Category Archives: US 2025

USPS “Easter Eggs” on 2025 Stamps

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I haven’t seen these mentioned elsewhere, but we learned at Great American Stamp Show that there are at least two “Easter Eggs” or hidden images in U.S. stamp designs for 2025. The first was on the Betty White stamp: Her visible earring is in the shape of a paw print, to represent her love and advocacy for animals:The second is on a stamp not yet issued, one of the Holiday Cheer stamps:On the one with the birds, at least two of the snowdrops on the branches have “frost” inside them. (The one shown here is sideways.)And I’m told there will be others in 2026.

Elie Wiesel (U.S. 2025)

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Announced by the USPS on June 26th:

The 18th stamp in the Distinguished Americans series honors humanitarian Elie Wiesel (1928-2016), a survivor of Nazi concentration camps whose dozens of works bore witness to the Holocaust and whose resilience and compassion continue to be a source of inspiration. This stamp for 2-ounce mail features a 1999 black-and-white photograph of Wiesel by Sergey Bermeniev. Ethel Kessler, an art director for USPS, designed the stamp.

This stamp will be issued September 17th in New York City.

Updated November 5th:
The Scott catalogue number for this issue is 6037.

Updated September 5th:
From the Postal Bulletin: “In the article “Stamp Announcement 25-31: Elie Wiesel,” in Postal Bulletin 22682 (8-7-25, pages 35−36), the technical details table stated the Press Sheet Size however, Press Sheets are not available for this stamp.” We have indicated the correction below.

Updated August 26th:
[ceremony information] [click on any of the pictures for larger versions]
Humanitarian Elie Wiesel Is Honored with A Stamp

What: The U.S. Postal Service honors Elie Wiesel (1928-2016) with the 18th stamp of its Distinguished Americans series. Wiesel was a survivor of Nazi concentration camps whose life and writing on the Holocaust are a testament to moral courage and the resilience of the human spirit.

The first-day-of-issue event for the 2-ounce mail stamp is free and open to the public. News of the stamp is being shared with the hashtag #ElieWieselStamp.

Who: The Hon. Ronald A. Stroman, member of the USPS Board of Governors and dedicating official

When: Wednesday, Sept. 17, 2025, at 10:30 a.m. ET

Where: 92nd Street Y, New York, Kaufmann Concert Hall
1395 Lexington Ave.
New York, NY 10128

RSVP: Attendees are encouraged to register at usps.com/eliewieselstamp.

Background: Wiesel was a voice for victims and survivors of the Holocaust and fought for human rights at every opportunity. In 1960 he wrote “Night,” a powerful personal account of his experience in Nazi death camps.

Throughout his career, Wiesel published dozens of works that focused on the Holocaust and the Jewish experience. His resilience and compassion, and his remarkable body of work, ensure that future generations will never forget one of the darkest chapters in human history.

Wiesel was born in Romania and became a U.S. citizen in 1963. He was appointed chairman of the President’s Commission on the Holocaust in 1978, which led to the opening of the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum in 1993.

He was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1986 as a “messenger for mankind,” and with his wife, Marion (1931-2025), established the Elie Wiesel Foundation with the prize money.

Customers can preorder Elie Wiesel stamps on usps.com and they will be shipped on Sept. 17.

Updated August 9th:
Here are the first-day postmarks for this issue:The Digital Color Postmark measures 1.91″ x 1.13″The Pictorial Postmark measures 2.57″ x 1.37″ The Special postmark measures 2.86″ x 0.92″

From the Postal Bulletin:

On September 17, 2025, in New York, NY, the United States Postal Service® will issue the Elie Wiesel stamps (priced at the Non-denominated, Two-Ounce Mail® rate), in one design, in a pressure-sensitive adhesive (PSA) pane of 20 stamps (Item 124400). This stamp will go on sale nationwide September 17, 2025, and must not be sold or canceled before the first-day-of-issue.

The 18th stamp in the Distinguished Americans series honors humanitarian Elie Wiesel (1928–2016), a survivor of Nazi concentration camps whose dozens of writings ensure future generations will bear witness to the Holocaust while his resilience and compassion continue to be a source of inspiration. This 2-ounce stamp features a 1999 black-and-white photograph by Sergey Bermeniev of Wiesel in a suit and tie, with a pensive expression on his face. Art director Ethel Kessler 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 – Elie Wiesel 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 January 17, 2026.

Technical Specifications:

Issue: Elie Wiesel Stamp
Item Number: 124400
Denomination & Type of Issue: Two Ounce Rate, Non-denominated, Mail Use
Format: Pane of 20 (1 design)
Series: Distinguished Americans
Issue Date & City: September 17, 2025, New York, NY 10199
Art Director: Ethel Kessler, Bethesda, MD
Designer: Ethel Kessler, Bethesda, MD
Existing Photo: Sergey Bermeniev
Modeler: Sandra Lane / Michelle Finn
Manufacturing Process: Offset
Printer: Banknote Corporation of America
Press Type: Gallus RCS
Stamps per Pane: 20
Print Quantity: 8,000,000 stamps
Paper Type: Phosphor, Block Tag
Adhesive Type: Pressure-sensitive
Colors: Cyan, Magenta, Yellow, Black
Stamp Orientation: Vertical
Image Area (w x h): 0.7700 x 1.0500 in. / 19.5580 x 26.6700 mm.
Overall Size (w x h): 0.9100 x 1.1900 in. / 23.1140 x 30.2260 mm.
Full Pane Size (w x h): 5.5500 x 5.7600 in. / 140.9700 x 146.3040 mm.
Press Sheets Size (w x h): 11.1000 x 17.5300 in. / 281.9400 x 445.2620 mm.
Plate Size: 120 stamps per revolution
Plate Number: ”B” followed by four (4) single digits
Marginal Markings:
Front: Header: DISTINGUISHED AMERICANS Number 18 in a series
• Plate number in bottom two corners
Back: ©2025 USPS • USPS logo • Two barcodes (124400) • Plate position diagram (6) • Promotional text

U.S. Adds Wiesel and Other Details (U.S. 2025)

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[press release] [click on any of the pictures for larger versions]
U.S. Postal Service Announces Holiday, Elie Wiesel Stamps
Dates and locations for releases through September are also revealed

WASHINGTON — The U.S. Postal Service today announced its latest set of stamps celebrating the holiday season as well as a new issue honoring humanitarian Elie Wiesel. These designs are preliminary and subject to change.

Holiday Cheer
Four new designs in this booklet of 20 stamps usher in the holiday season: a trio of amaryllis flowers, a holly wreath, an evergreen branch decorated with fruit, and cardinals perched on mistletoe. The images were created using a collage technique with gouache and acrylic paint on background paper from a vintage gardening book. The shapes for each image were then cut out and pasted onto an archival cotton board. Derry Noyes, an art director for USPS, designed the stamps with original artwork by Denise Fiedler.

 

Elie Wiesel
The 18th stamp in the Distinguished Americans series honors humanitarian Elie Wiesel (1928-2016), a survivor of Nazi concentration camps whose dozens of works bore witness to the Holocaust and whose resilience and compassion continue to be a source of inspiration. This stamp for 2-ounce mail features a 1999 black-and-white photograph of Wiesel by Sergey Bermeniev. Ethel Kessler, an art director for USPS, designed the stamp.

Dates and locations:
The Postal Service today also announced stamp release dates and locations for all announced stamps through the end of the year:

Putting a Stamp on the American Experience, July 23, Washington, DC 20066
250 Years of Delivering, July 23, Washington, DC 20066
“SpongeBob SquarePants”, Aug. 1, New York, NY 10199
Boston 2026 World Stamp Show, Aug. 14, Schaumburg, IL 60194
Luna Moth (nonmachinable surcharge), Aug. 16, Schaumburg, IL 60194
William F. Buckley Jr., Sept. 9, New Haven, CT 06511
Holiday Cheer, Sept. 13, Washington, DC 20066
Elie Wiesel, Sept. 17, New York, NY 10199
Winter Landscapes, Sept. 19, Danville, IN 46122

Details on first-day-of-issue cities/ceremony locations for other 2025 stamps will be released throughout the year. Dates and locations are subject to change.

Barbara Bush (US 2025)

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The Scott catalogue number for this issue is 6022.

A stamp honoring former First Lady Barbara Bush will be issued this year, reports The Hill news outlet and cited by Linn’s Stamp News. The stamp design will be unveiled Thursday, May 8, at the White House by current First Lady Melania Trump, much as the 2022 Nancy Reagan stamp design was unveiled by then-First Lady Jill Biden.

No date for the Bush stamp has been reported. She was born on June 8, 1925, and June 8, 2025, would be a logical first-day date. However, that is a Sunday.

Mrs. Bush’s daughter Doro Bush Koch is expected to attend, but not any of her sons, including former president George W. Bush. The Bush family and President Trump have not gotten along over the years.

Barbara Bush is only the second woman to have been both the wife of a U.S. President and the mother of one. The first was Abigail Adams.

Confirmation:

[press release] [click on any of the pictures for larger versions]
USPS Unveils Barbara Bush Stamp
Dedication will take place June 10 in Kennebunkport, ME

WASHINGTON — At the White House today, the U.S. Postal Service revealed the artwork of a commemorative Forever stamp to celebrate the centennial year of former first lady Barbara Bush’s birth.

The stamp design was unveiled by first lady Melania Trump; Dorothy “Doro” Bush Koch, daughter of Barbara Bush; Alice Yates, CEO of the George & Barbara Bush Foundation; and Judy de Torok, vice president of Corporate Affairs at the Postal Service.

The dedication ceremony for the Barbara Bush stamp will be held June 10 in honor of the 100th anniversary of the former first lady’s birth and the culmination of her centennial year. The event will take place at Ganny’s Garden in Kennebunkport, ME.

“Today we recognize Mrs. Bush not only as a beloved first lady, but as a remarkable American in her own right,” said Doug Tulino, acting postmaster general of the Postal Service. “She charted a legacy for herself, and did it with conviction, determination, and compassion.”

Bush Koch spoke on behalf of the Bush family about the stamp and her mother’s lasting commitment to literacy.

“We are deeply honored that the United States Postal Service is paying tribute to our mother with a commemorative Forever stamp,” said Bush Koch. “This special stamp serves as a lasting reminder of Barbara Bush’s enduring love for family and friends, sharp wit and unwavering commitment to solve the problems of today by ensuring that every man, woman and child has the opportunity to read, write and comprehend.” [In her official White House portrait in 1992, right]

Barbara Pierce Bush (1925-2018), wife of George H. W. Bush, the 41st president, was first lady of the United States from 1989 to 1993, and mother of George W. Bush, the 43rd president.
Born in New York City, the future first lady grew up in Rye, NY, and attended boarding school in South Carolina. At 16, she met her future husband, George H.W. Bush, at a Christmas dance in Connecticut, where he was on holiday break from a Massachusetts boarding school, and they began corresponding through letters. Eighteen months later, they were engaged.

George and Barbara Bush were married on Jan. 6, 1945. While Mr. Bush was a student at Yale, Mrs. Bush gave birth to their first child, George W., on July 6, 1946. Their second child, daughter Robin, died of leukemia at age 3, devastating the family. Between 1953 and 1959, Mrs. Bush gave birth to four more children: Jeb in 1953, Neil in 1955, Marvin in 1956 and Dorothy in 1959.

The start of her 54 years of campaigning for her family and allies came in 1962 when Mr. Bush ran for chairman of the Harris County, TX, Republican Party. In the following decades, Mr. Bush would go on to become a member of the U.S. House of Representatives, ambassador to the United Nations, chairman of the Republican National Committee, head of the U.S. Liaison Office in the People’s Republic of China, and director of the Central Intelligence Agency before becoming president. In all, the Bushes moved around 30 times as the family followed Mr. Bush’s military, business and political pursuits, with Mrs. Bush always steadfast in support of her husband and children.

After losing the Republican nomination for president in 1980, Mr. Bush was named as Ronald Reagan’s vice presidential running mate. With their victory, Mrs. Bush became second lady. Motivated by her son Neil’s dyslexia, she championed literacy issues. In 1984, Mrs. Bush wrote her first children’s book, “C. Fred’s Story,” told from the perspective of her cocker spaniel, with proceeds going to two national literacy programs.

With Barbara Bush at his side throughout the campaign, Mr. Bush ran for president in 1988, and won the election, becoming president on Jan. 20, 1989.

The Barbara Bush stamp is based on detail from the official 2005 White House portrait, which is part of the White House Collection and appears courtesy of The White House Historical Association. The stamp is being issued in panes of 20. Presale of the Barbara Bush Commemorative stamp will begin on Saturday, May 10. News of the stamp will be shared with the hashtag #BarbaraBushStamp.

Dedication Ceremony Information

What: The U.S. Postal Service will commemorate the life of former first lady Barbara Bush with the issuance of a Forever stamp.

When: June 10, 2025, 11 a.m. ET

Where:
Ganny’s Garden on the River Green
48 Ocean Ave.
Kennebunkport, ME 04046

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

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

Updated May 22, 2025:
On June 10, 2025, in Kennebunkport, ME, the United States Postal Service® will issue the Barbara Bush stamp (Forever® priced at the First-Class Mail® rate), in one design, in a pressure-sensitive adhesive (PSA) pane of 20 stamps (Item 487000). This stamp will go on sale nationwide June 10, 2025, and must not be sold or canceled before the first-day-of-issue.

Barbara Bush (1925–2018), wife of the 41st president, George H. W. Bush, was the first lady of the United States from 1989 to 1993, and mother of the 43rd president, George W. Bush. Mrs. Bush was a tireless advocate for literacy, while her plainspoken style and sharp sense of humor drew bipartisan respect around the country. The stamp art is a detail from the official 2005 White House oil-on-canvas portrait of Mrs. Bush by Chas Fagan. She is shown in a purple top and black jacket, wearing one of her signature multi-strand pearl necklaces. Art director Derry Noyes designed the stamp.

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 – Barbara Bush 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 October 10, 2025.

Technical Specifications:

Issue: Barbara Bush Stamp
Item Number: 487000
Denomination & Type of Issue: First-Class Mail Forever
Format: Pane of 20 (1 design)
Series: N/A
Issue Date & City: June 10, 2025, Kennebunkport, ME 04046
Art Director: Derry Noyes, Washington, DC
Designer: Derry Noyes, Washington, DC
Existing Art: Chas Fagan, Charlotte, NC
Modeler: Sandra Lane / Michelle Finn
Manufacturing Process: Offset / Flexographic, Microprint
Printer: Banknote Corporation of America
Press Type: Gallus RCS
Stamps per Pane: 20
Print Quantity: 10,000,000 stamps
Paper Type: Phosphor, Block Tag
Adhesive Type: Pressure-sensitive
Colors: Cyan, Magenta, Yellow, Black
Stamp Orientation: Vertical
Image Area (w x h): 0.8400 x 1.4200 in. / 21.3360 x 36.0680 mm.
Overall Size (w x h): 0.9800 x 1.5600 in. / 24.8920 x 39.6240 mm.
Full Pane Size (w x h): 6.0400 x 7.8800 in. / 153.4160 x 200.1520 mm.
Press Sheets Size (w x h): 12.0800 x 15.8850 in. / 306.8320 x 403.4790 mm.
Plate Size: 80 stamps per revolution
Plate Number: “B” followed by four (4) single digits
Marginal Markings:
Front: Header: BARBARA BUSH • Plate number in bottom two corners
Back: ©2025 USPS • USPS logo • Two barcodes (487000) • Plate position diagram (4) • Promotional text

Updated May 15, 2025:
Here are the first-day postmarks for this issue:The Digital Color Postmark measures 2.97″ x 1.49″ The Pictorial Postmark measures 2.73″ x 1.28″ The special postmark, for post offices other than Kennebunkport, measures 2.68″ x 0.91″

250 Years of Delivering (U.S. 2025)

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This 20-stamp issue was announced as part of the USPS celebration of its semiquincentennial. According to the April 28th press release, the design

by cartoonist Chris Ware that invites the public to spot a fun array of familiar postal items and icons while following a mail carrier on her rounds through four seasons of the year.

The USPS says this issue will be released in July. Further information will be posted below the line, with the most recent near the top.

Here is a look at the design of the rear of the pane of 20:

Updated September 10th:
The Scott catalogue number for this issue is 6023. For the 20 individual stamps:
a. post office loading dock
b.customers at post office entrance
c. equestrian statue
d. dogs and their walkers
e. coffee shop entrance
f. USPS driver waves
g. park bench
h. people and animals
i. carrier accesses blue curbside collection box
j. balloons at rooftop party
k. carrier at apartment cluster box
l. restaurant customers wave
m. carrier accesses green USPS relay box
n. Next Generation Delivery Vehicle in profile
o. bookstore entrance
p. USPS carrier checks her watch
q. carrier delivers to man at old house
r. winter tree
s. crowd of pedestrians in street
t. carrier holds child at home

Updated June 30th:
On July 23, 2025, in Washington, DC, the United States Postal Service® will issue the 250 Years of Delivering stamps (Forever® priced at the First-Class Mail® rate), in 20 designs, in a pressure-sensitive adhesive (PSA) pane of 20 stamps (Item 487100). These stamps will go on sale nationwide July 23, 2025, and must not be sold or canceled before the first-day-of-issue. The 250 Years of Delivering commemorative pane of 20 stamps must not be split and the stamps must not be sold individually.

Issued to celebrate a major U.S. Postal Service anniversary, 250 Years of Delivering is an illustrated pane of 20 interconnected stamps representing the ubiquitous presence of USPS® throughout the years and the vital role the postal system has played in American life since 1775. The artwork, created by noted artist Chris Ware, shows a bird’s-eye view of a bustling town. Each individual stamp is a frame of sequential art that tells the story of a mail carrier’s daily journey as she walks her route through four seasons. The artwork contains numerous icons representing the Postal Service. On the pane’s verso, text details these items and challenges the game-player to find them. Art director Antonio Alcalá designed the stamps with Chris Ware.

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 – 250 Years of Delivering 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 November 23, 2025.

Technical Specifications:

Issue: 250 Years of Delivering Stamps
Item Number: 487100
Denomination & Type of Issue: First-Class Mail Forever
Format: Pane of 20 (20 designs)
Series: N/A
Issue Date & City: July 23, 2025, Washington, DC 20066
Art Director: Antonio Alcalá, Alexandria, VA
Designer: Antonio Alcalá, Alexandria, VA
Designer: Chris Ware, Riverside, IL
Artist: Chris Ware, Riverside, IL
Modeler: Joseph Sheeran
Manufacturing Process: Offset
Printer: Ashton Potter (USA) Ltd. (APU)
Press Type: Muller A76
Stamps per Pane: 20
Print Quantity: 25,000,000
Paper Type: Nonphosphored Type III, Block Tag
Adhesive Type: Pressure-sensitive
Stamp Orientation: Vertical
Image Area (w x h): 0.8400 x 1.4200 in. / 21.3360 x
36.0680 mm.
Stamp Size (w x h): 0.9800 x 1.5600 in. / 24.8920 x
39.6240 mm.
Full Pane Size (w x h): 5.7500 x 7.5000 in. / 146.0500 x
190.5000 mm.
Colors: Cyan, Magenta, Yellow, Black
Plate Size: 240 stamps per revolution
Plate Number: “P” followed by four (4) single digits
Marginal Markings:
Front: Header: 250 YEARS OF DELIVERING • Plate number in bottom two corners
Back: 250 YEARS OF DELIVERING • Descriptive text • Two barcodes (487100) • Plate position diagram (6) • Promotional text • USPS.com/stamps • © 2025 USPS • USPS logo

Here are the first-day postmarks for this issue:The Digital Color Postmark measures 2.65″ 1.25″The Pictorial Postmark measures 2.70″ x 1.23″ The Special Postmark measures 2.59″ x 0.98″

Updated June 26th:
[press release] [click on any of the pictures for larger versions]
USPS To Celebrate 250 Years of Service

What: The U.S. Postal Service will release new stamps, one of which comes as part of a 32-page prestige booklet, to commemorate 250 years of service to the nation.

The illustrated Forever stamps, 250 Years of Delivering, tell the story of a mail carriermaking her daily rounds during a year in the life of the community she serves. The “Putting a Stamp on the American Experience” booklet highlights popular subjects that give the U.S. stamp program its remarkable range and depth. Exclusively available with this booklet are two sheets of a new Forever stamp featuring the first postmaster general, Benjamin Franklin.

The first-day-of-issue event for the stamps and booklet is free and open to the public. News regarding the stamps is being shared with the hashtags #250YearsofDelivering and #USPS250booklet.

When: Wednesday, July 23, at noon ET

Where:
U.S. Postal Service headquarters
475 L’Enfant Plaza SW
Washington, DC 20260

RSVP: Attendees are encouraged to register at: usps.com/usps250years

Background: 250 Years of Delivering stamps

Established in 1775, the postal system was so essential to winning American independence and creating a free nation that it is mentioned in the U.S. Constitution.

For 250 years, the U.S. Postal Service has continued to serve the same ideals — connecting individuals, communities and businesses through an ongoing exchange of ideas, information and goods. Although the United States only makes up 4 percent of the world’s population, the U.S. Postal Service handles 44 percent of mail across the entire globe.

In snow, rain, heat and gloom of night, USPS reliably reaches us where we live and work. Today, at nearly 169 million addresses nationwide, American communities near and far are connected by mail.

The 250 Years of Delivering stamps are a meticulously illustrated pane of 20 interconnected stamps that offers a bird’s-eye view of a bustling town. Each stamp is a frame of sequential art that tells the story of a mail carrier’s daily journey as she walks her route. Laid out in four rows of five stamps, the story progresses through the four seasons, from top-left to bottom-right.

Chris Ware created the stamp artwork and co-designed the pane with Antonio Alcalá, an art director for USPS.

Updated June 11th:
According to Foster Miller, the first-day for these stamps will be July 23 in Washington.

Updated May 2nd:
These stamps will have a “special dedication ceremony” on the second day of Great American Stamp Show, August 15th, in Schaumburg, IL. It is believed the first-day will be July 26th.

Benjamin Franklin (U.S. 2025)

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This stamp will only be available with the purchase of a “prestige booklet,” Putting a Stamp on the American Experience, “only the fourth ever issued by the Postal Service.” According to the April 28th press release

Two self-adhesive sheets of a new intaglio printed stamp featuring Benjamin Franklin are available exclusively with the booklet. The stamp is based on an 1875 reproduction of an 1847 5-cent stamp, one of the first official U.S. postage stamps.

The USPS says this issue will be released in July. More details will be posted below the line, with the most recent nearest the top.

Updated September 10th:
The Scott catalogue number for this issue is 6024.

Updated June 30th:
On July 23, 2025 in Washington, DC, the Postal Service™ will issue the Putting a Stamp on the American Experience prestige booklet (Item Number 894500) featuring 20 commemorative stamps (Forever® priced at the First: Class Mail® rate), in one design, on two pressure: sensitive adhesive (PSA) sheets of 10. The prestige booklet will go on sale nationwide July 23, 2025, and must not be sold or canceled before the first: day: of: issue.

This prestige booklet commemorates the 250th anniversary of our nation’s postal system and celebrates the enduring impact of stamps on our shared heritage. Highlighting the popular series and subjects that give the U.S. stamp program its remarkable range and depth, this 32: page prestige booklet, only the fourth ever issued by the Postal Service includes two self: adhesive sheets of a new First: Class™ Forever® stamp available exclusively with this booklet. The stamp is a “reframed” modern interpretation of an 1875 reproduction of the 1847 Benjamin Franklin 5: cent stamp, one of the first official U.S. postage stamps. Art director Ethel Kessler designed the prestige booklet and the stamp.

This item will not be available in post offices. Its price is $20.95 and includes two panes of 10 stamps ($15.60 face value).

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 the prestige booklet 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 – Putting a Stamp on the American Experience 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 23, 2025.

Technical Specifications:

Issue: Putting a Stamp on the American Experience Prestige Booklet
Item Number: 894500
Denomination & Type of Issue: First: Class Mail Forever
Format: Prestige booklet of 20 (1 design)
Issue Date & City: July 23, 2025, Washington, DC 20066
Art Director: Ethel Kessler, Bethesda, MD
Designer: Ethel Kessler, Bethesda, MD
Modeler: Joseph Sheeran
Manufacturing Process: Offset / Intaglio
Printer: Ashton Potter (USA) Ltd. (APU)
Press Type: Stevens Vari: Size Security Press
Stamps per Pane: 10 (2 panes per booklet)
Print Quantity: 750,000 prestige booklets
Paper Type: Nonphosphored Type III, Block Tag
Adhesive Type: Pressure: sensitive
Colors: Pantone 294 C, Pantone 485 C, Pantone Cool Grey 7 C, Intaglio Pantone 294 Blue
Stamp Orientation: Vertical
Image Area (w x h): 0.8400 x 1.4200 in. / 21.3360 x 36.0680 mm.
Overall Size (w x h): 0.9800 x 1.5600 in. / 24.8920 x 39.6240 mm.
Booklet Size (w x h): 6.7500 x 3.7500 in. / 171.4500 x 95.2500 mm.
Full Pane Size (w x h): 6.7500 x 3.7500 in. / 171.4500 x 95.2500 mm.
Plate Size: 90 stamps per revolution
Plate Number: N/A

Updated June 26th:
[press release] [click on any of the pictures for larger versions]
USPS To Celebrate 250 Years of Service

What: The U.S. Postal Service will release new stamps, one of which comes as part of a 32-page prestige booklet, to commemorate 250 years of service to the nation.

The illustrated Forever stamps, 250 Years of Delivering, tell the story of a mail carrier making her daily rounds during a year in the life of the community she serves. The “Putting a Stamp on the American Experience” booklet highlights popular subjects that give the U.S. stamp program its remarkable range and depth. Exclusively available with this booklet are two sheets of a new Forever stamp featuring the first postmaster general, Benjamin Franklin.

The first-day-of-issue event for the stamps and booklet is free and open to the public. News regarding the stamps is being shared with the hashtags #250YearsofDelivering and #USPS250booklet.

When: Wednesday, July 23, at noon ET

Where:
U.S. Postal Service headquarters
475 L’Enfant Plaza SW
Washington, DC 20260

RSVP: Attendees are encouraged to register at: usps.com/usps250years

Background: ‘Putting a Stamp on the American Experience’ prestige booklet

Highlighting the popular subjects and series that give the U.S. stamp program its remarkable range, “Putting a Stamp on the American Experience” provides an in-depth look at some of the Postal Service’s most popular stamps. The 32-page prestige booklet includes two self-adhesive sheets of a new Forever stamp available exclusively with this purchase. The stamps feature an exclusive reframed, modern interpretation of a 5-cent stamp depicting Benjamin Franklin, originally released in 1847. This booklet is exclusively available through the Postal Store, by calling 844-737-7826, or by mail through USA Philatelic.

As one of the first two honorees on U.S. stamps, Franklin is a longtime icon of the stamp program, appearing on more than 100 releases in the 178-year history of American stamps. Appointed postmaster general of the Colonies by the Second Continental Congress in 1775, Franklin appreciated that the postal system could help unite the Colonies — and the nation they became. As a printer, scientist and diplomat, he played a monumental role in shaping American culture, and his postal legacy of adaptability and innovation continues to inspire the modern-day Postal Service.

Ethel Kessler, an art director for USPS, designed the prestige booklet and the stamp.

Here are the first-day postmarks for this issue:The Digital Color Postmark measures 2.92″ x 1.02″The Pictorial Postmark measures 2.76″ x 1.27″

Updated June 11th:
According to Foster Miller, this stamp will be issued July 23 in Washington.

Updated May 2nd:
This stamp will have a “special dedication ceremony” on the second day of Great American Stamp Show, August 15th, in Schaumburg, IL. It is believed the first-day will be July 26th.

Two Issues To Celebrate 250th (US 2025)

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[press release] [click on any of the pictures for larger versions]
U.S. Postal Service Announces Stamps Celebrating Its 250th Anniversary

WASHINGTON — On July 26, 1775, the Second Continental Congress established a postal system for the United Colonies and appointed Benjamin Franklin as the first postmaster general. The U.S. Postal Service [April 28th] announced two stamp issues to celebrate its 250th anniversary — one of which is only available in an exclusive booklet.

The 32-page booklet — Putting a Stamp on the American Experience — celebrates the cultural importance of U.S. stamps.

Highlighting the popular series and subjects that give the stamp program its range and depth, this booklet — only the fourth ever issued by the Postal Service — commemorates the 250th anniversary of our nation’s postal system and celebrates the enduring influence of stamps on our shared heritage.

Two self-adhesive sheets of a new intaglio printed stamp featuring Benjamin Franklin are available exclusively with the booklet. The stamp is based on an 1875 reproduction of an 1847 5-cent stamp, one of the first official U.S. postage stamps.

The second release, 250 Years of Delivering, is a pane of 20 stamps by cartoonist Chris Ware that invites the public to spot a fun array of familiar postal items and icons while following a mail carrier on her rounds through four seasons of the year.

Both the prestige booklet which includes the Ben Frankin Stamp and the 250 Years of Delivering pane are scheduled to be released in July. There will be additional stamps in the 2025 stamps program announced soon. These designs are preliminary and may change.

Armed Services: One First-Day or Three Separate?

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The US Postal Service will issue all three stamps on the same day in Washington, rather than in three separate ceremonies, as expected. How do you feel about that?

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William F. Buckley, Jr. (U.S. 2025)

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This stamp was announced by the USPS on March 6th:

One of the most influential public intellectuals in modern U.S. history, William F. Buckley Jr. (1925–2008) defined the conservative movement of the mid-20th century and was one of its most recognizable spokesmen. Author of more than 50 books, Buckley foundedNational Review, one of the nation’s leading conservative publications, and hosted the Emmy Award–winning public affairs television program Firing Line for more than 30 years. Original art by Dale Stephanos features a portrait of Buckley, created by hand with graphite and charcoal on hot-press watercolor paper, then refined digitally. Greg Breeding, an art director for USPS, designed the stamp.

No date of issuance or city was given. The latest information will appear below the line, with the most recent at the top.

Updated November 5th:
The Scott catalogue number for this issue is 6032.

Updated August 9th:
Here are the first-day postmarks for this issue:The Digital Color Postmark measures 3.0″ x 1.51″ The Pictorial Postmark measures 2.92″ x 1.22″ The Special postmark measures 2.74″ x 1.17″

[ceremony advisory] [click on any of the pictures for larger versions]
Famed Intellectual William F. Buckley Jr. Will Be Honored on a Stamp

What: The U.S. Postal Service will honor William F. Buckley Jr., a larger-than-life figure who helped define modern American conservatism as a writer, political commentator and novelist, with a new stamp to be dedicated at Yale University.

The first-day-of-issue event for the William F. Buckley Jr. commemorative Forever stamp will be held on Sept. 9 and is free and open to the public.

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

Who: Isaac Cronkhite, chief processing and distribution officer and executive vice president, U.S. Postal Service

When: Tuesday, Sept. 9, at 4:30 p.m. ET

Where: Beinecke Plaza
Yale University
121 Wall St.
New Haven, CT 06511

RSVP: Dedication ceremony attendees are encouraged to RSVP atusps.com/williamfbuckleystamp.

Background: William F. Buckley Jr. was a defining figure in modern U.S. conservatism. As the founder of National Review and host of the public television series “Firing Line,” Buckley shaped the conservative movement into a formidable political force. Known for his eloquence, wit and ability to unite different conservative voices, his influence ranged from mid-20th-century politics to the White House.

A major part of that influence came through National Review, a magazine that Buckley founded in 1955 to strengthen conservatism at a time when liberalism dominated U.S. politics. He united thinkers across the spectrum to shape a relevant, non-extremist ideology. The magazine’s mission was clear: to “stand athwart history, yelling Stop.” Buckley’s earlier books, “God and Man at Yale” (1951) and “McCarthy and His Enemies” (1954), had established his reputation, but National Review solidified him as the intellectual leader of modern conservatism. Within a decade, it became the nation’s most influential conservative publication.

Buckley expanded his reach beyond print by bringing his sharp intellect and humor to television with “Firing Line” in 1966. The show featured spirited conversations with guests from across the political spectrum, tackling divisive issues in a way that engaged conservative and liberal viewers alike. In 1969, “Firing Line” earned an Emmy Award, further cementing Buckley as the public face of conservatism.

As “Firing Line” popularized conservative thought, the movement gained political momentum. By the 1970s, conservatism was influencing public policy, with Ronald Reagan adopting many of Buckley’s ideas as governor of California and later as president. Throughout this time, Buckley remained a trusted advisor, further shaping the mainstream conservative agenda.

After 35 years, Buckley retired from National Review in 1990 and was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 1991. Although “Firing Line” ended in 1999, Buckley continued writing, publishing more than 50 books. Today, National Review carries on Buckley’s legacy, shaping conservative thought for new generations, while “Firing Line” continues its tradition of thoughtful debate with a relaunch on PBS in 2018.

From the Postal Bulletin:

On September 9, 2025, in New Haven, CT, the United States Postal Service® will issue the William F. Buckley, Jr. stamp (Forever® priced at the First-Class Mail® rate), in one design, in a pressure-sensitive adhesive (PSA) pane of 20 stamps (Item 487500). This stamp will go on sale nationwide on September 9, 2025, and must not be sold or canceled before the first-day-of-issue.

This stamp honors William F. Buckley, Jr. (1925–2008), a defining figure in 20th-century conservatism. The stamp art features a black-and-white portrait of Buckley, created by hand with graphite and charcoal on hot-press watercolor paper, then refined digitally. Art director Greg Breeding designed the stamp with original art by Dale Stephanos.

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 – William F. Buckley, Jr. Stamp
USPS Stamp Fulfillment Services
8300 NE Underground Drive, Suite 300
Kansas City, MO 64144-9900</strong

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 January 9, 2026.

Technical Specifications:

Issue: William F. Buckley, Jr. Stamp
Item Number: 487500
Denomination & Type of Issue: First-Class Mail Forever
Format: Pane of 20 (1 design)
Series: N/A
Issue Date & City: September 9, 2025, New Haven, CT 06511
Art Director: Greg Breeding, Charlottesville, VA
Designer: Greg Breeding, Charlottesville, VA
Artist: Dale Stephanos, Foxboro, MA
Modeler: Sandra Lane / Michelle Finn
Manufacturing Process: Offset, Microprint
Printer: Banknote Corporation of America
Press Type: Gallus RCS
Stamps per Pane: 20
Print Quantity: 12,000,000 stamps
Paper Type: Phosphor, Block Tag
Adhesive Type: Pressure-sensitive
Colors: Cyan, Magenta, Yellow, Black,
Stamp Orientation: Vertical
Image Area (w x h): 0.8400 x 1.4200 in. / 21.3360 x 36.0680 mm.
Overall Size (w x h): 0.9800 x 1.5600 in. / 24.8920 x 39.6240 mm.
Full Pane Size (w x h): 6.0400 x 7.9620 in. / 153.4160 x 202.2350 mm.
Press Sheets Size (w x h): 12.0800 x 16.0490 in. / 306.8320 x 407.6446 mm.
Plate Size: 80 stamps per revolution
Plate Number: ”B” followed by four (4) single digits
Marginal Markings:
Front: Header: William F. Buckley, Jr. CONSERVATIVE WRITER / COMMENTATOR • Plate number in bottom two corners
Back: ©2025 USPS • USPS logo • Two barcodes (487500) • Plate position diagram (4) • Promotional text

Updated June 26th:
This stamp will be issued September 9 in New Haven, Conn.