Announced by the USPS on October 24, 2022.

This stamp issuance honors Chief Standing Bear (ca. 1829-1908), who won a landmark court ruling in 1879 that determined that Native Americans were persons under the law with inherent rights to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. The stamp features a portrait of Chief Standing Bear by Thomas Blackshear II, based on a black-and-white photograph taken in 1877. The color of Standing Bear’s attire was based mainly on contemporary descriptions. Art director Derry Noyes designed the stamp.

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

Updated July 1^st:
The Scott catalogue number for this issue is 5798.

Updated April 7^th from the Postal Bulletin:
On May 12, 2023, in Lincoln, NE, the United States Postal Service® will issue the Chief Standing Bear stamp (Forever® priced at the First-Class Mail® rate) in one design, in a pressure-sensitive adhesive (PSA) pane of 20 stamps (Item 483700). This stamp will go on sale nationwide May 12, 2023, and must not be sold or canceled before the first-day-of-issue.

The Postal Service™ honors Chief Standing Bear (ca 1829–1908), who won a landmark court ruling that determined a Native American was a person under the law with an inherent right to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. The stamp features a portrait of Chief Standing Bear by Thomas Blackshear II based on a black-and white-photograph taken in 1877. The color of Standing Bear’s attire was based mainly on contemporary descriptions. Art director Derry Noyes 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 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 – Chief Standing Bear 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 September 12, 2023.

Technical Specifications:

Issue: Chief Standing Bear Stamp
Item Number: 483700
Denomination & Type of Issue: First-Class Mail Forever
Format: Pane of 20 (1 design)
Series: N/A
Issue Date & City: May 12, 2023, Lincoln, NE 68501
Art Director: Derry Noyes, Washington, DC
Designer: Derry Noyes, Washington, DC
Artist: Thomas Blackshear II
Modeler: Ty Schroeder
Manufacturing Process: Offset, Microprint
Printer: Ashton Potter (USA) Ltd (APU)
Press Type: Muller A76
Stamps per Pane: 20
Print Quantity: 18,000,000 stamps
Paper Type: Nonphosphored Type III, Block Tagged
Adhesive Type: Pressure-sensitive
Colors: Black, Cyan, Magenta, Yellow, Pantone 4625C
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): 8.5 x 7.24 in / 215.90 x 183.896 mm
Press Sheets Size (w x h): 22.09 x 25.87 in / 561.086 x 657.098 mm
Plate Size: 180 stamps per revolution
Plate Number: “P” followed by five (5) single digits in two corners
Marginal Markings:
Front: Header: Chief Standing Bear • Plate number in bottom 2 corners
Back: ©2022 USPS • USPS logo • Two barcodes (483700) • Plate position diagram (9) • Promotional text

Updated April 6^th:
Here are the first-day postmarks for this issue: The Digital Color Postmark measures 2.92″ x 1.45″ The pictorial postmark measures 2.58″ x 1.21″

Here is what the full pane of 20 will look like: Updated January 10^th:
This stamp will be issued Friday, May 12, in Lincoln, NE. There is a statue of the Chief on the Centennial Mall in Lincoln. In 1879, he won a court case establishing that Native Americans were people and entitled to civil rights. The City of Lincoln’s website and Wikipedia have more. The Chief Standing Bear (project) website is something of a disappointment.

Announced by the USPS on October 24, 2022.

Connect to the natural beauty of the winter season and celebrate four species that make their homes in the woodlands of North America. Among the most familiar of wildlife, deer, rabbits, owls and foxes are found across much of the American landscape. This booklet of 20 stamps features graphic illustrations of these four animals in different woodland settings in winter. Art director Antonio Alcalá designed the stamps with Katie Kirk, who illustrated the stamps.

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

Updated November 10^th:
Here are the Scott catalogue numbers for this issue:

• 5822 Deer
• 5823 Rabbit
• 5824 Owl
• 5825 Fox
• a. Block of 4, #5822-5825
• b. Convertible booklet pane of 20, 5 each #5822-5825

Updated October 10^th:

Just five minutes before the first-day ceremony was to begin, part of the floor collapsed in the 186-year-old building, forcing the ceremony outside. No one was injured in the mishap. The building, built originally as Woodland, Michigan’s town hall, is undergoing renovation to become a museum. Some of the floors had alredy been replaced. At present, the “Woodland Township Hall” has no heat or restrooms. Linn’s Stamp News editor-in-chief Jay Bigalke anchored the event. Cachetmaker and stamp collector Denise Lazaroff recognized her 96-year-old aunt, Virginia Decker, who was in the audience. She was born in Woodland and lived most of her life in Lake Odessa until going into a senior residence nearby.

Jay Bigalke

A stamp collector since the 1960s, this was Virginia Decker’s first first-day ceremony. She posed with her niece, Denise Lazaroff.

From left to right,Jenny Patton, Jeff Mackenzie, Don Dombrow, Jr., Denise Lazaroff, and Janette Bremer. Full IDs are in the press release below.

Denise Lazaroff

Chris and Denise Lazaroff after the ceremony (and on a solid part of the floor!)

Photos by Chris Lazaroff.

Updated October 8^th:
Cachetmaker Denise “3D-Laz” Lazaroff (right) will be a featured speaker at the first-day ceremony for this issue. She grew up in the Woodland, Mich., area. The Vikings is the nickname for the regional high school she attended, which includes the village of Woodland, and she will speak on four animals in Viking/Norse mythology.

Her husband Chris and two daughters have all spoken at previous first-day ceremonies.

This is not a “headquarters” first-day ceremony, but was organized by the USPS district. Here are the details for the “Special First-Day Dedication Ceremony:”

When: Tuesday, October 10, 2023 at 11:00 a.m.

Where: Woodland Old Town Hall, 190 E. Broadway, Woodland, MI 48897

Background: Join the United States Postal Service, Michigan 2 District Manager Don Dombrow, Jr and Lake Odessa Postmaster Janette Bremer as they dedicate the Winter Woodland Animals Stamps for a special first-day dedication ceremony. Guest speaker includes Jenny Patton, Founder, Foxes Journey Sanctuary in Howell. Woodland Township Supervisor Jeff Mackenzie will deliver welcome comments to attendees. Jay Bigalke, editor-in-chief of Linn’s Stamp News and Scott catalogs, will serve as emcee.

Connect to the natural beauty of the winter season and celebrate four species that make their homes in the woodlands of North America. Among the most familiar of wildlife, deer, rabbits, owls and foxes are found across much of the American landscape. This booklet of 20 stamps features graphic illustrations of these four animals in different woodland settings in winter. Art director Antonio Alcalá designed the stamps with Katie Kirk, who illustrated the stamps.

The event is free and open to the public.

Updated September 7^th:
Here are the first-day postmarks for this issue:The Digital Color Postmark measures 2.70″ x 1.50″ The piictorial postmark measures 2.64″ x 1.24″

From the Postal Bulletin:
On October 10, 2023, in Woodland, MI, the United States Postal Service® will issue the Winter Woodland Animals 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 684600). These stamps will go on sale October 10, 2023, and must not be sold or canceled before the first-day-of-issue.

Winter Woodland Animals stamps celebrate four beloved animals in settings befitting the season. Each stamp features a whimsical, graphic image of one of four different woodland animals: a deer, fox, rabbit, and owl. The animals appear with details of their habitat in winter, such as a full or crescent moon, snow-covered trees, holly branches with berries, and delicate snowflakes. Art director Antonio Alcalá designed the stamps with Katie Kirk, who illustrated the 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 – Winter Woodland Animals Stamps
USPS Stamp Fulfillment Services
8300 NE Underground Drive, Suite 300
Kansas City, MO 64144-9900

After applying the first-day-of-issue postmark, the Postal Service™ will return the envelopes through the mail. There is no charge for the postmark up to a quantity of 50. There is a 5-cent charge for each additional postmark over 50. All orders must be postmarked by February 10, 2024.

Technical Specifications:

Issue: Winter Woodland Animals Stamps
Item Number: 684600
Denomination & Type of Issue: First-Class Mail Forever
Format: Double-sided Booklet of 20 (4 designs)
Series: N/A
Issue Date & City: October 10, 2023, Woodland, MI 48897
Designer: Antonio Alcalá, Alexandria, VA
Designer: Katie Kirk, Minneapolis, MN
Art Director: Antonio Alcalá, Alexandria, VA
Illustrator: Katie Kirk, Minneapolis, MN
Modeler: Sandra Lane / Michelle Finn
Manufacturing Process: Offset
Printer: Banknote Corporation of America
Press Type: Alprinta 74
Stamps per Booklet: 20
Print Quantity: 290,000,000 stamps
Paper Type: Phosphor Tagged Paper, Block
Adhesive Type: Pressure-sensitive
Colors: Cyan, Magenta, Yellow, Black, Custom Blue
Stamp Orientation: Vertical
Image Area (w x h): 0.770 x 1.050 in. / 19.558 x 26.670 mm
Stamp Size (w x h): 0.910 x 1.190 in. / 23.114 x 30.226 mm
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 five (5) single digits
Marginal Markings: Header: “Winter Woodland Animals” 20 First-Class Forever Stamps • © 2022 USPS in peel strip area • Barcode • USPS logo • Promotional text • Plate number in peel strip area

Updated May 31st:
These stamps will be issued Tuesday, October 10, in Woodland, Michigan, but without a headquarters-organized first-day ceremony.

Announced by the USPS on October 24, 2022.

Close-up photographs of 10 beautiful tulips in a rainbow of colors grace this new booklet of 20 stamps. One blossom fills almost the entire frame of each stamp, with just the top of a stem peeking out from underneath. Since Dutch immigrants brought tulip bulbs to North America hundreds of years ago, the flower has become a dazzling part of our landscape. Art director Greg Breeding designed the stamps with existing photographs by Denise Ippolito.

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

Updated June 6^th:
Here are the Scott catalogue numbers for this issue:
Coil stamps:
5767 Pink tulip with yellowish base
5768 Purple tulip with white base
5769 Pink and orange tulip
5770 Lilac tulip
5771 Orange and red tulip
5772 Dark purple tulip
5773 Brownish tulip with white base
5774 Pink tulip with white base
5775 Pink tulip with yellowish background
5776 White tulip with purplish base
a. Horiz. strip of 10, #5767-5776

Booklet stamps:
5777 Brownish tulip with white base
5778 Pink tulip with yellowish base
5779 Pink tulip with white base
5780 Orange and red tulip
5781 Purple tulip with white base
5782 Lilac tulip
5783 Pink and orange tulip
5784 Dark purple tulip
5785 White tulip with purplish base
5786 Pink tulip with white background
a. Block of 10, #5777-5786
b. Convertible booklet pane of 20, 2 each #5777-5786

Updated February 23^rd:

Here are the first-day postmarks for this issue:The Digital Color Postmark measures 2.44″ x 1.50″There is no pictorial postmark for this issue, only the “standard killerbar.”

[first-day ceremony details] [click on any of the pictures for larger versions]
Tulips Blossom on New Forever Stamps

What: The U.S. Postal Service celebrates spring and Americans’ love for tulips with the issuance of Tulip Blossoms Forever stamps.

The first-day-of-issue event for the Tulip Blossoms Forever stamp is open to the public. News of the stamp is being shared with the hashtag #TulipBlossomsStamps.

Who: Linda Malone, engineering systems vice president, U.S. Postal Service, will serve as dedicating official.

When: Wednesday, April 5, 2023, at 11 a.m. PT

Where: Wooden Shoe Tulip Festival
33814 S Meridian Road
Woodburn, OR 97071

RSVP: The Postal Service has purchased a limited number of tickets which are required to enter the festival. Please RSVP at usps.com/tulipblossoms to sign up for a ticket.

Background: Each fall, millions of gardeners bury bulbs in the earth, eagerly anticipating the rewards that springtime will bring. Months later, thick green leaves poke through the soil, soon revealing their treasure: tulip blossoms in spectacular variety from prim to ostentatious.

A member of the lily family (Liliaceae), the tulip (genus Tulipa) originated as a wildflower in Central Asia. Dutch immigrants brought the first tulip bulbs to America hundreds of years ago. Today, we import more than 1 billion bulbs per year.

These new stamps from the Postal Service feature closeup views of 10 different tulips in a rainbow of colors. Each flower fills almost the entire frame of the stamp, with just the top of the stem showing. Art director Greg Breeding designed the stamps with existing photographs by Denise Ippolito.

Tulip Blossoms will be issued as Forever stamps in booklets of 20, as well as coils of 3,000 and 10,000.

From the Postal Bulletin:
On April 5, 2023, in Woodburn, OR, the United States Postal Service® will issue the Tulip Blossoms 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 684200), a PSA coil of 3,000 stamps (Item 751500), and a PSA coil of 10,000 stamps (Item 761700). These stamps will go on sale nationwide April 5, 2023, and must not be sold or canceled before the first-day-of-issue.

Ten different stamps in a booklet of 20, as well as coils of 3,000 and 10,000, feature close-up photographs of beautiful tulip blossoms in a rainbow of colors. Each flower fills almost the entire frame of each stamp, with just the top of the stem showing. Art director Greg Breeding designed the stamps with existing photographs by Denise Ippolito.

• Item 684200, Double-sided Booklet of 20 Stamps: No automatic distribution
• Item 751500, Coil of 3,000 Stamps: No automatic distribution
• Item 761700, 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. 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 – Tulip Blossoms 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 August 5, 2023.

Technical Specifications — Booklet:

Issue: Tulip Blossoms Stamps
Item Number: 684200
Denomination & Type of Issue: First-Class Mail Forever
Format: Double-sided Booklet of 20 (10 designs)
Series: N/A
Issue Date & City: April 5, 2023, Woodburn, OR 97071
Designer: Greg Breeding, Charlottesville, VA
Art Director: Greg Breeding, Charlottesville, VA
Existing Photos: Denise Ippolito
Modeler: Sandra Lane / Michelle Finn
Manufacturing Process: Offset
Printer: Banknote Corporation of America
Press Type: Alprinta 74
Stamps per Booklet: 20
Print Quantity: 500,000,000 stamps
Paper Type: Phosphor Tagged Paper, Block
Adhesive Type: Pressure-sensitive
Colors: Cyan, Magenta, Yellow, Black
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): 5.743 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
Marginal Markings: Header: “Tulip Blossoms” Twenty 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 3,000:

Issue: Tulip Blossoms Stamps
Item Number: 751500
Denomination & Type of Issue: First-Class Mail Forever
Format: Coil of 3,000 (10 designs)
Series: N/A
Issue Date & City: April 5, 2023, Woodburn, OR 97071
Designer: Greg Breeding, Charlottesville, VA
Art Director: Greg Breeding, Charlottesville, VA
Existing Photos: Denise Ippolito
Modeler: Sandra Lane / Michelle Finn
Manufacturing Process: Offset
Printer: Banknote Corporation of America
Press Type: Alprinta 74
Stamps per Coil: 3,000
Print Quantity: 12,000,000 stamps
Paper Type: Phosphor Tagged Paper, Overall
Adhesive Type: Pressure-sensitive
Colors: Cyan, Magenta, Yellow, Black
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 four (4) single digits
Coil Number Frequency: Plate number every 27th stamp below stamp image

Technical Specifications — Coil of 10,000:

Issue: Tulip Blossoms Stamps
Item Number: 761700
Denomination & Type of Issue: First-Class Mail Forever
Format: Coil of 10,000 (10 designs)
Series: N/A
Issue Date & City: April 5, 2023, Woodburn, OR 97071
Designer: Greg Breeding, Charlottesville, VA
Art Director: Greg Breeding, Charlottesville, VA
Existing Photos: Denise Ippolito
Modeler: Sandra Lane / Michelle Finn
Manufacturing Process: Offset
Printer: Banknote Corporation of America
Press Type: Alprinta 74
Stamps per Coil: 10,000
Print Quantity: 30,000,000 stamps
Paper Type: Phosphor Tagged Paper, Overall
Adhesive Type: Pressure-sensitive
Colors: Cyan, Magenta, Yellow, Black
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 four (4) single digits
Coil Number Frequency: Plate number every 27th stamp below stamp image

Updated January 10^th:
These stamps will be issued Wednesday, April 5, in Woodburn, OR. The Wooden Shoe Tulip Festival will be held there March 17 – April 30.

Announced by the USPS on October 24, 2022.

Capturing the excitement and delight of receiving a card in the mail meant just for you, Thinking of You features five stamps in a pane of 20 and a host of die-cut, self-adhesive messages — perfect to accompany letters or cards sent to brighten someone’s day. Each stamp is designed in fun colors with different whimsical images, including flowers, balloons, cute animals, sweet treats and symbols of good luck. Words of encouragement and thoughtful affirmations surround the stamps on the pane. Art director Greg Breeding designed the stamps with original artwork by Ellen Surrey.

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

Updated September 5^th:
Here are the Scott catalogue numbers for this issue:
5803 (66¢) Thinking of You – Butterfly, Flower, Dog, Slice of Birthday Cake
5804 (66¢) Thinking of You – Sun, Flower, Horseshoe, Hand Holding Dandelion
5805 (66¢) Thinking of You – Leaf, Flower Bouquet, Bandage, Birthday Party Hat, Ice Cream Cone
5806 (66¢) Thinking of You – Rainbow, Ice Cream Bar, Four-leaf Clover, Cat, Cupcake and Candle
5807 (66¢) Thinking of You – Hand with Raised Thumb, Party Balloons, “XOOX,{ Cup of Tea
b. Horiz. strip of 5, #5803-5807

Updated August 13^th:
Photos from the first-day ceremony:
Updated July 12^th:
Additional postmarks:This is the Great American Stamp Show Postmark for August 10th.This is the Americover show postmark for August 10th.

Updated July 7^th:
[press release] [click on any of the pictures for larger versions]
Postal Service to Release Thinking of You Stamps

What: The U.S. Postal Service will release five new stamps to help people send a note of celebration, gratitude or just to say hi. These stamps let those we care about know that we’re thinking of them and affirm our love and affection.

The first-day-of-issue event for the Thinking of You Forever stamps will be held at theGreat American Stamp Show in partnership with the American Philatelic Society. The ceremony is free and open to the public. News of the stamp is being shared with the hashtag #ThinkingofYouStamps.

Who: Cara Greene, controller and vice president, United States Postal Service

When: Friday, Aug. 11, 2023, at 11 a.m. EDT

Where:
The Great American Stamp Show
Huntington Convention Center of Cleveland — Hall C
300 Lakeside Ave. ∙ Cleveland, OH 44113

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

Background: These five new stamps from the U.S. Postal Service perfectly complement letters and cards sent to brighten someone’s day.

The pane of 20 stamps features five unique designs filled with a variety of whimsical images, including flowers, balloons, cute animals, sweet treats and symbols of good luck. Capturing the excitement and delight of receiving a card in the mail meant just for you, each digital illustration uses a cohesive color palette to bring together the disparate icons in the designs. Words of encouragement and thoughtful affirmations surround the stamps on the pane in the same tones. Each greeting is die-cut and self-adhesive.

In good times and bad, checking in on friends and family provides an important connection. A feel-good, handwritten message, no matter the length, can boost spirits and bring relationships closer, despite miles of distance.

Greg Breeding, an art director for USPS, designed the stamps with original artwork by Ellen Surrey.

The Thinking of You stamps are being issued as Forever® stamps. These Forever stamps are always equal to the current First-Class Mail® one-ounce price.

Updated June 29^th:
Here are the first-day postmarks for this issue:The Digital Color Postmark measures 2.99″ x 1.38″The pictorial postmark measures 2.05″ x 1.44″. In addition, there will also be a Great American Stamp Show and an Americover show postmark.

And, from the latest Postal Bulletin:
On August 11, 2023, in Cleveland, OH, the United States Postal Service® will issue the Thinking of You stamps (Forever® priced at the First-Class Mail ® rate) in five designs, in a pressure-sensitive adhesive (PSA) pane of 20 stamps (Item 484100). These stamps will go on sale nation- wide August 11, 2023, and must not be sold or canceled before the first-day-of-issue. The Thinking of You commemorative pane of 20 stamps must not be split and the stamps must not be sold individually.

In addition to the stamps, Thinking of You features a host of die-cut, self-adhesive messages to accompany letters or cards sent to brighten someone’s day. Each stamp is designed in fun colors with different whimsical images, including flowers, balloons, cute animals, sweet treats, and symbols of good luck. The messages surround the stamps on the pane. Art director Greg Breeding designed the stamps with original artwork by Ellen Surrey.

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 – Thinking Of You
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 11, 2023.

Technical Specifications:

Issue: Thinking of You Stamps
Item Number: 484100
Denomination & Type of Issue: First-Class Mail Forever
Format: Pane of 20 (5 designs)
Series: N/A
Issue Date & City: August 11, 2023, Cleveland, OH 44101
Art Director: Greg Breeding, Charlottesville, VA
Designer: Greg Breeding, Charlottesville, VA
Illustrator: Ellen Surrey, Van Nuys, CA
Modeler: Sandra Lane / Michelle Finn
Manufacturing Process: Offset, Flexographic
Printer: Banknote Corporation of America
Press Type: Gallus RCS
Stamps per Pane: 20
Print Quantity: 25,000,000 stamps
Paper Type: Phosphor Tagged Paper, Block
Adhesive Type: Pressure-sensitive
Colors: Cyan, Magenta, Yellow, Black, PMS1605C, PMS 7579C, PMS 637C, PMS 4067C, PMS 124C
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): 7.22 x 7.58 in / 183.388 x 192.532 mm
Press Sheets Size (w x h): 14.44 x 15.16 in / 366.776 x 385.064 mm
Plate Size: 80 stamps per revolution
Plate Number: “B” followed by nine (9) single digits in four corners
Marginal Markings:
Front: Header: Decorative Decals with friendly expressions • Plate number in four corners of the pane
Back: ©2022 USPS • USPS logo • Two barcodes (484100) • Plate position diagram (4) • Promotional text

Updated December 20^th:
The American Philatelic Society says these stamps will be issued at its Great American Stamp Show on the second day of the show, Friday, August 11.

Announced by the USPS on October 24, 2022.

Beloved by children and adults alike, snow globes can be miniature works of art, kitschy souvenirs or anything in between. Celebrating the spirit of the holidays, the Postal Service captures the playful pleasure of Christmas snow globes on four new stamps.

Painting in oil, the artist created spherical snow globes featuring icons of the season: a snowman wearing a jaunty red-and-white scarf; Santa Claus on a rooftop preparing to climb down the chimney; a reindeer standing in a snowy forest; and a snowy tree decorated with colorful ornaments. Art director Derry Noyes designed the stamps with original art by Gregory Manchess.

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

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

• 5816 Snowman in snow globe
• 5817 Santa Claus in snow globe
• 5818 Reindeer in snow globe
• 5819 Christmas tree in snow globe
• a. Block of 4, #5816-5819
• b. Convertible booklet pane of 20, 5 each #5616-5619

Updated August 19:

[ceremony details] [click on any of the pictures for larger versions]
U.S. Postal Service to Shake Up Mail With Snow Globe Stamps

What: Celebrating the spirit of the holidays, the U.S. Postal Service captures the playful pleasure of Christmas snow globes on four new stamps. Each Snow Globes stamp features an artist’s rendition of a wintertime or seasonal motif.

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

Who: Sheila Holman, vice president of marketing, USPS
Harry Rinker, USPS Citizens’ Stamp Advisory Committee
Gregory Manchess, stamp artist

When: Tuesday, Sept. 19, at 11 a.m. MDT

Where:
Stephen C. West Ice Arena
189 Boreas Pass Road
Breckenridge, CO 80424

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

Background: Beloved by children and adults alike, snow globes can be miniature works of art, kitschy souvenirs or anything in between. Snow globes share common features. A container — made of glass, plastic or other clear material — is filled with liquid that covers a central figure or scene; when shaken, the flitter, the technical term for the “snow,” creates a storm that briefly obscures the inside of the container.

In each of the four stamps, artist Gregory Manchess used oil paint to reproduce the magic of the holidays held within four tiny, encapsulated landscapes. The stamps include a snowman, Santa Claus poised on a chimney, a majestic deer and a Christmas tree.

The Snow Globes stamps are being issued in booklets of 20 Forever stamps that will always be equal in value to the current First-Class Mail 1-ounce price.

From the Postal Bulletin:

On September 19, 2023, in Breckenridge, CO, the United States Postal Service® will issue the Snow Globes 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 684500). These stamps will go on sale nationwide September 19, 2023, and must not be sold or canceled before the first-day-of-issue.

Snow Globes stamps celebrate the holidays with whimsical elegance. Painting in oil, the artist created spherical snow globes, each on a brown base, featuring icons of the season:

• A snowman wearing a jaunty red-and-white scarf.
• Santa Claus on a rooftop preparing to climb down the chimney.
• A reindeer standing in a snowy forest.
• A snowy tree decorated with colorful ornaments.

Art director Derry Noyes designed the stamps with original art by Gregory Manchess.

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 – Snow Globes 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 19, 2024.

Technical Specifications:

Issue: Snow Globes Stamps
Item Number: 684500
Denomination & Type of Issue: First-Class Mail Forever
Format: Double-sided Booklet of 20 (4 designs)
Series: N/A
Issue Date & City: September 19, 2023, Breckenridge, CO 80424
Designer: Derry Noyes, Washington, DC
Art Director: Derry Noyes, Washington, DC
Artist: Gregory Manchess
Modeler: Joseph Sheeran
Manufacturing Process: Offset
Printer: Ashton Potter (USA) Ltd (APU)
Press Type: Muller A76
Stamps per Booklet: 20
Print Quantity: 550,000,000 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: “Snow Globes” Twenty 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 Tuesday, September 19 in Breckenridge, Colorado

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.