Virtual Stamp Club

The U.S. Postal Service has announced more than 25 of the issues it plans for 2026. They include obvious choices like the Declaration of Independence, Colorado Statehood and Year of the Horse, but some surprises like Muhammad Ali and Bruce Lee. We have pictures of every announced issue.

Here's the list:

U.S. 2026 Stamp Program

Last Updated April 20: First-day postmarks for the known issues that will be released at Boston 2026.

U.S. 2025 Stamp Program updated to add three new products just added related to the August 2025 Boston 2026 stamps (see our story)

USPS Seeks Rate Hike In July. The basic letter rate would go to 82¢ on July 12^th.

USPS Gets "Temporary" Fuel Surcharge for its shipping services (Priority and Express Mail, Ground Advantage, Parcel Select), but not first-class mail. The increase will run from April 26 through January 17 — unless of course the surcharge becomes permanent, like much of last winter's holiday surcharge.

Butterflies of the Dutch Caribbean The latest entry in PostNL's Experience Nature series are "vlinders" from Saba, an island that is part of the Kingdom of the Netherlands.

Fantasy Film's Anniversary To celebrate the quarter-century since the first of three "Lord of the Rings" films, Royal Mail have issued 8 stamps plus a 4-stamp minisheet for "The Fellowship of the Ring."

Hisey, Verge, Lyons Are Luff Winners Liz was honored for service the APS, Charles for contributions to philately and Larry for research. Glenn Silverman recognized for helping guarantee the future of philately, and other award-winners will receive their citations at Boston 2026. The list is here.

APS Personnel Changes With a new executive director, some changes were perhaps inevitable.

There's a new Education Director.

The USA's major stamp collecting organization hired both a CFO and an Operations VP. The latter is a familiar face.

The APS is looking for a new Education Director.

The society now has a Director of Technology and Innovation

Boston 2026 Stamp Show News

Peter McCann heads the Boston 2026 jury but you'll recognize many of the other Americans who will be judging exhibits, too.

Boston 2026 has obtained a ruling from the U.S. government that stamps and covers may enter the country without paying fees, including an update after the Supreme Court ruling.

Take a "field trip" to a stamp museum during the show.

Queen Elizabeth II's classic Rolls Royce (right) will anchor a special British Commonwealth exhibit — and you can help.

Following a large grant for its youth programs, Boston 2026 outlines the opportunities for schools and scout groups.

Canada's 2026 Stamp Program Canada Post isn't providing much detail. The Black History issue features hip-hop artists and there will be issues for Quebec's cabanes à sucre (sugar shacks), blood donations, wolves, jack o' lanterns, Chinese-Canadian undercover agents and the Royal Canadian Legion (left), plus new entries in the Truth & Reconciliation, flowers, Eid, Diwali, Hanukkah and Christmas series. See the initial announcement.

Tech Exec Appointed To CSAC Susana Rodriguez de Tembleque is joining the USPS Citizens' Stamp Advisory Committee, the panel that helps choose stamp subjects and designs. She is currently vice president of design for IBM’s data platform and has worked for Apple, too.

FDC Cachet Catalogues Republished Long out of print and hard to find, the Mellone first day cover cachet catalogues have been republished in digital form by the American First Day Cover Society. They cover issues from 1901 through the 1950s, and the 1960s catalogue is on the way. (Don't worry, you can also get "hard copies.") Details are here.

"Help! I just inherited this stamp collection!"
Just been given Aunt Matilda's old stamp collection and don't know what to do with it? We can help.

Want to Know What Other Collectors Think? The Virtual Stamp Club has its own comments section as well as a Facebook Group. Or visit the former home of The VSC (1996-2013), now called The Stamp Collecting Forum.

Quotable: "“To those of you who say philately and politics should not mix … I say to you, that today everything is political and to think otherwise is naive."
— Former Royal Philatelic Society of Canada president Gregg Redner, on his resignation amid the controversy over his decision to boycott Boston 2026

Last Updated April 20