Diwali (Canada 2026)

Posted on October 19, 2026 by VSC

[press release] [click on any of the pictures for larger versions]
Canada Post unveils Diwali stamp celebrating the arrival of the Festival of Lights
New stamp showcases traditional torana and diya, honouring one of the world’s most widely celebrated festivals

BRAMPTON, Ontario – Canada Post is issuing a new stamp marking the arrival of Diwali, a major festival observed by Hindus, Sikhs, Buddhists, Jains and other communities in Canada and around the world.

The stamp features an original illustration of a woman’s hands as she strings together marigolds and mango leaves to make a traditional torana – an ornate garland to be draped across the entrance of a home or temple. Like other auspicious decorations that feature prominently during the holiday, toranas are intended to welcome guests and invite Lakshmi, the goddess of prosperity, to bestow good fortune on those who enter. Part of the string forms the outline of a diya, a clay oil lamp that is an important symbol of Diwali. Diyas are often displayed during the festival to commemorate the triumph of light over darkness.

Also called the Festival of Lights, the holiday celebrates the triumph of good over evil and light over darkness. While communities observe Diwali on different days and in different ways, the festivities often include fireworks, gift exchanges between family and friends, and the giving of food to those in need. This year, Diwali begins on November 8.

The stamp is one of several annual issues that showcase events of importance to Canada’s culturally diverse population. Others include yearly stamps celebrating Eid, Hanukkah and Christmas. Canada Post has issued a new Diwali stamp each year since 2020.

About the stamp
The new Diwali stamp issue was designed by Kristine Do and illustrated by Radha Joshi Raul. It was printed by Colour Innovations and includes a booklet of six Permanent™ stamps and an Official First Day Cover [below]. The cancel location is Brampton, Ontario. [It’s very faint on the illustration and probably the actual OFDC, but it is touching the upper left corner of the stamp. —VSC]

The stamps and collectibles will be available at canadapost.ca and at select postal outlets across Canada beginning October 19.

Ornamental Birds (Netherlands 2026)

Posted on October 8, 2026 by VSC

[from the press release] [click on any of the pictures for larger versions]
Ornamental birds, colorful and elegant

Issue date: October 14, 2026

Coinciding with Stamp Day, an international event, PostNL will issue a pane of 10 different Ornamental Birds, which are birds kept and bred by people as a hobby for their beautiful feathers and shapes. They are usually galliformes, an order of birds that live near the ground and usually cannot fly far or high. This makes them suitable for keeping in parks or gardens. Ornamental birds also include a number of species of waterfowl, pheasants, pigeons, cranes, and finches. Ornamental finches and pigeons are kept in aviaries. The stamps feature ten ornamental birds.

The stamp sheet was designed by Sandra Smulders. ‘”First, I carefully researched which birds belong to the ornamental birds,” she said. “Then I looked for the very most beautiful ones, ensuring that the selection naturally fit together well on the stamp sheet, while maintaining as much variety as possible.”

Stamp Day commemorates the founding of the Universal Postal Union, which establishes the rules for international postal traffic between member states. Since 2009, PostNL has celebrated this day with the issuance of a stamp sheet based on Dutch stamps from the past. However, starting this year, PostNL has decided to stop relying on old stamps.

Note: PostNL does not sell directly to collectors in North America. Its website refers to a company called Nordfirm, which says it sells Dutch new issues at face value. The Virtual Stamp Club has no connection to this company.

Collectors may also wish to contact the U.S. firm Bombay Stamps, which can also obtain first day covers upon request, with lower shipping fees. The email is sales@bombaystamps.com Again, The Virtual Stamp Club has no connection to this company.

Disney Winnie The Pooh (UK 2026)

Posted on October 8, 2026 by VSC

[press release] [click on any of the pictures for larger versions]
New Royal Mail Stamps Celebrate 100 Years of Disney Winnie the Pooh

Issue Date: 14 October

The main set of six stamps features designs of Disney Winnie the Pooh, Piglet, Owl, Eeyore, Tigger, and a touching scene of Pooh alongside Christopher Robin
A further four stamps, presented in a miniature sheet, show designs of Disney Winnie the Pooh and friends at a birthday picnic in the Hundred Acre Wood
The stamps and a range of collectible products are available to pre-order now at www.royalmail.com/winniethepooh and by telephone on 03457 641641

Royal Mail is marking the 100th anniversary of one of children’s literature’s most cherished characters, Disney Winnie the Pooh, with a new set of Special Stamps.

The stamps mark a century since the publication of A. A. Milne’s Winnie the Pooh, on 14 October 1926. Featuring the much-loved illustrations of E.H. Shepard, the main set of stamps capture Pooh and his friends before the bear adopted his now-iconic red shirt.

The stamp issue comprises 10 stamps, six featuring designs of Disney Winnie the Pooh, Piglet, Owl, Eeyore, Tigger and a touching scene of Pooh alongside Christopher Robin. Each character appears in full colour alongside their idiosyncratic signatures.A further four stamps are presented in a miniature sheet and show Disney Winnie the Pooh and friends at a birthday picnic in the Hundred Acre Wood. Drawing on existing Disney artwork as inspiration, a brand-new composite illustration was commissioned by Royal Mail, bringing Disney Winnie the Pooh and his friends together in a specially created scene.

Since first appearing in print in 1926, Disney Winnie The Pooh has become one of the world’s most enduring fictional characters. The gentle stories of friendship, adventure and imagination have captivated generations of children and adults alike, securing the silly old bear’s place as a beloved literary icon.

David Gold, Director of External Affairs and Policy, Royal Mail, said: “For 100 years, Winnie the Pooh and his friends from the Hundred Acre Wood have captured the hearts and imaginations of readers around the world. This delightful stamp collection celebrates A. A. Milne’s timeless stories and the iconic illustrations of E.H. Shepard that have introduced generations to the adventures of the world’s most famous bear. These stamps will evoke fond memories for many and, we hope, inspire new readers to discover the enduring charm of Winnie the Pooh.”

Disney Winnie the Pooh:
Disney Winnie the Pooh’s many adventures with his animal friends in the Hundred Acre Wood – Piglet, Eeyore, Tigger, Rabbit, Owl, Kanga and Roo – were the creation of writer A.A Milne, with illustrations by E.H. Shepard.

Winnie-the-Pooh was first published in 1926, and two years later, more stories followed in The House at Pooh Corner.
The books’ instant popularity soon inspired toys and board games, garden ornaments, bookends and nursery china.

The stories were retold on gramophone records and radio and were adapted for television and the stage. Then, in 1966, four decades after his initial appearance in print, Pooh made his debut on the cinema screen in a short, animated film by Walt Disney that was the first of many films to bring the exploits of Pooh and friends to an ever-wider and devoted audience.

Disney Winnie the Pooh, according to his good friend Christopher Robin, is the “best bear in all the world”, and as he reaches the grand age of one hundred, that is how the world thinks of him, too!

The stamps, and a range of collectible products, are available to pre-order now at www.royalmail.com/winniethepooh and by telephone on 03457 641 641. A Presentation Pack including all 10 stamps is priced at £18.90. The stamps go on gener9.3al sale from 14 October.

[from VSC:]
Related collectibles include Mounted Gold Ingot stamps (£29.99), Gold Ingot stamp (£49.99), various coin covers (gold, shown below, £2,150; silver, £80; brilliant uncirculated, £39.99), a Prestige Booklet (£27.76), regular first day covers (Tallents House and Bearwood, Leominster postmark, addressed at £13.60 and unaddressed at £9.30), and a FDC for the Prestige Booklet (£6.05).

2026-27 Duck Stamp

Posted on August 27, 2026 by VSC

From the USPS Postal Bulletin:
On June 26, 2026, in Saint Augustine, FL, the U.S. Department of the Interior will issue the $25 Migratory Bird Hunting and Conservation stamp for the 2026-2027 waterfowl hunting season. The pressure-sensitive adhesive (PSA) stamp will go on sale nationwide June 26, 2026, and is valid through June 30, 2027.
Availability to Post Offices:

Item 337500, 2026-2027 $25.00 Migratory Bird Hunting and Conservation Stamp Pane of One: Stamp Fulfillment Services will not make an automatic distribution to Post Offices.

Item 337600, 2026-2027 $25.00 Migratory Bird Hunting and Conservation Stamp Pane of 20: The 2026-2027 $25.00 Migratory Bird Hunting and Conservation PSA Pane of 20 will only be distributed by Stamp Fulfillment Services

Technical Specifications:

Issue: Migratory Bird Hunting and Conservation Stamp
Item Number: 337500
Denomination & Type of Issue: $25.00, Special
Format: Pane of 1 (1 design)
Series: Federal Duck
Issue Date & City: June 26, 2026, Saint Augustine, FL 32092
Art Director: Valerie Fellows, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
Artist: James Hautman
Modeler: Daryl DeMont
Manufacturing Process: Offset, Flexographic, Microprint
Printer: Ashton Potter
Press Type: Muller A76
Stamps per Pane: 1
Print Quantity: 1,432,180 stamps
Paper Type: Nonphosphored Type III
Adhesive Type: Pressure-sensitive
Processed at: Ashton Potter
Colors: Cyan, Magenta, Yellow, Black, Invisible Fluorescent
Stamp Orientation: Horizontal
Image Area (w x h): 1.7620 x 1.2890 in. / 44.7550 x 32.7400 mm.
Overall Size (w x h): 1.8900 x 1.4170 in. / 48.0060 x 35.9920 mm.
Full Pane Size (w x h): 6.1250 x 2.6250 in. / 155.5750 x 66.6750 mm.
Plate Size: 36 stamps per revolution
Plate Numbers: N/A
Marginal Markings:
Front: Selvage Text: U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service • 2026-2027 Migratory Bird Hunting and Conservation Stamp • Celebrate the conservation of America’s wildlife and natural resources. • Artist: James Hautman, Bufflehead© • If applicable, sign your stamp.
Back: Verso-text • Ordering information • Barcode • U.S. Department of the Interior logo • U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service logo

Issue: Migratory Bird Hunting and Conservation Stamp
Item Number: 337600
Denomination & Type of Issue: $25.00, Special
Format: Pane of 20 (1 design)
Series: Federal Duck
Issue Date & City: June 26, 2026, Saint Augustine, FL 32092
Art Director: Valerie Fellows, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
Artist: James Hautman
Modeler: Daryl DeMont
Manufacturing Process: Offset, Flexographic, Microprint
Printer: Ashton Potter
Press Type: Muller A76
Stamps per Pane: 20
Print Quantity: 47,600 stamps
Paper Type: Nonphosphored Type III
Adhesive Type: Pressure-sensitive
Processed at: Ashton Potter
Colors: Cyan, Magenta, Yellow, Black, Invisible Fluorescent
Stamp Orientation: Horizontal
Image Area (w x h): 1.7620 x 1.2890 in. / 44.7550 x 32.7400 mm.
Overall Size (w x h): 1.8900 x 1.4170 in. / 48.0060 x 35.9920 mm.
Full Pane Size (w x h): 8.2500 x 8.2500 in. / 209.5500 x 209.5500 mm.
Plate Size: 180 stamps per revolution
Plate Numbers: “P” followed by five (5) single digits
Marginal Markings:
Front: Selvage text: • Department of the Interior 20 x $25.00 (2 locations) • “Artist: James Hautman, Bufflehead©” (4 locations) • Plate number (4 corners)
Back: Verso-ut ytext behind each stamp • Four barcodes • Plate position diagram (9)

Note that these are not postage stamps and are not valid for carrying mail. There was also a Junior Duck stamp for 2026-2026, which was not valid for hunting:

The address to which to send FDCs for servicing is:

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
Duck Stamp Station
Postmaster
99 King Street
Saint Augustine, FL 32084-9998

but you might be better off sending them to:

FDOI Migratory Bird Stamps
USPS Stamp Fulfillment Services
8300 NE Underground Drive, Suite 300
Kansas City, MO 64144-9900

This is the best (and only) image we have of the first-day pictorial postmark:

Linda McCartney (U.S. 2026)

Posted on August 24, 2026 by VSC

Announced August 24^the:

[press release] [click on any of the pictures for larger versions]
Postal Service to Honor Photographer and Activist Linda McCartney
Stamps feature nature and still-life photos

What: The U.S. Postal Service will commemorate the art and life of Linda McCartney (1941–1998), a pioneering photographer and animal rights activist who was a pivotal figure in the vegetarianism movement, at a first-day-of-issue ceremony for stamps featuring her photography. All attendees must RSVP to attend the ceremony at the museum.

Who: Program participants to be announced.

When: Friday, Sept. 25, 2026, at 11 a.m. ET

Where: The Museum of Modern Art
11 West 53rd St.
New York, NY 10019

RSVP: All attendees must RSVP to attend the ceremony at the museum. Register for the event at: usps.com/lindamccartneystamps

Background: Linda McCartney rose to prominence by capturing some of the most memorable musicians of the 1960s in photographs that felt relaxed, intimate and full of life. Her 1968 portrait of Eric Clapton made her the first female photographer to have their work featured on the cover of Rolling Stone magazine. Among McCartney’s favorite subjects to photograph were her husband — musician Paul McCartney — and their children and animals, as well as small moments of everyday life. McCartney’s photographs have been exhibited throughout the United States as well as at the Royal Photographic Society and the Victoria and Albert Museum in England.

The pane of 20 stamps showcases five different photographs. The selvage features a black-and-white self-portrait of McCartney behind her camera. Derry Noyes, an art director for USPS, designed the stamps and stamp pane.

News of the stamps is being shared with the hashtag #LindaMcCartneyStamps

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

Updated September 22^nd:
Here are the first-day postmarks for this issue:The Digital Color Postmark for this issue measures 2.80″ x 0.97″The Pictorial Postmark for this issue measures 2.69″ x 1.07″ The “Special” (local) postmark for this issue measures 2.74″ x 1.22″

Updated August 24^th:
The Virtual Stamp Club has confirmed that these stamps and the Squirrels & Chipmunks issue will be released on the same day.

Ecological Importance of Wolves in Canada

Posted on August 13, 2026 by VSC

[press release] [click on any of the pictures for larger versions]
New stamps highlight the ecological importance of wolves in Canada
Stamps feature striking, close-up images of wolves found in different parts of the Canadian wilderness

WHITNEY, Ont. – Canada Post issued on August 13 new stamps highlighting the role wolves play as a keystone species.

Wolves contribute significantly to the health and biodiversity of the ecosystem. The intelligent hunters are often associated with the North and remote Canadian landscapes, and they also figure prominently in many Indigenous cultures.

These social animals use co-operative hunting and share responsibility for raising their young – a behaviour seen in only a small percentage of mammals. With sharp senses that help them detect prey almost two kilometres away, wolves hunt small and large animals, including caribou, deer, elk, moose, bison and evenmuskoxen.

Stamps feature wolves in different regions of the country
The grey wolf (Canis lupus) is the largest and most widespread wolf in Canada, found everywhere except the Maritimes.

Only slightly bigger than an eastern coyote, the eastern wolf (Canis sp. cf. Lycaon) is a federally listed species at risk that lives mainly in Algonquin Provincial Park in central Ontario and in southwestern Quebec. It has an estimated population of 200 to 1,000 mature wolves.

The Arctic grey wolf (Canis lupus arctos) is a nomadic hunter well adapted to the northern climate, while the coastal grey wolf (Canis lupus crassodon) is a strong swimmer that lives along Canada’s Pacific coast and near-shore islands.

About the stamps
Each stamp presents a close-up view of wolves in Canadian landscapes. The booklet cover and interior contain additional photographs of coastal grey wolves on Vancouver Island. The stamps are designed by Andrew Perro, featuring photography by Michelle Valberg (Canis lupus crassodon), John E. Marriott (Canis lupus, Ejaz Khan (Canis lupus arctos), Michael Runtz and Steve Dunsford (Canis sp. Cf. lycaon). This issue is printed by Lowe-Martin and includes a booklet of eight Permanent™ domestic rate stamps, an Official First Day Cover (OFDC), a souvenir sheet and four postage-paid postcards that can be sent worldwide. The location of the cancellation mark on the OFDC is Whitney, Ontario, near the east gate of Algonquin Provincial Park. [The OFDC and postcards are shown below.]

Stamps and collectibles are now available at canadapost.ca and at select postal outlets across Canada.

[en Francais pour les médias d’information]
De nouveaux timbres mettent en vedette les loups au Canada et leur importance pour l’environnement
Les timbres présentent des images saisissantes en gros plan de loups vivant dans différentes étendues sauvages canadiennes.

WHITNEY, Ont. – Postes Canada a émis de nouveaux timbres qui mettent en vedette une espèce clé : les loups.

Les loups contribuent de façon importante à la santé et à la biodiversité de l’écosystème. Chasseurs intelligents souvent associés au Nord et aux vastes étendues sauvages du Canada, ces animaux occupent également une place prépondérante dans de nombreuses cultures autochtones.

Animal social, le loup coopère de façon organisée pour chasser et élever ses petits, un comportement observé chez seulement un faible pourcentage de mammifères. Grâce à ses sens aiguisés qui lui permettent de repérer les proies à près de 2 km de distance, le loup chasse de petits et de grands animaux, y compris le caribou, le cerf, le wapiti, l’orignal, le bison et même le bœuf musqué.

Des timbres qui présentent des loups dans différentes régions du pays
Le loup gris (Canis lupus, le plus grand et le plus répandu au Canada, se retrouve partout sauf dans les Maritimes.

À peine plus gros qu’un coyote de l’Est, le loup de l’Est (Canis sp. cf. lycaon) est inscrit sur la liste fédérale des espèces en péril et vit principalement dans le parc provincial Algonquin dans le centre de l’Ontario ainsi que dans le sud-ouest du Québec. On estime sa population à entre 200 et 1 000 individus adultes.

Le loup gris de l’Arctique (Canis lupus arctos est un chasseur nomade bien adapté au climat nordique, tandis que le loup gris côtier (Canis lupus crassodon) est un bon nageur qui vit sur la côte canadienne du Pacifique et ses îles côtières.

À propos des timbres
Chaque timbre présente une image en gros plan de loups dans des paysages canadiens. La couverture et l’intérieur du carnet comportent des photos supplémentaires de loups gris côtiers sur l’île de Vancouver. Les timbres ont été conçus par Andrew Perro à partir de photos de Michelle Valberg (Canis lupus crassodon), de John E. Marriott (Canis lupus, d’Ejaz Khan (Canis lupus arctos, de Michael Runtz et de Steve Dunsford (Canis sp. cf. lycaon). Imprimée par Lowe-Martin, cette émission comprend un carnet de huit timbres PermanentsMC au tarif du régime intérieur, un pli Premier Jour officiel, un bloc-feuillet et quatre cartes postales port payé. Le lieu d’oblitération est Whitney (Ontario), près de la porte est du parc provincial Algonquin.

Les timbres et les articles de collection sont en vente sur postescanada.ca et dans certains comptoirs postaux partout au pays à partir d’aujourd’hui.

The Official First Day Cover:

The postpaid picture postcards:

Diwali (U.S. 2026)

Posted on June 29, 2026 by VSC

Announced by the USPS on June 29^th:

Among the most important holidays on the Hindu calendar, the annual autumn festival celebrates the triumph of good over evil. Diwali is usually observed over five days; in 2026, the main day of the festival will be Nov. 8. This second Diwali stamp issued by USPS features a rangoli, a vibrant floor pattern traditionally made from materials such as colored rice powder, chalk and flower petals and believed to bring good luck. Photographed by Bijay Dixit, the rangoli was created by artist Sangita Bhutada, a native of India and longtime resident of the Houston area who has been a practitioner of this ancient folk art for nearly 30 years. The stamp was designed by Jennifer Arnold, and William J. Gicker was the art director. The Diwali stamp will be released in October.

No specific date was given.

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

Updated September 22^nd:
Here are the first-day postmarks for this issue:The Digital Color Postmark for this issue measures 2.73″ x 1.05″The Pictorial Postmark for this issue measures 1.72″ x 1.41″

Updated September 17^th:
[ceremony details] [click on any of the pictures for larger versions]
U.S. Postal Service Celebrates Festival of Lights With New Diwali Stamp

What: The Postal Service will celebrate the Hindu festival of Diwali with a new stamp. Diwali falls on the eve of, or on, the new moon that occurs between mid-October and mid-November. In 2026, the main day of the festival will be Nov. 8.

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

Who: Shibani Gambhir, USPS sales intelligence and support vice president, will serve as the dedicating official.

When: Wednesday, Oct. 21, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. ET for retail sales and cancellations and 6 p.m. ET for the ceremonial first-day-of-issue unveiling and reception

Where: Embassy of India
2107 Massachusetts Ave. NW
Washington, DC 20008

RSVP: Attendees are required to register at www.usps.com/diwalistamp.

Background: This stamp celebrates the joyous festival of Diwali — also known as Deepavali —with an image of a rangoli, a vibrant floor pattern traditionally made from materials such as colored rice powder, chalk and flower petals. One of the most important annual Hindu events and usually observed over five days, the autumn festival marks the triumph of good over evil.

People create rangolis in and around their homes during Diwali to bring good fortune. The stamp features Bijay Dixit’s photograph of a rangoli made by artist Sangita Bhutada, who has been creating rangolis for nearly 30 years. Bhutada crafted this intricate design of blue, orange, green, red and white with starch-based colored powder and colored sand. It is set against a purple background.

William J. Gicker served as the project’s art director. Jennifer Arnold designed the stamp, which will be sold in panes of 20.

The Diwali stamp will be issued as a Forever stamp and will always be equal in value to the current First-Class Mail 1-ounce price.

From the Postal Bulletin:
On October 21, 2026, in Washington, DC, the United States Postal Service® will issue the Diwali stamp (Forever® priced at the First-Class Mail® rate), in one design, in a pressure-sensitive adhesive (PSA) pane of 20 stamps (Item 582900). This stamp will go on sale nationwide October 21, 2026, and must not be sold or canceled before the first-day-of-issue.

This stamp celebrates the joyous festival of Diwali—also known as Deepavali—with an image of a rangoli, a vibrant floor pattern traditionally made from materials such as colored rice powder, chalk, and flower petals. One of the most important annual Hindu events and usually observed over 5 days, the autumn festival marks the triumph of good over evil. Rangolis are thought to bring good fortune, and people create them in and around their homes as part of their Diwali celebrations. The rangoli featured in the stamp art was made by artist Sangita Bhutada with sand and starch-based powders of blue, orange, green, red, and white. Jennifer Arnold designed the stamp using Bijay

No automatic distribution.

How to Order the First-Day-of-Issue Postmark:
The first-day-of-issue postmark is a postmark notating the day a stamp is first authorized for use by the Postal Service™. Customers have 120 days to obtain the first-day-of-issue postmark by mail. All requests for first-day-of-issue postmarks (Traditional or Digital Color Postmark) must be sent to the following address with the choice of Traditional or Digital Color Postmark identified. All orders must be postmarked by February 21, 2027.

FDOI – Diwali Stamp
USPS Stamp Fulfillment Services
8300 NE Underground Drive, Suite 300
Kansas City, MO 64144-9900

Technical Specifications:

Issue: Diwali Stamp
Item Number: 582900
Denomination & Type of Issue: First-Class Mail Forever®
Format: Pane of 20 (1 design)
Series: N/A
Issue Date & City: October 21, 2026, Washington, DC 20066
Art Director: William Gicker, Washington, DC
Designer: Jennifer Arnold, Washington, DC
Artist: Sangita B. Bhutada, Richmond, TX
Photographer: Bijay Dixit, Houston, TX
Modeler: Daryl DeMont
Manufacturing Process: Offset, Microprint
Printer: Ashton Potter (USA) Ltd. (APU)
Press Type: Muller A76
Stamps per Pane: 20
Print Quantity: 20,000,000 stamps
Paper Type: Nonphosphored Type III, Block Tag Applied
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.
Plate Size: 320 stamps per revolution
Plate Number: “P” followed by four (4) single digits
Marginal Markings:
Front: Plate number in four corners
Back: © 2026 USPS • USPS logo • Two barcodes (582900) • Plate position diagram (8) • Promotional text

Updated September 16^th:

This stamp will be issued October 21 in Washington, DC.

Madonna & Child (U.S. 2026)

Posted on June 29, 2026 by VSC

Announced by the USPS on June 29^th:

This year’s traditional Christmas stamp features “The Virgin and Child Enthroned,” a Netherlandish painting that dates from around the year 1500 and has been attributed to an artist known only as “The Master of the Embroidered Foliage.” Scholars believe this distinctive painting, with its large central figure of Mary in red garments and an array of background details, was created in a workshop by several artists and assistants, as was common practice at the time. The painting is in the collection of the Clark Art Institute in Williamstown, MA. The stamp was designed by Greg Breeding, an art director for USPS.

The stamp will be issued October 2 in Williamstown, MA.

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

Updated August 27^th:
From the Postal Bulletin:
On October 2, 2026, in Williamstown, MA, the United States Postal Service® will issue the Christmas Madonna and Child stamp (Forever® priced at the First-Class Mail® rate), in one design, in a pressure-sensitive adhesive (PSA) double-sided booklet of 20 stamps (Item 686200). This stamp will go on sale nationwide October 2, 2026, and must not be sold or canceled before the first-day-of-issue.

To be sold in booklets of 20, this Christmas stamp features The Virgin and Child Enthroned, a Netherlandish painting that dates from around the year 1500 and was originally attributed to an unnamed artist known only as “The Master of the Embroidered Foliage.” Scholars now believe that the painting was created in a workshop by several artists and assistants, as was common practice at the time. The painting is in the collection of the Clark Art Institute in Williamstown, Massachusetts. Greg Breeding served as designer and art director.

Automatic distribution.

FDOI – Christmas Madonna and Child Stamp
USPS Stamp Fulfillment Services
8300 NE Underground Drive, Suite 300
Kansas City, MO 64144-9900

Technical Specifications:

Issue: Christmas Madonna and Child Stamp
Item Number: 686200
Denomination & Type of Issue: First-Class Mail Forever
Format: Double-sided Booklet of 20 (1 design)
Series: N/A
Issue Date & City: October 2, 2026, Williamstown, MA 01267
Art Director: Greg Breeding, Charlottesville, VA
Designer: Greg Breeding, Charlottesville, VA
Existing Art: The Master of the Embroidered Foliage
Modeler: Sandra Lane / Michelle Finn
Manufacturing Process: Offset
Printer: Banknote Corporation of America
Press Type: Alprinta 74
Stamps per Booklet: 20
Print Quantity: 185,000,000 stamps
Paper Type: Phosphor, Block Tag
Colors: PMS 10418 C, Cyan, Magenta, Yellow, Black
Adhesive Type: Pressure-sensitive
Stamp Orientation: Vertical
Image Area (w x h): 0.7700 x 1.0500 in. / 19.5580 x 26.6700 mm.
Stamp Size (w x h): 0.9100 x 1.1900 in. / 23.1140 x 30.2260 mm..
Booklet Size (w x h): 5.7430 x 2.3750 in. / 145.8720 x 60.3250 mm.
Plate Size: 800 stamps per revolution
Plate Number: “B” followed by five (5) single digits
Marginal Markings: Header: CHRISTMAS • Madonna and Child • TWENTY FIRST-CLASS™ FOREVER® STAMPS • © 2026 USPS in peel strip area • Barcode • USPS logo • Promotional text • Plate number in peel strip area

Updated August 20^th:
Here are the first-day postmarks for this issue: The Digital Color Postmark measures 3.0″ x 1.5″The Pictorial Postmark measures 2.74″ x 1.23″

Hanukkah (U.S. 2026)

Posted on June 29, 2026 by VSC

Announced by the USPS on June 29^th

This year, the Postal Service issues its ninth Hanukkah stamp honoring the eight-day Jewish holiday observed by millions of people in the United States and around the world. The new stamp features a digital illustration of a dreidel that reflects both artist Lisa Perrin’s Jewish heritage and Eastern European folk-art traditions. “I hope that people who celebrate Hanukkah will be excited to see a new and colorful stamp for the occasion,” Perrin said. “The dreidel is used as part of a game and has a playful connotation — I hope it makes people smile!” The stamp was designed by Antonio Alcalá, an art director for USPS.

The stamp will be issued September 29 in New Orleans, LA.

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

Updated September 1^st:
Registration for those wishing to attend the ceremony is now required.

Updated August 29^th:
[ceremony details] [click on any of the pictures for larger versions]
Postal Service Issues Commemorative Stamp Celebrating Eight-Day Jewish Holiday

What: The U.S. Postal Service is issuing its ninth Hanukkah stamp, continuing its tradition of honoring the eight-day Jewish holiday observed by millions of people in the United States and around the world.

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

Who: David Steiner, USPS postmaster general, will be the dedicating official

When: Tuesday, Sept. 29, at 11 a.m. Central

Where: Touro Synagogue
4238 St. Charles Ave.
New Orleans, LA 70115

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

Background: With the release of this new stamp, the Postal Service continues its long tradition of celebrating the joyous Jewish holiday of Hanukkah, which begins at sundown on Friday, Dec. 4.

Hanukkah festivities begin on the 25th day of Kislev on the Hebrew calendar, a date that typically falls in late November or December. Traditional celebrations include singing holiday songs and eating traditional fried foods, such as latkes and sufganiyot, to commemorate the miracle of the oil.

Antonio Alcala, an art director for USPS, designed the stamp with original artwork by illustrator Lisa Perrin, featuring a dark blue dreidel with rust-colored Hebrew letters set against a turquoise background. Framing the dreidel are decorative elements like flowers and foliage in light and dark orange, cream and shades of blue.

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

Updated August 27^th:
From the Postal Bulletin:
On September 29, 2026, in New Orleans, LA, the United States Postal Service® will issue the Hanukkah stamp (Forever® priced at the First-Class Mail® rate), in one design, in a pressure-sensitive adhesive (PSA) pane of 20 stamps (Item 582800). This stamp will go on sale nationwide September 29, 2026, and must not be sold or canceled before the first-day-of-issue.

With this new stamp, the Postal Service™ continues its long tradition of celebrating the joyous Jewish holiday of Hanukkah. The centerpiece of the stamp illustration is a dark blue dreidel featuring rust-colored Hebrew letters, set against a turquoise background. Framing the dreidel are decorative elements like flowers and foliage in light and dark orange, cream, and various shades of blue. Art director Antonio Alcalá designed the stamp with illustrator Lisa Perrin’s original art.

Automatic distribution.

How to Order the First-Day-of-Issue Postmark:
The first-day-of-issue postmark is a postmark notating the day a stamp is first authorized for use by the Postal Service. Customers have 120 days to obtain the first-day-of-issue postmark by mail. All requests for first-day-of-issue postmarks (Traditional or Digital Color Postmark) must be sent to the following address with the choice of Traditional or Digital Color Postmark identified. All orders must be postmarked by January 29, 2027.

FDOI – Hanukkah Stamp
USPS Stamp Fulfillment Services
8300 NE Underground Drive, Suite 300
Kansas City, MO 64144-9900

Technical Specifications:

Issue: Hanukkah Stamp
Item Number: 582800
Denomination & Type of Issue: First-Class Mail Forever
Format: Pane of 20 (1 design)
Series: N/A
Issue Date & City: September 29, 2026, New Orleans, LA 70113
Art Director: Antonio Alcalá, Alexandria, VA
Designer: Antonio Alcalá, Alexandria, VA
Artist: Lisa Perrin, Baltimore, MD
Modeler: Sandra Lane / Michelle Finn
Manufacturing Process: Offset, Microprint
Printer: Banknote Corporation of America
Press Type: Alprinta 74
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): 0.7700 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.
Plate Size: 320 stamps per revolution
Plate Number: “B” followed by four (4) single digits
Marginal Markings:
Front: Plate number in all four corners of pane
Back: © 2026 USPS • USPS logo • Two barcodes (582800) • Plate position diagram (8) • Promotional text

Updated August 20^th:
Here are the first-day postmarks for this issue:The Digital Color Postmark measures 2.92″ x 1.48″The Pictorial Postmark measures 2.72″ x 1.24″

Kwanzaa (U.S. 2026)

Posted on June 29, 2026 by VSC

Announced by the USPS on June 29^th:

This stamp, the 11th Kwanzaa stamp issued by USPS, honors the pan-African holiday observed by millions of Americans each year from Dec. 26 to Jan. 1. Featuring a digital illustration of a father holding his young daughter, the artwork incorporates two of the seven Kwanzaa symbols: the gift (zawadi) held by the daughter and the unity cup (kikombe cha umoja) held by the father. The color scheme — lime green, pink and yellow — is an updated take on the customary black, red and green. USPS art director Antonio Alcalá designed the stamp with art by Cannaday Chapman.

This stamp will be issued September 23 in Norfolk, VA.

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

Updated August 27^th:
From the Postal Bulletin:
On September 23, 2026, in Norfolk, VA, the United States Postal Service® will issue the Kwanzaa stamp (Forever® priced at the First-Class Mail® rate), in one design, in a pressure-sensitive adhesive (PSA) pane of 20 stamps (Item 582700). This stamp will go on sale nationwide September 23, 2026, and must not be sold or canceled before the first-day-of-issue.

In 2026 the Postal Service™ issues its 11th stamp honoring Kwanzaa, the Pan-African holiday that is observed by millions of Americans from December 26 to January 1 each year. The stamp art features an illustration of a father holding his daughter; they are smiling at one another. He wears a dashiki and kufi and carries a kikombe cha umoja, or unity cup; she wears a short-sleeved dress in similar colors and holds a wrapped zawadi, or gift. The stamp’s color scheme of lime green, pink, and yellow is an updated take on the green, red, and black traditionally associated with Kwanzaa. Art director Antonio Alcalá designed the stamp with art by Cannaday Chapman.

Automatic distribution.

FDOI – Kwanzaa Stamp
USPS Stamp Fulfillment Services
8300 NE Underground Drive, Suite 300
Kansas City, MO 64144-9900

Technical Specifications:

Issue: Kwanzaa Stamp
Item Number: 582700
Denomination & Type of Issue: First-Class Mail Forever
Format: Pane of 20 (1 design)
Series: N/A
Issue Date & City: September 23, 2026, Norfolk, VA 23501
Art Director: Antonio Alcalá, Alexandria, VA
Designer: Antonio Alcalá, Alexandria, VA
Artist: Cannaday Chapman, Berlin, Germany
Modeler: Sandra Lane / Michelle Finn
Manufacturing Process: Offset, Microprint
Printer: Banknote Corporation of America
Press Type: Alprinta 74
Stamps per Pane: 20
Print Quantity: 10,000,000 stamps
Paper Type: Phosphor, Block Tag
Adhesive Type: Pressure-sensitive
Colors: PMS 2292 C, 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.
Plate Size: 320 stamps per revolution
Plate Number: “B” followed by five (5) single digits
Marginal Markings:
Front: Plate number in all four corners of pane
Back: © 2026 USPS • USPS logo • Two barcodes (582700) • Plate position diagram (8) • Promotional text

Updated August 23^rd:
[ceremony details] [click on any of the pictures for larger versions]
U.S. Postal Service Continues Its Tradition of Celebrating Kwanzaa

What: USPS will issue its 11th stamp celebrating Kwanzaa, the pan-African holiday observed by millions of Americans each year from Dec. 26 to Jan. 1.

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

When: Wednesday, Sept. 23, at 12 p.m. ET

Where:
Association for the Study of African American Life and History
111th annual conference
Norfolk Waterside Marriott Hotel
235 E. Main St.
Norfolk, VA 23510

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

Background: The pan-African holiday Kwanzaa, observed annually from Dec. 26 to Jan. 1, brings together family, community and culture. Created in the United States in 1966 and drawing on a variety of African traditions, it was intended to help unify African Americans from a wide array of religious and cultural backgrounds. The name “Kwanzaa” is derived from the Swahili phrase meaning “first fruits.”

The 2026 Kwanzaa stamp — the 11th since 1997 in an ongoing series — brings a fresh approach. While many of the stamps have portrayed family, this is the first one to feature a father and daughter. In addition, the color scheme — lime green, pink and yellow — is an updated take on the customary black, red and green.

On the traditional side, the stamp artwork incorporates two of the seven Kwanzaa symbols: the gift (zawadi), held by the daughter, and the unity cup (kikombe cha umoja), held by the father.

Antonio Alcalá, an art director for USPS, designed the stamp with original artwork by Cannaday Chapman.

The Kwanzaa stamp will be issued as a Forever stamp and will always be equal in value to the current First-Class Mail 1-ounce price.

Updated August 20^th:
Here are the first-day postmarks for this issue: The Digital Color Postmark measures 1.70″ x 1.50″The Pictorial Postmark measures 2.74″ x 1.15″