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:

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

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.

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.

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 2, 2027.

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″

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″

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.

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 23, 2027.

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″

Announced by the USPS on June 29^th

For years, fentanyl has fueled a national crisis that has deeply affected families and communities — but with growing awareness, improved resources and greater access to treatment and recovery support, progress is being made. With this semipostal stamp, USPS will raise funds to advance research and promote awareness to combat this ongoing epidemic while providing a message that encourages hope, healing and recovery. Net proceeds will be distributed to the National Institute on Drug Abuse. Antonio Alcalá, an art director for USPS, designed the semipostal with an original illustration from Whitney Sherman.

This semi-postal stamp will be issued October 6 in Bethesda, MD.

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

Announced by the USPS on June 29^th

The Postal Service continues its tradition of honoring American military academies with a stamp commemorating the 150th anniversary of the U.S. Coast Guard Academy. Antonio Alcalá, an art director and stamp designer for USPS, drew inspiration for this stamp from the academy’s long tradition of training cadets on the ocean. The stamp features photographs — courtesy of the U.S. Coast Guard — of the USCGC Eagle, the academy’s primary training vessel since 1946, and USCGC Bertholf, the Coast Guard’s first national security cutter.

The stamp will be released September 12, with New London, CT, as the first-day city. That’s where the Academy is located.

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

Updated August 20^th:
Here are the first-day postmarks for this issue:The Digital Color Postmark measures 3.0″ x 1.35″The Pictorial Postmark measures 1.36″ x 1.26″ The “special” postmark for other cities to use measures 2.80″ x 0.92″

Updated August 18^th:
On September 12, 2026, in New London, CT, the United States Postal Service® will issue the U.S. Coast Guard Academy stamp (Forever® priced at the First-Class Mail® rate), in one design, in a pressure-sensitive adhesive (PSA) pane of 20 stamps (Item 489100). This stamp will go on sale nationwide September 12, 2026, and must not be sold or canceled before the first-day-of-issue.

USPS continues its tradition of honoring American military academies with a stamp commemorating the 150th anniversary of the United States Coast Guard Academy. The stamp art features photographs of the Barque Eagle, the Coast Guard Academy’s primary training vessel since 1946, and USCGC Bertholf, a Legend-class National Security Cutter whose missions include maritime drug interdiction and securing the maritime border. Art director Antonio Alcalá designed this stamp with photographs courtesy of the U.S. Coast Guard.

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 12, 2027.

FDOI – U.S. Coast Guard Academy Stamp
USPS Stamp Fulfillment Services
8300 NE Underground Drive, Suite 300
Kansas City, MO 64144-9900

Technical Specifications:

Issue: U.S. Coast Guard Academy Stamp
Item Number: 489100
Denomination & Type of Issue: First-Class Mail Forever
Format: Pane of 20 (1 design)
Series: N/A
Issue Date & City: September 12, 2026, New London, CT 06320
Art Director: Antonio Alcalá, Alexandria, VA
Designer: Antonio Alcalá, Alexandria, VA
Existing Photo: U.S. Coast Guard photo by Petty Officer 3rd Class Matthew Thieme
Existing Photo: U.S. Coast Guard photo by Petty Officer Steve Strohmaier
Modeler: Sandra Lane / Michelle Finn
Manufacturing Process: Offset, Flexographic, Microtext
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, PMS 179 C
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 x39.6240 mm.
Full Pane Size (w x h): 5.9200 x 7.6300 in. / 150.3680 x 193.8020 mm.
Press Sheet Size (w x h): 11.8400 x 23.1400 in. / 300.7360 x 587.7560 mm.
Plate Size: 120 stamps per revolution
Plate Number: “B” followed by five (5) single digits
Marginal Markings:
Front: Header: U.S. COAST GUARD ACADEMY • 150th ANNIVERSARY • 1876–2026 • Plate number in bottom two corners of pane
Back: © 2026 USPS • USPS logo • Two barcodes (489100) • Plate position diagram (6) • Promotional text

Updated August 13^th:
[ceremony details] [click on any of the pictures for larger versions]
Postal Service to Issue Commemorative Stamp for U.S. Coast Guard Academy Milestone

What: The U.S. Postal Service will release a new commemorative stamp celebrating the 150th anniversary of the U.S. Coast Guard Academy. This special issue continues the long-standing postal tradition of honoring the nation’s premier military service institutions.

The first-day-of-issue unveiling ceremony for the U.S. Coast Guard Academy Forever stamp is free and open to the public. News of the stamp is being shared with the hashtag #USCoastGuardStamp.

Who: Marc McCrery, USPS customer experience vice president and dedicating official.

When: Saturday, Sept. 12, 2026, at 10 a.m. Eastern

Where:
Connecticut Maritime Heritage Festival
Custom House Pier at Waterfront Park
1 Waterfront Park St.
New London, CT 06320

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

Background: The stamp art features photographs of the USCGC Eagle, the Coast Guard Academy’s primary training vessel since 1946, and USCGC Bertholf, a Legend-class national security cutter whose missions include maritime drug interdiction and securing the maritime border. Antonio Alcalá, an art director for USPS, designed this stamp with photographs courtesy of the U.S. Coast Guard.