From the U.S. Postal Service announcement on November 17, 2020:From the USPS: The new Mystery Message stamp will put your sleuthing skills to the test. Featuring bright colors and interesting shapes, the stamp design is a visual riddle spelling out a message. Each colorful square contains a letter in an interesting pattern. The patterns, though seemingly random, were carefully placed so that when put all together, the message reads, “MORE THAN MEETS THE EYE!” Art director Antonio Alcalá designed the stamp.

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

Updated August 2nd:
Here are the Scott catalogue numbers for this issue:
The regular stamp is 5614. The imperforate variety is 5614a.

Updated June 17th:
Here are the postmarks for this issue:The Digital Color Postmark measures 2.98″ x 1.29″ The B&W pictorial postmark measures 2.76″ x 1.21″

Updated June 17th from the Postal Bulletin:
On July 14, 2021, in Washington, DC, the United States Postal Service® will issue the Mystery Message stamp (Forever® priced at the First-Class Mail® rate) in one design, in a pressure-sensitive adhesive (PSA) pane of 20 stamps (Item 480700). This stamp will go on sale nationwide July 14, 2021, and must not be sold or canceled before the first-day-of-issue.

The new Mystery Message stamp is designed to put your sleuthing skills to the test! Featuring bright colors and interesting shapes, the stamp design is a visual riddle spelling out a difficult-to-discern message. Each colorful square contains a letter in an interesting pattern. The patterns, though seemingly random, were carefully placed so that when put all together, the message reads, “More Than Meets the Eye!” The reverse side of the pane provides the solution. Art director Antonio Alcalá 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 usps.com/shop. They must affix the stamps to envelopes of their choice, address the envelopes (to themselves or others), and place them in a larger envelope addressed to:

FDOI – Mystery Message 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 November 14, 2021.

Technical Specifications:

Issue: Mystery Message Stamp
Item Number: 480700
Denomination & Type of Issue: First-Class Mail Forever
Format: Pane of 20 (1 design)
Series: N/A
Issue Date & City: July 14, 2021, Washington, DC 20066
Art Director: Antonio Alcalá, Alexandria, VA
Designer: Antonio Alcalá, Alexandria, VA
Modeler: Sandra Lane / Michelle Finn
Manufacturing Process: Flexographic, 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, Gray PMS Cool Gray 5C
Stamp Orientation: Vertical
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): 5.8375 x 7.12 in. / 148.272 x 180.848 mm
Press Sheets Size (w x h): 14.24 x 23.35 in. / 361.696 X 593.09 mm
Plate Size: 160 stamps per revolution
Plate Number: “B” followed by four (4) single digits in bottom two corners
Marginal Markings:
Front: Header: Mystery Message • Plate number in bottom two corners
Back: ©2020 USPS • USPS logo • 2 barcodes (480700) • Plate position diagram (8) • Promotional text • “More Than Meets The Eye!”

Updated June 15th:
[press release]
Mystery Message in New Forever Stamps

WHAT: Put your sleuthing skills to the test with the bright colors and interesting shapes of the new Mystery Message Forever stamp. The U.S. Postal Service offers intrigue and excitement for customers with a stamp that needs deciphering to be fully appreciated.

News of the stamps is being shared with the hashtag #MysteryMessageStamps.

WHO: Hon. Robert M. Duncan, governor, U.S. Postal Service Board of Governors

Tamara Christian, president and chief operating officer, International Spy Museum

Rebecca Roberts, program curator, Planet Word Museum

WHEN: Wednesday, July 14, 2021, at 10 a.m. ET

WHERE:
International Spy Museum
700 L’Enfant Plaza SW
Washington, DC 20024

The story behind the stamp will also be featured on the U.S. Postal Service Facebook and Twitter pages, posting at 1 p.m. ET.

BACKGROUND: The new Mystery Message Forever stamp is designed to put your sleuthing skills to the test! Featuring bright colors and interesting shapes, the stamp design is a visual riddle spelling out a difficult-to-discern message. Each colorful square contains a letter in an interesting pattern.

The seemingly random patterns were carefully placed so that when put all together, the message reads (here is a “spoiler alert”): “More Than Meets the Eye!” The reverse side of the pane also provides the solution.

Art director Antonio Alcalá designed the stamp. The Mystery Message stamp is being issued as a Forever stamp. This Forever stamp will always be equal to the current First-Class Mail 1-ounce price.

Postal Products: Customers may purchase stamps and other philatelic products through the Postal Store at usps.com/shopstamps, by calling (844) 737-7826, by mail through USA Philatelic, or at Post Office locations nationwide.

Updated March 17th:
This stamp will be issued July 14th with Washington, DC, as the first-day city. “Why?” is still a mystery.

From the U.S. Postal Service announcement on November 17, 2020:From the USPS: Garden Beauty celebrates America’s love of flowers and gardens with 10 new stamp designs in a booklet of 20. The stamps include a pink flowering dogwood; a rose-pink and white tulip; an allium, or ornamental onion; a pink and white Asiatic lily; a magenta dahlia; a yellow and pink American lotus; a pink moth orchid with mottled petals; a pink and white sacred lotus; an orange and yellow tulip; and a yellow moth orchid with a pink center. Art director Ethel Kessler designed the stamps with existing photographs by Allen Rokach.

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

Updated April 6th:
The Scott catalogue numbers for this issue are:

• • 5558 Pink Flowering Dogwood
  • 5559 Orange and Yellow Tulip
  • 5560 Allium
  • 5561 Pink Moth Orchid with Mottled Petals
  • 5562 Magenta Dahlia
  • 5563 Yellow Moth Orchid with Pink Center
  • 5564 Pink and White Sacred Lotus
  • 5565 White Asiatic Lily
  • 5566 Rose Pink and White Tulip
  • 5567 Pink American Lotus
  • a. Block of 10, #5558-5567
  • b. Convertible booklet pane of 20, 2 each #5558-5567

Updated February 19th:
Here are the first-day postmarks; the pictorial is a late addition:The Digital Color Postmark measures 2.96″ x 1.47″ The pictorial postmark measures 2.59″ x 1.22″. The previously announced “killerbar” (“FIRST DAY OF ISSUE”) hand cancel is also available.

Updated January 14th from the Postal Bulletin:
On February 23, 2021, in Bloomfield, IN, the United States Postal Service® will issue the Garden Beauty stamps (Forever® priced at the First-Class Mail® rate) in 10 designs, in a pressure-sensitive adhesive (PSA) booklet of 20 stamps (Item 683100). These stamps will go on sale nationwide February 23, 2021, and must not be sold or canceled before the first-day-of-issue.

Garden Beauty stamps celebrate America‘s love of flowers and gardens with 10 new stamp designs in a booklet of 20. Each stamp features a close-up photograph of one of the following flowers:

• A pink flowering dogwood;
• A rose-pink and white tulip;
• An Allium or ornamental onion;
• A pink and white Asiatic lily;
• A magenta dahlia;
• A yellow and pink American lotus;
• A pink moth orchid with mottled petals;
• A pink and white sacred lotus;
• An orange and yellow tulip; and
• A yellow moth orchid with a pink center.

Art director Ethel Kessler designed the stamps with existing photographs by Allen Rokach.

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 usps.com/shop. They must affix the stamps to envelopes of their choice, address the envelopes (to themselves or others), and place them in a larger envelope addressed to:

FDOI – Garden Beauty 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 June 23, 2021.

Technical Specifications:

Issue: Garden Beauty Stamps
Item Number: 683100
Denomination & Type of Issue: First-Class Mail Forever
Format: Double-sided Booklet of 20 (10 designs)
Series: N/A
Issue Date & City: February 23, 2021, Bloomfield, IN 47424
Art Director: Ethel Kessler, Bethesda, MD
Designer: Ethel Kessler, Bethesda, MD
Existing Photos: Allen Rokach, Rokach Photography
Modeler: Sandra Lane/Michelle Finn
Manufacturing Process: Offset
Printer: Banknote Corporation of America
Press Type: Alprinta 74
Stamps per Booklet: 20
Print Quantity: 600,000,000 stamps
Paper Type: Phosphor Tagged Paper, Block Tag
Adhesive Type: Pressure-sensitive
Stamp Orientation: Horizontal
Image Area (w x h): 1.05 x 0.77 in./26.670 x 19.558 mm
Stamp Size (w x h): 1.19 x 0.91 in./20.226 x 23.114 mm
Full Booklet Size (w x h): 2.375 x 5.743 in./60.325 x 145.872 mm
Colors: Cyan, Magenta, Yellow, Black
Plate Size: 800 stamps per revolution
Plate Number: “B” followed by four (4) single digits
Marginal Markings: Header: GARDEN BEAUTY • Twenty First-Class Forever Stamps • USPS logo • Barcode • Plate number in peel strip area • ©2020 USPS in peel strip area • Promotional text in peel strip area

Updated January 7th:
A mat in a suburban Washington, DC, post office indicates a issue date of February 23rd. USPS headquarters does not confirm.

From the U.S. Postal Service announcement on November 17, 2020:From the USPS: Chien-Shiung Wu (1912-1997) was one of the most influential nuclear physicists of the 20th century. During a career that spanned more than 40 years in a field dominated by men, she established herself as the authority on conducting precise and accurate research to test fundamental theories of physics. Art Director Ethel Kessler designed the stamp with original art by Kam Mak.

On Wikipedia

The Scott catalogue number for this issue is 5557.

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

Updated February 2nd:
There is no automatic distribution for this issue.

Updated February 1st:
[press release/ceremony information]
Nuclear Physicist Chien-Shiung Wu to be Honored on a U.S. Postal Service Commemorative Forever Stamp

WHAT: The U.S. Postal Service will honor Professor Emerita Chien-Shiung Wu, one of the most influential nuclear physicists of the 20th century, with a commemorative Forever stamp.

News of the stamp is being shared with hashtags #ChienShiungWu and #ScientificWomen.

WHO: Kristin Seaver, chief retail and delivery officer and executive vice president, U.S. Postal Service

Jada Yuan, granddaughter of honoree and reporter for The Washington Post

Brian Greene, professor of physics and mathematics, Columbia University

WHEN: Thursday, Feb. 11, 2021, at 11 a.m. EST

WHERE: The virtual stamp event will be hosted on the U.S. Postal Service Facebook and Twitter pages. For more information, visit usps.com/chienshiungwu.

BACKGROUND: One of the most influential nuclear physicists of the 20th century, professor Chien-Shiung Wu (1912-1997) was a determined advocate for women in science and made enormous contributions to the physical sciences, altering modern physical theory forever.

During a career that spanned more than 40 years in a field dominated by men, Wu established herself as the authority on conducting precise and accurate research to test fundamental theories of physics.

Working on uranium enrichment and radiation detectors for the Manhattan Project during World War II, Wu made invaluable contributions to the experimental process of splitting and harnessing the power of the uranium atom, making possible the production of the world’s first atomic bomb.

The stamp art features a detailed portrait of Wu wearing a black-and-white high-collared traditional Chinese gown known as qipao. The illustration was first drawn in graphite, then rendered in egg tempera paint. The background was painted with the pigment lapis lazuli, a highly valued color historically used in artistic depictions of angels, nobility and the Virgin Mary.

Art director Ethel Kessler designed the stamp with original art by Kam Mak.

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

Updated January 25th:
The USPS is selling two versions of the press sheet for this issue, with die cuts (480206) and without (480208). Both are $66.

Updated January 14th from the Postal Bulletin:
Technical Specifications:

Issue: Chien-Shiung Wu Stamp
Item Number: 480200
Denomination & Type of Issue: First-Class Mail® Forever®
Format: Pane of 20
Series: N/A
Issue Date & City: February 11, 2021, New York, NY 10199
Art Director: Ethel Kessler, Bethesda, MD
Designer: Ethel Kessler, Bethesda, MD
Artist: Kam Mak, Brooklyn, NY
Modeler: Joseph Sheeran
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 Tag
Adhesive Type: Pressure-sensitive
Colors: Black, Cyan, Magenta, Yellow
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): 5.92 x 7.24 in./150.368 x 183.896 mm
Press Sheet Size (w x h): 11.84 x 21.72 in./ 300.736 x 551.688 mm
Plate Size: 240 stamps per revolution
Plate Number: “P” followed by four (4) single digits in four corners
Marginal Markings:
Front: Plate number in 4 corners
Back: ©2020 USPS • USPS Logo • Two barcodes (480200) • Plate position diagram (6) • Promotional text

Updated January 6th:
Here are the first-day postmarks for this issue:The Digital Color Postmark measures 2.91″ x 1.50″ The B&W pictorial postmark measures 2.73″ x .78″ The special postmark, for use by other post offices, measures 2.49″ x 1.00

Updated December 31st from the Postal Bulletin:

On February 11, 2021, in New York, NY, the United States Postal Service® will issue the Chien-Shiung Wu stamp (Forever® priced at the First-Class Mail® rate) in one design, in a pressure-sensitive adhesive (PSA) pane of 20 stamps (Item 480200). This stamp will go on sale nationwide February 11, 2021, and must not be sold or canceled before the first-day-of-issue.

This new Forever stamp honors Dr. Chien-Shiung Wu (1912–1997), one of the most influential nuclear physicists of the 20th century. The stamp art features a detailed portrait of Wu wearing a black-and-white high-collared, traditional Chinese gown known as qipao. The illustration was first drawn in graphite, then rendered in egg tempera paint. The background was painted with the pigment lapis lazuli, a highly valued color historically used in artistic depictions of angels, nobility, and the Virgin Mary. Art director Ethel Kessler designed the stamp with original art by Kam Mak.
No automatic distribution for Item 480200, Chien-Shiung Wu.

A special dedication postmark is available for local post offices.

How to Order the First-Day-of-Issue Postmark:
Customers have 120 days to obtain the first-day-of-issue postmark by mail. They may purchase new stamps at their local Post Office™ or at The Postal Store® website at usps.com/shop. They must affix the stamps to envelopes of their choice, address the envelopes (to themselves or others), and place them in a larger envelope addressed to:

FDOI – Chien-Shiung Wu 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 11, 2021.

Technical Specifications are not yet available.

Updated December 4th:
This stamp will be issued Thursday, February 11th, with a New York City postmark.

From the U.S. Postal Service announcement on November 17, 2020:From the USPS: The Postal Service continues its popular Love series with a new stamp in 2021. The stamp art features a lighthearted and colorful digital illustration with the word “LOVE” and three large hearts shown in an unconventional palette of color duos, strikingly set against a dark blue background. Greg Breeding was art director; Bailey Sullivan created the original art and designed the stamp.

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

Updated January 4th:

[press release]
2021 Begins With Love
New Forever Stamps Available Jan. 14

WHAT: The U.S. Postal Service continues its popular Love series with a new stamp in 2021. The first stamp in the series was issued in 1973. The latest one features a colorful and lighthearted digital illustration.

News of the stamp is being shared with hashtag #LoveStamps.

WHO: USPS Chief Information Officer and Executive Vice President Pritha Mehra will serve as dedicating official.

WHEN: Thursday, Jan. 14, 2021, at 11:00 a.m. MST

BACKGROUND:
The virtual stamp event will be posted on the Postal Service Facebook and Twitter pages.Please visit usps.com/love for details of the dedication ceremony.

The first-day-of-issue location for the stamp is Loveland, CO. The city’s Chamber of Commerce has teamed up with the Postal Service for more than 70 years for an internationally renowned Valentine Remailing Program. Every year, more than 100,000 valentines, packaged inside larger envelopes, are sent to Loveland, where volunteers handstamp them with a Valentine’s Day verse and send them on to the intended recipients. A contest is held each year for residents to submit their designs and verses.

There are many reasons to say “I love you” and countless ways to show you care. Sending a card to a loved one or friend is a special way to declare your affection, friendship, gratitude or devotion. Today, there is renewed enthusiasm for handwritten notes that express exactly how you feel.

The playful, graphic lettering on this stamp will add color and whimsy to your mailings, making it clear that thought and care have been lavished on the message, inside and out.

Love 2021 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.

Preorders for the Love 2021 stamp can be made online at usps.com and by phone at 800-STAMP24 (800-782-6724).

Updated December 7th:
Here are the first-day postmarks for this issue:The Digital Color Postmark measures 2.67″ x 1.34″ The pictorial postmark measures 2.64″ x 1.14″

Updated December 3rd:

On January 14, 2021, in Loveland, CO, the United States Postal Service® will issue the Love 2021 stamp (Forever® priced at the First-Class Mail® rate) in one design, in a pressure-sensitive adhesive pane of 20 stamps (Item 565100). The stamp will go on sale nationwide January 14, 2021, and must not be sold or canceled before the first-day-of-issue.

The Postal Service™ continues its popular Love series with a new stamp in 2021. The stamp art features a lighthearted and colorful digital illustration with the word “LOVE” and three large hearts shown in an unconventional palette of color duos, strikingly set against a dark blue background. The design also includes a smaller heart, a rectangle, and a semicircle. Greg Breeding was art director; Bailey Sullivan created the original art and 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 usps.com/shop. They must affix the stamps to envelopes of their choice, address the envelopes (to themselves or others), and place them in a larger envelope addressed to:

FDOI – Love 2021
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 14, 2021.

Technical Specifications:

Issue: Love 2021 Stamp
Item Number: 565100
Denomination & Type of Issue: First-Class Mail Forever
Format: Pane of 20 (1 design)
Series: Love
Issue Date & City: January 14, 2021, Loveland, CO 80538
Art Director: Greg Breeding, Charlottesville, VA
Designer: Bailey Sullivan, Brooklyn, NY
Typographer: Bailey Sullivan, Brooklyn, NY
Illustrator: Bailey Sullivan, Brooklyn, NY
Modeler: Joseph Sheeran
Manufacturing Process: Offset, Microprint
Printer: Ashton Potter (USA) Ltd. (APU)
Press Type: Muller A76
Stamps per Pane: 20
Print Quantity: 200,000,000 stamps
Paper Type: Nonphosphored Type III, Block Tag
Adhesive Type: Pressure-sensitive
Processed at: Ashton Potter (USA) Ltd. (APU)
Colors: PMS 289 C Dark Blue, PMS 7688 C Light Blue, PMS 485 C Red, PMS 7423 C Pink, PMS 1375 C Orange
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): 1.19 x 0.91 in. / 30.226 x 23.114 mm
Full Pane Size (w x h): 5.76 x 5.55 in. / 146.304 x 140.97 mm
Press Sheet Size (w x h): 11.52 x 22.20 in. / 292.608 x 563.880 mm
Plate Size: 320 stamps per revolution
Plate Number: “P” followed by five (5) single digits in four corners
Marginal Markings:
Front: Plate number in 4 corners
Back: ©2020 USPS • USPS logo • Two barcodes (565100) • Plate position diagram (8) • Promotional text

From the U.S. Postal Service announcement on November 17, 2020:From the USPS: In 2021, the Postal Service will issue the second of 12 stamps in a new series of Lunar New Year stamps. Calling to mind the elaborately decorated masks used in the dragon or lion dances often performed during Lunar New Year parades, these three-dimensional masks are a contemporary take on the long tradition of paper-cut folk art crafts created during this auspicious time of year. Art director Antonio Alcalá designed the stamp with original art by Camille Chew.

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

Updated January 29th:
The ZIP code for the first-day city is now 60699.

Updated January 25th:
The USPS is selling two versions of the press sheet for this issue, with die cuts (480106) and without (480108). Both are $44.

Updated January 22nd:
[press release: ceremony details]
New Year, New Ox

What: The U.S. Postal Service celebrates the Lunar New Year with the release of the Lunar New Year: Year of the Ox Forever stamp. The Year of the Ox begins Feb. 12, 2021, and ends Jan. 31, 2022.

News of the stamp is being shared with the hashtags #LunarNewYear and #LunarNewYearOx.

Who: Luke Grossmann, senior vice president of finance and strategy, U.S. Postal Service, will serve as dedicating official.

Patrick McShane, president, Chicago Chinatown Chamber of Commerce

Judy Hsu, evening anchor, ABC 7 Chicago

When: Tuesday, Feb. 2, 2021, 11 a.m. CST

Background: The Chicago Chinatown Chamber of Commerce and USPS are teaming up to host a virtual ceremony, which will be posted to the Postal Service’s Facebook and Twitter pages. Please visit usps.com/lunarnewyearox for additional information. Of interest to philatelists, the designated first-day-of-issue city for the stamp is Chicago.

The Year of the Ox is second in a new series of Lunar New Year stamps introduced in 2020. The mask on the stamp design incorporates elements with symbolic meaning. Several of the patterns were created with the style of Asian textiles in mind, as well as purple flowers that represent the arrival of spring, which Lunar New Year also signals in Chinese culture. The star in the center of the ox’s head references the celestial themes of the Chinese zodiac.

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

Art director Antonio Alcalá designed the stamp with original artwork by Camille Chew.

Lunar New Year is the most important holiday of the year for many Asian communities around the world.

Known as Tet in Vietnam and the Spring Festival in China and elsewhere, Lunar New Year begins on the second new moon after the winter solstice and historically marks the arrival of spring. In communities across the United States, people shop for food and other supplies, hang decorations and ceremoniously clean their homes to welcome the new year with a fresh start.

Preorders for the Year of the Ox stamps can be made online at usps.com or by calling 800-STAMP24 (800-782-6724).

Updated January 6th:
Here are the first-day postmarks for this issue:  [note that the zip code is now 60699]The Digital Color Postmark measures 2.87″ x 1.41″ The pictorial postmark measures 2.13″ x 1.23″

Updated December 31st from the Postal Bulletin:

On February 2, 2021, in Chicago, IL, the United States Postal Service® will issue the Lunar New Year – Year of the Ox stamp (Forever® priced at the First-Class Mail® rate) in one design, in a pressure-sensitive adhesive (PSA) pane of 20 stamps (Item 480100). This stamp will go on sale nationwide February 2, 2021, and must not be sold or canceled before the first-day-of-issue. The Lunar New Year – Year of the Ox commemorative pane of 20 stamps must not be split and the stamps must not be sold individually.

In 2021, the United States Postal Service issues the second of 12 stamps in a new series of Lunar New Year stamps. Calling to mind the elaborately decorated masks used in the dragon or lion dances often performed during Lunar New Year parades, these 3-dimensional masks are a contemporary take on the long tradition of paper-cut folk art crafts created during this auspicious time of year. The ox mask in the stamp design incorporates elements with symbolic meaning. Several of the patterns were created with the style of Asian textiles in mind as well as purple flowers that represent the arrival of spring, which Lunar New Year also signals in Chinese culture. The star in the center of the ox’s head references the celestial themes of the Chinese zodiac. Art director Antonio Alcalá designed the stamp with original art by Camille Chew.

No automatic distribution for Item 480100, Lunar New Year – Year of the Ox.

How to Order the First-Day-of-Issue Postmark:
Customers have 120 days to obtain the first-day-of-issue postmark by mail. They may purchase new stamps at their local Post Office™ or at The Postal Store® website at usps.com/shop. They must affix the stamps to envelopes of their choice, address the envelopes (to themselves or others), and place them in a larger envelope addressed to:

FDOI – Lunar New Year – Year of the Ox 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 2, 2021.

Technical Specifications:

Issue: Lunar New Year – Year of the Ox Stamp
Item Number: 480100
Denomination & Type of Issue: First-Class Mail Forever
Format: Pane of 20 (1 design)
Series: Lunar New Year
Issue Date & City: February 2, 2021, Chicago, IL 60699
Art Director: Antonio Alcalá, Alexandria, VA
Designer: Antonio Alcalá, Alexandria, VA
Artist: Camille Chew, Providence, RI
Modeler: Sandra Lane/Michelle Finn
Manufacturing Process: Offset, Foil Stamping, Flexographic, Microprint
Printer: Banknote Corporation of America
Press Type: Gallus RCS
Stamps per Pane: 20
Print Quantity: 24,000,000 stamps
Paper Type: Phosphor, Block Tag
Adhesive Type: Pressure-sensitive
Colors: Cyan, Magenta, Yellow, Black, Pantone 7579 Orange, Pantone 7563 Brown, Gold Foil Luxor MTS 413, Orange Foil Luxor MTS 404
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): 7.25 x 8.5 in./184.15 x 215.9 mm
Press Sheet Size (w x h): 14.5 x 19.50 in./368.3 x 495.30 mm
Plate Size: 80 stamps per revolution
Plate Number: “B” followed by six (6) single digits in two corners
Marginal Markings:
Front: Header: Lunar New Year • Year of the Ox
Plate number in bottom two corners
Back: ©2020 USPS • USPS logo • 2 barcodes (480100) • Plate position dagram (4) • Promotional text

Updated December 4th:
This stamp will be issued Tuesday, February 2nd, with a Chicago postmark.

[press release — November 17, 2020]
This story is a work in progress and will be revised many times.
Hello, 2021
U.S. Postal Service Announces Upcoming Stamps

WASHINGTON, DC — The U.S. Postal Service today revealed several new stamps to be issued in 2021.

“A handwritten letter shows the recipient how much you care. The stamp you choose to adorn your envelope adds an extra important touch,” said U.S. Postal Service Stamp Services Director William Gicker. “The new 2021 stamps are designed to look beautiful on your envelopes, to be educational and to appeal to collectors and pen pals around the world. As always, the program offers a variety of subjects celebrating American culture and history, and this year, we made a special effort to include a little fun.”

The 2021 stamp program commemorates Missouri statehood, Japanese Americans who fought in World War II and Chien-Shiung Wu, one of the most influential American nuclear physicists of the 20th century. Fun issuances include Western Wear, Backyard Games, Espresso Drinks, a stamp showcasing a visual riddle, and four Message Monster stamps with self-adhesive accessories. The program also includes Mid-Atlantic Lighthouses, the last of the popular Lighthouse stamp series.

This is a partial list of the 2021 stamp program. All stamp designs are preliminary and subject to change.

Lunar New Year • Year of the Ox
In 2021, the Postal Service will issue the second of 12 stamps in a new series of Lunar New Year stamps. Calling to mind the elaborately decorated masks used in the dragon or lion dances often performed during Lunar New Year parades, these three-dimensional masks are a contemporary take on the long tradition of paper-cut folk art crafts created during this auspicious time of year. Art director Antonio Alcalá designed the stamp with original art by Camille Chew.

Love
The Postal Service continues its popular Love series with a new stamp in 2021. The stamp art features a lighthearted and colorful digital illustration with the word “LOVE” and three large hearts shown in an unconventional palette of color duos, strikingly set against a dark blue background. Greg Breeding was art director; Bailey Sullivan created the original art and designed the stamp.

Chien-Shiung Wu
Chien-Shiung Wu (1912-1997) was one of the most influential nuclear physicists of the 20th century. During a career that spanned more than 40 years in a field dominated by men, she established herself as the authority on conducting precise and accurate research to test fundamental theories of physics. Art Director Ethel Kessler designed the stamp with original art by Kam Mak.

Garden Beauty
Garden Beauty celebrates America’s love of flowers and gardens with 10 new stamp designs in a booklet of 20. The stamps include a pink flowering dogwood; a rose-pink and white tulip; an allium, or ornamental onion; a pink and white Asiatic lily; a magenta dahlia; a yellow and pink American lotus; a pink moth orchid with mottled petals; a pink and white sacred lotus; an orange and yellow tulip; and a yellow moth orchid with a pink center. Art director Ethel Kessler designed the stamps with existing photographs by Allen Rokach.

Mystery Message
The new Mystery Message stamp will put your sleuthing skills to the test. Featuring bright colors and interesting shapes, the stamp design is a visual riddle spelling out a message. Each colorful square contains a letter in an interesting pattern. The patterns, though seemingly random, were carefully placed so that when put all together, the message reads, “MORE THAN MEETS THE EYE!” Art director Antonio Alcalá designed the stamp.

Colorado Hairstreak
The Colorado hairstreak graces the eighth nonmachinable butterfly stamp for use on irregularly sized envelopes, such as square greeting cards, invitations or announcements. The stamp art is a highly stylized, simplified image of a Colorado hairstreak (Hypaurotis crysalus). Artist Tom Engeman created the stamp art. Art director Derry Noyes designed the stamp.

Barns
Four new postcard stamps celebrate the beauty and history of American barns. With differing qualities of light and color, each piece reflects one of the four seasons: a round barn surrounded by the hazy light and warm colors of fall, a gambrel-roofed barn in summer, a forebay barn in an early spring countryside, and a Western barn on a winter’s night. Ashley Walton designed the stamps with original artwork by Kim Johnson. Greg Breeding was the art director.

Backyard Games
These stamps capture many of the games Americans play for outdoor fun. A pane of 16 stamps features eight unique designs including: badminton, bocce, cornhole, croquet, flying disc, horseshoes, tetherball and a variation on pick-up baseball. Greg Breeding was the art director. Mike Ryan designed the stamps with original artwork by Mick Wiggins.

Day of the Dead
In recent decades, Day of the Dead has caught on in the United States as a festive and increasingly popular celebration for all ages. These new stamps will be the first issued by the U.S. Postal Service to mark this holiday. Luis Fitch designed and illustrated the stamps. Antonio Alcalá was the art director.

Brush Rabbit
The Postal Service features a brush rabbit (Sylvilagus bachmani) on this beautiful new additional-ounce stamp, available on a pane of 20 or in a coil of 100. The pencil-and-watercolor illustration is from preexisting artwork by designer and illustrator Dugald Stermer. The brush rabbit is a small brownish cottontail rabbit of the U.S. West Coast and Baja California, Mexico. Art director Ethel Kessler designed the stamp.

Heritage Breeds
These stamps pay tribute to heritage breeds, preindustrial farm animals that are enjoying renewed attention for their versatility, adaptability and unique genetic traits. This pane of 20 stamps includes photographs of 10 heritage breeds: the American Mammoth Jackstock donkey, the Narragansett turkey, the Cayuga duck, the San Clemente Island goat, the Mulefoot hog, the Cotton Patch goose, the American Cream draft horse, the Barbados Blackbelly sheep, the Milking Devon cow and the Wyandotte chicken. Zack Bryant designed the stamps with photographs by Aliza Eliazarov. Greg Breeding served as art director.

Raven Story
Merging traditional artwork with modern design touches, this stamp depicts one of many stories about Raven, a figure of great significance to the Indigenous peoples of the Northwest Coast. Among the cultures of the region, Raven plays an essential role in many traditional tales, including stories about the creation of the world. Inspired by the traditional story of Raven setting free the sun, the moon and the stars, Tlingit/Athabascan artist Rico Worl depicts Raven just as he escapes from his human family and begins to transform back into his bird form. Antonio Alcalá served as art director.

Go for Broke: Japanese American Soldiers of WWII
With this commemorative stamp, the Postal Service recognizes the contributions of
Japanese American soldiers, some 33,000 altogether, who served in the U.S. Army
during World War II. The stamp, printed in the intaglio method, is based on a photograph. “Go for Broke” was the motto of the all-Japanese American 100th Infantry Battalion/442nd Regimental Combat Team and came to represent all Japanese American units formed during World War II. The stamp was designed by art director Antonio Alcalá.

Western Wear
The U.S. Postal Service celebrates the enduring legacy of Western wear with four fun new Forever stamps in a booklet of 20. The stamp art features four graphic illustrations of Western wear staples — a cowboy hat, a cowboy boot with a spur, a Western shirt, and a belt buckle featuring a longhorn head. Each image is framed by elements common to the American West and iconography of the region, including cacti, snakes, roses and stars. Art director Greg Breeding designed the stamps with original art by Ryan Feerer.

Mid-Atlantic Lighthouses
The long-running series celebrating American lighthouses continues with five new stamps. The mid-Atlantic lighthouses featured in this issuance are: Thomas Point Shoal, MD; Montauk Point, NY; Harbor of Refuge, DE; Navesink, NJ; and Erie Harbor Pierhead, PA. The late Howard Koslow was the artist for these stamps as well as previous issuances in the Lighthouse series. Mid-Atlantic Lighthouses were the last stamps he illustrated for the Postal Service. The art director was Greg Breeding.

Missouri Statehood
This stamp celebrates the bicentennial of Missouri statehood. Missouri became the 24th state in the Union on Aug. 10, 1821. The stamp art is an existing photograph of Bollinger Mill State Historic Site by noted landscape photographer Charles Gurche. Art director Greg Breeding designed the stamp.

Message Monsters
The four fun designs on this new pane of 20 stamps invite interactivity with dozens of self-adhesive accessories that personalize your cards, letters and envelopes for delighted recipients. Decorations include hearts, hats, voice balloons, flowers and thought bubbles. Art director Antonio Alcalá designed the pane with new illustrations by Elise Gravel.

Espresso Drinks
America’s love of coffee is celebrated with four new stamps in a booklet of 20. Four digital illustrations feature cups of four different drinks: caffe latte, espresso, caffe mocha and cappuccino. The names of the espresso drinks appear in art-deco-inspired lettering above or below each cup. Art director Greg Breeding designed the stamps with original artwork by Terry Allen.

Happy Birthday
This Happy Birthday stamp conveys exuberant greetings by calling to mind the childhood excitement of a birthday party. Each of the five letters in the word “HAPPY” is inspired by a different party decoration in the midst of a flurry of multicolored ribbons and confetti. This stamp was designed by Lisa Catalone Castro and Rodolfo Castro, featuring a digital illustration by the latter. Ethel Kessler served as art director.