“Fellowship of the Ring” 25th Anniversary (UK 2026)

Posted on March 13, 2026 by VSC

[press release] [click on any of the pictures for larger versions]
Royal Mail Marks 25th Anniversary Of “The Lord Of The Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring” With Special Stamp Issue

Issue date 20 March
Each of the eight stamps in the main set features a montage from the film trilogy celebrating iconic characters and include hidden messaging – only detectable when using a UV light
A further four stamps, presented in a miniature sheet, show iconic locations from across the franchise
The stamps and a range of collectible products are available to pre-order now at www.royalmail.com/lordoftherings and by telephone on 03457 641641

Royal Mail, in collaboration with Warner Bros. Discovery Global Consumer Products (WBDGCP), has revealed images of a set of 12 new stamps that celebrate the 25th anniversary of The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring.

The main set of eight stamps features a montage from the film trilogy celebrating iconic characters from across the franchise. British actors who played the characters featured are Orlando Bloom as Legolas, Ian McKellan as Gandalf, Dominic Monaghan as Merry, Billy Boyd as Pippin and Christopher Lee as Saruman.

The stamps also include hidden messaging – only detectable when using a UV light – showing Elvish writing in a ring shape.

A further four stamps presented in a miniature sheet pay homage to four iconic locations – from The Shire, where Frodo’s journey begins, all the way to Mount Doom, where he must throw the One Ring into the fires to destroy it once and for all. Also shown are Rivendell, an Elven refuge and sanctuary, and the monumental Argonath, which marks the northern border of the kingdom of Gondor.

‘The Lord of the Rings’ title used on all 12 stamps in the set, replicates that of the iconic typeface used for the films.

David Gold, Director of External Affairs & Policy, Royal Mail, said: “The Lord of the Rings ranks as one of the most iconic and beloved film series of all time, and we’re delighted to celebrate its enduring popularity with this set of Special Stamps. Each design captures the epic storytelling, artistry and imagination that have made Middle earth such a treasured part of British and global culture. We’re proud to bring these striking stamps to the nation’s letterboxes.”

Rachel Wakley, SVP & General Manager – UK & Ireland, Warner Bros. Discovery Global Consumer Products said: “We’re delighted to see this special stamp collection honour the 25th anniversary of The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring. The film has left an enduring mark on audiences around the world, and this beautifully crafted set captures the spirit, artistry and cinematic legacy that continue to inspire fans a quarter of a century on.”

The Lord of the Rings
Based on the revered The Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit books by J.R.R. Tolkien, New Line Cinema’s epic six-film series directed by Peter Jackson has been embraced by generations of fans, earning $6 billion at the global box office and 17 Academy Awards, becoming the most awarded series in cinematic history. Set in Middle-earth, the series begins as Frodo Baggins embarks on a perilous mission to destroy the legendary One Ring, and an adventure like no other continues from there. In 2021, the Library of Congress selected The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring for preservation in the United States National Film Registry. Following the first film’s milestone 25th anniversary in 2026, a new film, The Lord of the Rings: The Hunt for Gollum, is planned for release in theatres, with additional films to come.

The stamps, and a range of collectible products, are available to pre-order now at www.royalmail.com/lordoftherings and by telephone on 03457 641 641. A Presentation Pack including all 12 stamps is priced at £21.30. The stamps go on general sale from 20 March.

Eid (Canada 2026)

Posted on March 10, 2026 by VSC

[press release] [click on any of the pictures for larger versions]
New stamp issue marks Eid, celebrated by more than 1.5 million Muslims in Canada
Canada Post is proud to mark Eid al-Fitr and Eid al-Adha with uniquely Canadian Muslim design

VANCOUVER – Canada Post issued new stamps March 10^th to mark two of the most important holidays in Islam: Eid al-Fitr and Eid al-Adha.

The three-stamp issue incorporates stylized maple leaves into a traditional Islamic pattern to reflect Canada’s cultural diversity and inclusivity. Featuring the same design in different colour palettes, the stamps honour the significance of Eid for Muslim communities across the country.

Patterns of beauty and symbolism
Mesmerizing designs inspired by mathematics and nature are a hallmark of Islamic ornamentation. Infinitely expandable arrangements of interlacing circles and polygons are traditionally created with a compass and straightedge. Stylized floral and vegetal motifs are often weaved through these patterns, which vary across regions and eras.

The rhythm and symmetry of these patterns invite contemplation of the spiritual and natural worlds. The designs also add beauty and symbolism to Eid al-Fitr and Eid al-Adha, appearing as decorations in mosques and homes, and on lanterns and greeting cards.

Eid celebrations in March and May
Eid al-Fitr, or the Festival of Breaking the Fast, marks the end of Ramadan. The month of fasting, which is observed from sunrise to sunset, is one of the most distinctive practices in Islam. This year, Eid al-Fitr takes place in March.

Eid al-Adha, or the Festival of Sacrifice, marks the end of the Hajj pilgrimage, in which millions of Muslims journey to one of the holiest sites in Islam – the Kaaba in Mecca, Saudi Arabia. Also called Eid al-Kabir or the Greater of the Two Eids, the festival happens this year in May.

Celebrated by more than 1.5 million Muslims in Canada, both events can last several days and include communal prayers and feasts, visits with family, gift-giving and acts of charity.

The Eid issue is one of several stamps released by Canada Post each year to mark annual celebrations that are important to Canada’s culturally diverse population – others include Diwali, Hanukkah and Christmas.

About the stamps
This stamp issue was designed by Paprika and printed by Colour Innovations. It includes a booklet of six Permanent™ domestic rate stamps and an Official First Day Cover [below]cancelled in Vancouver, British Columbia, home to a large and diverse Muslim-Canadian population.

Roses (UK 2026)

Posted on March 6, 2026 by VSC

[press release] [click on any of the pictures for larger versions]
Blooming Marvellous: Royal Mail Celebrates the Beauty of Roses with Special Stamps

Each of the 10 stamps features a commissioned watercolour painting created exclusively for Royal Mail by acclaimed botanical artist, Marie Burke
The set showcases a range of wild and cultivated roses, including ‘Constance Spry’, the first English Rose bred by David Austin®
The stamps and a range of collectible products are available now at www.royalmail.com/roses and by telephone on 03457 641641

Royal Mail has revealed a set of 10 stamps celebrating the beauty of the nation’s favourite flower, the rose. The vibrant images feature original watercolour illustrations of a variety of wild and garden roses, created exclusively for Royal Mail by acclaimed botanical artist Marie Burke.

Among the roses featured is ‘Constance Spry’, the first English Rose bred by pioneering British rose breeder David C.H. Austin, which launched a new era in rose breeding.

The stamps showcase a stunning selection of roses, from delicate wild species to classic garden favourites, each capturing the unique colour, form and character of the flower.

Roses featured in the set are:

Dog Rose (Rosa canina)
Rosa ‘Queen Elizabeth’
Rosa ‘Just Joey’
Rosa ‘Paul’s Himalayan Musk’
Rosa ‘Étoile de Hollande’
Rosa gallica ‘Versicolor’
Field Rose (Rosa arvensis)
Rosa ‘Charles de Mills’
Rosa ‘Peace’
Rosa ‘Constance Spry’

The stamp issue coincides with the 100th anniversary of the birth of David C.H. Austin OBE, whose work transformed modern rose breeding and helped reintroduce fragrance, beauty and romance to contemporary gardens.

David Gold, Director of External Affairs & Policy, Royal Mail, said: “Roses are a familiar part of many British gardens, as well as holding a special place in British culture and heritage. These beautiful stamps bring together art and horticulture through original illustrations of ten distinctive roses, each carefully interpreted to capture its unique character.”

Royal Mail worked with horticultural historian Jennifer Potter on the stamp issue.

Roses
All roses trace their ancestry back to wild roses native to the northern hemisphere, which typically bear single, five-petalled flowers, such as the dog rose and the field rose found in the UK.

Garden varieties emerged gradually over centuries, first through natural mutations and later through deliberate breeding. Old European roses such as gallicas, albas, damasks and centifolias, including Rosa gallica ‘Versicolor’ and Rosa ‘Charles de Mills’, are celebrated for their rich scent and early summer flowering.

From the 18th century onwards, Chinese roses introduced repeat flowering, transforming rose breeding and leading to the modern hybrid tea roses that remain popular today. Notable varieties include ‘Étoile de Hollande’, ‘Peace’ and ‘Just Joey’.

In 1961, David C.H. Austin introduced ‘Constance Spry’, launching what became known as English Roses, combining the beauty and fragrance of old roses with the flowering performance of modern types.

The stamps, and a range of collectible products, are available on general sale now at www.royalmail.com/roses and by telephone on 03457 641 641. A Presentation Pack including all 10 stamps is priced at £13.75.

Flowers: Cherry Trees (Canada 2026)

Posted on March 4, 2026 by VSC

[press release] [click on any of the pictures for larger versions]
Annual Flower Stamp Issue Features Delicate Blossoms of Ornamental Cherry Trees
Bestselling issue often used for wedding stationery, popular among Canadian gardeners

VANCOUVER – A joyful sign of spring, cherry blossoms create spectacular canopies of colour during their blooming season. The fragrant flowers leave behind a delicate carpet of petals, symbolic of beauty and the transience of life. Cherry trees, both wild and cultivated, are found in many parts of the world, and many are native to the Northern Hemisphere.

This stamp issue features two cherry blossom cultivars. Prunus ‘Kanzan’, cold-hardy and with large deep-pink double flowers, is one of the most popular Japanese cherry cultivars for blossom viewing in North America and Europe. Shrouded in clusters of white to pale-pink petals, the prolific?Prunus?‘Somei-yoshino’ is the focus of celebrations across Japan and other parts of East Asia.

In Japan, sakura (as cherry blossoms are called) are the inspiration for national celebrations. In Canada, dazzling displays can be found along city streets and in many parks and gardens across the country. Vancouver boasts thousands of specimens and hosts one of the country’s largest cherry blossom festivals.

About the stamp design
The two stamps feature original photographs of the cherry blossoms taken at the Nitobe Memorial Garden at the University of British Columbia in Vancouver. The stamps are designed by Belisle Creative, featuring photography by Brett Hitchins, and printed by Lowe-Martin. The issue includes a booklet of 10 Permanent™ stamps, a coil of 50 stamps, a souvenir sheet and an Official First Day Cover cancelled in Vancouver.

[en Francais pour les médias d’information]
Les timbres floraux de cette année mettent en vedette les délicates fleurs de cerisiers ornementaux
L’émission annuelle sur les fleurs est toujours très prisée pour les faire-part de mariage, en plus d’être appréciée des adeptes de jardinage.

VANCOUVER – Signes du printemps, les fleurs de cerisier forment des canopées colorées spectaculaires. Ces fleurs parfumées, qui laissent derrière elles un délicat tapis de pétales, symbolisent la beauté et le caractère éphémère de la vie. On trouve une grande variété d’espèces sauvages et cultivées de cerisiers dans de nombreuses régions du monde, et plusieurs sont indigènes de l’hémisphère Nord.

Cette émission met en vedette deux cultivars de cerisiers. Résistant au froid et prisé en raison de ses grandes fleurs doubles rose foncé, le Prunus ?Kanzan? est l’un des cultivars japonais les plus populaires en Amérique du Nord et en Europe. Couvert de grappes de fleurs blanches ou rose pâle, le prolifique Prunus ?Somei-yoshino? est la vedette de célébrations au Japon et ailleurs en Asie de l’Est.

Appelées sakura au Japon, les fleurs de cerisier inspirent des célébrations nationales. Au Canada, on peut admirer le spectacle en bordure de rues et dans bon nombre de parcs et de jardins. Vancouver abrite des milliers de spécimens et tient l’un des plus grands festivals de cerisiers en fleurs du pays.

À propos des timbres
Les deux timbres sont ornés de photos originales de fleurs de cerisier prises au Nitobe Memorial Garden de l’Université de la Colombie-Britannique à Vancouver. Imprimés par Lowe-Martin, ils sont conçus par Belisle Creative et présentent des photographies de Brett Hitchins. L’émission comprend un carnet de 10 timbres PermanentsMC, un rouleau de 50 timbres, un bloc-feuillet et un pli Premier Jour officiel oblitéré à Vancouver.

Christmas Cookies (US 2026)

Posted on February 18, 2026 by VSC

Announced by the USPS on June 29^th

Since 1962, contemporary Christmas stamps have added cheer to holiday cards and letters. This year’s issuance celebrates a favorite holiday pastime: baking and decorating Christmas cookies. Featuring four sugar cookies, each with distinct decorations, the stamps were designed by Kyrie Johnson — who also baked the cookies — and Greg Breeding, a USPS art director. Sarah Cramer Shields was the photographer.

These stamps will be issued September 19 in Washington, DC.

(Earlier (February 18): The Virtual Stamp Club has learned that this year’s contemporary Christmas stamps will depict some holiday treats and be issued in September. We’ll post details when they become available.)

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 19, 2026, in Washington, DC, the United States Postal Service® will issue the Christmas Cookies stamps (Forever® priced at the First-Class Mail® rate), in four designs, in a pressure-sensitive adhesive (PSA) double-sided booklet of 20 stamps (Item 686100). These stamps will go on sale nationwide September 19, 2026, and must not be sold or canceled before the first-day-of-issue.

Four new designs in this booklet of 20 stamps celebrate the Christmas season. Each stamp features a colorful, decorated sugar cookie in the shape of either a Christmas tree, a stocking, a wrapped present, or Santa’s face. Art director Greg Breeding designed the stamps with cookie baker and decorator Kyrie Johnson. Sarah Cramer Shields photographed the cookies.

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 19, 2027.

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

Technical Specifications:

Issue: Christmas Cookies Stamps
Item Number: 686100
Denomination & Type of Issue: First-Class Mail Forever
Format: Double-sided Booklet of 20 (4 designs)
Series: N/A
Issue Date & City: September 19, 2026, Washington, DC 20066
Art Director: Greg Breeding, Charlottesville, VA
Designer: Greg Breeding, Charlottesville, VA
Designer: Kyrie Johnson, Norfolk, VA
Photographer: Sarah Cramer Shields, Charlottesville, VA
Modeler: Sandra Lane / Michelle Finn
Manufacturing Process: Offset
Printer: Banknote Corporation of America
Press Type: Alprinta 74
Stamps per Booklet: 20
Print Quantity: 450,000,000 stamps
Paper Type: Phosphor, Block Tag
Colors: 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 four (4) single digits
Marginal Markings: Header: Christmas Cookies • 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 3.11″ x 1.48″ There is not a Pictorial Postmark for this issue, just the FDOI “Killer Bars.”

Updated August 4^th:

[ceremony details] [click on any of the pictures for larger versions]
Christmas Cookie Stamp Designs for the Holidays

What: Sweet, sugar-frosted stamps will be available for holiday greetings this year.

This booklet of 20 Christmas Cookies Forever stamps includes images of four frosted sugar cookies appearing on alternating red and blue backgrounds.

Greg Breeding, art director and designer for USPS; designer Kyrie Johnson; and artist Sarah Cramer Shields created the booklet from photographs of sugar cookies baked by Johnson.

The Christmas Cookies Forever stamps will be part of a free, public, family-friendly celebration at the Smithsonian National Postal Museum. Retail sales and first-day-of-issue postmarks will be available. News of the stamps is being shared with the hashtag #ChristmasCookiesStamps.

When: Saturday, Sept. 19, 11 a.m. ET

Where:
Smithsonian National Postal Museum
2 Massachusetts Ave. NE
Washington, DC 20002

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

Background: Baked goods are synonymous with holiday celebrations, and these stamps capture the sweet tradition beautifully. The four separate images depict a Christmas tree, a stocking, a wrapped present, and Santa’s face. These stamps are part of a history of contemporary Christmas designs issued by the Postal Service since 1962. Christmas cookies have previously appeared on stamps in 2005 and 2017.

Postal Products: Customers may purchase stamps and other philatelic products through The Postal Store at usps.com/shopstamps, by calling 844-737-7826, by mail through USA Philatelic or at Post Office locations nationwide. For officially licensed stamp products, shop the USPS Officially Licensed Collection on Amazon. Additional information on stamps, first-day-of-issue ceremonies and stamp-inspired products can be found at stampsforever.com.

Winter Wreath Global Forever (U.S. 2026)

Posted on February 18, 2026 by VSC

Announced by the USPS on June 29^th:

The new holiday Global stamp features a snowy, decorated wreath, a wintertime symbol associated with the festivities of the season. Showcasing a soft color palette, the wreath was created from artificial branches and craft-store materials by photographer Natalia Kostikova, who painted the decorative ornaments and sprayed the wreath with baking soda to simulate snow. The stamp was designed by Greg Breeding, an art director for USPS.

The stamp will be issued September 18th in Humble Texas with a local ceremony.

(From February 18: The Virtual Stamp Club has learned that a a new round Global Forever stamp will be issued in September. We’ll post details when they become available.)

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 1.50″

There is not a pictorial B&W postmark for this issue, just the FDOI “killer bars.”

Updated August 18^th:
On September 18, 2026, in Humble, TX, the United States Postal Service® will issue the Winter Wreath Global Forever® International rate stamp, in one design, in a pressure-sensitive adhesive (PSA) pane of 10 stamps (Item 582600). This stamp will go on sale nationwide September 18, 2026, and must not be sold or canceled before the first-day-of-issue.

Intended for international mail, this Global stamp features a snowy, decorated wreath. This stamp can be used to mail a 1-ounce letter to any country to which First-Class Mail International® service is available. As with all Global stamps, this stamp will have a postage value equivalent to the price of the single-piece First-Class Mail International 1-ounce machineable letter in effect at the time of use. The wreath was created from artificial branches and craft-store materials by photographer Natalia Kostikova. Greg Breeding served as art director.

No automatic distribution.

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

Technical Specifications:

Issue: Winter Wreath Stamp
Item Number: 582600
Denomination & Type of Issue: Global Forever International Rate
Format: Pane of 10 (1 design)
Series: N/A
Issue Date & City: September 18, 2026, Humble, TX 77338
Art Director: Greg Breeding, Charlottesville, VA
Designer: Greg Breeding, Charlottesville, VA
Existing Photo: Natalia Kostikova
Modeler: Daryl DeMont
Manufacturing Process: Offset, Microprint
Printer: Ashton Potter (USA) Ltd. (APU)
Press Type: Muller A76
Stamps per Pane: 10
Print Quantity: 20,000,000 stamps
Paper Type: Nonphosphored Type III, Block Tagged
Adhesive Type: Pressure-sensitive
Colors: Cyan, Magenta, Yellow, Black, PMS 2221 C Blue, PMS 4218 C Gray
Stamp Orientation: Round
Image Area (w x h): 1.2000 x 1.2000 in. / 30.4800 x 30.4800 mm.
Overall Size (w x h): 1.4100 x 1.4100 in. / 35.8140 x 35.8140 mm.
Full Pane Size (w x h): 8.5000 x 4.0900 in. / 215.9000 x103.8860 mm.
Plate Size: 180 stamps per revolution
Plate Number: “P” followed by six (6) single digits
Marginal Markings:
Front: Plate number in all four corners of pane
Back: © 2026 USPS • USPS logo • Ten barcodes (582600) • Plate position diagram (9) • Promotional text

Happy Birthday (US 2026)

Posted on February 17, 2026 by VSC

Announced by the USPS on February 17, 2026:

For the first time since 2021, the Postal Service will issue a stamp designed especially for birthday invitations, cards, letters and packages. “I am excited that we are issuing new Happy Birthday stamps. Many customers have submitted ideas for occasion-specific stamps such as these and we are pleased to be able to fulfill this request from the public,” said Lisa Bobb-Semple, USPS stamp services director. Lisa Congdon designed the stamp using her own artwork. The project was art directed by Greg Breeding.

This stamp will be issued April 18 in Providence, RI. Additional information will appear below the line, with the most recent at the top.

Updated May 29^th:
The Scott catalogue number for this issue is 6069.

Updated May 20^th:
The Technical Details incorrectly provided a size for this issue’s press sheets. There were no press sheets for this issue. That information has now been deleted from the list below.

Updated April 15^th:
Technical Specifications:

Issue: Happy Birthday Stamp
Item Number: 582200
Denomination & Type of Issue: First-Class Mail Forever®
Format: Pane of 20 (1 design)
Series: N/A
Issue Date & City: April 18, 2026, Providence, RI 02904
Art Director: Greg Breeding, Charlottesville, VA
Designer: Lisa Congdon, Portland, OR
Artist:: Lisa Congdon, Portland, OR
Modeler: Sandra Lane / Michelle Finn
Manufacturing Process: Offset, Microprint
Printer: Banknote Corporation of America
Press Type: Alprinta 74
Stamps per Pane: 20
Print Quantity: 40,000,000 stamps
Paper Type: Phosphor, Block Tag
Adhesive Type: Pressure-sensitive
Colors: Custom Blue, 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): 5.7600 x 5.5500 in. / 146.3040 x 140.9700 mm.
Plate Size: 320 stamps per revolution
Plate Number: “B” followed by four (4) single digits
Marginal Markings:
Front: Plate number in four corners of pane
Back: © 2026 USPS • USPS logo • Two barcodes (582200) • Plate position diagram (8) • Promotional text

Updated April 12^th:
The philatelic products for this issue include wrapping paper, four designs, 24″x36″, for $18.95

Updated March 30^th:
Here are the first-day postmarks for this issue: The Digital Color Postmark measures 2.91″ x 1.43″The Pictorial Postmark measures 2.50″ x 1.18″

Updated March 26^th:
Although the first-day postmarks were shown in the Postal Bulletin a week ago, I’m told they are not yet finalized and so the larger, clearer versions are not yet available for us.

Updated March 19^th:
On April 18, 2026, in Providence, RI, the United States Postal Service® will issue the Happy Birthday stamp (Forever® priced at the First-Class Mail® rate), in one design, in a pressure-sensitive adhesive (PSA) pane of 20 stamps (Item 582200). This stamp will go on sale nationwide April 18, 2026, and must not be sold or canceled before the first-day-of-issue.

For the first time in five years, USPS® will issue a stamp designed especially for birthday invitations, cards, letters, and packages. The stamp features an illustration of an oversized white birthday cake with bright and colorful candles and capital letters spelling out HAPPY BIRTH DAY! on three lines. Lisa Congdon designed and illustrated the stamp. Greg Breeding was the art director.

No automatic distribution.

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

Technical specifications are not yet available.

Updated March 10^th:
[ceremony details] [click on any of the pictures for larger versions]
The Postal Service Says Happy Birthday!

What: The U.S. Postal Service is commemorating the annual celebration that everyone enjoys with a new Happy Birthday stamp. The stamp will be released at the first Perfect Pairing Pop-Up Party — an event that is being planned and hosted by the Greeting Card Association.

The first-day-of-issue event is free and open to the public.

When: Saturday, April 18, 2026, at 11 a.m. Eastern

Where: Track 15 [a restaurant]
1 Union Station
Providence, RI 02903

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

Background: The new Happy Birthday stamp will be the fifth stamp issued by the Postal Service specifically designed to light up birthday invitations, cards, letters and packages. As a Forever stamp, it will always be equal in value to the current First-Class Mail 1-ounce price.

News about the stamp is being shared with the hashtag #HappyBirthdayStamp.

US Adds Spring Dates, 2 Issues (US 2026)

Posted on February 17, 2026 by VSC

[press release] [click on any of the pictures for larger versions]
Happy Birthday Stamps Make A Come Back in 2026
First-day-of-issue dates, locations for spring and early summer releases also revealed
WASHINGTON — The U.S. Postal Service today announced two new stamps to be released later in 2026: Happy Birthday and a nonprofit-price stamp featuring a summer sunset. Additional stamp subjects will be announced in the coming weeks and months. These designs are preliminary and may change.

Happy Birthday
For the first time since 2021, the Postal Service will issue a stamp designed especially for birthday invitations, cards, letters and packages. “I am excited that we are issuing new Happy Birthday stamps. Many customers have submitted ideas for occasion-specific stamps such as these and we are pleased to be able to fulfill this request from the public,” said Lisa Bobb-Semple, USPS stamp services director. Lisa Congdon designed the stamp using her own artwork. The project was art directed by Greg Breeding.

Summer Sunset
Summer Sunset is a new nondenominated, nonprofit-price stamp intended for bulk mailings by authorized nonprofit organizations. The stamp features an oil painting of a sunset in Menemsha, a small fishing village in the town of Chilmark, MA, on Martha’s Vineyard by local artist Rachael Cassiani. “Sunsets are universally appealing,” said Derry Noyes, an art director for USPS who designed the stamp. “A postage stamp that celebrates looking out over a body of water at the end of a summer day seems to fit well for a nonprofit organization.” Summer Sunset will be sold in self-adhesive coils of 3,000 and 10,000.

The U.S. Postal Service also announced release dates and locations for many stamp issues in spring and early summer.

Recurring Memories (Netherlands 2026)

Posted on February 12, 2026 by VSC

[from PostNL press materials] [click on any of the pictures for larger versions]
New Dutch Design – Recurring Memories

Issue date: 16 February 2026
Format: Sheet of 6 special stamps in 2 different designs, with denomination 1 for mail up to 20 grams within the Netherlands
Item number: 460261
Design: Nicole Uniquole in collaboration with second-year Graphic Design students at ArtEZ, University of the Arts (Zwolle)

On 16 February 2026, PostNL will issue the stamps New Dutch Design – Recurring Memories, the first stamp sheet this year in the New Dutch Design series, which showcases work by the next generation of Dutch graphic designers. The design was created during the 2024–2025 academic year by second-year Graphic Design students at ArtEZ in Zwolle, in collaboration with Nicole Uniquole. The stamps bear denomination 1 for mail up to 20 grams within the Netherlands.

The New Dutch Design series is once again dedicated to the theme of ‘celebration’, expressed through colour and form. Each year, second-year students are free to interpret this theme in their own way. For the 2025 stamps, students explored the theme through various ‘rituals’. For 2026, the new group of students chose the call to ‘make it bold’. With 4 different stamp designs, they invite us to pause, let go, remember, and above all celebrate life.

The first issue is titled Recurring Memories. Later this year, the series will include Taste the Atmosphere (11 May), Glow of the Moment (10 August), and Echo of the Party (28 September). Each stamp bears denomination 1 for mail up to 20 grams within the Netherlands. The price for a sheet of 6 stamps is €8.40 (US$10.00).

Design
Recurring Memories is dominated by a large, full-bleed graphic illustration. The image combines a scanned and highly enlarged strip of photographic film with a pattern of concentric circles. This pattern appears in various places and intersects the film strip in different ways. The sheet contains 6 stamps in 2 designs, each featuring the transport perforation of the film strip in a central role. The perforation appears in different positions, colours, and details in the 2 designs. The scanned edge of the film strip on the right side of the stamps also varies. The 3 stamps on the left are mainly green and orange, while the 3 on the right feature green, blue, and yellow. These colours are repeated on the sheet border. On the left border, the circle pattern appears in purple and orange; on the right, the scanned film edge is shown in light and dark yellow. The colours and patterns of the stamps continue across the top border and the tabs below.

All 21 students at second-year Graphic Design students at ArtEZ contributed intensively to the concepts and designs. Curator Nicole Uniquole guided the students on behalf of PostNL, organising inspiration sessions and a visit to the National Archives, where the design process of nearly all Dutch stamps is documented.

Uniquole says what she values most is guiding the next generation of graphic designers on a real project: “Not just an exercise on paper, but a PostNL stamp that will soon be in the shops. I love immersing students in real-world design practice: with real deadlines, real choices, real impact,” she said. ” For students, this is both portfolio and practical experience: an official stamp on their CV that the Netherlands will use for postage. Education and practice merge here. You see the new generation grow as their concepts move towards production. Being able to offer that with PostNL is fantastic.”

One of the ideas that contributed to the design was childhood memories. “During brainstorming, we landed on the analogue film roll,” said student Eline van de Streek. “While photography is almost always digital today, it wasn’t in the past — even when our generation was growing up. Our parents mainly took analogue photos of us as children. So these are literally memories of our youth.”

The design focuses on the film roll itself, not the images recorded on it.

Student Aliesje de Blok sees a revival: “I often see people with analogue cameras, especially young people. I do it too—it’s great fun.” And Soof van de Weg explains why: “Analogue photos have a glow, a magic that modern cameras can’t capture.”

Technical Data:
Stamp size: 40 x 30 mm
Sheet size: 122 x 170 mm
Paper: standard with phosphor coating
Gumming: gummed
Printing technique: offset
Colours: cyan, magenta, yellow, and black
Print run: 75,000 sheets
Format: sheet of 6 stamps in 2 different designs
Denomination: 1 for mail up to 20 grams within the Netherlands
Design: Nicole Uniquole in collaboration with second-year Graphic Design students at ArtEZ, University of the Arts (Zwolle)
Printer: Koninklijke Joh. Enschedé B.V., Haarlem
Item number: 460261

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.

Hornby Model Trains (UK 2026)

Posted on February 12, 2026 by VSC

[press release] [click on any of the pictures for larger versions]
All Aboard: Royal Mail Reveals Stamps Honouring Iconic Hornby Model Railways

Issue date: 19 February (but not in any post offices until 27 February)
The main set of eight stamps features specially commissioned photography of Hornby models
A further four stamps, presented in a miniature sheet, showcase Hornby’s heritage with nostalgic designs featuring classic packaging, catalogue covers and promotional artwork
The stamps and a range of collectible products are available to pre-order now at www.royalmail.com/hornby and by telephone on 03457 641641

Royal Mail is issuing a set of 12 stamps to celebrate the world of Hornby Model Railways, a brand that has shaped British hobby culture for over a century.

Frank Hornby, the inventor of Meccano, produced his first clockwork Hornby Series trains in 1920. In 1929 the first models representing real British locomotives arrived.

Each stamp features an exclusive photograph of an iconic Hornby model, specially commissioned by Royal Mail.

Stamps in the set are:

No.1 locomotive, GNR (1920)
Princess Elizabeth, LMS (1937)
4MT tank locomotive, BR (1954)
AL1 electric locomotive, BR (1963)
InterCity 125 High Speed Train, BR (1977)
Merchant Navy class locomotive, BR (2000)
Bournemouth Belle Pullman cars, BR (2009)
Experimental ‘Hush-Hush’ locomotive, LNER (2021)

An additional four stamps presented in a vibrant miniature sheet celebrate the rich heritage of Hornby through four nostalgic designs, each featuring classic packaging, catalogue covers and promotional artwork from different eras.
The stamps are set against an illustration of a London, Midland and Scottish Railway (LMS) locomotive in full steam.

Royal Mail worked with renowned model railway historian and author, Pat Hammond, on the stamp issue.

David Gold, Director of External Affairs & Policy, Royal Mail, said: “Hornby trains entertained millions, preserved the romance of rail travel, and become a cultural icon of British design and imagination. Each of these stamps celebrates a piece of history, of Hornby’s craftsmanship and its role in British culture for generations.”

Martyn Weaver, Brand MD, Hornby, said: “To see Hornby Model Railways celebrated on Royal Mail stamps is a real honour. Hornby has been part of British life for more than a century, inspiring creativity, craftsmanship and a lifelong interest in railways and modelling. These stamps recognise the enduring appeal of model railways and the role the hobby continues to play in bringing people together across generations.”

Pat Hammond, Archivist to the Train Collectors Society, said: “The Hornby brand is over 100 years old and that is a major achievement. It is part of Britain’s heritage, and long may it be so.”

Hornby Railways:
Hornby’s story began in 1920, when Frank Hornby, the inventor of Meccano, introduced his first clockwork Hornby Series trains. These 0 gauge models, crafted from pressed steel, brass and tinplate, were twice the size of today’s 00 gauge scale. By the late 1920s, Hornby had launched electrically driven train sets and in 1929 introduced models based on real British locomotives. The iconic LMS Princess Elizabeth locomotive appeared in 1937, followed by the debut of the smaller 00 gauge system, Hornby Dublo, in 1938.

The introduction of plastic mouldings and a two-rail system marked a new era, and by the late 1970s Hornby was producing highly detailed models that appealed to both children and adult enthusiasts. Highlights included the British Railways High Speed Train (HST), released in 1977, which became one of the brand’s best-selling models.

Hornby continued to innovate into the 21st century, combining heritage with cutting-edge technology. From live steam locomotives and digital control systems to collaborations with beloved brands such as Thomas and Friends and Harry Potter, Hornby has remained a leader in model railways.

Today, the company boasts an extensive tooling stock and continues to create authentic, finely detailed models that celebrate Britain’s rich railway history.

The stamps, and a range of collectible products (including the medal cover, £24.99, shown on the left), are available to pre-order now at www.royalmail.com/hornby and by telephone on 03457 641 641. A Presentation Pack including all 12 stamps is priced at £21.30. The stamps go on general sale on 19 February from Royal Mail and from 27 February in selected Post Office branches.