Announced by the USPS on June 29th:
This year’s traditional Christmas stamp features “The Virgin and Child Enthroned,” a Netherlandish painting that dates from around the year 1500 and has been attributed to an artist known only as “The Master of the Embroidered Foliage.” Scholars believe this distinctive painting, with its large central figure of Mary in red garments and an array of background details, was created in a workshop by several artists and assistants, as was common practice at the time. The painting is in the collection of the Clark Art Institute in Williamstown, MA. The stamp was designed by Greg Breeding, an art director for USPS.
The stamp will be issued October 2 in Williamstown, MA.
The latest information will appear below the line, with the most recent at the top.
https://www.stampsforever.com/stamps/christmas-madonna-and-child-2026 Here it is shown as a booklet stamp – like usual. The USPS press release had it looking like a coil – like on your site. Is it being issued in both? Was the press release just wrong image – should have been pictured a booklet? Just wondering.
The press releases always say the designs are subject to change. I think the booklet format is the most likely. But the USPS could surprise us and issue both.
I would be surprised if both would be issued. Say, why Christmas stamps are issued only as booklets and not coils? They used to come in panes until 1990. Most other “Special stamps” come in panes as well.
While “the public” insists a religious Christmas stamp must be available, they don’t actually sell that well. That’s why there are new “contemporary” Christmas stamps every year, but a new Madonna stamp every other year. That is probably why the Madonna stamps are only issued in the popular-with-the-mailers format of booklets.