Birds of Sint Eustatius (Netherlands 2025)

[from PostNL press materials] [click on any of the pictures for larger versions]
Experience Nature – Birds of Sint Eustatius

Issue date: 2 January 2025
Appearance: Sheet of 10 stamps in 10 different designs, each with denomination 1 for mail weighing up to 20 grams sent within the Netherlands
Item number: 450162
Design: Frank Janse, Gouda
Photography: Alamy, Dreamstime, Shutterstock, and Wikimedia Commons

The Experience Nature – Birds of Sint Eustatius stamp sheet features 10 different designs. The stamps are denominated 1, for mail weighing up to 20 grams sent within the Netherlands. The price of a sheet with 10 stamps is €12.10.

This stamp sheet is part of the multi-year Experience Nature series, dedicated to the biodiversity of the Caribbean Netherlands during 2024-2026. Each year, four stamp sheets will be issued, each with 10 different stamps. These stamps feature plants and animals found in this part of the Kingdom of the Netherlands. This region boasts remarkable biodiversity, with thousands of plant andanimal species. In 2025, the stamps will focus on the island’s birds, butterflies, underwater world, and flora. The Experience Nature – Birds of Sint Eustatius stamps highlight the following birds: merlin, laughing gull, indigo bunting, lesser Antillean bullfinch, semipalmated plover, green heron, purple-throated carib, royal tern, American oystercatcher, and northern parula.

Sint Eustatius, also known as locally as “Statia,” is an island of approximately 8 square miles. “Sint” means “Saint” in Dutch.

Like Bonaire and Saba, the island of Sint Eustatius holds a special status within the Netherlands. These three islands are collectively referred to as the Caribbean Netherlands. Along with Aruba, Curaçao, and Sint Maarten, they make up the Caribbean part of the Kingdom of the Netherlands. Known locally as Statia, Sint Eustatius is one of the Leeward Islands, referring to their position relative to the prevailing northeastern trade winds. The island lies between Saba and Saint Kitts and is separated from them by shallow seas. Its sole town and capital is Oranjestad. Since 2010, Sint Eustatius has been a special municipality, governed by an island council, which is responsible for local legislation, with executive power held by island commissioners appointed by the council and overseen by the island governor.

Sint Eustatius has a population of around 3,000 people, and the official language is English. The island is dominated by the dormant volcano The Quill (601 metres) in the southeast and the extinct volcanic area surrounding Bergje hill (223 metres) in the north. It boasts three national parks: Quill/Boven National Park, Statia National Marine Park, and the Miriam Schmidt Botanical Garden.

Sint Eustatius is a haven for bird enthusiasts, with a rich diversity of species. According to Bird Checklists of the World (2022), 123 different bird species have been recorded on the island, including approximately 30 breeding species. Among the island’s remarkable avian residents is the smallest bird in the Kingdom of the Netherlands: the Antillean crested hummingbird. Another notable resident, shared with nearby Saba, is the red-billed tropicbird. These islands are home to 40% of the world’s 8,000 breeding pairs of this species. Known for its striking red bill and long tail, this seabird nests on the cliffs and rocks of the islands’ coasts. The red-billed tropicbird is the only seabird that breeds on Sint Eustatius. Bird conservation efforts on the island are supported by Vogelbescherming Nederland (BirdLife Netherlands) through collaboration with local organisations and the Dutch Caribbean Nature Alliance. Initiatives include projects aimed at preventing nest predation by rats and feral cats, and protecting the endangered bridled quail-dove.

The stamp sheet was designed by Frank Janse from Gouda. Each bird is portrayed in its natural habitat on its own stamp. He has previously designed the earlier entries in the Experience Nature series starting in 2018. In 2024, Janse designed the stamp sheet and stamps featuring the Regalia of the Kingdom of the Netherlands in 24-karat gold, and in 2023, the Holland America Line 150 years, Girl with a Pearl Earring, and Juliana’s Inauguration 1948 stamps, also in 24-karat gold.

All the bird photos are integrated into a graphic design of circular shapes, which also appear on the sheet’s border. In some instances, the image extends onto the adjacent stamp and the border. Janse has also added graphic elements at various points on the stamp sheet, inspired by symbols found on old topographic maps, such as representations of landscape forms, contour lines, vegetation, soil structures, and watercourses.

Technical Specifications:

Stamp size: 40 x 30 mm
Sheet size: 122 x 170 mm
Paper: Normal with phosphor print
Gumming: Self-adhesive
Printing technique: Offset
Printing colours: Cyan, magenta, yellow, and black
Print run: 275,000 sheets
Appearance: Sheet of 10 stamps in 10 different designs
Design: Frank Janse, Gouda
Photography: Alamy, Dreamstime, Shutterstock, and Wikimedia Commons
Printing company: Koninklijke Joh. Enschedé B.V., Haarlem
Item number: 450162

Note: PostNL does not sell directly to collectors in North America. Its website refers to a company called Nordfirm, which says it sells Dutch new issues at face value. The Virtual Stamp Club has no connection to this company.

Collectors may also wish to contact the U.S. firm Bombay Stamps, which can also obtain first day covers upon request, with lower shipping fees. The email is sales@bombaystamps.com Again, The Virtual Stamp Club has no connection to this company.

750th Anniversary of Amsterdam (Netherlands 2025)

[from press materials] [click on any of the pictures for larger versions]
PostNL celebrates 750 years of Amsterdam with special stamp sheet

PostNL is celebrating Amsterdam’s 750th anniversary with a special stamp sheet. The stamp sheet contains five unique stamps designed by Michiel Schuurman, who was born and raised in Amsterdam. The stamps reflect the rich past and festive atmosphere of the capital, which will celebrate its anniversary from 27 October 2024 to 27 October 2025.

Summary:
Issue: Amsterdam 750 Years
Issue date: 2 January 2025
Appearance: Sheet of 5 special stamps in 5 different designs, each with a denomination of 1 for mail up to 20 grams sent within the Netherlands
Item number: 450161
Design: Michiel Schuurman, Amsterdam

Special design
The stamps show the number 750 in the form of a continuous ribbon, a playful reference to the city’s official anniversary banner. Each design has its own colour scheme, inspired by the diversity and vibrancy of Amsterdam. The typical Amsterdam St. Andrew’s crosses and serpentines add extra recognisability. “With this special stamp sheet, we are not only honouring the past, but also celebrating the future of Amsterdam,” says Maurice Unck, Director of Mail Netherlands at PostNL. “As the capital, Amsterdam has a unique place in our country and in the hearts of many. PostNL is proud to contribute to this festive milestone with this design.”

The Amsterdam 750 years stamp sheet was designed by Michiel Schuurman, a graphic designer from Amsterdam. Schuurman not only lives and works in the capital but was also born and raised there.

He describes the topic of Amsterdam 750 Years as vast, in every sense. “Big and grand. Both the city itself and its history and culture,” he said. “How do you summarise 750 years of city life? You’d need at least an entire book.”

“In true Amsterdam fashion, the stamps are boldly large,” he added. “They have that big-city attitude.”

750 years of history in a nutshell
The history of Amsterdam dates back to 1275, when Count Floris V granted the residents of ‘Amestelledamme’ freedom to pay tolls. In the centuries that followed, Amsterdam grew into a global city with a rich trading history and iconic urban expansions, such as the famous canal belt. Sietse Bakker, program director Amsterdam 750; ‘During our anniversary year Amsterdam 750, we celebrate the resilience, creativity and diversity of our city on its anniversary. These stamps are a beautiful symbol of the solidarity of Amsterdammers and all Dutch people in our past, present and future!

About the designer
In recent years, Schuurman has worked on projects for Amsterdam Roots (festival organisation), Block C (gallery), Lush Netherlands (cosmetics), The New Institute (cultural centre), Nike (fashion), Vlisco (textiles), De Volkskrant (newspaper), and Ymere (housing corporation). In addition to his design work, Schuurman teaches at the Royal Academy of Art in The Hague. For PostNL, Schuurman previously designed the stamp sheet “Gewoontjes” [“Ordinary”] (2019).

Availability
The stamp sheet ‘Amsterdam 750 years’ contains 5 stamps with the value indication Nederland 1, intended for mail up to and including 20 grams with a destination within the Netherlands. The stamps will be available from 2 January 2025 at Bruna stores and via the PostNL webshop. The stamps can also be ordered by telephone from the Collect Club customer service on telephone number 088 – 868 99 00. The validity period is indefinite. The price per sheet with 5 stamps is € 6.05.

Technical Data
Stamp size: 61.89 x 29.89 mm
Sheet size: 144 x 150 mm
Paper: normal with phosphor coating
Gumming: self-adhesive
Printing technique: offset
Printing colours: cyan, magenta, yellow, and black
Print run: 115,000 sheets
Appearance: sheet of 5 stamps in 5 different designs
Denomination: 1 for mail up to 20 grams within the Netherlands
Design: Michiel Schuurman, Amsterdam
Printing company: Koninklijke Joh. Enschedé B.V., Haarlem
Item number: 450161

Canadian Hanukkah Stamp Adds To History

By Danforth Guy
Photographs by the author (click on them for larger versions)

Click here for news on the 2025 Hanukkah stamp design.

For the first time, an actual menorah was featured on a Hanukkah stamp from Canada Post in 2024. It was also the first time the Hebrew word for Hanukkah has appeared on a Canadian stamp.

The 19th century item comes from the Aron Museum of Jewish ceremonial art, held at Temple Emanu-El-Beth Shalom in Westmount, Quebec, on the island of Montreal.

A day before the postal strike, the stamp was issued there on November 14. The next day, the temple hosted a stamp presentation, but, as it was Friday evening, they were also holding services. It was felt a fuller celebration of the honour would be fitting, so they organized a reception and presentation in December featuring nine historic menorahs, including the one on the stamp. Each was discussed during a lecture.

It was a rare chance to see (and even handle) the menorahs outside their display cases. The one on the stamp is striking for its peacock, theatrical curtains, and crown. Its nine white candles were digitally colorized for the issue. The menorahs were displayed in the front of the Ark.Note the Official FDC on display with the menorah. According to the Canada Post press release, “originally created in Poland, the silver-plated object is believed to have been rescued from a burning synagogue in Germany in November 1938 – around the time when widespread violence erupted in Nazi-occupied territories.”

Canada issued its first Hanukkah stamp in 2017 and has issued one every year since 2019.

Danforth also reports:

A source at the Aron Museum of Jewish ceremonial art says Canada Post has selected a second menorah from the museum’s collection for the next Hanukkah stamp (2025). The early 20th century hanukiyah comes from mainland Europe and is made of brass. It was photographed at the museum in Westmount, Quebec, at the same time as the one pictured on the 2024 issue — part of a move to feature actual menorahs rather than the graphic ones created for previous Hanukkah issues.

The postal service has not announced any stamps for 2025. Even when it does, it likely won’t confirm the identity of the menorah until much later in the year.

Jimmy Carter (U.S. 2025)

The U.S. Postal Service typically issues a stamp for former presidents on their first birthday after their death. That would put a stamp for the 39th President on or about October 1. It has not yet been confirmed by the USPS. Confirmed August 16th. Click on this image for a larger version.


Updated November 5th:
The Scott catalogue number for this issue is 6043.

Updated August 28th:

[ceremony details] [click on any of the pictures for larger versions]
President Jimmy Carter Stamp To Be Issued Oct. 1

What: The U.S. Postal Service will commemorate the life and legacy of President Jimmy Carter with the issuance of a commemorative stamp at The Carter Center in Atlanta on Oct.1, on what would have been his 101st birthday.
The dedication ceremony for the stamp is free and open to the public.

Who: Thomas J. Marshall, general counsel and executive vice president, U.S. Postal Service

Jason Carter, grandson and chair, The Carter Center Board of Trustees

Beth Davis, chief operating officer, The Carter Center; and director of scheduling, Office of Jimmy Carter

When: Wednesday, Oct. 1, 2025, at 11 a.m. EDT

Where: The Carter Center
453 John Lewis Freedom Parkway NE
Atlanta, GA 30307

RSVP: Attendees must register at usps.com/jimmycarterstamp to attend.

Background: From his origins in small-town Georgia, Carter came to the White House as an outsider who represented a new generation of progressive Southern politicians.

Carter was inaugurated as the 39th president on Jan. 20, 1977. During his term, he would make humility and reconciliation recurring themes in his presidency.

Carter made a mark with his appointments of many women and minorities to government positions. He created a presidential commission on mental health, established new cabinet departments, and greatly increased the size of the National Park System and federally designated wilderness areas. Mindful of the nation’s fiscal position, he was deeply concerned with trying to balance the federal budget and control inflation. In his efforts to improve the economy, he ushered through deregulation in several industries, including energy and air travel.

On the world stage, Carter was praised for personally negotiating the Camp David Accords, providing a framework for peace in the Middle East. He signed SALT II, a treaty with the Soviet Union to limit strategic nuclear arms, and he initiated a major change in foreign policy when he announced that the United States would officially recognize and establish formal diplomatic relations with the People’s Republic of China.

After leaving the presidency, Carter became a prominent activist for peace, human rights and social and economic progress around the world. In 1982, he partnered with Emory University to establish The Carter Center, which advances democracy and human rights, resolves conflicts, and works to improve health in some of the world’s poorest nations. In recognition of his efforts, he received the Nobel Peace Prize in 2002 — cementing his reputation as one of the most active and impactful former presidents.

The stamp art is a 1982 oil-on-linen painting created as a life study by artist Herbert E. Abrams (1921-2003) in preparation for painting Carter’s official White House portrait. Ethel Kessler, an art director for USPS, designed the stamp.

As a Forever stamp, the Jimmy Carter stamp will always be equal in value to the current First-Class Mail 1-ounce price. News of the stamp is being shared with the hashtag #JimmyCarterStamp.

Updated August 27th:

Here are the first-day postmarks:The Digital Color Postmark measures 3.00″ x 1.05″The Pictorial Postmark measures 2.75″ x 0.93″ The Special Postmark, which may be used by post offices other than the first-day one, measures 2.25″ x 1.27″

From the Postal Bulletin:
On October 1, 2025, in Atlanta, GA, the United States Postal Service® will issue the Jimmy Carter stamp (Forever® priced at the First-Class Mail® rate), in one design, in a pressure-sensitive adhesive (PSA) pane of 20 stamps (Item 487400). This stamp will go on sale nationwide October 1, 2025, and must not be sold or canceled before the first-day-of-issue.

This stamp honors Jimmy Carter (1924–2024), the 39th President of the United States. From his origins in small-town Georgia, Carter came to the White House as an outsider who represented a new generation of progressive Southern politicians. After a presidency that began with promise and accomplishment, but suffered diplomatic and economic turmoil in its final year, Carter devoted more than 3 decades to advancing peace, democracy, and human rights throughout the world. He received the Nobel Peace Prize in 2002. The stamp art is a 1982 oil-on-linen painting of Carter by artist Herbert E. Abrams. Art director Ethel Kessler designed the stamp.

Automatic distribution.

There is a Special Postmark for this issue.

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 – Jimmy Carter 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 February 1, 2026.

Technical Specifications:/strong>

Issue: Jimmy Carter Stamp
Item Number: 487400
Denomination & Type of Issue: First-Class Mail Forever
Format: Pane of 20 (1 design)
Series: N/A
Issue Date & City: October 1, 2025, Atlanta, GA 30304
Art Director: Ethel Kessler, Bethesda, MD
Designer: Ethel Kessler, Bethesda, MD
Existing Art: Herbert E. Abrams
Modeler: Sandra Lane / Michelle Finn
Manufacturing Process: Offset, Microprint
Printer: Banknote Corporation of America
Press Type: Alprinta 74
Stamps per Pane: 20
Print Quantity: 20,000,000 stamps
Paper Type: Phosphor, Block Tag
Adhesive Type: Pressure-sensitive
Colors: Cyan, Magenta, Yellow, Black, PMS 7407 C
Stamp Orientation: Vertical
Image Area (w x h): 0.8400 x 1.4200 in. / 21.3360 x 36.0680 mm.
Overall Size (w x h): 0.9800 x 1.5600 in. / 24.8920 x 39.6240 mm.
Full Pane Size (w x h): 5.9200 x 7.2400 in. / 150.3680 x 183.8960 mm.
Press Sheets Size (w x h): 11.8400 x 21.7200 in. / 300.7360 x 551.6880 mm.
Plate Size: 240 stamps per revolution
Plate Number: “B” followed by five (5) single digits
Marginal Markings:
Front: Plate number in four corners
Back: © 2025 USPS • USPS logo • Two barcodes (487400) • Plate position diagram (6) • Promotional text

Updated August 23rd:
Preordering will begin September 1. Here’s what the full pane of 20 stamps will look like:

[press release] [click on any of the pictures for larger versions]
U.S. Postal Service Reveals New Forever Stamp Design Honoring Former President Jimmy Carter

PLAINS, GA — The U.S. Postal Service today announced it will issue a commemorative Forever stamp honoring former President Jimmy Carter, who died Dec. 29, 2024, at the age of 100. The Postal Service plans to release the stamp for purchase on Oct. 1 in Atlanta, on what would have been former President Carter’s 101st birthday.

[The sign shown on the left greeted those entering Great American Stamp Show on Saturday morning.]

Representatives of the Friends of Jimmy Carter, the National Park Service and the U.S. Postal Service unveiled the stamp art today at the Jimmy Carter National Historical Park in Plains.

“The stamp program celebrates the best in American culture, places and people, and it is difficult to consider a more fitting honoree than former President Jimmy Carter. In his support and leadership of his beloved community, state, and nation, he lent his quiet, thoughtful and deliberate energy around causes he believed in, and most certainly in his conduct and accomplishments as a former President, Jimmy Carter truly personified the best in America. I am honored to participate in the reveal of this stamp art which fully evokes his humanity,” said Peter Pastre the Postal Service’s government relations and public policy vice president.

Kim Carter Fuller, executive director of the Friends of Jimmy Carter said, “The Carter family and the Friends of Jimmy Carter are honored to be able to take part in revealing the design for President Carter’s Forever stamp. Together we’ve had the distinct privilege of a front row seat to his life and legacy, and today’s reveal gives the world an opportunity to share his legacy with others on a daily basis”.

From his origins in small-town Georgia, Carter came to the White House as an outsider who represented a new generation of progressive Southern politicians.

Carter was inaugurated as the 39th president on Jan. 20, 1977. During his term Carter would make humility and reconciliation recurring themes in his presidency.

Carter made a mark with his appointments of many women and minorities to government positions. He created a presidential commission on mental health, established new cabinet departments, and greatly increased the size of the National Park System and federally designated wilderness areas. Mindful of the nation’s fiscal position, he was deeply concerned with trying to balance the federal budget and control inflation. In his efforts to improve the economy, he ushered through deregulation in several industries, including energy and air travel.

On the world stage, Carter was praised for personally negotiating the Camp David Accords, providing a framework for peace in the Middle East. He signed SALT II, a treaty with the Soviet Union to limit strategic nuclear arms, and he initiated a major change in foreign policy when he announced that the United States would officially recognize and establish formal diplomatic relations with the People’s Republic of China.

After leaving the presidency, Carter became a prominent activist for peace, human rights and social and economic progress around the world. In 1982, he partnered with Emory University to establish the Carter Center, which advances democracy, monitors elections, mediates disputes and works to prevent tropical diseases in the world’s poorest nations. In recognition of his efforts, he received the Nobel Peace Prize in 2002 — cementing his reputation as one of the most active and impactful former presidents.

The stamp art is a 1982 oil-on-linen painting created as a life study by artist Herbert E. Abrams (1921-2003) in preparation for painting his official White House portrait. Ethel Kessler, an art director for USPS, designed the stamp.

As a Forever stamp, the Jimmy Carter stamp will always be equal in value to the current First-Class Mail 1-ounce price. News of the Jimmy Carter stamp is being shared with the hashtag #JimmyCarterStamp.

Updated June 11th:
According to Foster Miller, this stamp will be issued October 1, but in Atlanta, since there is not enough capacity in Plains, GA, for a first-day ceremony audience.

Canada Post to Resume Service December 17

[press release] [click on any of the pictures for larger versions]
Canada Post to restart operations on December 17 and welcome back employees
Postal service is focused on stabilizing operations to return reliable service to Canadians and businesses

OTTAWA, ON, Dec. 16, 2024 /CNW/ – Canada Post will restart operations tomorrow and begin the process of safely ramping up and stabilizing operations across the country. With a large, integrated network of processing plants, depots and post offices, stabilizing operations will take time and the company asks Canadians for their patience.
Canada Post will continue to keep Canadians updated with information posted on canadapost.ca.

Parcels, Lettermail and Direct Marketing mail

  • On a first-in, first-out basis, Canada Post will start working through the mail and parcels trapped in the system since the strike began on November 15, 2024.
  • New commercial volumes will not be accepted into the network until Thursday, December 19.
  • Service guarantees are suspended as the company ramps up operations.
  • Canadians should expect delivery delays through the remainder of 2024 and into January 2025.
  • Post office hours of operation may vary as the company works to stabilize operations.

International mail and parcels

  • Canada Post will work to process a significant accumulation of international mail and parcels currently queued up to enter the postal system.
  • Customers should expect delays into 2025.
  • The postal system will start accepting new international mail on December 23.

Battlefields of the American Revolution (U.S. 2025)

Announced by the USPS on December 16, 2024:

Marking the 250th anniversary of the start of the Revolutionary War, this pane of 15 stamps invites us to witness and remember five turning points in the fight for American independence. Watercolor paintings depicting scenes of five battles appear alongside photographs of sites involved in each battle. Derry Noyes, an art director for USPS, designed the stamps with art by Greg Harlin and photographs by Jon Bilous, Richard Lewis, Tom Morris, Gregory J. Parker and Kevin Stewart.

Additional information will be posted below the line, with the most recent informaton at the top.


Updated June 11th:
The Scott catalogue numbers for these stamps are:
5977 Battlefields of the American Revolution pane of 15
a. (73¢) Replica of Old North Bridge, Battle of Lexington and Concord
b. (73¢) American militia members on Old North Bridge, Battle of Lexington and Concord
c. (73¢) British troops withdrawing from Old North Bridge, Battle of Lexington and Concord
d. (73¢) British troops advancing on Breed’s Hill, Battle of Bunker Hill
e. (73¢) William Prescott ordering American troops to fire, Battle of Bunker Hill
f. (73¢) Bunker Hill Monument, Battle of Bunker Hill
g. (73¢) Old Barracks Museum, Battle of Trenton
h. (73¢) Gen. George Washington crossing the Delaware, Battle of Trenton
i. (73¢) Boatmen guiding boats across the Delaware, Battle of Trenton
j. (73¢) Lt. Gen. John Burgoyne holding sword at surrender ceremony, Battle of Saratoga
k. (73¢) Gen. Horatio Gates reaching for Burgoyne’s sword, Battle of Saratoga
l. (73¢) Replica of British howitzer, Battle of Saratoga
m. (73¢) Reconstructions of British redoubts, Battle of Yorktown
n. (73¢) Comte de Rochambeau pointing British Gen. Charles O’Hara towards Gen. Washington at surrender, Battle of Yorktown
o. (73¢) Washington and others at surrender, Battle of Yorktown
p. As #5977, imperforate
q. As #5977a, imperforate
r. As #5977b, imperforate
s. As #5977c, imperforate
t. As #5977d, imperforate
u. As #5977e, imperforate
v. As #5977f, imperforate
w. As #5977g, imperforate
x. As #5977h, imperforate
y. As #5977i, imperforate
z. As #5977j, imperforate
aa. As #5977k, imperforate
ab. As #5977l, imperforate
ac. As #5977m, imperforate
ad. As #5977n, imperforate
ae. As #5977o, imperforate

Updated March 6th:
These stamps will be issued April 16 in Concord, MA.

Powwows (U.S. 2025)

Full name of the issue: “Powwows: Celebrating Native American Culture.” Announced by the USPS on December 16, 2024:

The Postal Service strives to tell the stories of all Americans on its stamps, and issuing stamps that honor the living culture and heritage of Indigenous people is an important part of that goal. These stamps celebrate powwows, Native American social and ceremonial gatherings that feature music, dance and festive regalia. For this issuance, Cochiti Pueblo artist Mateo Romero created original paintings of four powwow dancers performing their craft against brightly colored backgrounds that highlight each dancer’s movement and traditional dress. Antonio Alcalá, an art director for USPS, designed the stamps.

Additional information will be posted below the line, with the most recent information at the top.


Updated June 11th:
The Scott catalogue numbers for these stamps are:
5978 (73¢) Powwows – Crow Hop Dance
a. Imperforate
5979 (73¢) Powwows – Women’s Traditional Dance
a. Imperforate
5980 (73¢) Powwows – Women’s Fancy Shawl Dance
a. Imperforate
5981 (73¢) Powwows – Men’s Hoop Dance
a. Imperforate
b. Horiz. or vert. strip of 4, #5978-5981
c. Imperforate horiz. or vert. strip of 4, #5978a-5981a

Updated March 20th:

[media advisory] [click on any of the pictures for larger versions]
USPS Celebrates Native American Culture with Powwow Stamps

What: The U.S. Postal Service will hold a first-day-of-issue ceremony for the Powwows: Celebrating Native American Culture stamps at the annual Gathering of Nations Pow Wow in Albuquerque, NM.

News of the Forever stamps is being shared with the hashtag #PowwowsStamps.-

Who: Steve Monteith, the Postal Service’s chief customer and marketing officer and executive vice president, will serve as the dedicating official.-

When: Friday, April 25, at 1:30 p.m. MDT-

Where:
Gathering of Nations Pow Wow
Tingley Coliseum / Expo New Mexico
300 San Pedro Drive NE
Albuquerque, NM 87108

RSVP: Attendees are encouraged to RSVP at www.usps.com/powwowsstamps. USPS will have a limited number of admission tickets and guests must register to receive one.-

Background: Powwows are festive gatherings where Indigenous people can celebrate their identities through dance, prayer, music and art. The largest powwow is the annual Gathering of Nations in Albuquerque, New Mexico, with more than 100,000 attendees.
These ceremonies open with a grand entry parade featuring Native veterans, tribal elders, dancers, and musicians. In addition to traditional and competitive dancing, main events include singing, pageantry, the honoring of ancestors, arts and crafts, and giveaways or donations to those in need.

The four powwow stamps showcase original paintings of Native American dancers by Cochiti Pueblo artist Mateo Romero. The artist took photographs of the dancers in their traditional clothing while performing and then painted on top of the images. The stamps include the Women’s Traditional Dance, Crow Hop Dance, Men’s Hoop Dance, and Women’s Fancy Shawl Dance.
Antonio Alcalá, an art director for USPS, designed the stamps, which will always be equal in value to the current First-Class Mail one-ounce rate.

Here are the first-day postmarks for this issue:The Digital Color Postmark measures 2.99″ x 1.28″The Pictorial Postmark measures 1.47″ x 1.30″

From the Postal Bulletin:
On April 25, 2025, in Albuquerque, NM, the United States Postal Service® will issue the Powwows: Celebrating Native American Culture stamps (Forever® priced at the First-Class Mail® rate) in four designs, in a pressure-sensitive adhesive (PSA) pane of 20 stamps (Item 486400). These stamps will go on sale nationwide April 25, 2025, and must not be sold or canceled before the first-day-of-issue. The Powwows: Celebrating Native American Culture commemorative pane of 20 stamps must not be split and the stamps must not be sold individually.

Powwows: Celebrating Native American Culture stamps honor these vibrant North American Native gatherings and their unique contribution to our American culture. Four new stamps, in a pane of 20, showcase original paintings of four Native American powwow dancers by Cochiti Pueblo artist Mateo Romero. The dances featured are Crow Hop, Women’s Traditional, Women’s Fancy Shawl, and Men’s Hoop. A large powwow drum is showcased on the selvage along with the title of the issuance. Art director Antonio Alcalá designed the stamps and the stamp pane.

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 – Powwows: Celebrating Native American Culture 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 25, 2025.

Technical Specifications:

Issue: Powwows: Celebrating Native American Culture Stamps
Item Number: 486400
Denomination & Type of Issue: First-Class Mail Forever
Format: Pane of 20 (4 designs)
Series: N/A
Issue Date & City: April 25, 2025, Albuquerque, NM 87101
Art Director: Antonio Alcalá, Alexandria, VA
Designer: Antonio Alcalá, Alexandria, VA
Artist: Mateo Romero, Santa Fe, NM
Modeler: Sandra Lane / Michelle Finn
Manufacturing Process: Offset, Flexographic
Printer: Banknote Corporation of America
Press Type: Gallus RCS
Stamps per Pane: 20
Print Quantity: 18,000,000
Paper Type: Phosphor, Block Tag
Adhesive Type: Pressure-sensitive
Colors: Cyan, Magenta, Yellow, Black
Stamp Orientation: Vertical
Image Area (w x h): 0.8400 x 1.4200 in. / 21.3360 x 36.0680 mm.
Overall Size (w x h): 0.9800 x 1.5600 in. / 24.8920 x 39.6240 mm.
Full Pane Size (w x h): 5.9200 x 8.0000 in. / 150.3680 x 203.2000 mm.
Press Sheets Size (w x h): 11.9650 x 16.1250 in. / 303.9110 x 409.5750 mm.
Plate Size: 80 stamps per revolution
Plate Number: -“B” followed by four (4) single digits
Marginal Markings:
Front: Header: POWWOWS: Celebrating Native American Culture • Plate number in bottom two corners
Back: © 2024 USPS • USPS logo • Two barcodes (486400) • Plate position diagram (4) • Promotional text

Updated March 6th:
These stamps will be issued April 25 in Albuquerque, NM.

Freshwater Fishing Lures (U.S. 2025)

Announced by the USPS on December 16, 2024:

Recreational fishing attracts more than 55 million anglers to America’s lakes, rivers, and oceans each year — and lure designs for different environments are part of its growing appeal. These stamps feature brightly detailed photographs by Sarah Cramer Shields showing five lures considered icons of the sport. Greg Breeding, an art director for USPS, designed the stamps.

In addition, the USPS says these stamps will be issued March 13, 2025, in Springfield, MO.

Additional information will appear below the line, with the newest information at the top.


Updated May 7th:
Here are the Scott catalog numbers for this issue:
5961 (73¢) Crankbait
5962 (73¢) Popper
5963 (73¢) Spoon
5964 (73¢) Spinner
5965 (73¢) Wakebait

Updated March 10th:
Here is what the full pane of 20 looks like:You can click on this picture for a larger version.

Updated February 6th:

[press release] [click on any of the pictures for larger versions]
Freshwater Fishing Lures Stamps To Be Issued March 13

What: The U.S. Postal Service will issue its Freshwater Fishing Lures stamps at Johnny Morris’ Wonders of Wildlife National Museum & Aquarium in Springfield, MO, on March 13. This release celebrates the beauty and ingenuity of some of America’s most successful freshwater fishing lures with a colorful pane of 20 Forever stamps featuring five different, close-up photographs of five popular designs.

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

Who: John DiPeri, vice president, regional processing operations — Western Region, U.S. Postal Service

When: Thursday, March 13, 2025, at 11 a.m. Central

Where:
Bass Pro Shops, Wonders of Wildlife National Museum & Aquarium
500 W. Sunshine St.
Springfield, MO 65807

RSVP: Attendees are required to register at usps.com/fishingluresstamps to receive free admission to Johnny Morris’ Wonders of Wildlife National Museum & Aquarium.

Background: From the earliest handmade wooden lures to modern swimbaits made of advanced materials, there are countless freshwater fishing lures available, each designed to meet the specific needs of the angler.

Crankbaits, or plugs, are popular among anglers because they are relatively easy to use. They attract a variety of fish, including bass, walleye and pike. Their unique swimming action is generated by a plastic lip and curved body, which make the lures dive and wiggle just by reeling them in. Anglers tend to run these lures along the bottom, bouncing them off rocks, logs or other submerged structures.

An in-line spinner lure is made to mimic the movement of a swimming bait fish, attracting predator fish with a spinning blade and a weighted body that create vibration in the water. They often have tails dressed with feathers, animal hair or rubber skirting to attract bass, trout, pike and other species in shallow streams, deeper rivers and lakes.

Spoon lures have been around since the 1800s and are named for their concave shape. It is believed that a blacksmith in Vermont created the first spoon lure by sawing off the handle of a spoon and attaching a hook. Spoons have remained popular because their unique movement and glimmer under water are so effective at catching fish, especially bass, pike and trout.

Topwater lures are extremely popular and are designed to be used on the surface of the water.

Wakebaits use metal or plastic wings to create a commotion like the wake of a boat as they skim the surface. A popper has a concave face that creates a popping sound when it is pulled across the water.

Greg Breeding, an art director for USPS, designed the stamps using original photographs by Sarah Cramer Shields.

As Forever stamps, Freshwater Fishing Lures will always be equal in value to the current First-Class Mail 1-ounce price.

Here are the first-day postmarks for this issue: The Digital Color Postmark measures 2.91″ x 1.46″The pictorial postmark measures 2.11″ x 1.12″

From the Postal Bulletin:
On March 13, 2025, in Springfield, MO, the United States Postal Service® will issue the Freshwater Fishing Lures stamps (Forever® priced at the First-Class Mail® rate), in five designs, in a pressure-sensitive adhesive (PSA) pane of 20 stamps (Item 486500). These stamps will go on sale nationwide March 13, 2025, and must not be sold or canceled before the first-day-of-issue. The Freshwater Fishing Lures commemorative pane of 20 stamps must not be split and the stamps must not be sold individually.

This issuance celebrates the beauty and ingenuity of some of America’s most successful freshwater fishing lures. The colorful pane of 20 Forever® stamps features five close-up photographs of five different, popular fishing lure designs: crankbait, popper, spoon, spinner, and wakebait. Art director Greg Breeding designed the stamps using original photographs by Sarah Cramer Shields.

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 – Freshwater Fishing Lures 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 July 13, 2025.

Technical Specifications:

Issue: Freshwater Fishing Lures Stamps
Item Number: 486500
Denomination & Type of Issue: First-Class Mail Forever
Format: Pane of 20 (5 designs)
Series: N/A
Issue Date & City: March 13, 2025, Springfield, MO 65801
Art Director: Greg Breeding, Charlottesville VA
Designer: Greg Breeding, Charlottesville VA
Photographer: Sarah Cramer Shields, Charlottesville, VA
Modeler: Joseph Sheeran
Manufacturing Process: Offset
Printer: Ashton Potter (USA) Ltd. (APU)
Press Type: Muller A76
Stamps per Pane: 20
Print Quantity: 15,000,000
Paper Type: Nonphosphored Type III, Block Tag
Adhesive Type: Pressure-sensitive
Stamp Orientation: Horizontal
Image Area 1 (w x h): 1.420 x 0.8400 in. / 36.0680 x 21.3360 mm.
Stamp Size 1 (w x h): 1.560 x 0.9800 in. / 39.6240 x 24.8920 mm.
Image Area 2 (w x h): 1.710 x 0.8400 in. / 43.4340 x 21.3360 mm.
Stamp Size 2 (w x h): 1.850 x 0.9800 in. / 46.9900 x 24.8920 mm.
Full Pane Size (w x h): 9.450 x 5.5000 in. / 240.030 x 139.7000 mm.
Colors: Cyan, Magenta, Yellow, Black
Plate Size: 160 stamps per revolution
Plate Number: “P” followed by four (4) single digits
Marginal Markings:
Front: Header: FRESHWATER FISHING LURES • Plate number in bottom two corners
Back: © 2024 USPS • USPS logo • Two barcodes (486500) • Plate position diagram (8) • Promotional text

Report: Trump Eyes Privatizing US Postal Service

The Washington Post reports that President-elect Trump has been talking to advisors about privatizing the U.S. Postal Service. The newspaper says people with knowledge of the subject have said that Trump feels the government should not subsidize the mail carrier, especially in light of its financial losses.

“There’s a lot of [other] carrier services that became legal in the ’70s that are doing things so much better with increased volumes and reduced costs,” Casey Mulligan, who served as a top economist in the first Trump administration, told the Post.

The paper points out that Trump “feuded with the nation’s mail carrier as president in 2019, trying to force it to hand over key functions — including rate-setting, personnel decisions, labor relations and managing relationships with its largest clients — to the Treasury Department.” He also opposed voting by mail.

The USPS says it processed more than 99 million ballots last month, “In 2024, the Postal Service once again admirably performed our role of efficiently and effectively delivering the nation’s ballots,” said Postmaster General Louis DeJoy in a press release.

The Post warns that changes to the USPS could have a major impact on the e-commerce industry. Cuts in its service could also have a backlash from voters (and members of Congress) in rural areas that are only served by the USPS, which pledges six-day-a-week delivery to every address in the U.S.

How would privatization affect stamp collectors? Would we see more issues for toys like Hot Wheels (2018) and movie releases like “Lightyear” (2022)?

Note: You may need a subscription to read the entire Washington Post article.

Mueller Honored with Holiday Cachet

[press release]
AFDCS Honors Tom Mueller with Holiday Cachet

The American First Day Cover Society in 2024 is honoring cachet artist Tom Mueller as its Court of Honor cachetmaker. The Santa Claus cachet is taken from a 1991 cover for the Holiday Celebrations issue with Santa in a chimney (Sc. 2579).

AFDCS Court of Honor No. 44 (an example of which is shown on the right) was serviced with singles of all the U.S. holiday issues, including Kwanzaa and Hanukkah, and with all of this year’s holiday first-day postmarks. They are available for sale in the Marketplace section of the AFDCS website, www.afdcs.net/AFDCS-Marketplace

Mueller, a self-taught Midwestern artist, began producing his hand-painted “Silverwing” cachets in 1990 (Dwight Eisenhower, Sc. 2513), and continued designing for new issues until 2006, concentrating then on add-on cachets. Most are one of a kind. His 1991 cachet for the Basketball stamp (Sc. 2560) won the top award in the AFDCS Cachet Contest and his work was featured in a gold-medal exhibit by Anthony Dewey shown at St. Louis Stamp Expo this past March. Nearly three dozen of his family members attended the show to celebrate his philatelic career. (photo left. Dewey is second from the left in the back row)

An article on Mueller by Patrick Morgan (on the left in the blue polo shirt) appeared in the November-December 2021 issue of First Days, the official journal of the AFDCS.

The Court of Honor series commemorates cachet artists who have, over the years, contributed so much to the hobby through the beauty of their art. It began in 1981 and the

The original 1991 FDC

first artist honored was Ralph Dyer. There has been a new Court of Honor FDC every year since then. Stamps with Christmas themes are used because the U.S. issues new ones every year. A different artist is selected each year.

Many of the earlier years’ covers are also available.

The AFDCS is the largest not-for-profit first day cover society in the world, with members in more than a dozen countries. In addition to publishing First Days and handbooks, catalogues and You-Tube videos, the society is a co-sponsor of the annual Great American Stamp Show. It holds an annual cachetmaking contest and two mail auctions a year, and encourages philatelic exhibiting and writing about FDCs.

For more information about the AFDCS, visit www.afdcs.org, e-mail afdcs@afdcs.org or write the AFDCS at Post Office Box 57, Somerset, WI 54025-0057