Announced by the USPS on October 24, 2022.

School Bus will be a new additional-ounce stamp, available in panes of 20 and coils of 100. The issuance celebrates the iconic yellow school bus and its role in ensuring that millions of children get to school and home again every day. The stamp features a stylized illustration of a 21st century yellow school bus, in profile in front of a silhouetted schoolhouse that is more evocative of an earlier era. Artist Steve Wolf worked with art director Greg Breeding and stamp designer Mike Ryan.

New information will appear below the line, with the most recent at the top.

Updated March 9^th:
The image size for the stamps in the coil of 100 was corrected. The revised information is incorporated in the table below.

Updated January 13^th:
I was surprised at how the coil version is set up: Vertically, but attached at the top and bottom of the design. Also note that the length/width ratio is different in the sheet and coil versions. (You can click on the picture on the right for a bigger version.)

Updated December 28^th:
The First Day Of Issue “killer bars” is the only postmark for this issue.

Updated December 5^th from the Postal Bulletin:
On January 5, 2023, in High Point, NC, the United States Postal Service® will issue the School Bus stamp (Non-denominated Additional Ounce Rate) in one design, in a pressure-sensitive adhesive (PSA) pane of 20 (Item 122400) and coil of 100 (Item 740500). This stamp will go on sale nationwide January 5, 2023, and must not be sold or canceled before the first-day-of-issue.

With the release of this new additional ounce stamp, the Postal Service™ celebrates the iconic yellow school bus and its role in ensuring that millions of children get to school and home again every day. The stamp features a stylized illustration of a 21st century yellow school bus, in profile, in front of a silhouetted schoolhouse that is more evocative of an earlier era. Artist Steve Wolf worked with art director Greg Breeding and designer Mike Ryan to create this stamp, which will be issued in panes of 20 and coils of 100.

Item 122400, School Bus, PSA Pane of 20 Stamps
Item 740500, School Bus, PSA Coil of 100 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. Each cover must have sufficient postage to meet First-Class Mail® requirements. 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 – School Bus 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 May 5, 2023.

Technical Specifications – Pane of 20:

Issue: School Bus Stamp
Item Number: 122400
Denomination & Type of Issue: Non-denominated Additional Ounce Rate
Format: Pane of 20 (1 design)
Series: N/A
Issue Date & City: January 5, 2023, High Point, NC, 27260
Art Director: Greg Breeding, Charlottesville, VA
Designer: Mike Ryan, Charlottesville, VA
Artist: Steve Wolf, Austin, TX
Modeler: Sandra Lane/Michelle Finn
Manufacturing Process: Offset, Microprint
Printer: Banknote Corporation of America
Press Type: Gallus RCS
Stamps per Pane: 20
Print Quantity: 100,000,000 stamps
Paper Type: Phosphor, Block Tag
Adhesive Type: Pressure-sensitive
Colors: Magenta, Yellow, Black, Pantone 9202, Pantone 4248, Pantone WM Gray 9
Stamp Orientation: Horizontal
Image Area (w x h): 1.05 x 0.77 in./26.67 x 19.558 mm
Overall Size (w x h): 1.22 x 0.91 in./30.988 x 23.114 mm
Full Pane Size (w x h): 5.76 x 5.55 in./146.304 x 140.97 mm
Plate Size: 160 stamps per revolution
Plate Number: “B” followed by six (6) single digits
Marginal Markings:
Front: Plate number in four corners of pane
Back: ©2022 USPS • USPS logo • Two barcodes (122400) • Plate position diagram (8) • Promotional text

Technical Specifications – Coil of 100:

Issue: School Bus Stamp
Item Number: 740500
Denomination & Type of Issue: Non-denominated Additional Ounce Rate
Format: Coil of 100 (1 design)
Series: N/A
Issue Date & City: January 5, 2023, High Point, NC, 27260
Art Director: Greg Breeding, Charlottesville, VA
Designer: Mike Ryan, Charlottesville, VA
Artist: Steve Wolf, Austin, TX
Modeler: Sandra Lane/Michelle Finn
Manufacturing Process: Offset, Microprint
Printer: Banknote Corporation of America
Press Type: Alprinta 74
Stamps per Coil: 100
Print Quantity: 50,000,000 stamps
Paper Type: Phosphor, Overall
Adhesive Type: Pressure-sensitive
Colors: Magenta, Yellow, Black, Pantone 9202, Pantone 4248, Pantone WM Gray 9
Stamp Orientation: Horizontal
Image Area (w x h): 0.84 x 0.73 in / 21.336 x 18.542 mm
Overall Size (w x h): 0.98 x 0.87 in./24.892 x 22.098 mm
Plate Size: 744 stamps per revolution
Plate Number: “B” followed by six (6) single digits
Coil Number Frequency: Plate numbers every 31st stamp below stamp image

Updated November 30^th:
This stamp will be issued Thursday, January 5, in High Point, NC, without a ceremony.

Announced by the USPS on October 24, 2022.

This stamp issuance celebrates women’s soccer in the United States. From youth leagues to the elite world champion U.S. national team, millions of girls and women throughout the country participate in this fast-paced, competitive sport. The graphic stamp artwork depicts a female soccer player in action, walloping a ball with a side volley. Conjuring the aesthetic of mid-century print design, the illustrator used simplified shapes and bold colors to convey the high energy and fast motion of the sport. The somewhat grainy rendering lends a timeless quality to the design, evoking not just a single all-star athlete or era but the entire legacy of women’s soccer. Art director Antonio Alcalá designed the stamp with an original illustration by Noah MacMillan (1988-2022).

New information will appear below the line, with the most recent at the top.

Updated April 3^rd:
The Scott catalogue number for this issue is 5754.

Updated January 17^th:
[first-day ceremony details] [click on any of the pictures for larger versions]
Women’s Soccer Stamp To Kick Off at the SheBelieves Cup

What: The U.S. Postal Service will dedicate the Women’s Soccer commemorative Forever stamp at the SheBelieves Cup in Orlando, FL.

The stamp ceremony is free and open to the public. News of the stamp is being shared with the hashtag #WomensSoccerStamp.

Who: The Honorable Amber McReynolds, member, U.S. Postal Service Board of Governors

When: Thursday, Feb. 16, 2023, at 11 a.m. EST

Where: Exploria Stadium
618 W. Pine Street
Orlando, FL 32805

RSVP: Dedication ceremony attendees are encouraged to RSVP at usps.com/womenssoccer.

Background: This new Forever stamp celebrates women’s soccer in the United States. From youth leagues to the elite world champion U.S. National Team, millions of girls and women throughout the country participate in the fast-paced, competitive sport.

Soccer, also known as football internationally, is the most popular sport in the world, played by hundreds of millions of players in almost every country. In the United States, women’s soccer has gained a firm foothold in sports and popular culture. From youth leagues to the elite world champion U.S. National Team, millions of girls and women across the country participate in the fast-paced, competitive sport.

The stamp artwork depicts a female soccer player in action, striking a ball with a side volley. Conjuring the aesthetic of mid-century print design, illustrator Noah MacMillan (1988-2022) used simplified shapes and bold colors to convey the high energy and fast motion of the sport. The somewhat grainy rendering lends a timeless quality to the design, evoking not just a single all-star athlete or era, but the entire legacy of women’s soccer.

Art director Antonio Alcalá designed the stamp.

From the Postal Bulletin:
On February 16, 2023, in Orlando, FL, the United States Postal Service® will issue the Women’s Soccer stamp (Forever® priced at the First-Class Mail® rate) in one design, in a pressure-sensitive adhesive (PSA) pane of 20 stamps (Item 483000). This stamp will go on sale nationwide February 16, 2023, and must not be sold or canceled before the first-day-of-issue.

This stamp issuance celebrates women’s soccer in the United States. From youth leagues to the elite world champion U.S. national team, millions of girls and women throughout the country participate in this fast-paced, competitive sport. The graphic stamp artwork depicts a female soccer player in action, walloping a ball with a side volley. Conjuring the aesthetic of mid-century print design, the illustrator used simplified shapes and bold colors to convey the high energy and fast motion of the sport. The somewhat grainy rendering lends a timeless quality to the design, evoking not just a single all-star athlete or era but the entire legacy of women’s soccer. Art director Antonio Alcalá designed the stamp with an original illustration by Noah MacMillan (1988–2022).

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 – Women’s Soccer 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 June 16, 2023.

Technical Specifications:

Issue: Women’s Soccer Stamp
Item Number: 483000
Denomination & Type of Issue: First-Class Mail Forever
Format: Pane of 20 (1 design)
Series: N/A
Issue Date & City: February 16, 2023, Orlando, FL 32862
Art Director: Antonio Alcalá, Alexandria, VA
Designer: Antonio Alcalá, Alexandria, VA
Artist: Noah MacMillan (Deceased), Takoma Park, MD
Modeler: Sandra Lane / Michelle Finn
Manufacturing Process: Offset, Microprint
Printer: Banknote Corporation of America
Press Type: Gallus RCS
Stamps per Pane: 20
Print Quantity: 20,000,000 stamps
Paper Type: Phosphor, Block Tag
Adhesive Type: Pressure-sensitive
Colors: Cyan, Magenta, Yellow, Black
Stamp Orientation: Horizontal
Image Area (w x h): 1.42 x 0.84 in / 36.068 x 21.336 mm
Overall Size (w x h): 1.56 x 0.98 in / 39.624 x 24.892 mm
Full Pane Size (w x h): 7.24 x 5.92 in / 183.896 x 150.368 mm
Press Sheets Size (w x h): 21.72 x 11.84 in./ 551.69 x 300.74 mm
Plate Size: 120 stamps per revolution
Plate Number: “B” followed by four (4) single digits
Marginal Markings:
Front: Plate number in four corners of the pane
Back: ©2022 USPS • USPS logo • Two barcodes (483000) • Plate position diagram (6) • Promotional text

Updated January 13^th:
Here are the first-day postmarks for this issue:The Digital Color Postmark measures 2.67″ x 1.14″ The Pictorial Postmark measures 2.69″ x 1.23″

Updated January 10^th:
This stamp will be issued Wednesday, February 16, in Orlando, FL, when the U.S.Women’s National Team will play Canada in the “SHEBELIEVES” Cup.

Announced by the USPS on October 24, 2022.

Among nature’s most beautiful wonders, waterfalls come in all shapes and sizes, from serene cascades to mighty cataracts. The Postal Service celebrates the variety and beauty of American waterfalls with 12 new stamps. Each stamp features a photograph with the name of the waterfall and state in which it is located. Art director Greg Breeding designed the stamps and pane with existing photographs.

New information will appear below the line, with the most recent at the top.

Updated (catching up) September 7^th:
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 – Waterfall 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 October 13, 2023.

Technical Specifications:

Issue: Waterfalls Stamps
Item Number: 580900
Denomination & Type of Issue: First-Class Mail Forever
Format: Pane of 12 (12 designs)
Series: N/A
Issue Date & City: June 13, 2023, Yellowstone National Park, WY 82190
Art Director: Greg Breeding, Charlottesville, VA
Designer: Greg Breeding, Charlottesville, VA
Existing Photo: Tim Fitzharris
Existing Photo: Kevin Schafer
Existing Photo: John Cancalosi
Existing Photo: Joe Miller
Existing Photos: David B. Vernon
Existing Photo: Sandra Woods
Existing Photo: Nicole Nugent
Existing Photo: Quang-Tuan Luong
Existing Photo: Kenneth Keifer
Modeler: Joe Sheeran
Manufacturing Process: Offset
Printer: Ashton Potter (USA) Ltd (APU)
Press Type: Muller A76
Stamps per Pane: 12
Print Quantity: 34,992,000 stamps
Paper Type: Nonphosphored Type III, Block Tagged
Adhesive Type: Pressure-sensitive
Colors: Cyan, Magenta, Yellow, Black
Stamp Orientation: Vertical
Image Area (w x h): 1.225 x 1.56 in / 31.115 x 39.624 mm
Overall Size (w x h): 1.255 x 1.59 in / 31.877 x 40.386 mm
Full Pane Size (w x h): 7.8132 x 6.6257 in / 198.4552 x 168.2927 mm
Press Sheets Size (w x h): 24.1896 x 20.6271 in / 614.4158 x 523.9283 mm
Plate Size: 108 stamps per revolution
Plate Number: “P” followed by four (4) single digits in two corners
Marginal Markings:
Front: Header: Waterfalls • Plate number in bottom 2 corners
Back: ©2022 USPS • USPS logo • Two barcodes (580900) • Plate position diagram (9) • Promotional text

Updated August 7^th:
Here are the Scott catalogue numbers for this issue: 5800 Waterfalls pane of 12
a. Deer Creek Falls, AZ
b. Nevada Fall, CA
c. Harrison Wright Falls, PA
d. Lower Falls of the Yellowstone River, WY
e. Waimoku Falls, HI
f. Stewart Falls, UT
g. Niagara Falls, NY
h. Dark Hollow Falls, VA
i. Grotto Falls, TN
j. Sunbeam Falls, WA
k. LaSalle Canyon Waterfall, IL
l. Upper Falls, NC
m. As No. 5800, imperforate
n. As No. 5800a, imperforate
o. As No. 5800b, imperforate
p. As No. 5800c, imperforate
q. As No. 5800d, imperforate
r. As No. 5800e, imperforate
s. As No. 5800f, imperforate
t. As No. 5800g, imperforate
u. As No. 5800h, imperforate
v. As No. 5800i, imperforate
w. As No. 5800j, imperforate
x. As No. 5800k, imperforate
y. As No. 5800l, imperforate

Updated May 5^th:
[first day ceremony details] [click on any of the pictures for larger versions]
Postal Service To Issue Waterfall Stamps

What: The U.S. Postal Service is celebrating the variety and beauty of American waterfalls with 12 new stamps. Each stamp features a photograph with the name of the waterfall and state in which it is located beneath it.

The first-day-of-issue event for the Waterfalls Forever stamps is free and open to all visitors of Yellowstone National Park. News of the stamp is being shared with the hashtag #WaterfallsStamps.

Who: Mike Elston, U.S. Postal Service Board of Governors secretary, will serve as the dedicating official

Cameron “Cam” Sholly, Yellowstone National Park superintendent

Kenneth Keifer, photographer of the Lower Falls of the Yellowstone River stamp

When: Tuesday, June 13, 2023, at 11 a.m. MT

Where: Canyon Visitors Education Center
Yellowstone National Park, WY

RSVP: Attendees are encouraged to RSVP at: usps.com/waterfalls.

Background: Among nature’s most beautiful wonders, waterfalls come in all shapes and sizes, from serene cascades to mighty cataracts. The 12 waterfalls featured on the stamps represent many different types — and each is unique.

Waterfall IDs:First row: Deer Creek Falls, Grand Canyon National Park, AZ, photo by Sandra Woods; Nevada Fall, Yosemite National Park, CA, photo by Quang-Tuan Luong; Harrison Wright Falls, Ricketts Glen State Park, PA; and Lower Falls of the Yellowstone River, Yellowstone National Park, WY, photos by Kenneth Keifer.Second row: Waimoku Falls, Haleakalā National Park, HI, photo by Quang-Tuan Luong; Stewart Falls, Mount Timpanogos Wilderness, UT, photo by Nicole Nugent; Niagara Falls, Niagara Falls State Park, NY, photo by John Cancalosi; and Dark Hollow Falls, Shenandoah National Park, VA, photo by Quang-Tuan Luong.
Third row: Grotto Falls, Great Smoky Mountains National Park, TN, photo by Joe Miller; Sunbeam Falls, Mount Rainier National Park, WA, photo by Kevin Schafer; LaSalle Canyon Waterfall, Starved Rock State Park, Oglesby, IL, photo by David B. Vernon; and Upper Falls, Blue Ridge Parkway, NC, photo by Tim Fitzharris.

Framing the stamps is selvage that again features David B. Vernon’s LaSalle Canyon image.

Art director Greg Breeding designed the stamps and pane with existing photographs.

Updated March 14^th:
Here are the first-day postmarks for this issue:The Digital Color Postmark measures 2.90″ x 1.49″ The pictorial postmark measures 2.32″ x 1.49″

Updated March 14^th:
The issue date is June 13th in Yellowstone National Park, WY. The fourth stamp (far right) on the top row is the Lower Falls of the Yellowstone River.

Announced by the USPS on October 24, 2022.

The work of the iconic American artist of the pop art movement, Roy Lichtenstein (1923-1997) is celebrated with a stamp issuance in his honor. Each of the five stamps in this pane of 20 features one work of art by Lichtenstein: “Standing Explosion (Red)” (porcelain enamel on steel sculpture, 1965); “Modern Painting I” (oil and magna on canvas, 1966); “Still Life with Crystal Bowl” (oil and magna on canvas, 1972); “Still Life with Goldfish” (oil and magna on canvas, 1972); and “Portrait of a Woman” (oil and magna on linen, 1979). The selvage features a photograph of Lichtenstein by Bob Adelman with the artist’s face framed by a model of his 1983 sculpture Brushstrokes in Flight. Derry Noyes served as art director and designer for this issuance.

New information will appear below the line, with the most recent at the top.

Updated June 6^th:
Here are the Scott catalogue numbers for this issue:
5792 Standing Explosion (Red), 1965
a. Imperforate
5793 Modern Painting I, 1966
a. Imperforate
5794 Still Life with Crystal Bowl, 1972
a. Imperforate
5795 Still Life with Goldfish, 1972
a. Imperforate
5796 Portrait of a Woman, 1979
a. Imperforate
b. Horiz. strip of 5, #5792-5796
c. Imperforate horiz. strip of 5, #5792a-5796a

Updated March 24^th from the Postal Bulletin:

On April 24, 2023, in New York, NY, the United States Postal Service® will issue the Roy Lichtenstein stamps (Forever® priced at the First-Class Mail® rate) in five designs, in a pressure-sensitive adhesive (PSA) pane of 20 stamps (Item 483500). These stamps will go on sale nationwide April 24, 2023, and must not be sold or canceled before the first-day-of-issue. The Roy Lichtenstein commemorative pane of 20 stamps must not be split and the stamps must not be sold individually.With these stamps, the Postal Service™ honors Roy Lichtenstein (1923–1997), the iconic American artist of the pop art movement. Each of the five stamps in this pane of 20 features one work of art by Lichtenstein:

• Standing Explosion (Red) (porcelain enamel on steel, 1965).
• Modern Painting I (acrylic, oil, graphite pencil on canvas, 1966). [right]
• Still Life with Crystal Bowl (acrylic, oil, graphite pencil on canvas, 1972).
• Still Life with Goldfish (acrylic, oil, graphite pencil on canvas, 1972).
• Portrait of a Woman (acrylic, oil, graphite pencil on canvas, 1979).

The selvage features a photograph by Bob Adelman of Lichtenstein, his face framed by a model of his 1983 sculpture, Brushstrokes in Flight. Derry Noyes served as art director and designer for this issuance.

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 – Roy Lichtenstein 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 24, 2023.

Technical Specifications:

Issue: Roy Lichtenstein Stamps
Item Number: 483500
Denomination & Type of Issue: First-Class Mail Forever
Format: Pane of 20 (5 designs)
Series: N/A
Issue Date & City: April 24, 2023, New York, NY 10199
Art Director: Derry Noyes, Washington, DC
Designer: Derry Noyes, Washington, DC
Existing Art: Roy Lichtenstein
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 stamps
Paper Type: Phosphor Tagged Paper, Block
Adhesive Type: Pressure-sensitive
Colors: Cyan, Magenta, Yellow, Black, Pantone 1805C, Pantone 2104C
Stamp Orientation: Vertical
Image Area (w x h): 1.085 x 1.42 in / 27.559 x 36.068 mm
Overall Size (w x h): 1.225 x 1.56 in / 31.115 x 39.624 mm
Full Pane Size (w x h): 9.70 x 7.30 in / 246.38 x 185.42 mm
Press Sheets Size (w x h): 19.40 x 14.60 in / 492.76 x 370.84 mm
Plate Size: 80 stamps per revolution
Plate Number: “B” followed by six (6) single digits in two corners
Marginal Markings:
Front: Header: Roy Lichtenstein 1923–1997 • Plate number in bottom 2 corners
Back: ©2022 Estate of Roy Lichtenstein. All rights reserved. • ©2022 USPS • USPS logo • Two barcodes (483500) • Plate position diagram (4) • Promotional text

First Day Postmarks:The Digital Color Postmark for this issue measures 2.82″ x 1.49″ The pictorial postmark measures 2.54″ x 1.23″

Updated March 22^nd:
[ceremony details] [click on any of the pictures for larger versions]
Artist Roy Lichtenstein’s Work To Appear on Five StampsWhat: The U.S. Postal Service will honor American artist Roy Lichtenstein with five commemorative Forever stamps featuring his colorful pop art.

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

Who: Tom Marshall, U.S. Postal Service general counsel and executive vice president, will serve as dedicating official.

When: Monday, April 24, at 11:30 a.m. ET

Where:
Whitney Museum of American Art
Susan and John Hess Family Theater
99 Gansevoort Street
New York, NY 10014

RSVP: Attendees are encouraged to RSVP at usps.com/roylichtenstein.

Background: Roy Lichtenstein (1923-1997), the iconic American artist of the pop art movement, stunned the art world in 1961 with his large paintings starring cartoon characters and a range of consumer products, among other unlikely subjects. Some art connoisseurs found them outrageous, but others saw great meaning in them. Lichtenstein’s career quickly took off.

Pop art, which arose in the late 1950s and reached its height in the 1960s, looked to popular culture for its aesthetic. It often was seen as poking fun at consumerism.

With their trademark heavy black outlining, intense colors, dot patterns simulating four-color mechanical printing and machine-made quality, Lichtenstein’s paintings are instantly recognizable.

The many honors Lichtenstein received over the course of his career include induction into the American Academy of Arts and Letters in 1979 and the National Medal of Arts in 1995. His work is found in prestigious museums and galleries around the world.

VSC: The five works on the stamps, left to right, are

• Standing Explosion (Red)
• Modern Painting I
• Still Life with Crystal Bowl (at the Whitney)
• Still Life with Goldfish
• Portrait of a Woman

Updated January 10^th:
These stamps will be issued Monday, April 24th, in New York City. Lichtenstein’s studio in Greenwich Village was donated (“gifted”) to the Whitney Museum of American Art and is being refurbished now. He worked there from 1988 to 1997.

Announced by the USPS on October 24, 2022.

Author Toni Morrison (1931-2019) is honored in this stamp issuance. Her artfully crafted novels explored the diverse voices and multifaceted experiences of African Americans. Known for such books as “The Bluest Eye,” “Song of Solomon” and “Beloved,” Morrison was the rare author who achieved both bestseller status and critical success. In 1993, she made history as the first African American woman to win the Nobel Prize for Literature. The stamp features a photograph of Morrison taken in 2000. Art director Ethel Kessler designed the stamp with photography by Deborah Feingold.

New information will appear below the line, with the most recent at the top.

Updated April 3^rd:
The Scott catalogue number for this issue is 5757.

Updated February 8^th:
[ceremony details] [click on any of the pictures for larger versions]
U.S. Postal Service to Issue Toni Morrison Forever Stamp

What: The U.S. Postal Service will honor author Toni Morrison with a Forever stamp. Known for such books as “The Bluest Eye,” “Song of Solomon” and “Beloved,” Morrison was the rare author who achieved both bestseller status and critical success.

The stamp features a photo of Morrison taken in 2000.

The first-day-of-issue event for the Toni Morrison Forever stamp is free and open to the public. News of the stamp is being shared with the hashtag #ToniMorrisonStamp.

Who: Pritha Mehra, USPS chief information officer and executive vice president

When: Tuesday, March 7, 2023, at 11 a.m. EST

Where: Princeton University
38 Nassau St.
Princeton, NJ 08544

RSVP: For additional information about the ceremony location and parking on campus, dedication ceremony attendees are encouraged to RSVP at:
usps.com/tonimorrison

Background: Eager to write the sort of novels she had always wanted to find on bookshelves, Toni Morrison (1931-2019) explored the diverse voices and multifaceted experiences of African Americans.

Morrison published her first novel, “The Bluest Eye,” in 1970. An important inquiry into the life of an 11-year-old African American girl struggling with the internalization of negative racial stereotypes, the book remains a canonical novel about society’s neglect and mistreatment of African American girls.

Morrison did not shy away from difficult subjects. Her 1977 national bestseller, “Song of Solomon,” examined the many ways that the African American search for identity, both individually and collectively, is complicated by the legacy of slavery. In 1987, Morrison won the Pulitzer Prize for “Beloved,” a harrowing rumination on trauma and the lingering, even haunting nature of the past. “Beloved” firmly secured Morrison’s reputation as a great American writer and made her the rare author to achieve both bestseller status and critical success.

In 1989, Morrison became the Robert F. Goheen Professor in the Humanities at Princeton University. In 1993, she was awarded the Nobel Prize in Literature, becoming the first African American woman to receive the distinction.

In later novels, Morrison further explored wide-ranging questions about the effects of social change on families and communities, skin-color prejudice among African Americans, and the lingering impact of violence and abuse. As she continued to experiment with language and push the possibilities of narrative, she never wavered from her purpose: bringing attention to important stories that had too long gone untold.

Art director Ethel Kessler designed this stamp with a photograph by Deborah Feingold.

The Toni Morrison stamp is being issued as a Forever stamp. It will always be equal in value to the current First-Class Mail 1-ounce price.

Updated January 29^th:
Here are the first-day postmarks for this issue:The Digital Color Postmark measures 2.48″x1.05″ The Pictorial Postmark measures 2.56″x1.06″

Updated January 28^th:
Princeton University “will explore Toni Morrison’s creative process with an abundance of exhibitions and events” beginning February 22^nd and running through the spring. Details are here. The stamp issuance is mentioned, without details.

From the Postal Bulletin:
On March 7, 2023, in Princeton, NJ, the United States Postal Service® will issue the Toni Morrison stamp (Forever® priced at the First-Class Mail rate) in one design, in a pressure-sensitive adhesive (PSA) pane of 20 stamps (Item 483100). This stamp will go on sale nation-wide March 7, 2023, and must not be sold or canceled before the first-day-of-issue.

This stamp celebrates Toni Morrison (1931–2019), whose artfully crafted novels explored the diverse voices and multi-faceted experiences of African Americans. Known for such books as The Bluest Eye, Song of Solomon, and Beloved, Morrison was the rare author who achieved both bestseller status and critical success. In 1993, she made history as the first African-American woman to win the Nobel Prize in Literature. The stamp features a photograph of Morrison taken in 2000. Art director Ethel Kessler designed the stamp with photography by Deborah Feingold.

Item 483100, Pane of 20 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 address to:

FDOI – Toni Morrison 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 July 1, 2023.

Technical Specifications:

Issue: Toni Morrison Stamp
Item Number: 483100
Denomination & Type of Issue: First-Class Mail Forever
Format: Pane of 20 (1 design)
Series: N/A
Issue Date & City: March 7, 2023, Princeton, NJ, 08540
Art Director: Ethel Kessler, Bethesda, MD
Designer: Ethel Kessler, Bethesda, MD
Existing Photo: Deborah Feingold
Modeler: Sandra Lane / Michelle Finn
Manufacturing Process: Offset, Microprint
Printer: Banknote Corporation of America
Press Type: Gallus RCS
Stamps per Pane: 20
Print Quantity: 30,000,000 stamps
Paper Type: Phosphor Tagged Paper, Block
Adhesive Type: Pressure-sensitive
Colors: Cyan, Magenta, Yellow, Black
Stamp Orientation: Square
Image Area (w x h): 1.085 x 1.085 in / 27.559 x 27.559 mm
Overall Size (w x h): 1.225 x 1.225 in / 31.115 x 31.115 mm
Full Pane Size (w x h): 5.90 x 7.12 in / 149.86 x 180.848 mm
Press Sheets Size (w x h): 11.80 x 21.36 in / 299.72 x 542.544 mm
Plate Size: 120 stamps per revolution
Plate Number: “B” followed by four (4) single digits
Marginal Markings:
Front: Plate number in four corners of pane
Back: ©2022 USPS • USPS logo • Two barcodes (483100) • Plate position diagram (6) • Promotional text

Updated January 10^th:
This stamp will be issued March 7 in Princeton, NJ. According to Wikipedia, “from 1989 until her retirement in 2006, Morrison held the Robert F. Goheen Chair in the Humanities at Princeton University.”

Announced by the USPS on October 24, 2022.

This stamp honors Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg (1933-2020), the 107th Supreme Court Justice of the United States. After beginning her career as an activist lawyer fighting gender discrimination, Justice Ginsburg became a respected jurist whose important majority opinions advancing equality and strong dissents on socially controversial rulings made her a passionate proponent of equal justice and an icon of American culture. The stamp features an oil painting of Justice Ginsburg facing the viewer in her black judicial robe with an intricate white collar. Art director Ethel Kessler designed the stamp with art by Michael J. Deas, based on a photograph by Philip Bermingham.

New information will appear below the line, with the most recent at the top.

Updated November 7^th:
The Scott catalogue number for this issues is 5821.

Updated September 7^th from the Postal Bulletin:
On October 2, 2023, in Washington, DC, the United States Postal Service® will issue the Ruth Bader Ginsburg stamp (Forever® priced at the First-Class Mail® rate) in one design, in a pressure-sensitive adhesive (PSA) pane of 20 stamps (Item 483300). This stamp will go on sale October 2, 2023, and must not be sold or canceled before the first-day-of-issue.

With this stamp, the Postal Service™ honors Ruth Bader Ginsburg (1933–2020), the 107th Supreme Court Justice of the United States. After beginning her career as an activist lawyer fighting gender discrimination, Ginsburg became a respected jurist whose important majority opinions advancing equality and strong dissents on socially controversial rulings made her a passionate proponent of equal justice and an icon of American culture. This stamp features an oil painting of Ginsburg facing the viewer in her black judicial robe with an intricate white collar. Art director Ethel Kessler designed the stamp with art by Michael J. Deas based on a photograph by Philip Bermingham.

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 – Ruth Bader Ginsburg 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 2, 2024.

Technical Specifications:

Issue: Ruth Bader Ginsburg Stamp
Item Number: 483300
Denomination & Type of Issue: First-Class Mail Forever
Format: Pane of 20 (1 design)
Series: N/A
Issue Date & City: October 2, 2023, Washington, DC 20066
Art Director: Ethel Kessler, Bethesda, MD
Designer: Ethel Kessler, Bethesda, MD
Artist: Michael J. Deas, New Orleans, LA
Modeler: Sandra Lane / Michelle Finn
Manufacturing Process: Offset, Microprint USPS
Printer: Banknote Corporation of America
Press Type: Alprinta 74
Stamps per Pane: 20
Print Quantity: 32,000,000 stamps
Paper Type: Phosphor Tagged Paper, Block
Adhesive Type: Pressure-sensitive
Colors: Cyan, Magenta, Yellow, Black, Pantone 7563 C
Stamp Orientation: Vertical
Image Area (w x h): 0.840 x 1.420 in / 21.336 x 36.068 mm
Overall Size (w x h): 0.980 x 1.560 in / 24.892 x 39.624 mm
Full Pane Size (w x h): 5.940 x 8.250 in / 150.876 x 209.550 mm
Press Sheets Size (w x h): 17.820 x 24.750 in / 452.628 x 628.650 mm
Plate Size: 180 stamps per revolution
Plate Number: “B” followed by five (5) single digits in two corners
Marginal Markings:
Front: Header: RUTH BADER GINSBURG • Plate number in bottom 2 corners
Back: © 2022 USPS • USPS logo • Two barcodes (483300) • Plate position diagram (9) • Promotional text

Updated August 24:
Here are the first-day postmarks for this issue:The Digital Color Postmark measures 3.00″ x 1.42″.The pictorial postmark measures 2.73″ x 1.01″

[ceremony details] [click on any of the pictures for larger versions]
U.S. Postal Service to Unveil Stamp Honoring Ruth Bader Ginsburg

What: The first-day-of-issue ceremony for a new Forever stamp commemorating the legacy of the late Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg

When: Monday, Oct. 2, 2023, at 6 p.m. EDT

Where: National Portrait Gallery
Eighth and G streets NW
Washington, DC 20001

Who: The Honorable Roman Martinez IV, chairman of the USPS Board of Governors

RSVP: Media representatives and dedication ceremony attendees are encouraged to RSVP at: usps.com/ruthbaderginsburg.

Details: The United States Postal Service is proud to announce the dedication ceremony for a new Forever stamp honoring Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, celebrating her groundbreaking contributions to justice, gender equality and the rule of law.

The ceremony will feature:

• The official stamp unveiling
• A keynote address by Governor Martinez
• Remarks by other notable speakers
• A presentation on the design and significance of the stamp
• An opportunity for interviews and photographs

News of the stamp is being shared with the hashtags #RuthBaderGinsburgStamp and #RBGStamp.

This event is free and open to the public.

About the Stamp: The Ruth Bader Ginsburg stamp features an oil painting of her in her black judicial robe and iconic white collar. The stamp captures her enduring spirit and tireless dedication to upholding the principles of the Constitution.

Ethel Kessler, an art director for USPS, designed the stamp with a portrait by Michael J. Deas based on a photograph by Philip Bermingham.

The Ruth Bader Ginsburg stamp is being issued as a Forever stamp in panes of 20. Forever stamps will always be equal in value to the current First-Class Mail 1-ounce price.

Updated May 31:
This stamp will be issued Monday, October 2 — yes, the “first Monday in October” — in Washington, DC.

Announced by the USPS on October 24, 2022.

Noteworthy railroad stations began brightening the American landscape by the 1870s and, although many were torn down once they had outlived their original purpose, hundreds survived. This issuance of 20 stamps features five architectural gems that continue to play important roles in their communities: Tamaqua Station in Pennsylvania; Point of Rocks Station in Maryland; Main Street Station in Richmond, VA; Santa Fe Station in San Bernardino, CA; and Union Terminal in Cincinnati, OH. Passenger trains stop at all of them except Tamaqua. Derry Noyes served as art director. Down the Street Designs created the digital illustrations and typography.

New information will appear below the line, with the most recent at the top.

Updated April 26^th:
You may have seen in the Philatelic catalogue from the USPS a Commemorative Panel, #483933, for this issue, but been unable to find it online. The USPS had hoped to have it for sale “on or around the first day of issue, but production problems prevented us from making it happen on time,” William J. Gicker, the head of USPS Stamp Services, told The Virtual Stamp Club in an email. “Furthermore, we were unable to remove the product from the Philatelic catalog prior to it going on press.”

He hopes it will go on sale sometime in May.

We also wondered about the price: Other commemorative panels for single-stamp commemoratives are $11.95 each. That was also the price for this five-stamp issue. A mistake? No, Gicker said.

“We try not to upcharge the panels with multiple stamp designs unless it is a full pane of multiple designs.”

Updated April 3^rd:
Here are the Scott catalogue numbers for this issue:
5758 Point of Rocks Station, Maryland
a. Imperforate
5759 Main Street Station, Richmond, Virginia
a. Imperforate
5760 Santa Fe Station, San Bernardino, California
a. Imperforate
5761 Tamaqua Station, Pennsylvania
a. Imperforate
5762 Union Terminal, Cincinnati, Ohio
a. Imperforate
b. Vert. strip of 5, #5758-5762
c. Imperforate vert. strip of 5, #5758a-5762a

Updated February 9^th:
Here are the first-day postmarks for this issue:The Digital Color Postmark measures 2.98″x1.38″ The Pictorial Postmark measures 2.74″x1.06″

Updated February 9^th:
On March 9, 2023, in Cincinnati, OH, the United States Postal Service® will issue the Railroad Stations stamps (Forever® priced at the First-Class Mail® rate) in five designs, in a pressure-sensitive adhesive (PSA) pane of 20 stamps (Item 483900). These stamps will go on sale nationwide March 9, 2023, and must not be sold or canceled before the first-day-of-issue. The Railroad Stations commemorative pane of 20 stamps must not be split and the stamps must not be sold individually.

Noteworthy railroad stations began brightening the American landscape by the 1870s and, although many fell to the wrecking ball once they had outlived their original purpose, hundreds survived. This issuance of five different stamps features five architectural gems that continue to play an important role in their community:

• Point of Rocks Station in Maryland;
• Main Street Station in Richmond, Virginia;
• Santa Fe Station in San Bernardino, California;
• Tamaqua Station in Pennsylvania; and
• Union Terminal in Cincinnati, Ohio.

The pane resembles a page in an old-fashioned photo album, with the title “Historic Railroad Stations of the United States” and drawings of a train and a one-ride ticket in the header. Derry Noyes art directed the project. Down the Street Designs designed and created the digital illustrations and typography.

Item 483900, pane of 20. 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 – Railroad Stations 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 9, 2023.

Technical Specifications:

Issue: Railroad Stations Stamps
Item Number: 483900
Denomination & Type of Issue: First-Class Mail Forever
Format: Pane of 20 (5 designs)
Series: N/A
Issue Date & City: March 9, 2023, Cincinnati, OH 45234
Art Director: Derry Noyes, Washington, DC
Designer: Down the Street Designs
Artist: Down the Street Designs
Typographer: Down the Street Designs
Modeler: Sandra Lane / Michelle Finn
Manufacturing Process: Offset, Flexographic
Printer: Banknote Corporation of America
Press Type: Gallus RCS
Stamps per Pane: 20
Print Quantity: 30,000,000 stamps
Paper Type: Phosphor Tagged Paper, Block
Adhesive Type: Pressure-sensitive
Colors: Cyan, Magenta, Yellow, Black, Pantone 4135C
Stamp Orientation: Horizontal
Image Area (w x h): 1.42 x 1.085 in / 36.068 x 27.559 mm
Overall Size (w x h): 1.56 x 1.225 in / 39.624 x 31.115 mm
Full Pane Size (w x h): 7.24 x 8.25 in / 183.896 x 209.550 mm
Press Sheets Size (w x h): 14.48 x 16.50 in / 367.792 x 419.100 mm
Plate Size: 80 stamps per revolution
Plate Number: “B” followed by five (5) single digits
Marginal Markings:
Front: Header: Historic Railroad Stations of the United States • USPS Forever Stamps One Trip from Sea to Shining Sea • Plate number in two corners of the pane
Back: ©2022 USPS • USPS logo • Two barcodes (483900) • Plate position diagram (4) • Promotional text

Updated February 8^th:
[ceremony details] [click on any of the pictures for larger versions]
U.S. Postal Service Celebrates Riding the Rails
New Railroad Station Stamps Honor the Spirit of Train Travel

What: The U.S. Postal Service will commemorate the history and romance of train travel by unveiling Railroad Stations Forever stamps at the spectacular art deco Union Terminal in Cincinnati.

The first-day-of-issue event is free and open to the public. News of the stamps is being shared with the hashtag #RailroadStationsStamps.

Who: The Honorable Daniel Tangherlini, governor, U.S. Postal Service Board of Governors
Elizabeth Pierce, president and chief executive officer, Cincinnati Museum Center

When: Thursday, March 9, at 11 a.m. EST

Where: Cincinnati Union Terminal
1301 Western Ave.
Cincinnati, OH 45203

RSVP: Dedication ceremony attendees are encouraged to RSVP at: usps.com/railroadstations.

Background: Noteworthy railroad stations began brightening the American landscape by the 1870s. This issuance features five architectural gems that continue to play an important role in their communities: Tamaqua Station in Pennsylvania; Point of Rocks Station in Maryland; Main Street Station in Richmond, VA; Santa Fe Station in San Bernardino, CA; and Union Terminal in Cincinnati.

Just as the railroad represents progress and movement, railroad stations hold stories of industry and commerce, of migration and hope for the future, of reunions and goodbyes. They are gateways and crossroads where lives meet.

All five of the stations featured on these stamps are listed in the U.S. Department of the Interior’s National Register of Historic Places.

Derry Noyes served as art director for the project. Down the Street Designs designed and created the digital illustrations and typography.

Updated January 10^th:
The USPS confirms the date and city of issue.

Updated November 30^th:
Linn’s Stamp News says these stamps will be issued Thursday March 9, in Cincinnati with a ceremony in Union Terminal.

Announced by the USPS on October 24, 2022.

Under the Endangered Species Act, which marks its 50th anniversary in 2023, more than 1,300 imperiled plant and animal species are safeguarded to increase their chances of survival. With this pane of 20 stamps, the Postal Service presents a photographic portfolio of 20 representative endangered animal species. Those featured are found within the 50 states and U.S. territories and possessions or living near U.S. borders. The images are among more than 13,000 in photographer Joel Sartore’s “Photo Ark,” his project to document as many animal species as possible. Art director Derry Noyes designed the stamps with Sartore’s existing photographs.

New information will appear below the line, with the most recent at the top.

Updated July 1^st
Here are the Scott catalogue numbers for this issue:

5799 Pane of 20
a. (63¢) Laysan teal
b. (63¢) Black-footed ferret
c. (63¢) Roanoke logperch
d. (63¢) Thick-billed parrot
e. (63¢) Candy darter
f. (63¢) Florida panther
g. (63¢) Masked bobwhite quail
h. (63¢) Key Largo cotton mouse
i. (63¢) Lower Keys marsh rabbit
j. (63¢) Wyoming toad
k. (63¢) Vancouver Island marmot
l. (63¢) Golden-cheeked warbler
m. (63¢) Guam Micronesian kingfisher
n. (63¢) San Francisco garter snake
o. (63¢) Mexican gray wolf
p. (63¢) Attwater’s prairie chicken
q. (63¢) Nashville crayfish
r. (63¢) Piping plover
s. (63¢) Desert bighorn sheep
t. (63¢) Mississippi sandhill crane
u. As No. 5799, imperforate
v. As No. 5799a, imperforate
w. As No. 5799b, imperforate
x. As No. 5799c, imperforate
y. As No. 5799d, imperforate
z. As No. 5799e, imperforate
aa. As No. 5799f, imperforate
ab. As No. 5799g, imperforate
ac. As No. 5799h, imperforate
ad. As No. 5799i, imperforate
ae. As No. 5799j, imperforate
af. As No. 5799k, imperforate
ag. As No. 5799l, imperforate
ah. As No. 5799m, imperforate
ai. As No. 5799n, imperforate
aj. As No. 5799o, imperforate
ak. As No. 5799p, imperforate
al. As No. 5799q, imperforate
am. As No. 5799r, imperforate
an. As No. 5799s, imperforate
ao. As No. 5799t, imperforate

Updated April 24^th
Here are the first-day postmarks for this issue:The Digital Color Postmark measures 2.04″ x 1.0″ The pictorial postmark measures 2.39″ x 1.0″

Updated April 21^st from the Postal Bulletin
On May 19, 2023, in Wall, SD, the United States Postal Service® will issue the Endangered Species stamps (Forever® priced at the First-Class Mail® rate) in 20 designs, in a pressure-sensitive adhesive (PSA) pane of 20 stamps (Item 483800). These stamps will go on sale nationwide May 19, 2023, and must not be sold or canceled before the first-day-of-issue. The Endangered Species commemorative pane of 20 stamps must not be split and the stamps must not be sold individually.

Featuring 20 different endangered animals, these 20 stamps pay tribute to the Endangered Species Act and mark the 50th anniversary of the legislation. The stamp art showcases photographs of endangered animals found within the 50 states and American territories and possessions, as well as two North American species living near U.S. borders. The images are among more than 13,000 in photographer Joel Sartore’s “Photo Ark,” his project to document as many animal species as possible. Art director Derry Noyes designed the stamps with Sartore‘s existing photographs.

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 – Endangered Species 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 September 19, 2023.

Technical Specifications:

Issue: Endangered Species Stamps
Item Number: 483800
Denomination & Type of Issue: First-Class Mail Forever
Format: Pane of 20 (20 designs)
Series: N/A
Issue Date & City: May 19, 2023, Wall, SD 57790
Art Director: Derry Noyes, Washington, DC
Designer: Derry Noyes, Washington, DC
Existing Photos: Joel Sartore
Modeler: Sandra Lane / Michelle Finn
Manufacturing Process: Offset, Flexographic
Printer: Banknote Corporation of America
Press Type: Gallus 74
Stamps per Pane: 20
Print Quantity: 30,000,000 stamps
Paper Type: Phosphor Tagged Paper, Block
Adhesive Type: Pressure-sensitive
Colors: Cyan, Magenta, Yellow, Black, Opaque White
Stamp Orientation: Horizontal
Image Area (w x h): 1.42 x 1.085 in / 36.068 x 27.559 mm
Overall Size (w x h): 1.56 x 1.225 in / 39.624 x 31.115 mm
Full Pane Size (w x h): 7.48 x 9.0 in / 189.992 x 228.60 mm
Press Sheets Size (w x h): 14.96 x 18.00 in / 379.984 x 457.20 mm
Plate Size: 80 stamps per revolution
Plate Number: “B” followed by five (5) single digits
Marginal Markings:
Front: Header: Endangered Species • Plate number in two corners of the pane
Back: ©2022 USPS • USPS logo • Two barcodes (483800) • Plate position diagram (4) • Promotional text

[ceremony details] [click on any of the pictures for larger versions]
Postal Service Spotlights Endangered Species

What: The U.S. Postal Service will commemorate the 50th anniversary of the Endangered Species Act (ESA) by issuing a pane of stamps featuring 20 photos of different endangered animals.

The first-day-of-issue event for the Endangered Species Forever stamps is free and open to the public.

News of the stamps is being shared with the hashtags #EndangeredSpeciesStamps and #ESA50.

Who: Peter Pastre, vice president, government relations and public policy, USPS
Martha Williams, director, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
Joel Sartore, National Geographic Explorer and photographer

When: Friday, May 19, 2023, at 11 a.m. MT

Where: National Grasslands Visitor Center
708 Main St., Wall, SD 57790
https://www.fs.usda.gov/recarea/nebraska/recarea/?recid=10639

RSVP: Dedication ceremony attendees are encouraged to RSVP at usps.com/endangeredspecies

Background: The stamps showcase photographs of endangered animals found within the 50 states and U.S. territories, as well as two North American species living near U.S. borders.

The 20 images are from thousands in National Geographic Explorer and photographer Joel Sartore’s “National Geographic Photo Ark,” a project to document every species living in the world’s zoos, aquariums and wildlife sanctuaries, inspire action through education, and help protect wildlife by supporting on-the-ground conservation efforts.

On Dec. 27, 1973, President Richard Nixon signed the ESA into law, following a unanimous Senate vote. In the 50 years since, other nations worldwide have emulated the pioneering U.S. initiative. The ESA provides a framework to conserve and protect endangered and threatened species and their habitats both domestically and abroad.

Under the ESA, more than 1,670 U.S. species and 698 foreign species are safeguarded to increase their chances of survival. Scientists estimate that hundreds of species have been rescued from the brink of extinction in the United States since the ESA began. A species found to need protection is listed under the ESA as either threatened or endangered, the latter defined as “in danger of extinction throughout all or a significant portion of its range.”

Updated January 10^th:

These stamps will be issued Friday, May 19, in Wall, SD. The National Grasslands Visitor Center, part of the Buffalo Gap National Grassland, is in Wall. The center features exhibits about grassland wildlife and plants, grazing management and the history of the Great Plains.

Announced by the USPS on October 24, 2022.

This stamp issuance honors Chief Standing Bear (ca. 1829-1908), who won a landmark court ruling in 1879 that determined that Native Americans were persons under the law with inherent rights to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. The stamp features a portrait of Chief Standing Bear by Thomas Blackshear II, based on a black-and-white photograph taken in 1877. The color of Standing Bear’s attire was based mainly on contemporary descriptions. Art director Derry Noyes designed the stamp.

New information will appear below the line, with the most recent at the top.

Updated July 1^st:
The Scott catalogue number for this issue is 5798.

Updated April 7^th from the Postal Bulletin:
On May 12, 2023, in Lincoln, NE, the United States Postal Service® will issue the Chief Standing Bear stamp (Forever® priced at the First-Class Mail® rate) in one design, in a pressure-sensitive adhesive (PSA) pane of 20 stamps (Item 483700). This stamp will go on sale nationwide May 12, 2023, and must not be sold or canceled before the first-day-of-issue.

The Postal Service™ honors Chief Standing Bear (ca 1829–1908), who won a landmark court ruling that determined a Native American was a person under the law with an inherent right to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. The stamp features a portrait of Chief Standing Bear by Thomas Blackshear II based on a black-and white-photograph taken in 1877. The color of Standing Bear’s attire was based mainly on contemporary descriptions. Art director Derry Noyes designed the stamp.

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 – Chief Standing Bear 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 September 12, 2023.

Technical Specifications:

Issue: Chief Standing Bear Stamp
Item Number: 483700
Denomination & Type of Issue: First-Class Mail Forever
Format: Pane of 20 (1 design)
Series: N/A
Issue Date & City: May 12, 2023, Lincoln, NE 68501
Art Director: Derry Noyes, Washington, DC
Designer: Derry Noyes, Washington, DC
Artist: Thomas Blackshear II
Modeler: Ty Schroeder
Manufacturing Process: Offset, Microprint
Printer: Ashton Potter (USA) Ltd (APU)
Press Type: Muller A76
Stamps per Pane: 20
Print Quantity: 18,000,000 stamps
Paper Type: Nonphosphored Type III, Block Tagged
Adhesive Type: Pressure-sensitive
Colors: Black, Cyan, Magenta, Yellow, Pantone 4625C
Stamp Orientation: Vertical
Image Area (w x h): 0.84 x 1.42 in / 21.336 x 36.068 mm
Overall Size (w x h): 0.98 x 1.56 in / 24.892 x 39.624 mm
Full Pane Size (w x h): 8.5 x 7.24 in / 215.90 x 183.896 mm
Press Sheets Size (w x h): 22.09 x 25.87 in / 561.086 x 657.098 mm
Plate Size: 180 stamps per revolution
Plate Number: “P” followed by five (5) single digits in two corners
Marginal Markings:
Front: Header: Chief Standing Bear • Plate number in bottom 2 corners
Back: ©2022 USPS • USPS logo • Two barcodes (483700) • Plate position diagram (9) • Promotional text

Updated April 6^th:
Here are the first-day postmarks for this issue: The Digital Color Postmark measures 2.92″ x 1.45″ The pictorial postmark measures 2.58″ x 1.21″

Here is what the full pane of 20 will look like: Updated January 10^th:
This stamp will be issued Friday, May 12, in Lincoln, NE. There is a statue of the Chief on the Centennial Mall in Lincoln. In 1879, he won a court case establishing that Native Americans were people and entitled to civil rights. The City of Lincoln’s website and Wikipedia have more. The Chief Standing Bear (project) website is something of a disappointment.

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 10^th:
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 10^th:

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 8^th:
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 7^th:
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.