Elie Wiesel (U.S. 2025)

Announced by the USPS on June 26th:

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

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


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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

From the Postal Bulletin:

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

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

No automatic distribution.

How to Order the First-Day-of-Issue Postmark:
Customers have 120 days to obtain the first-day-of-issue postmark by mail. They may purchase new stamps at their local Post Office™ or at The Postal Store® website at usps.com/shop. They must affix the stamps to envelopes of their choice, address the envelopes (to themselves or others), and place them in a larger envelope addressed to:

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

After applying the first-day-of-issue postmark, the Postal Service will return the envelopes through the mail. There is no charge for the postmark up to a quantity of 50. There is a 5-cent charge for each additional postmark over 50. All orders must be postmarked by January 17, 2026.

Technical Specifications:

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

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

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

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

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

 

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

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

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

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

Ask USPS at Great American Stamp Show 2025

Have a question for the U.S. Postal Service’s Stamp Services division? The American First Day Cover Society is again sponsoring two seminars with Stamp Services at Great American Stamp Show 2025, August 14-17. One, on Thursday at 1 pm, is an overview of Stamp Services: What goes into deciding which stamps the USPS will issue and how. The other, on Friday at 2 pm, is with Stamp Fulfillment Services — sales, production, and cancellations, among other functions.

To make sure they have the answers ready, the USPS has asked me to ask you in advance: What do you want to know? What isn’t working for you? And (of course) what do you like about what Stamp Services does.

Similar to last year’s seminars, I will moderate and ask most of the questions during the seminars, hopefully with your input. So: Post your questions and comments here.

— Lloyd de Vries

International Flavor to May-June First Days magazine

The May-June issue of First Days, the official journal of the American First Day Cover Society, is now online here.

In this issue, we celebrate the 103rd anniversary of a milestone in first day cover collecting and the 185th anniversary of first day covers overall; “Canada’s Chemical Industry Issue FDCs” are chronicled by Howard Dewald; Cynthia Scott tells how to personalize philately through event covers; and Tris Fall makes a modest proposal about postcard exchanging. Alan Warren reviews a new book on private-sector Canadian FDCs of the 21st century and notes articles about FDCs in publications other than First Days.

The author of the long-running “Question Box” column also turns the tables and asks a question of readers. Continuing the international theme of this issue, ArtCraft columnist Michael Lake talks about FDCs for the 1958 Brussels exhibition and Michael Dodd about the recent UK Garden Wildlife issue and related issues. Editor Bard also reports on one of the rare philatelic exhibitions in the UK.

The May-June issue also includes a special section with details about the AFDCS at this summer’s Great American Stamp Show 2025 in Schaumburg, Illinois.

Please note: A new version of this issue has been uploaded that includes the Americover/GASS section

Scott Catalogue U.S. Update (June 2025)

5977 Battlefields of the American Revolution pane of 15
a. (73¢) Replica of Old North Bridge, Battle of Lexington and Concord
b. (73¢) American militia members on Old North Bridge, Battle of Lexington and Concord
c. (73¢) British troops withdrawing from Old North Bridge, Battle of Lexington and Concord
d. (73¢) British troops advancing on Breed’s Hill, Battle of Bunker Hill
e. (73¢) William Prescott ordering American troops to fire, Battle of Bunker Hill
f. (73¢) Bunker Hill Monument, Battle of Bunker Hill
g. (73¢) Old Barracks Museum, Battle of Trenton
h. (73¢) Gen. George Washington crossing the Delaware, Battle of Trenton
i. (73¢) Boatmen guiding boats across the Delaware, Battle of Trenton
j. (73¢) Lt. Gen. John Burgoyne holding sword at surrender ceremony, Battle of Saratoga
k. (73¢) Gen. Horatio Gates reaching for Burgoyne’s sword, Battle of Saratoga
l. (73¢) Replica of British howitzer, Battle of Saratoga
m. (73¢) Reconstructions of British redoubts, Battle of Yorktown
n. (73¢) Comte de Rochambeau pointing British Gen. Charles O’Hara towards Gen. Washington at surrender, Battle of Yorktown
o. (73¢) Washington and others at surrender, Battle of Yorktown
p. As #5977, imperforate
q. As #5977a, imperforate
r. As #5977b, imperforate
s. As #5977c, imperforate
t. As #5977d, imperforate
u. As #5977e, imperforate
v. As #5977f, imperforate
w. As #5977g, imperforate
x. As #5977h, imperforate
y. As #5977i, imperforate
z. As #5977j, imperforate
aa. As #5977k, imperforate
ab. As #5977l, imperforate
ac. As #5977m, imperforate
ad. As #5977n, imperforate
ae. As #5977o, imperforate

Powwows
5978 (73¢) Powwows – Crow Hop Dance
a. Imperforate
5979 (73¢) Powwows – Women’s Traditional Dance
a. Imperforate
5980 (73¢) Powwows – Women’s Fancy Shawl Dance
a. Imperforate
5981 (73¢) Powwows – Men’s Hoop Dance
a. Imperforate
b. Horiz. or vert. strip of 4, #5978-5981
c. Imperforate horiz. or vert. strip of 4, #5978a-5981a

Dahlias:
5982 (73¢) Pale Yellow Dahlia coil stamp, serpentine die cut 10 vert.
5983 (73¢) Lilac Dahlia coil stamp, serpentine die cut 10 vert.
5984 (73¢) Red and Yellow Dahlia coil stamp, serpentine die cut 10 vert.
5985 (73¢) Yellow and Pink Dahlia coil stamp, serpentine die cut 10 vert.
5986 (73¢) Dark Red Dahlia coil stamp, serpentine die cut 10 vert.
5987 (73¢) Lilac Dahlia coil stamp, diff., serpentine die cut 10 vert.
5988 (73¢) White Dahlia coil stamp, serpentine die cut 10 vert.
5989 (73¢) White and Lilac Dahlia coil stamp, serpentine die cut 10 vert.
5990 (73¢) Pink and White Dahlia coil stamp, serpentine die cut 10 vert.
5991 (73¢) Lilac and White Dahlia coil stamp, serpentine die cut 10 vert.
a. Horiz. strip of 10, #5982-5991

5992 (73¢) Pale Yellow Dahlia booklet stamp, serpentine die cut 11×10¾ on 2 or 3 sides
5993 (73¢) Lilac Dahlia booklet stamp, serpentine die cut 11×10¾ on 2 or 3 sides
5994 (73¢) Red and Yellow Dahlia booklet stamp, serpentine die cut 11×10¾ on 2 or 3 sides
5995 (73¢) Yellow and Pink Dahlia booklet stamp, serpentine die cut 11×10¾ on 2 or 3 sides
5996 (73¢) White and Lilac Dahlia booklet stamp, serpentine die cut 11×10¾ on 2 or 3 sides
5997 (73¢) Lilac Dahlia booklet stamp, diff., serpentine die cut 11×10¾ on 2 or 3 sides
5998 (73¢) White Dahlia booklet stamp, serpentine die cut 11×10¾ on 2 or 3 sides
5999 (73¢) Dark Red Dahlia booklet stamp, serpentine die cut 11×10¾ on 2 or 3 sides
6000 (73¢) Pink and White Dahlia booklet stamp, serpentine die cut 11×10¾ on 2 or 3 sides
6001 (73¢) Lilac and White Dahlia booklet stamp, serpentine die cut 11×10¾ on 2 or 3 sides
a. Block of 10, #5992-6001
b. Convertible booklet pane of 20, 2 each #5992-6001

6002 Goodnight Moon pane of 16, 2 each #6002a-6002h + label
a. (73¢) Young Rabbit in Bed
b. (73¢) Painting of the Three Bears
c. (73¢) Fireplace
d. (73¢) Painting of Cow Jumping Over the Moon
e. (73¢) Table, Lamp, Bowl, Comb and Brush
f. (73¢) Dollhouse, Bookshelf and Toys
g. (73¢) Rabbit in Rocking Chair
h. (73¢) Socks and Mittens on Drying Rack, Moon in Window
i. As #6002, imperforate
j. As #6002a, imperforate
k. As #6002b, imperforate
l. As #6002c, imperforate
m. As #6002d, imperforate
n. As #6002e, imperforate
o. As #6002f, imperforate
p. As #6002g, imperforate
q. As #6002h, imperforate