812 (Donkey piñata facing left
• 5813 (Star piñata with purple background
• 5814 (Star piñata with green background
• 5815 (Donkey piñata facing right
• a. Block of 4, #5812-5815
• b. Convertible booklet pane of 20, 5 each #5612-5615

Updated September 19^th:
Here are the first-day cancels for this issue: The Digital Color Postmark measures 2.94″ x 1.20″ There is no pictorial postmark.

Updated August 19^th from the Postal Bulletin:

On September 8, 2023, in Roswell, NM, the United States Postal Service® will issue the Piñatas! 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 684400). These stamps will go on sale nationwide September 8, 2023, and must not be sold or canceled before the first-day-of-issue.

This issuance celebrates the fun and tradition of piñatas. The stamps feature four different digital illustrations of classic piñata designs — two are of a donkey with either a bright pink or orange background and two feature a 7-point star set against either a purple or green background. Víctor Meléndez created the original art and designed the stamps. Antonio Alcalá was the art director.

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 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 – Piñatas! 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 8, 2024.

Technical Specifications:

Issue: Piñatas! Stamps
Item Number: 684400
Denomination & Type of Issue: First-Class Mail Forever
Format: Double-sided Booklet of 20 (4 designs)
Series: N/A
Issue Date & City: September 8, 2023, Roswell, NM 88203
Designer: Victor Meléndez, Seattle, WA
Art Director: Antonio Alcalá, Alexandria, VA
Artist: Victor Meléndez
Modeler: Joseph Sheeran
Manufacturing Process: Offset
Printer: Ashton Potter (USA) Ltd (APU)
Press Type: Muller A76
Stamps per Booklet: 20
Print Quantity: 150,000,000 stamps
Paper Type: Nonphosphored Type III, Block Tagged
Adhesive Type: Pressure-sensitive
Colors: Black, Cyan, Magenta, Yellow
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
Booklet Size (w x h): 5.76 x 2.38 in / 146.304 x 60.452 mm
Plate Size: 880 stamps per revolution
Plate Numbers: “P” followed by four (4) single digits
Marginal Markings: Header: “Piñatas!” 20 First-Class Forever Stamps • ©2022 USPS in peel strip area • Barcode • USPS logo • Promotional text • Plate number in peel strip area

Updated May 31, 2023:
These stamps will be issued Friday, September 8, in Roswell, NM. Our guess is it will be in conjunction with the 36th Annual Pinata Festival, since the 34th (the most recent on Facebook) was also in early September.

Announced by the USPS on October 24, 2022.

A new Floral Geometry stamp, denominated at $10, will be available for purchase, complementing the similarly designed $2 and $5 stamps issued in 2022. The stamps lend an elegant and contemporary appearance to packages, large envelopes and other mailings. The stamp art features a series of overlapping geometric shapes that mimic the symmetry of floral patterns found in nature. The watercolor background and the glimmer of the foil-stamped design and typography create a sophisticated look. The stamp will be issued in panes of four. The stamps were designed and created by the firm Spaeth Hill. Antonio Alcalá was the art director.

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

Updated April 3^rd:
The Scott catalogue number for this issue is 5755.

Updated January 29^th:
Here is the design for the Digital Color Postmark for this issue:It measures 2.62″x1.43″. The only B&W first-day postmark is the FDOI “killer bars.” Those at San Diego National Stamp Show can use the show cancel, however.

Updated (again) January 28^th:
There will be a non-headquarters first-day ceremony at the San Diego National Stamp Show, complete with a program, possibly a show-sponsored cacheted envelope, and a USPS booth that promises to have this stamp in stock. Well-known U.S. stamp collector and writer John Hotchner will be a featured speaker.

Updated January 28^th:
On February 24, 2023, in San Diego, CA, the United States Postal Service® will issue the $10 Floral Geometry definitive stamp in one design, in a pressure-sensitive adhesive (PSA) pane of four stamps (Item 122600). This stamp will go on sale nationwide February 24, 2023, and must not be sold or canceled before the first-day-of-issue.

In 2023, a new Floral Geometry stamp denominated at $10 will be available for purchase, complementing the similarly designed $2 and $5 stamps issued in 2022. The design of these high denomination stamps lends an elegant and contemporary appearance to packages, large envelopes, and other mailings. The stamp art features a series of overlapping geometric shapes that mimic the symmetry of floral patterns found in nature. As the stamp denominations rise ($2 to $10), the designs become more complex. The watercolor backgrounds and foil-stamped designs and typography create a sophisticated look. The stamps were designed and created by the firm Spaeth Hill. Antonio Alcalá was the art director.

Item 122600, Pane of Four 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 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 – $10 Floral Geometry Stamp
USPS Stamp Fulfillment Services
8300 NE Underground Drive, Suite 300
Kansas City, MO 64144-9900

After applying the first-day-of-issue postmark, the Postal Service™ will return the envelopes through the mail. There is no charge for the postmark up to a quantity of 50. There is a 5-cent charge for each additional postmark over 50. All orders must be postmarked by June 24, 2023.

Technical Specifications:

Issue: $10 Floral Geometry Stamp
Item Number: 122600
Denomination & Type of Issue: $10 Definitive
Format: Pane of 4 (1 design)
Series: N/A
Issue Date & City: February 24, 2023, San Diego, CA 92199
Art Director: Antonio Alcalá, Alexandria, VA
Designer: Spaeth Hill, Alexandria, VA
Artist: Spaeth Hill, Alexandria, VA
Typographer: Spaeth Hill, Alexandria, VA
Modeler: Sandra Lane / Michelle Finn
Manufacturing Process: Foil Stamping, Offset, Microprint
Printer: Banknote Corporation of America
Press Type: Gallus RCS
Stamps per Pane: 4
Print Quantity: 500,000 stamps
Paper Type: Phosphor Tagged Paper, Block
Adhesive Type: Pressure-sensitive
Colors: Cyan, Magenta, Yellow, Black, Silver Kurz Foil
Stamp Orientation: Horizontal
Image Area (w x h): 1.42 x 1.085 in / 36.068 x 27.559 mm
Overall Size (w x h): 1.56 x 1.225 in / 39.624 x 31.115 mm
Full Pane Size (w x h): 4.26 x 3.5925 in / 108.204 x 91.2495 mm
Plate Size: 48 stamps per revolution
Plate Numbers: “B” followed by four (4) single digits
Marginal Markings:
Front: Plate numbers in two corners of the pane
Back: ©2022 USPS • USPS logo • Four barcodes (122600) • Plate position diagram (6) • Promotional text

Updated January 10^th:
This stamp will be issued February 24 in San Diego, with no headquarters (“national”) ceremony. This is the first day of San Diego National Stamp Show (WSP).

Announced by the USPS on October 24, 2022.

The 46th stamp in the Black Heritage series honors Ernest J. Gaines (1933-2019). Best known for such novels as “The Autobiography of Miss Jane Pittman” [paperback on Amazon] [Kindle edition], [DVD] and “A Lesson Before Dying,” Gaines drew from his childhood as the son of sharecroppers on a Louisiana plantation to explore the untold stories of rural African Americans, adding a vital voice to American literature. The stamp features an oil painting of Gaines, based on a 2001 photograph. Mike Ryan designed the stamp with art by Robert Peterson. Greg Breeding served as art director.

Click here to see Gaines’ books on Amazon

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

Updated March 7^th:
The Scott catalogue number for this issue is 5753.

Updated January 23^rd:
You can see the University of Louisiana version of the USPS day-of-issuance press release here.

Updated December 28^th:
Here are the first-day postmarks for this issue:The Digital Color Postmark for this issue measures 2.72″ x 1.19″The pictorial postmark measures 2.72″ x 1.27″

Updated December 15^th from the Postal Bulletin:
On January 23, 2023, in Lafayette, LA, the United States Postal Service® will issue the Ernest J. Gaines stamp (Forever® priced at the First-Class Mail® rate) in one design, in a pressure-sensitive adhesive (PSA) pane of 20 stamps (Item 482900). This stamp will go on sale nationwide January 23, 2023, and must not be sold or canceled before the first-day-of-issue.

The 46th stamp in the Black Heritage series honors author Ernest J. Gaines (1933–2019). Best known for such novels as The Autobiography of Miss Jane Pittman and A Lesson Before Dying, Gaines drew from his childhood as the son of sharecroppers on a Louisiana plantation to explore the untold stories of rural African Americans. The stamp features an oil painting of Gaines based on a 2001 photograph by Raoul Benavides. Mike Ryan designed the stamp with art by Robert Peterson. Greg Breeding served as art director.

Automatic distribution

Item 482900

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 – Ernest J. Gaines 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 May 23, 2023.

Technical Specifications:

Issue: Ernest J. Gaines Stamp
Item Number: 482900
Denomination &
Type of Issue: First-Class Mail Forever
Format: Pane of 20 (1 design)
Series: Black Heritage
Issue Date & City: January 23, 2023, Lafayette, LA, 70501
Art Director: Greg Breeding, Charlottesville, VA
Designer: Mike Ryan, Charlottesville, VA
Artist: Robert Peterson, Lawton, OK
Modeler: Sandra Lane / Michelle Finn
Manufacturing Process: Offset, Microprint
Printer: Banknote Corporation of America
Press Type: Alprinta 74
Stamps per Pane: 20
Print Quantity: 35,000,000 stamps
Paper Type: Phosphor, Block Tag
Adhesive Type: Pressure-sensitive
Colors: Cyan, Magenta, Yellow, Black, Pantone 3597
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): 6.00 x 8.50 in / 152.40 x 215.90 mm
Press Sheets Size (w x h): 18.0 x 25.75 in./ 457.20 x 654.05 mm
Plate Size: 180 stamps per revolution
Plate Number: “B” followed by four (4) single digits in two corners
Marginal Markings:
Front: Header: “Black Heritage, Celebrating Ernest J. Gaines, 46th in a series” • Plate number in bottom 2 corners
Back: ©2022 USPS • USPS logo • Two barcodes (482900) • Plate position diagram (9) • Promotional text

Updated December 14^th:
[ceremony details] [click on any of the pictures for larger versions]
U.S. Postal Service to Issue Ernest J. Gaines Black Heritage Stamp

What: The 46th stamp in the Black Heritage series honors Ernest J. Gaines (1933-2019). Best known for novels “The Autobiography of Miss Jane Pittman” and “A Lesson Before Dying,” Gaines drew from his childhood as the son of sharecroppers on a Louisiana plantation to explore the untold stories of rural African Americans.

The first-day-of-issue event for the Ernest J Gaines Black Heritage stamp is free and open to the public. News of the stamp is being shared with the hashtags #BlackHeritageStamps and #ErnestGainesStamp.

Who: The Honorable Donald Lee Moak, Governor, USPS Board of Governors

When: Monday, Jan. 23, 2023, at 11 a.m. CST

Where: University of Louisiana at Lafayette
620 McKinley Street
Lafayette, LA 70503

RSVP: For additional information about the ceremony location and parking on campus, dedication ceremony attendees are encouraged to RSVP at www.usps.com/ernestgainesbh

Background: Adding a vital African American voice to American literature, Ernest J. Gaines brought worldwide attention to generations of men and women who asserted their own dignity in the face of racial oppression and violence.

Gaines was born on Riverlake Plantation in the town of Oscar just outside New Roads, LA, where his family had lived in the former slave quarters for five generations. He moved to California in 1948, but for decades afterward, his fiction reflected a deep and unbreakable connection to the rural Louisiana of his youth.

After serving in the Army for two years and graduating from college, Gaines received a prestigious fellowship in 1958 to study creative writing at Stanford University. He published his first novel, “Catherine Carmier,” in 1964, but he achieved true fame, widespread acclaim, and a Pulitzer Prize nomination in 1971 with “The Autobiography of Miss Jane Pittman,” a novel chronicling the recollections of its 110-year-old African American protagonist, whose life spans slavery to the civil rights era.

In 1981, Gaines took a position teaching creative writing at the University of Louisiana at Lafayette (then known as the University of Southwestern Louisiana) and soon became its writer-in-residence. In 1983, he published the novel “A Gathering of Old Men,” about a group of African American men who assert their humanity and pride in the face of long-standing prejudice and violence.

In 1993, Gaines published his most critically and popularly acclaimed novel, “A Lesson Before Dying,” about a college-educated African American teacher who provides education and inspiration to a young farmhand awaiting execution for murder. Over the course of their difficult visits in prison, they form a bond that shows both the need to resist those who would deny them their dignity and self-respect. In addition to earning the National Book Critics Circle Award, “A Lesson Before Dying” resulted in Gaines receiving a prestigious MacArthur Foundation “genius grant.”

In 2013, Gaines accepted the National Medal of Arts from President Barack Obama, calling it the greatest honor he had ever received. Today the Baton Rouge Area Foundation continues to endow an annual Ernest J. Gaines Award for Literary Excellence, which recognizes African American fiction writers who are just beginning to rise to national prominence.

Mike Ryan designed the stamp with art by Robert Peterson. Greg Breeding served as art director.

The Ernest J. Gaines Black Heritage stamp is being issued as a Forever stamp. It will always be equal in valued to the current First-Class Mail 1-ounce price.

Updated November 30^th:
This stamp will be issued Monday, January 23 in Lafayette, LA, about 40 miles southwest of his birthplace of Oscar, LA.

Announced by the USPS on October 24, 2022.

The Postal Service continues its tradition of celebrating the U.S. flag with this stamp, available in panes of 20, booklets of 20, and coils of 100, 3,000 and 10,000. The stamp art bears a straightforward graphic design of OId Glory. Providing a solid foundation for the flag are the word “FREEDOM” in gray and, below it, “FOREVER/USA.” Art director Antonio Alcalá designed the stamp with existing art by Hong Li.

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

Updated July 3^rd:
Scott updated the numbers for this issue:

5787 (63c) Flag and “Freedom,” serpentine die cut 11¼x10¾ sheet stamp, with microprinted “USPS” at right of lowest flag stripe (Banknote printing)

5788 (63c) Flag and “Freedom,” serpentine die cut 9½ vert. coil stamp, with microprinted “USPS” below lower left corner of flag field (Ashton-Potter print)

5789 (63c) Flag and “Freedom,” serpentine die cut 10¾ coil stamp, with microprinted “USPS” at right of lowest flag stripe, stamps not adjacent on roll (Banknote printing)
5789A (63c) Flag and “Freedom,” serpentine die cut 11, with microprinted “USPS” at right of lowest flag stripe, stamps adjacent on roll (Banknote printing)

5790 (63c) Flag and “Freedom,” serpentine die cut 11¼x10¾ on 2 or 3 sides booklet stamp, with microprinted “USPS” below lower left corner of flag field (Ashton-Potter print)
a. Convertible booklet pane of 20

5791 (63c) Flag and “Freedom,” serpentine die cut 11¼x10¾ on 2 or 3 sides booklet stamp, with microprinted “USPS” at right of lowest flag stripe (Banknote printing)
a. Convertible booklet pane of 20

Updated June 6^th:
Here are the Scott catalogue numbers for this issue:

• 5787 (63¢) Flag and “Freedom,” serpentine die cut 11¼x10¾ sheet stamp, with microprinted “USPS” at right of lowest flag stripe (Banknote printing)
• 5788 (63¢) Flag and “Freedom,” serpentine die cut 9½ vert. coil stamp, with microprinted “USPS” below lower left corner of flag field (Ashton-Potter print)
• 5789 (63¢) Flag and “Freedom,” serpentine die cut 10¾ coil stamp, with microprinted “USPS” at right of lowest flag stripe, stamps not adjacent on roll (Banknote printing)
  a. Serpentine die cut 11, stamps adjacent on roll (Banknote printing)
• 5790 (63¢) Flag and “Freedom,” serpentine die cut 11¼x10¾ on 2 or 3 sides booklet stamp, with microprinted “USPS” below lower left corner of flag field (Ashton-Potter print)
  a. Convertible booklet pane of 20
• 5791 (63¢) Flag and “Freedom,” serpentine die cut 11¼x10¾ on 2 or 3 sides booklet stamp, with microprinted “USPS” at right of lowest flag stripe (Banknote printing)
  a. Convertible booklet pane of 20

Updated March 9^th:
Here are the first-day postmarks for this issue: The Digital Color Postmark measures 2.55″ x 1.41″ There is no pictorial for this issue, just the FDOI “killer bars.”

Updated March 9^th:
This stamp will be issued, in five formats on Monday, April 10, in Freedom, Maine, about 30 miles northeast of Augusta and 30 miles west-southwest of Bangor.

From the Postal Bulletin:

On April 10, 2023, in Freedom, ME, the United States Postal Service® will issue the U.S. Flag stamp (Forever® priced at the First-Class Mail® rate) in one design, in the following formats:

• A pressure-sensitive adhesive (PSA) pane of 20 stamps (Item 122700).
• A PSA double-sided booklet of 20 stamps (Item 684300).
• A PSA coil of 100 stamps (Item 740700).
• A PSA coil of 3,000 stamps (Item 751300).
• A PSA coil of 10,000 stamps (Item 761400).
• A PSA coil of 10,000 stamps (Item 761400)

This stamp will go on sale nationwide April 10, 2023, and must not be sold or canceled before the first-day-of-issue.

With the issuance of the 2023 U.S. Flag stamp, the Postal Service™ continues its long tradition of honoring the American flag. The stamp art bears a straightforward graphic design of the red, white, and blue. Providing a solid foundation for the flag are the words “FREEDOM” in gray and, below it, “FOREVER / USA.” Art director Antonio Alcalá designed the stamp with existing art by Hong Li.

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 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 – U.S. Flag 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 10, 2023.

Technical Specifications — Pane of 20:

Issue: U.S. Flag Stamp
Item Number: 122700
Denomination & Type of Issue: First-Class Mail Forever
Format: Pane of 20 (1 design)
Series: N/A
Issue Date & City: April 10, 2023, Freedom, ME 04941
Art Director: Antonio Alcalá, Alexandria, VA
Designer: Antonio Alcalá, Alexandria, VA
Existing Art: Hong Li
Modeler: Sandra Lane / Michelle Finn
Manufacturing Process: Offset, Microprint
Printer: Banknote Corporation of America
Press Type: Alprinta 74
Stamps per Pane: 20
Print Quantity: 100,000,000
Paper Type: Phosphor Tagged, Block
Adhesive Type: Pressure-sensitive
Processed at: Banknote Corporation of America
Stamp Orientation: Vertical
Image Area (w x h): 0.73 x 0.84 in / 18.542 x 21.336 mm
Stamp Size (w x h): 0.87 x 0.98 in / 22.098 x 24.892 mm
Pane Size (w x h): 5.30 x 4.88 in / 134.62 x 123.952 mm
Colors: Pantone 3546C, Pantone Cool Gray 5C, Pantone 7687C
Plate Size: 320 stamps per revolution
Plate Number: “B” followed by three (3) single digits
Marginal Markings:
Front: Plate number in four corners
Back: ©2022 USPS • USPS logo • 2 barcodes (122700) • Plate position diagram (8) • Promotional text

Technical Specifications — Booklet of 20:

Issue: U.S. Flag Stamp
Item Number: 684300
Denomination & Type of Issue: First-Class Mail Forever
Format: Double-sided Booklet of 20 (1 design)
Series: N/A
Issue Date & City: April 10, 2023, Freedom, ME 04941
Art Director: Antonio Alcalá, Alexandria, VA
Designer: Antonio Alcalá, Alexandria, VA
Illustrator: Hong Li
Modeler: Joseph Sheeran
Manufacturing Process: Offset, Microprint
Printer: Ashton Potter (USA) Ltd. (APU)
Press Type: Muller A76
Stamps per Booklet: 20
Print Quantity: 900,000,000 stamps
Paper Type: Nonphosphored Type III, Block Tagged
Adhesive Type: Pressure-sensitive
Processed at: Ashton Potter (USA) Ltd. (APU)
Stamp Orientation: Vertical
Image Area (w x h): 0.73 x 0.84 in / 18.542 x 21.336 mm
Stamp Size (w x h): 0.87 x 0.98 in / 22.098 x 24.892 mm
Full Booklet Size (w x h): 5.52 x 1.96 in / 140.208 x 49.784 mm
Colors: Pantone 7687C, Pantone 3546C, Pantone Cool Gray 5C
Plate Size: 1040 stamps per revolution
Plate Number: “P” followed by three (3) single digits
Marginal Markings: Header: “U.S. FLAG”, 20 First-Class Forever Stamps • ©2022 USPS in peel strip area • Barcode • USPS logo • Promotional text • Plate number in peel strip area

Technical Specifications — Coil of 100:

Issue: U.S. Flag Stamp
Item Number: 740700
Denomination & Type of Issue: First-Class Mail Forever
Format: Coil of 100 (1 design)
Series: N/A
Issue Date & City: April 10, 2023, Freedom, ME 04941
Art Director: Antonio Alcalá, Alexandria, VA
Designer: Antonio Alcalá, Alexandria, VA
Illustrator: Hong Li
Modeler: Joseph Sheeran
Manufacturing Process: Offset, Microprint
Printer: Ashton Potter (USA) Ltd. (APU)
Press Type: Muller A76
Stamps per Coil: 100
Print Quantity: 1,350,000,000 stamps
Paper Type: Nonphosphored Type III, Block Tagged
Adhesive Type: Pressure-sensitive
Processed at: Ashton Potter (USA) Ltd. (APU)
Colors: Pantone 7687C, Pantone 3546C, Pantone Cool Gray 5C
Stamp Orientation: Vertical
Image Area (w x h): 0.73 x 0.84 in / 18.542 x 21.336 mm
Stamp Size (w x h): 0.87 x 0.98 in / 22.098 x 24.892 mm
Plate Size: 744 stamps per revolution
Plate Number: “P” followed by three (3) single digits
Coil Number Frequency: Plate number every 31st stamp below stamp image

Technical Specifications — Coil of 3,000:

Issue: U.S. Flag Stamp
Item Number: 751300
Denomination & Type of Issue: First-Class Mail Forever
Format: Coil of 3,000 (1 design)
Series: N/A
Issue Date & City: April 10, 2023, Freedom, ME 04941
Art Director: Antonio Alcalá, Alexandria, VA
Designer: Antonio Alcalá, Alexandria, VA
Illustrator: Hong Li
Modeler: Sandra Lane / Michelle Finn
Manufacturing Process: Offset, Microprint
Printer: Banknote Corporation of America
Press Type: Alprinta 74
Stamps per Coil: 3,000
Print Quantity: 15,000,000 stamps
Paper Type: Phosphor Tagged, Overall
Adhesive Type: Pressure-sensitive
Processed at: Banknote Corporation of America
Colors: Pantone 3546C, Pantone Cool Gray 5C, Pantone 7687C
Stamp Orientation: Vertical
Image Area (w x h): 0.73 x 0.84 in / 18.542 x 21.336 mm
Stamp Size (w x h): 0.87 x 0.98 in / 22.098 x 24.892 mm
Plate Size: 540 stamps per revolution
Plate Number: “B” followed by three (3) single digits
Coil Number Frequency: Plate number every 27th stamp below stamp image

Technical Specifications — Coil of 10,000:

Issue: U.S. Flag Stamp
Item Number: 761400
Denomination & Type of Issue: First-Class Mail Forever
Format: Coil of 10,000 (1 design)
Series: N/A
Issue Date & City: April 10, 2023, Freedom, ME 04941
Art Director: Antonio Alcalá, Alexandria, VA
Designer: Antonio Alcalá, Alexandria, VA
Illustrator: Hong Li
Modeler: Sandra Lane / Michelle Finn
Manufacturing Process: Offset, Microprint
Printer: Banknote Corporation of America
Press Type: Alprinta 74
Stamps per Coil: 10,000
Print Quantity: 125,000,000 stamps
Paper Type: Phosphor Tagged, Overall
Adhesive Type: Pressure-sensitive
Processed at: Banknote Corporation of America
Colors: Pantone 3546C, Pantone Cool Gray 5C, Pantone 7687C
Stamp Orientation: Vertical
Image Area (w x h): 0.73 x 0.84 in / 18.542 x 21.336 mm
Stamp Size (w x h): 0.87 x 0.98 in / 22.098 x 24.892 mm
Plate Size: 540 stamps per revolution
Plate Number: “B” followed by three (3) single digits
Coil Number Frequency: Plate number every 27th stamp below stamp image

Announced by the USPS on October 24, 2022.

Home to the most visited national park in the United States, the Great Smoky Mountains boast extensive national forests and a vast array of native plants and animals. Equally rich in history, folkways and culture, they are an American treasure, which the Postal Service celebrates with this new Priority Mail Express stamp. The stamp art captures an iconic mountain scene located near Newfound Gap between Gatlinburg, TN, and Cherokee, NC. In the foreground, a red-tailed hawk flies over the landscape. Art director Greg Breeding designed the stamp with original art by Dan Cosgrove.

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

Updated March 7^th:
The Scott catalogue number for this issue is 5752

Updated December 29^th:
Here are the first-day postmarks for this issue:The Digital Color Postmark measures 2.83″ x 1.50″ There is no pictorial postmark for this issue. This is the B&W postmark.

 Updated November 30^th:
This stamp will be issued Sunday, January 22, in Gatlinburg, TN, without a ceremony. Gatlinburg’s post office is not open on Sundays.

Announced by the USPS on October 24, 2022.

Celebrate 50 years since the first Love stamp was issued with two new Love stamps, one featuring a kitten and the other a puppy with their front paws resting atop a big heart. The word “LOVE” is featured in all caps behind each animal. The stamp designs were painted with oils on wood panel, then scanned and edited digitally. Art director Ethel Kessler designed the stamps with original art by Chris Buzelli.

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

Updated March 7^th:
Here are the Scott catalogue numbers for this issue:

5745 (60¢) Love – Kitten and Heart
a. Imperforate
5746 (60¢) Love – Puppy and Heart
a. Imperforate
b. Horiz. or vert. pair, #5745-5746
c. Imperforate horiz. or vert. pair, #5745a-5746a

Updated December 28^th:
Here are the first-day postmarks for this issue:The Digital Color Postmark measures 1.37″ x 1.49″The Pictorial Postmark measures 2.71″ x 1.02″

Updated December 20^th:
[press release] [click on any of the pictures for larger versions]
USPS Embraces America’s Furry Friends with New Love Forever Stamps

What: The U.S. Postal Service will honor America’s love affair with beloved canine and feline pets with the issuance of its new Love 2023 Forever stamps.

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

Who: Judy de Torok, corporate affairs vice president, U.S. Postal Service, will serve as dedicating official.

When: Thursday, Jan. 19, 2023, at 11 a.m. CST

Where: Austin Pets Alive!
1156 West Cesar Chavez St.
Austin, TX 78703

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

Background: Cats and dogs are two of America’s favorite pets, and it is no surprise that connecting with pets has benefits. Pets provide companionship and love; interacting with a cuddly kitten or a playful puppy can reduce loneliness and raise spirits. Some studies have even shown that pets might also be responsible for lower blood pressure, improved heart health and lowered stress.

Evoking feelings of warmth and playfulness, each stamp shows a cute and cuddly animal resting its front paws on a big red heart. Sure to add a bit of whimsy to your valentines, these adorable stamps are also suitable for use on letters and cards throughout the year.
Customers may purchase stamps and other philatelic products through the Postal Store at usps.com/shopstamps, by calling 844-737-7826, by mail through USA Philatelic or at Post Office locations nationwide.

Updated December 15^th from the Postal Bulletin:
On January 19, 2023, in Austin, TX, the United States Postal Service® will issue the Love 2023 stamps (Forever® priced at the First-Class Mail® rate) in two designs, in a pressure-sensitive adhesive (PSA) pane of 20 stamps (Item 580800). These stamps will go on sale nationwide January 19, 2023, and must not be sold or canceled before the first-day-of-issue.

The Postal Service™ continues its popular Love series with two new stamps, one featuring a kitten and the other a puppy with the word “LOVE” in all caps behind each animal. Both kitten and puppy are shown with their front paws resting atop a big red heart. The stamp designs were painted with oils on wood panel, then scanned and edited digitally to create the final pieces of art. Art director Ethel Kessler designed the stamps with original art by Chris Buzelli.

Item 580800

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 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 – Love 2023 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 May 19, 2023.

Technical Specifications:

Issue: Love 2023 Stamps
Item Number: 580800
Denomination & Type of Issue: First-Class Mail Forever
Format: Pane of 20 (2 designs)
Series: Love
Issue Date & City: January 19, 2023, Austin, TX, 78710
Art Director: Ethel Kessler, Bethesda, MD
Designer: Ethel Kessler, Bethesda, MD
Artist: Chris Buzelli, New York, NY
Typographer: Ethel Kessler, Bethesda, MD
Modeler: Sandra Lane / Michelle Finn
Manufacturing Process: Offset
Printer: Banknote Corporation of America
Press Type: Alprinta RCS
Stamps per Pane: 20
Print Quantity: 200,000,000 stamps
Paper Type: Phosphor, Block Tag
Adhesive Type: Pressure-sensitive
Colors: Cyan, Magenta, Yellow, Black, Pantone 871, Pantone Warm Gray 1
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 Pane Size (w x h): 5.55 x 5.76 in / 140.97 x 146.304 mm
Press Sheets Size (w x h): 23.04 x 11.10 in / 585.216 x 281.94 mm
Plate Size: 320 stamps per revolution
Plate Number: “B” followed by six (6) single digits in four corners
Marginal Markings:
Front: Plate number in four corners
Back: ©2022 USPS • USPS logo • Two barcodes (580800) • Plate position diagram (8) • Promotional text

Updated November 30^th:
These stamps will be issued Thursday, January 19, in Austin, Texas.

Announced by the USPS on October 24, 2022.

The fourth of 12 stamps in the latest Lunar New Year stamp series celebrates the Year of the Rabbit. Calling to mind the elaborately decorated masks used in the dragon or lion dances often performed in Lunar New Year parades, this three-dimensional mask depicting a rabbit is a contemporary take on the long tradition of paper-cut folk art crafts created during this auspicious time of year. The rabbit mask design incorporates colors and patterns with symbolic meaning. Art director Antonio Alcalá designed the stamp and pane with original art by Camille Chew.

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

Updated December 28^th:
Here are the first-day postmarks for this issue:The Digital Color Postmark measures 2.95″ x 1.43″The Pictorial Postmark measures 2.61″ x 1.22″

Updated December 13^th:
[ceremony details] [click on any of the pictures for larger versions]
USPS Gets Festive With a Lunar New Year Stamp

What: The U.S. Postal Service will commemorate the Lunar New Year in San Francisco with the unveiling of the Year of the Rabbit Forever stamp.

The first-day-of-issue event for the stamp is free and open to the public. News of the stamp is being shared with the hashtags #LunarNewYear and #LunarNewYearRabbit.

Who: Derek Kan, governor, U.S. Postal Service Board of Governors

London N. Breed, mayor, San Francisco

Fiona Ma, state treasurer, California

Jay Xu, director, Asian Art Museum

When: Thursday, Jan. 12, 2023, at 11 a.m. PST

Where: Asian Art Museum
200 Larkin Street
San Francisco, CA 94102

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

Background: The Postal Service will issue the latest Lunar New Year stamp celebrating the Year of the Rabbit. This stamp design calls to mind the elaborately decorated masks used in the dragon or lion dances often performed in Lunar New Year parades. This three-dimensional mask depicting a rabbit is a contemporary take on the long tradition of paper-cut folk art crafts created during this auspicious time of year. The rabbit mask design incorporates colors and patterns with symbolic meaning.

Art director Antonio Alcalá designed the stamp and the pane with original art by Camille Chew.

The Year of the Rabbit stamp is being issued in panes of 20. It will always be equal in value to the current First-Class Mail 1-ounce price.

Lunar New Year is one of the most important holidays of the year for many Asian communities around the world and is primarily celebrated by people of Chinese, Korean, Vietnamese, Tibetan, Mongolian, Malaysian and Filipino heritage. Across these varied cultures, many traditions exist for ringing in a new year of good luck and prosperity.

Updated December 5^th from the Postal Bulletin:
On January 12, 2023, in San Francisco, CA, the United States Postal Service® will issue the Lunar New Year: Year of the Rabbit stamp (Forever® priced at the First-Class Mail® rate) in one design, in a pressure-sensitive adhesive (PSA) pane of 20 stamps (Item 482800). This stamp will go on sale nationwide January 12, 2023, and must not be sold or canceled before the first-day-of-issue. The Lunar New Year: Year of the Rabbit commemorative pane of 20 stamps must not be split and the stamps must not be sold individually.

In 2023, the Postal Service™ will issue the fourth of 12 stamps in its latest Lunar New Year series. The Year of the Rabbit begins January 22, 2023, and ends on February 9, 2024. Calling to mind the elaborately decorated masks used in the dragon or lion dances often performed in Lunar New Year parades, this 3-dimensional mask depicting a rabbit is a contemporary take on the long tradition of paper-cut folk-art crafts created during this auspicious time of year. Simplified illustrations of the 12 zodiac animals form columns on the left and right sides of the stamp pane. Art director Antonio Alcalá designed this stamp issuance with original artwork by Camille Chew.

Availability to Post Offices: Item 482800, Lunar New Year: Year of the Rabbit (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 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 – Lunar New Year: Year of the Rabbit 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 May 12, 2023.

Technical Specifications:

Issue: Lunar New Year: Year of the Rabbit Stamp
Item Number: 482800
Denomination & Type of Issue: First-Class Mail Forever
Format: Pane of 20 (1 design)
Series: Lunar New Year
Issue Date & City: January 12, 2023, San Francisco, CA, 94188
Art Director: Antonio Alcalá, Alexandria, VA
Designer: Antonio Alcalá, Alexandria, VA
Artist: Camille Chew, Providence, RI
Modeler: Sandra Lane/Michelle Finn
Manufacturing Process: Offset, Foil Stamping, Flexographic, Microprint
Printer: Banknote Corporation of America
Press Type: Gallus RCS
Stamps per Pane: 20
Print Quantity: 22,000,000 stamps
Paper Type: Phosphor, Block Tag
Adhesive Type: Pressure-sensitive
Colors: Cyan, Magenta, Yellow, Black, Pantone 7579 Orange, Pantone 7563 Light Brown, Gold Foil Luxor MTS 413, Teal Foil Luxor MHC 327
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): 7.25 x 8.50 in / 184.15 x 215.90 mm
Press Sheets Size (w x h): 14.50 x 19.50 in./368.30 x 495.30 mm
Plate Size: 80 stamps per revolution
Plate Number: “B” followed by six (6) single digits in two corners
Marginal Markings:
Front: Header: Lunar New Year: Year of the Rabbit • Plate number in bottom two corners
Back: ©2022 USPS • USPS logo • Two barcodes (482800) • Plate position diagram (4) • Promotional text

Updated November 30^th:
This stamp will be issued Thursday, January 12, in San Francisco.

The press release with descriptions of each issue is here.

Lunar New Year – Year of the Rabbit
Love
Great Smoky Mountains (Priority Mail Express)
U.S. Flag
Ernest J. Gaines
$10 Floral Geometry
Piñatas!
Red Fox
Sailboats
Snow Globes
Thinking of You
Tulip Blossoms
Winter Woodland Animals
Chief Standing Bear
Endangered Species
Railroad Stations
Ruth Bader Ginsburg
Toni Morrison
Roy Lichtenstein
Waterfalls
Women’s Soccer
School Bus
Patriotic Block