As previously announced, this issue will be revealed and announced at Boston 2026: Sunday, May 24, after an online poll to help choose the issue.
From the USPS on March 31:
To celebrate 250 years of postal delivery in 2025, the Postal Service introduced “Stamp Encore,” an invitation to the public to choose one stamp to be reprinted from among the 25 most popular stamps of the past three decades. Decided by more than 500,000 votes, the public’s selection will be revealed at a first-day-of-issue ceremony on Sunday, May 24, 2026, the second day of the Boston 2026 World Expo. Since the beginning of the year, an envelope carrying the mysterious Stamp Encore winner has traveled from one first-day ceremony to another. Lisa Bobb-Semple, USPS director of stamp services, says “Holding a first-day ceremony for this issuance at the Boston expo adds a fun new twist to an already special event.”
Also:
“The Stamp Encore issue is exclusive to the Boston 2026 World Exposition during the show but will be available at usps.com and Post Office locations nationwide starting June 1.” [emphasis added]
Added May 14th: Here’s a reminder of the possible choices:
List of stamps:
| Art of Disney: Magic (2007) Bugs Bunny (1997) DC Comics Super Heroes (2006) Flag Act of 1818 (2018) Have a Ball! (2017) Mail a Smile (2015) Peanuts (2001) Star Wars: Droids (2021) Wonder Woman (2016 |
Batman (2015) Charles M. Schulz (2022) Disney Villains (2017) Frozen Treats (2018) Heritage Breeds (2021) Message Monsters (2021) Send a Hello (2011) Total Eclipse of the Sun (2017) |
Bioluminescent Life (2018) Classics Forever (2016) Emancipation Proclamation (2013) Happy Birthday (2021) Let’s Celebrate (2020) Mister Rogers (2018) Star Trek (2016) Transcontinental Railroad (2019) |
Nothing has leaked? I’m surprised. (Or maybe more surprised the top contenders have not been announced).
Even some of the top people in the Stamp Services diivsion of the USPS don’t know. One estimate I’ve heard is that there are only five people who do know.
Does this have anything to do with the American Icons issue?
You can find the finalists here…
https://www.stampsforever.com/posts/freedom-neighbors-monsters-and-more-a-rundown-of-stamp-encore-contestants
Hmmmm. Only 10 of the 25 “contestants” is featured on that page and it doesn’t say anywhere that these are the finalists. I find it hard to believe, in a somewhat-honest poll, that Flag Act of 1818 would be a top choice. I like Flag stamps but this historical event is fairly obscure.
I totally agree about the Flag Act stamp! Since a flag stamp is issued annually, there is nothing interesting about this one.
Of the 10 “possible semi-finalists” illustrated, in my mind there is an obvious “should be” choice (especially given the 250th anniversary of the US, and the stamp show running in Boston). But then again, I’m an arch stamp-subject traditionalist. So I’m tempering my expectations.
The 2016 “Classics” issue? I’m hoping for the first Peanuts stamp (2001) but the cynic in me thinks it will be a se-tenant issue (that is, more than one stamp). If Flag Act of 1818 wins, I’m going to demand an investigation! Good looking stamp, important historical event, zero popularity.