Experience Nature: Butterflies of Saba (Netherlands 2026)

Posted on March 27, 2026 by VSC

[press release] [click on any of the pictures for larger versions]
Experience Nature – Butterflies of Saba

• Issue date: 30 March 2026
• Format: sheet of 10 stamps in 10 different designs, denomination 1 for items up to 20 grams destined for addresses within the Netherlands
• Item number: 460361
• Design: Frank Janse, Gouda
• Photography: Alamy, Wikimedia Commons (Anne Toal, Annika Lindqvist, Charles J. Sharp)
On 30 March 2026, PostNL will issue Experience Nature – Butterflies of Saba, a sheet of 10 stamps with 10 different designs. Each stamp bears denomination 1 for items up to 20 grams with a destination within the Netherlands. The price for a sheet of 10 stamps is €14.00 (currently US $16.18).

This stamp sheet featuring the butterflies of Saba is part of the multi-year Experience nature series dedicated to the Caribbean Netherlands from 2024 to 2026. Each year, 4 stamp sheets are released, each with 10 different stamps depicting plants and animals found in this part of the Kingdom. These islands boast an extraordinary biodiversity by Dutch standards, with thousands of plant and animal species.

In 2026, the focus will successively be on birds, butterflies, underwater life and flora of the windward island of Saba. The 2nd stamp sheet, Experience Nature – Butterflies of Saba, gives centre stage to the following butterflies:

Dorantes Longtail
Mangrove Buckeye
Julia butterfly (orange passionflower butterfly)
Caribbean Duskywing
Ruddy Daggerwing
Cassius Blue
Zebra Longwing
Tropical White
Orcus Checkered‑Skipper
Red Rim.

The island of Saba, like Bonaire and Sint Eustatius, has a special status within the Netherlands. Collectively, these three islands are known as the Caribbean Netherlands. Together with Aruba, Curaçao and Sint Maarten, they form the Caribbean part of the Kingdom of the Netherlands. Saba belongs to the windward islands, a term referring to their position relative to the prevailing north-easterly trade winds. Saba lies 30 kilometres [18.6 miles] northwest of Sint Eustatius and 45 kilometres [28 miles] southwest of Sint Maarten. Roughly circular, the island measures about 4.5 kilometres [2.8 miles] across and covers an area of 13 square kilometres [5 square miles]. Geologically, Saba is a dormant volcano with four lava domes. Its slopes descend steeply to the sea, and its coastline is rocky. At 870 metres [2,854 feet], Mount Scenery is the highest point in the Netherlands. The climate is humid tropical, and the island is covered with secondary rainforest.

North of Saba lies Green Island, a small uninhabited rocky islet that also belongs to the island territory. To the south lies the Saba Bank, an underwater coral island. The Saba Bank is part of the Saba National Marine Park, a marine reserve of 1,300 hectares (about 3200 acres) surrounding the entire coastline. Saba also has a national land park of about 43 hectares (106 acres). Butterflies on the island are mainly found in areas where flowering plants occur: in gardens, along the edges of the rainforest, in open spaces in the higher mountain zones and along hiking trails. These habitats are characterised by the necessary supply of food (nectar) and shelter. The variation in altitude and microclimate on Saba contributes to the diversity of the approximately 30 butterfly species found on the island.

Butterflies are an order of winged insects, with a total of approximately 160,000 described species. The collective name is Lepidoptera. This word comes from Greek: lepis means scale and ptera means wings. The literal translation is therefore “scale‑winged insects”. The wings of butterflies are indeed covered with scales that absorb light in different ways, creating the visible colours and patterns. Of all butterfly species in the world, around 265 occur in the Caribbean Netherlands, both resident species and occasional visitors. A study of the butterfly fauna of the Dutch Windward Islands Saba, Sint Eustatius and Sint Maarten shows that Saba alone is home to around 30 species. This number does not differ greatly from Sint Eustatius, despite the differences in size, habitability and vegetation. Species numbers on Saba are relatively stable, although threats such as habitat loss, the introduction of exotic species and changes in land use may pose risks.

The stamp sheet Experience Nature – Butterflies of Saba was designed by graphic designer Frank Janse from Gouda. All butterflies are portrayed in their natural environment, each on their own stamp. In several locations, the designer added graphic elements derived from symbols used on old topographic maps. These symbols indicate features such as landscape formations, contour lines, vegetation, soil structures and waterways. The design is also characterised by an additional transparent layer featuring monochrome images (both white and coloured) of characteristic flora and fauna from this region. These transparent images are rendered in an almost abstract way, extend across the perforations and link the stamps both to one another and to the sheet border. The following plants and animals are depicted in this way: lantana (top left), Monkey Leaf (top right and centre of the sheet), zebra butterfly (centre right) and the caterpillar of the zebra butterfly (bottom left).

“This island, like Sint Eustatius, is a windward island. They are close to each other and very similar,” says Janse. “Saba is more volcanic, which means more fertile soil. It is also mainly hilly and mountainous, with fewer plains than Sint Eustatius. Both islands have roughly the same number of butterfly species, despite the difference in size and vegetation. In many cases, they are the same species.”

The decisions about which plants and animals to depict in this series were made in 2023.

“Because of the overlap between the butterfly species on the Windward Islands, we determined the distribution in advance. This allowed us to assign an equal number of beautiful butterflies to each island.”

Butterflies in flight are difficult to photograph. That is why only photos of butterflies at rest are used on the stamps, most of them with wings spread. “That way they fit perfectly into the landscape‑oriented stamp format,” says Janse.

Technical Specifications:
Stamp size: 40 x 30 mm
Sheet size: 122 x 170 mm
Paper: normal with phosphor coating
Gumming: self-adhesive
Printing technique: offset
Colours: cyan, magenta, yellow and black
Print run: 275,000 sheets
Format: sheet of 10 stamps in 10 different designs
Denomination: 1 for items up to 20 grams destined for addresses within the Netherlands
Design: Frank Janse, Gouda
Photography: Alamy, Wikimedia Commons (Anne Toal, Annika Lindqvist, Charles J. Sharp)
Printer: Koninklijke Joh. Enschedé B.V., Haarlem
Item number: 460361

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.

USPS Seeks Fuel Price Relief

Posted on March 25, 2026 by VSC

Update: As expected, the Postal Regulatory Commission approved all the requested changes, which only affect the USPS’ “competitive” (that is, package) services: Express Mail, Priority Mail, Ground Advantage and Parcel Select. It will go into effect April 26 and continue through January 17, 2027.

[press release] [click on any of the pictures for larger versions]
U.S. Postal Service Announces Transportation-Related, Time-Limited Price Change

WASHINGTON — The U.S. Postal Service has filed notice with the Postal Regulatory Commission (PRC) regarding a time-limited price change to better align its costs of transportation with the market. This temporary price adjustment will provide needed flexibility for the Postal Service by helping to ensure that the actual costs of doing business are covered, as required by Congress.

While this price increase is a time-limited adjustment, it will provide a necessary bridge to a permanent mechanism to reflect market conditions in prices for competitive products that can support the Postal Service’s ability to achieve the universal service obligation in a more financially sustainable manner going forward.

The planned price change, which was approved by the Governors of the Postal Service on March 24, is an 8 percent increase that would affect base postage prices on the following retail and commercial domestic competitive products: Priority Mail Express, Priority Mail, USPS Ground Advantage, and Parcel Select. No other products or services would be affected, including First-Class Stamps. Pending favorable review by the PRC, the price change would go into effect at midnight Central Time on April 26 and would remain in place until midnight Central Time on Jan. 17, 2027. At that time, the Postal Service can determine if a different long-term approach is needed.

Transportation costs have been increasing, and our competitors have reacted with a number of surcharges. We have steadfastly avoided surcharges and this charge is less than one-third of what our competitors charge for fuel alone, so even with this change, the Postal Service continues to offer great value in shipping with some of the lowest rates in the industrialized world.

The time-limited price change is consistent with industry practices and will support the Postal Service’s ability to continue achieving its public service mission — providing a nationwide, integrated network for the delivery of mail and packages at least six days a week — in a cost-effective and financially sustainable manner over the long term, just as the U.S. Congress has intended.

The PRC will review the proposed price change before it is scheduled to take effect on April 26. Complete USPS price filings, with prices for all products, can be found on the PRC website’s Daily Listings section at prc.arkcase.com/portal/filings. Price tables are also available on the Postal Explorer website at pe.usps.com/PriceChange/Index.

Dutch Waterlines (Netherlands 2026)

Posted on March 25, 2026 by VSC

[from PostNL press material] [click on any of the pictures for larger versions]
Dutch Waterlines

Issue date: March 30, 2026Item number: 860029
Designer: Bart de Haas, Den Haag
Photographers: Bart de Haas, Martin van Lokven, Kenneth Stamp, Kim Sterenborg, A.J. van der Wal
Floorplans: Bart de Haas, Johan van der Zwart
Topographic Maps: Rijksmuseum, Amsterdam

On March 30, 2026, PostNL will issue the Dutch Waterlines stamp sheet, featuring photos and maps of 19th- and early 20th-century defensive works in the Netherlands. The Dutch Waterlines is the collective name for the Nieuwe Hollandse Waterlinie and the Stelling van Amsterdam. By flooding land during wartime, these defensive lines were able to protect the west of the Netherlands against the enemy. The Dutch Waterlines stamps bear the value indication 1 for mail weighing up to 20 grams with a destination within the Netherlands. The design of the stamps was created by graphic designer Bart de Haas from The Hague. The price for a sheet of 10 stamps is €14 (current US$16.28).

In addition to the official issuance program, PostNL has an annual issuance program for framed stamps (“kaderpostzegels”). This program is flexible. Each issue is designed based on a fixed layout, with a fixed number of framed stamps. The stamps are available, while stocks last, exclusively via the webshop and from Collect Club customer service at telephone number 088 – 868 99 00.

The Subject
The New Dutch Water Line and the Amsterdam Defence Line together form the Dutch Water Lines. This UNESCO World Heritage Site is a 200-kilometer-long defensive line comprising 96 forts, 6 fortresses, and 2 castles. In wartime situations, the west of the Netherlands could be protected against the enemy by flooding wide strips of land up to knee height. This rendered the land impassable for soldiers, vehicles, or horses, while the water remained too shallow for boats.

Construction of the New Dutch Water Line began in 1815 as an improvement and expansion of the 17th-century Old Dutch Water Line. A new construction phase followed in 1880 with the creation of the Amsterdam Defence Line. Should the enemy break through the New Dutch Water Line, the Amsterdam Defence Line would serve as the last refuge for the military staff, the government, and the royal family. In addition to the system of sluices, dikes, and canals to flood land, forts were built at passages and other strategic locations. The New Dutch Water Line and the Amsterdam Defence Line are among the largest military World Heritage Sites in the world, along with the Roman Limes and the Great Wall of China. The New Dutch Water Line was flooded, either wholly or partially, three times due to threats of war: in 1870 (Franco-Prussian War), in 1914–1918 (World War I), and in 1939–1940 (in the run-up to World War II). The Amsterdam Defence Line never saw active service.

There are 96 forts that are part of the Dutch Water Lines. De Haas has depicted 10 of them on the stamps, based on three criteria: the construction period, the type of defensive structure, and the geographical location.

“Last November and December, I went on five bike rides to view and photograph the forts myself,” de Haas said. Some of the forts were not open in the winter, so instead he used existing photographs. “Cropped sections of all the photos were used, and the photo itself was sometimes edited to emphasize the characteristics of the structure,” he added, “and also to provide a bit more variety, with, for example, sunny shots juxtaposed with dramatic cloudy skies.”

The individual stamps measure 30 x 40 mm, the sheet 170 x 122 mm.

Quebec’s Sugar Shacks (Canada 2026)

Posted on March 20, 2026 by VSC

[press release] [click on any of the pictures for larger versions]
New stamps from Canada Post celebrate Quebec’s sugar shacks
Rooted in Quebec’s history and identity, the sugaring-off season comes to life in an illustrated stamp issue.

MONTRÉAL – Maple taffy in sticky little hands. The lively strains of a fiddle playing and spoons tapping. The comforting taste of hot pea soup. This spring, just as the scents, sounds and tastes of the season come to life at sugar shacks, Canada Post is issuing two stamps in the form of maple syrup cans. Unveiled today in Montréal at the Cabane Panache Festival, the stamps celebrate sugaring-off season and pay tribute to Quebec’s iconic sugar shacks.

Traditions that transcend generations
The traditions surrounding sugaring-off season are so important in Quebec that they are officially part of the province’s intangible heritage. Indigenous Peoples of the Eastern Woodlands, including the W8banakiak (Abenakis), the Anishinaabeg (Anishinabe), the Haudenosaunee (Iroquois) and the Mi’gmaq (Mi’kmaq) were producing maple products long before the arrival of European settlements. They shared their ancestral knowledge with early French colonists, who adapted their methods over time.

In the 1850s, the forerunners of modern sugar shacks began to appear – small shelters where maple sap was boiled, and that became social gathering places. A significant part of syrup production has been automated since then, and although sugar bushes have grown in size, artisanal techniques are still in practice.

Today, Quebec produces 90% of Canada’s maple syrup and over 70% of global production.

About the stamps
The stamps, booklet and Official First Day Cover (OFDC) are the work of illustrator Gérard DuBois and graphic design firm Paprika. Inspired by popular, commercial and advertising art from the 1940s and 1950s, the illustrations evoke colourful scenes of people enjoying shared meals and time outside. They portray the sugar shack as a place of gathering, enjoyment and tradition.

This stamp issue includes a booklet of six Permanent™ domestic rate stamps and an OFDC. Both are available at canadapost.ca and at retail outlets across the country. The OFDC bears a maple leaf cancellation in Saint-Georges, a Quebec city where the Festival beauceron de l’érable is held every year.

Trump Gold Coin Approved; Stamps Next?

Posted on March 19, 2026 by VSC

The Commission of Fine Arts, which consists entirely of Trump appointees, has approved a proposal for a 24k gold coin depicting President Trump. The bipartisan Citizens Coinage Advisory Committee last month refused to consider this coin. Members said in interviews that they opposed putting any sitting president or living past president on a U.S. coin, even a collector item like this one. The last time that happened was during the Coolidge administration.

The portrait of Trump is based on a photo taken by the chief White House photographer and is now hanging in the National Portrait Gallery. It shows him leaning over his desk, with his knuckles on the desktop. The other side of the coin would show an eagle.

Members of the coinage panel said in interviews that they opposed putting any sitting president or living past president on a U.S. coin, even a collector item like this one. The last time that happened was during the Coolidge administration.

“Only those nations ruled by kings or dictators display the image of their sitting ruler on the coins of the realm,” the coinage committee’s acting chairman Donald Scarinci, said in announcing that the coin would not be on the panel’s February meeting. The New Jersey Democrat has served on the committee for 20 years.

Gold coins like these are not intended for circulation. They generally are sold by the U.S. Mint for several thousand dollars.

Even without the Citizens Coinage Advisory Committee’s approval, the Treasury Department has the independent power, without congressional authority, to mint coins like this.

How big would this coin be? “I think the larger the better, and the largest of that circulation, I think, would be his preference,” said the president’s executive assistant. He also said that it was “fitting” to have Mr. Trump on a coin commemorating the country’s 250th anniversary. No date has been announced for sale of this coin.

The question for stamp collectors is whether stamps featuring Trump will be next. No living person has been honored on a U.S. stamp, although living people have sometimes been used as models.

“Fellowship of the Ring” 25th Anniversary (UK 2026)

Posted on March 13, 2026 by VSC

[press release] [click on any of the pictures for larger versions]
Royal Mail Marks 25th Anniversary Of “The Lord Of The Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring” With Special Stamp Issue

Issue date 20 March
Each of the eight stamps in the main set features a montage from the film trilogy celebrating iconic characters and include hidden messaging – only detectable when using a UV light
A further four stamps, presented in a miniature sheet, show iconic locations from across the franchise
The stamps and a range of collectible products are available to pre-order now at www.royalmail.com/lordoftherings and by telephone on 03457 641641

Royal Mail, in collaboration with Warner Bros. Discovery Global Consumer Products (WBDGCP), has revealed images of a set of 12 new stamps that celebrate the 25th anniversary of The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring.

The main set of eight stamps features a montage from the film trilogy celebrating iconic characters from across the franchise. British actors who played the characters featured are Orlando Bloom as Legolas, Ian McKellan as Gandalf, Dominic Monaghan as Merry, Billy Boyd as Pippin and Christopher Lee as Saruman.

The stamps also include hidden messaging – only detectable when using a UV light – showing Elvish writing in a ring shape.

A further four stamps presented in a miniature sheet pay homage to four iconic locations – from The Shire, where Frodo’s journey begins, all the way to Mount Doom, where he must throw the One Ring into the fires to destroy it once and for all. Also shown are Rivendell, an Elven refuge and sanctuary, and the monumental Argonath, which marks the northern border of the kingdom of Gondor.

‘The Lord of the Rings’ title used on all 12 stamps in the set, replicates that of the iconic typeface used for the films.

David Gold, Director of External Affairs & Policy, Royal Mail, said: “The Lord of the Rings ranks as one of the most iconic and beloved film series of all time, and we’re delighted to celebrate its enduring popularity with this set of Special Stamps. Each design captures the epic storytelling, artistry and imagination that have made Middle earth such a treasured part of British and global culture. We’re proud to bring these striking stamps to the nation’s letterboxes.”

Rachel Wakley, SVP & General Manager – UK & Ireland, Warner Bros. Discovery Global Consumer Products said: “We’re delighted to see this special stamp collection honour the 25th anniversary of The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring. The film has left an enduring mark on audiences around the world, and this beautifully crafted set captures the spirit, artistry and cinematic legacy that continue to inspire fans a quarter of a century on.”

The Lord of the Rings
Based on the revered The Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit books by J.R.R. Tolkien, New Line Cinema’s epic six-film series directed by Peter Jackson has been embraced by generations of fans, earning $6 billion at the global box office and 17 Academy Awards, becoming the most awarded series in cinematic history. Set in Middle-earth, the series begins as Frodo Baggins embarks on a perilous mission to destroy the legendary One Ring, and an adventure like no other continues from there. In 2021, the Library of Congress selected The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring for preservation in the United States National Film Registry. Following the first film’s milestone 25th anniversary in 2026, a new film, The Lord of the Rings: The Hunt for Gollum, is planned for release in theatres, with additional films to come.

The stamps, and a range of collectible products, are available to pre-order now at www.royalmail.com/lordoftherings and by telephone on 03457 641 641. A Presentation Pack including all 12 stamps is priced at £21.30. The stamps go on general sale from 20 March.

Boston 2026 Theme Days Announced

Posted on March 12, 2026 by VSC

[press release] [click on any of the pictures for larger versions]
Boston 2026 Theme Days Decided

Boston 2026 World Expo USPS liaison Chris Lazaroff has received confirmation of the daily themes U.S. postal officials have approved.

Day 1 – Saturday, May 23: 250th Anniversary of the U.S. Day
Day 2 – Sunday, May 24: Favorite Stamp Day
Day 3 – Monday, May 25 (Memorial Day): Stamp Collectors Day
Day 4 – Tuesday, May 26: Letter Writing Day
Day 5 – Wednesday, May 27: International Peace Day
Day 6 – Thursday, May 28: Sports Day
Day 7 – Friday, May 29: Honoring Heroes Day
Day 8 – Saturday, May 30: Youth and Family Day

A related commemorative cancel will be designed by USPS and available each day of the show.

Separate daily first day cancels are expected for the Postal Service’s philatelic releases that are yet to be announced, expected by the end of March.

Boston 2026 World Expo takes place May 23-30, 2026, at the Boston Convention & Exhibition Center. Full show details may be found at Boston2026.org and on Facebook, X and Instagram. Sign up to be added to the Boston 2026 email list and receive updates when available.

Eid (Canada 2026)

Posted on March 10, 2026 by VSC

[press release] [click on any of the pictures for larger versions]
New stamp issue marks Eid, celebrated by more than 1.5 million Muslims in Canada
Canada Post is proud to mark Eid al-Fitr and Eid al-Adha with uniquely Canadian Muslim design

VANCOUVER – Canada Post issued new stamps March 10^th to mark two of the most important holidays in Islam: Eid al-Fitr and Eid al-Adha.

The three-stamp issue incorporates stylized maple leaves into a traditional Islamic pattern to reflect Canada’s cultural diversity and inclusivity. Featuring the same design in different colour palettes, the stamps honour the significance of Eid for Muslim communities across the country.

Patterns of beauty and symbolism
Mesmerizing designs inspired by mathematics and nature are a hallmark of Islamic ornamentation. Infinitely expandable arrangements of interlacing circles and polygons are traditionally created with a compass and straightedge. Stylized floral and vegetal motifs are often weaved through these patterns, which vary across regions and eras.

The rhythm and symmetry of these patterns invite contemplation of the spiritual and natural worlds. The designs also add beauty and symbolism to Eid al-Fitr and Eid al-Adha, appearing as decorations in mosques and homes, and on lanterns and greeting cards.

Eid celebrations in March and May
Eid al-Fitr, or the Festival of Breaking the Fast, marks the end of Ramadan. The month of fasting, which is observed from sunrise to sunset, is one of the most distinctive practices in Islam. This year, Eid al-Fitr takes place in March.

Eid al-Adha, or the Festival of Sacrifice, marks the end of the Hajj pilgrimage, in which millions of Muslims journey to one of the holiest sites in Islam – the Kaaba in Mecca, Saudi Arabia. Also called Eid al-Kabir or the Greater of the Two Eids, the festival happens this year in May.

Celebrated by more than 1.5 million Muslims in Canada, both events can last several days and include communal prayers and feasts, visits with family, gift-giving and acts of charity.

The Eid issue is one of several stamps released by Canada Post each year to mark annual celebrations that are important to Canada’s culturally diverse population – others include Diwali, Hanukkah and Christmas.

About the stamps
This stamp issue was designed by Paprika and printed by Colour Innovations. It includes a booklet of six Permanent™ domestic rate stamps and an Official First Day Cover [below]cancelled in Vancouver, British Columbia, home to a large and diverse Muslim-Canadian population.

New APS Director of Education

Posted on March 10, 2026 by VSC

[press release] [click on any of the pictures for larger versions]
New APS Director of Education

The American Philatelic Society is pleased to welcome its new Director of Education, Jeff Puhala. Jeff is an experienced educator and instructional designer with 26 years of experience in the field. He began his career in K–12 education, teaching every grade level over a span of 16 years. He later transitioned to higher education and recently completed a 10-year tenure at Penn State University, where he served primarily as an instructional designer.

During his time at Penn State, Jeff specialized in designing, developing, and delivering digital learning experiences for adult learners. His work included leading the redesign of online speech courses for returning adult students, a curriculum area he supported for nearly eight years. Jeff also has extensive experience in online teaching at the higher education level. He is excited to bring his expertise to the APS and contribute to advancing its education initiatives.

Jeff holds a Doctor of Education in Curriculum Leadership from Northeastern University; a Master of Education in the Administrative Program for K–12 Principals from California University of Pennsylvania; a Master of Music in Saxophone Performance from Penn State University; and a Bachelor of Science in Education, Music Education from Clarion University of Pennsylvania. A trained professional saxophonist, Jeff performs with several community groups in his spare time and also enjoys playing golf.

Please join us in welcoming Jeff to the APS team!

Boston 2026 “Field Trip” To Stamp Museum

Posted on March 9, 2026 by VSC

[press release] [click on any of the pictures for larger versions]
Shuttles to the Spellman Museum

Planning to be in Boston for a few days? If so, an enjoyable side trip can transport you from the Convention Center to the Spellman Museum of Stamps and Postal History. Buses run every ninety minutes, starting at 10 a.m. on both Monday, May 25 and Thursday, May 28. The $35 ticket includes museum admission. Reserve seats and departure times at the Spellman Museum’s online store.