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 10th:
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 10th:
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 8th:
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 7th:
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.
Anyone know why no HQ first-day ceremony?
Was there always a first day ceremony for special stamps?
Almost always.
According to Lloyd, PRC approved Rate Increase 9 July 2023. BK-20 $13.20
Are you an actual old time stamp club? I have so many stamps and accessories that I want to get rid of. No one wants them. No one does stamping anymore.
Old-time? No, strictly internet. See The Virtual Stamp Club article, “Help! I Inherited A Collection” here for some ideas (near the bottom of the page) on where to donate the material.
These Winter Woodland Animals stamps are so cute – a little reminiscent of Charley Harper’s art. Why don’t they make a stamp pin for these?
Possibly because these are considered by the USPS to be “mail-use” stamps and because there is no first-day ceremony at which to hand out the pins. I don’t know at what quantity the USPS would have to produce pins for an issue to make it profitable, but it certainly is an idea for the Postal People to investigate.
This set reminds me of 2018s Birds in Winter set. I need to assume it’s the same designer.🤔😀
Please, will there be a virtual viewing of this presentation? 10/10/2023 Woodlands, MI.
Thank You
Susan M Postmus
I will ask.
I asked two people. One says he doesn’t believe the ceremony will be streamed.
Was there a USPS program printed for the Winter Woodland Animals ceremony?
Not one of the “headquarters” programs, since it wasn’t a HQ-organized ceremony. I’ll ask if there was a local (or in this case, district) program.
Yes, there was a locally-produced ceremony program. It is not yet available for those who did not attend the ceremony, but should be soon.
Has the locally-produced ceremony program for the Winter Wonderland Animals stamps become available for those who did not attend the ceremony?
I’ve asked 3 of the organizers and am awaiting an answer.
One replied, the others are apparently traveling right now.