Announced November 1, 2021:
The third of 12 stamps in the latest Lunar New Year stamp series celebrates the Year of the Tiger. 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 tiger is a contemporary take on the long tradition of paper-cut folk art crafts created during this auspicious time of year. The tiger mask design incorporates colors and patterns symbolic to the holiday. Art director Antonio Alcalá designed the stamp and pane with original art by Camille Chew.
The Scott catalogue number for this stamp is 5662.
Additional information will be posted below the line, with the newest at the top.
Updated January 10th:
Here are the first-day postmarks for this issue:
The Digital Color Postmark measures 2.97″ x 1.43″ 
The Pictorial Postmark measures 2.35″ x 1.23″
Updated December 16th from the Postal Bulletin:
On January 20, 2022, in New York, NY, the United States Postal Service® will issue the Lunar New Year — Year of the Tiger stamp (Forever® priced at the First-Class Mail® rate) in one design, in a pressure-sensitive adhesive (PSA) pane of 20 stamps (Item 481500). This stamp will go on sale nationwide January 20, 2022, and must not be sold or canceled before the first-day-of-issue. The Lunar New Year — Year of the Tiger commemorative pane of 20 stamps may not be split and the stamps may not be sold individually.
In 2022, the Postal Service™ will issue the third of 12 stamps in its third Lunar New Year series. The Year of the Tiger begins February 1, 2022, and ends on January 21, 2023. 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 tiger 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 vertical lines on the left and right sides of the stamp pane. Art director Antonio Alcalá designed this stamp issuance with original artwork by Camille Chew.
No automatic distribution.
How to Order the First-Day-of-Issue Postmark:
Customers have 120 days to obtain the first-day-of-issue postmark by mail. They may purchase new stamps at their local Post Office™ or at The Postal Store® website at usps.com/shop. They must affix the stamps to envelopes of their choice, address the envelopes (to themselves or others), and place them in a larger envelope addressed to:
FDOI – Lunar New Year — Year of the Tiger 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 20, 2022.
Technical Specifications:
Issue: Lunar New Year — Year of the Tiger Stamp
Item Number: 481500
Denomination & Type of Issue: First-Class Mail Forever
Format: Pane of 20 (1 design)
Series: Lunar New Year
Issue Date & City: January 20, 2022, New York, NY 10199
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: 24,000,000 stamps
Paper Type: Phosphor, Block Tag
Adhesive Type: Pressure-sensitive
Colors: Cyan, Magenta, Yellow, Black, Pantone 7579 C Orange, Pantone 7563 C Light Brown, Gold Foil Luxor MTS 413, Purple Foil Luxor MTS 323
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 8.5 in./184.15 x 215.9 mm
Press Sheets Size (w x h): 14.5 x 19.5 in./368.3 x 495.3 mm
Plate Size: 80 stamps per revolution
Plate Numbers: “B” followed by six (6) single digits in two corners
Marginal Markings:
Front: Header: Lunar New Year — Year of the Tiger • Plate number in bottom two corners
Back: ©2021 USPS • USPS logo • Two barcodes (481500) • Plate position diagram (4) • Promotional text
Updated December 16th:
[press release] [click on any of the pictures for larger versions]
Tiger, Tiger Burning Bright!
WHAT: The U.S. Postal Service celebrates the Lunar New Year with the release of the Year of the Tiger Forever stamp. The Year of the Tiger begins Feb. 1, 2022 and ends Jan. 21, 2023.
News of the stamp is being shared with the hashtag #LunarNewYearStamp.
WHO: The Honorable Ronald A. Stroman, Member,
United States Postal Service Board of Governors
WHEN: 11 a.m. EST, Thursday, Jan. 20, 2022
WHERE:
Peter Norton Symphony Space
2537 Broadway
New York, NY 10025-6990
TICKETS: This is a ticketed event. To facilitate contract tracing if necessary, tickets must be obtained from Peter Norton Symphony Space. Information on how to obtain free tickets and other information can be found here.
VENUE PROTOCOL: Everyone entering the building is required to show proof of full vaccination and state-issued I.D. Peter Norton Symphony Space will not accept negative test results in lieu of proof of full vaccination. More information can be found on their website.
BACKGROUND: The tiger is the third of the 12 zodiac animal signs associated with the Chinese lunar calendar. As with other zodiac signs, personality traits and other attributes are often associated with people born in the year of a particular animal. Those born during the Year of the Tiger may be seen as brave, confident and well-liked by others. Blue, orange and gray are lucky colors for Tigers, and yellow lilies and cineraria flowers may also bring good luck.
Art director Antonio Alcalá designed the stamp with original art by Camille Chew.
The Year of the Tiger stamp is being issued in panes of 20. This Forever stamp 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.
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.
The Postal Service generally receives no tax dollars for operating expenses and relies on the sale of postage, products and services to fund its operations.
Updated December 11th:
Linn’s Stamp News reports this stamp will be issued January 20th with New York City as the location.
Updated December 3rd:
VSC member Foster Miller reports in VSC’s Facebook Group that this stamp is expected in mid- to late-January. The Lunar New Year begins February 1.
I had been thinking of attending the first-day ceremony for the Year of the Tiger stamp on the 20th, since it’s in New York City. Under normal circumstances, it would be an easy decision: A $9 round-trip bus ride into the city, $5.50 round-trip subway to the ceremony. “Aye, there’s the rub:” I don’t know that I want to take a bus into the city and then the subway while the latest coronavirus variant surges.
Driving? $14 bridge toll, $25+ for parking. Car service? Even more expensive. And for a few semi-official location postmarks and photos?
The photos the USPS takes at NYC ceremonies are much, much better than mine. The postmarks are sometimes less-than-optimal, and while it may be a good show, I don’t see any advance signs of that: The ceremony isn’t in Chinatown, no one with a connection to the subject is listed as a speaker, and Lunar New Year stamps are readily available at a post office near me.
It’s not a final decision, but…
Well, I definitely won’t attend the first day ceremony of George Morrison. No offense to the Minnesota native, but I reside on the other side of the state. With the surge of Covid (who knows what variant will be discovered in 4 months time), it’s a rather dire situation.😕
UNCUT PRESS SHEETS : No Die Cuts https://store.usps.com/store/product/stamp-collectors/lunar-new-year-year-of-the-tiger-press-sheet-without-die-cuts-S_481508
481508 ( Uncut Press Sheet – 80 stamps ) Is Still Available for purchase on USPS.COM. ( FEB 6 ) https://store.usps.com/store/product/stamp-collectors/lunar-new-year-year-of-the-tiger-press-sheet-without-die-cuts-S_481508
Year of the Tiger Ceremony Memento : Like you were at the ceremony – https://store.usps.com/store/product/stamp-collectors/lunar-new-year-year-of-the-tiger-ceremony-memento-S_481534
Virtual FDoI Ceremony : https://www.facebook.com/USPS/videos/413240127225508
What’s with the U S P S? The Lunar New Year stamps were not available at the local post office for almost a week after issuance?
And to boot. The Black Haritage stamp is not availablee at the local post office
as of today!
Edmonia Lewis (Black Heritage) was supposed to be automatic distribution. Lunar New Year was not, meaning your post office has to request it.