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 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.

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.

[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.

[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.

These are the two first-day postmarks offered:You can find information on last October’s Steam Locomotives issue here.

[press release] [click on any of the pictures for larger versions]
Royal Mail Marks the 50th Anniversary of Concorde’s First Commercial Flight

• The set comprises eight stamps featuring stunning photography of the British Airways aircraft throughout its history, including its first and last commercial flights
• A further four stamps, presented in a miniature sheet, includes three re-released stamp images and a never-before-seen design, previously shortlisted but not adopted
• The stamps and a range of collectible products are available now at www.royalmail.com/concorde and by telephone on 03457 641641

Royal Mail on 21 January issued a set of 12 stamps to mark the 50th anniversary of Concorde’s first commercial flight, in 1976.

The main set of eight stamps features stunning photography of the British Airways aircraft throughout its history, including its first and last commercial flights. One of the stamps uses photography of four Concordes flying in formation to celebrate 10 years of service.

A further four stamps, presented in a miniature sheet, include three previously issued stamp images and one never-before-seen design.

Commissioned for the 1969 ‘First Flight of Concorde’ issue, two are designed by influential British stamp designer David Gentleman, and one by Michael and Sylvia Goaman. Royal Mail are re-releasing the stamps, now showing the King Charles III silhouette, along with a fourth stamp design by David Gentleman that was previously shortlisted but not adopted in the 1969 set.

The miniature sheet border image is inspired by the design of the original presentation pack from 1969.
The idea of stamps to be issued following the first flight of Concorde was agreed in July 1967 by the British and French postal services, albeit not using a common design. The decision was revealed to the British public on 14 December that year.

Five leading designers were invited to submit concepts for a new series of British stamps celebrating Concorde and the collaboration between France and the United Kingdom. The stamps were intended to capture the innovation and international partnership behind the supersonic aircraft.

Postmaster General Edward Short shortlisted five designs from the submissions. His final choice – one by the Goamans, two by Gentleman – received the approval of Queen Elizabeth II in January 1968.

David Gold, Director of External Affairs & Policy, Royal Mail, said: “Concorde remains one of the most iconic achievements in aviation history, and we’re proud to celebrate its legacy with this special set of stamps. These designs pay tribute to the innovation, elegance, and engineering excellence that made Concorde a symbol of British ingenuity and ambition.”

Hamish McVey, Director of Marketing, British Airways, said: “Concorde represents a landmark chapter in our history at British Airways, embodying the pioneering spirit of British innovation and creativity that remains integral to our brand today. The Royal Mail’s celebration of 50 years since her maiden flight highlights the enduring admiration many people still hold for this remarkable aircraft.”

First commercial flight of Concorde – 21 January 1976:
On Wednesday, 21 January 1976, at precisely 11:40 GMT, the captains of two Concordes – British Airways in London and Air France in Paris – simultaneously pushed forward the throttles and unleashed, for the first time with commercial passengers, the full force of their reheated, Rolls-Royce Olympus engines.
Supersonic passenger services had begun.

Air France Concorde F-BVFA, the first of seven Concordes destined for Air France, flew to Dakar in West Africa to refuel and then on, across the Atlantic Ocean, to Rio de Janeiro. British Airways had taken delivery of G-BOAA, the first of its seven Concordes, just a week before and, on 21 January 1976, ‘Alpha Alpha’ spearheaded the British assault on the sound barrier.

Flying at subsonic speeds initially, over Paris, the Alps and Venice, ‘Alpha Alpha’ then broke through the sound barrier over the Adriatic Sea and accelerated to Mach 2, faster than a rifle bullet, while the champagne flowed. Crossing Lebanon and Syria in just six minutes and arriving in Bahrain just over three-and-a-half hours after leaving Heathrow, the passengers had experienced something special that day and were whisked away to a celebratory banquet hosted by the Amir of Bahrain.

Fifty years ago, history was made, with supersonic travel undoubtedly becoming one of the greatest milestones in aviation history.

The stamps, and a range of collectible products, are available from today (21 January) at www.royalmail.com/concorde and by telephone on 03457 641 641. A Presentation Pack including all 12 stamps is priced at £21.30.

Supersonic fact file:
1. CONCORDE GREW UP TO 20CM IN LENGTH DURING SUPERSONIC FLIGHT
Once through the sound barrier, the air in front of the aircraft was compressed and, like a hand-operated bicycle pump, would get hot, causing materials to expand. The temperature on the nose of the aeroplane would reach 127°C, despite the ambient air being –60°C. On slowing, Concorde cooled down again and shrank back to its original size. A special type of aluminium alloy was used, which could withstand the long-term stress.

2. THE ENGINE INTAKES WERE CONTROLLED BY THE FIRST DIGITAL COMPUTERS IN CIVIL AVIATION
Just ahead of each Olympus engine, the air intakes had hydraulically driven ramps fitted in the roof which, at speeds above Mach 1.3, would lower and create a supersonic shockwave in the mouth of the intake. This would slow down the air from about 1,350mph (Mach 2) to 350mph (Mach 0.5) in just 11ft (3.4m), boosting the thrust by up to 25 percent.

3. CONCORDE WAS THE ONLY CIVIL AIRCRAFT TO BE FITTED WITH AFTERBURNERS
Used on take-off and to blast through the sound barrier (Mach 1), afterburners gave a further boost in thrust of some 20 percent. They were not needed above speeds of Mach 1.7, as the engine intakes were efficient enough by then to help Concorde ‘supercruise’, meaning the aircraft could climb and accelerate in supersonic flight without needing its afterburners.

4. CONCORDE HAD A ‘DROOPED SNOOT’
As Concorde’s wings were not fitted with flaps and slats like a conventional aeroplane, it came in to land at a very high nose-up ‘attitude’ (angle). To enable the pilots to see the runway ahead of them, Concorde’s nose and integrated visor could be lowered by 12.5 degrees. Above 280mph, the nose was fully raised and the visor acted as a heat shield in supersonic flight.

5. RECORD FLIGHT TIME ACROSS THE ATLANTIC: 2 HOURS, 52 MINUTES AND 59 SECONDS
In a record that still stands today, Concorde completed the fastest journey between London and New York by any passenger airliner. On 7 February 1996, Concorde ‘Alpha Delta’ flew from New York to London in a second under 2 hours and 53 minutes.

[press release] [click on any of the pictures for larger versions]
2026 Priority Mail and Priority Mail Express Stamps Announced
First-day-of-issue dates and locations through March 2026 also revealed

WASHINGTON — The U.S. Postal Service today announced the Priority Mail and Priority Mail Express stamps it will release in 2026. There will be additional stamp subjects to be announced in the coming weeks and months. These designs are preliminary and may change.

Crab Nebula (Priority Mail)
This new Priority Mail stamp celebrates America’s continued exploration of deep space with a breathtaking image captured by NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope. One of the most frequently observed celestial bodies, the Crab Nebula is one of the brightest remnants of an exploded star in the night sky. Located 6,500 light-years away in the constellation Taurus, Webb captured this new Crab Nebula image in vivid infrared detail revealing previously unseen features that contribute to our broader understanding of stellar life cycles. Greg Breeding, an art director for USPS, designed the stamp using a photo courtesy of NASA. Upon favorable review by the Postal Regulatory Commission, the stamp will be denominated at the new Priority Mail Flat Rate Envelope rate and an issue date will be announced. (VSC page is here)

Galaxy Pair (Priority Mail Express)
This new Priority Mail Express stamp features another astounding image captured by NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope. The stamp features a composite image from the Webb and Hubble Space Telescopes titled Galaxy Pair. It reveals a view of two interacting galaxies, IC 2163 and NGC 2207, located approximately 80 million light-years from Earth, offering a glimpse into the dynamic processes that shape our universe. Greg Breeding, an art director for USPS, designed the stamp, using a photo courtesy of NASA. Upon favorable review by the Postal Regulatory Commission, the stamp will be denominated at the new Priority Mail Express Flat Rate Envelope rate and an issue date will be announced. (VSC page is here)

Announced by the USPS on December 12, 2025:

This new Priority Mail Express stamp features another astounding image captured by NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope. The stamp features a composite image from the Webb and Hubble Space Telescopes titled Galaxy Pair. It reveals a view of two interacting galaxies, IC 2163 and NGC 2207, located approximately 80 million light-years from Earth, offering a glimpse into the dynamic processes that shape our universe. Greg Breeding, an art director for USPS, designed the stamp, using a photo courtesy of NASA. Upon favorable review by the Postal Regulatory Commission, the stamp will be denominated at the new Priority Mail Express Flat Rate Envelope rate and an issue date will be announced.

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

Updated February 10^th:
Here are the first-day postmarks for this issue:The Digital Color Postmark measures 3.07″ x 1.39″

There is no Pictorial Postmark for this issue, just the FDOI “killer bars.”

Updated February 5^th:
This stamp will be issued February 24 without a ceremony.

On February 24, 2026, in Kansas City, MO, the United States Postal Service® will issue the $33.25 Galaxy Pair Priority Mail Express® stamp, in one design, in a pressure-sensitive adhesive (PSA) pane of four stamps (Item 129600). This stamp will go on sale nationwide February 24, 2026, and must not be sold or canceled before the first-day-of-issue.

This new Priority Mail Express® stamp celebrates America’s continued exploration of deep space with another breathtaking image captured by NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope. The stamp features a composite James Webb Space Telescope (Webb) and Hubble Space Telescope image titled Galaxy Pair. This image reveals a view of two interacting galaxies, IC 2163 and NGC 2207, located approximately 80 million light-years from Earth, offering a glimpse into the dynamic processes that shape our universe. Art director Greg Breeding designed the stamp, using a photo courtesy of NASA (National Aeronautics and Space Administration).

Item 129600, $33.25 Galaxy Pair Priority Mail Express Stamp

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) should be sent to the following address with the choice of Traditional or DigitalColor Postmark identified. All orders must be postmarked by June 24, 2026.

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

Technical details are not yet available.

Announced by the USPS on December 12, 2025:

This new Priority Mail stamp celebrates America’s continued exploration of deep space with a breathtaking image captured by NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope. One of the most frequently observed celestial bodies, the Crab Nebula is one of the brightest remnants of an exploded star in the night sky. Located 6,500 light-years away in the constellation Taurus, Webb captured this new Crab Nebula image in vivid infrared detail revealing previously unseen features that contribute to our broader understanding of stellar life cycles. Greg Breeding, an art director for USPS, designed the stamp using a photo courtesy of NASA. Upon favorable review by the Postal Regulatory Commission, the stamp will be denominated at the new Priority Mail Flat Rate Envelope rate and an issue date will be announced.

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

Updated February 10^th:
Here are the first-day postmarks for this issue:The Digital Color Postmark measures 3.12″ x 1.39″There is no Pictorial Postmark for this issue, just the FDOI “killer bars.”

Updated February 5^th:

This stamp will be issued February 24 without a ceremony.

On February 24, 2026, in Kansas City, MO, the United States Postal Service® will issue the $11.95 Crab Nebula Priority Mail® stamp, in one design, in a pressure-sensitive adhesive (PSA) pane of four stamps (Item 129700). This stamp will go on sale nationwide February 24, 2026, and must not be sold or canceled before the first-day-of-issue.

This new Priority Mail® stamp celebrates America’s continued exploration of deep space with another breathtaking image captured by NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope. One of the most frequently observed celestial bodies, the Crab Nebula is one of the brightest remnants of an exploded star in the night sky. Located 6,500 light-years away in the constellation Taurus, Webb captured this new Crab Nebula image in vivid infrared detail revealing previously unseen features that contribute to our broader understanding of stellar life cycles. Art director Greg Breeding designed the stamp using a photo courtesy of NASA (National Aeronautics Space Agency).

Item 129700, $11.95 Crab Nebula Priority Mail Pane of Four Stamps

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 June 24, 2026.

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

Technical details are not yet available.

by VSC editor Lloyd A. de Vries

Here’s what we know:

• The show is May 23-30.
• The winner of the “Encore” vote will be announced and issued, at the same time, during the show.
• There will be 6 or 7 first-days during the show, and all but one will be se-tenant issues.
• The illustration of the full pane for the American Bison stamp says “Boston 2026 World Stamp Show.”
• There are rumors that Route 66 will be issued at the show.
• We’ve heard that the USPS does not want to release a new issue on the last day of the show, because at the 2016 U.S. international in New York, the cancelers were struggling to finish up all the cancellation requests before the end of the show, and ended up taking some of the covers back to Kansas City to complete them.
• Nothing says “stamp show souvenir” like a 25-stamp issue (Figures of the American Revolution).
• When the USPS issues press releases listing a bunch of new issues, they are roughly in chronological order.

Therefore, I will predict these announced issues will be released during the show:

• • Encore
  • A Day at the Beach
  • Route 66
  • Figures of the American Revolution
  • Bald Eagles
  • American Bison
  • International Peace (even though that would be a second single-design issue)