{"id":18588,"date":"2024-11-17T14:43:42","date_gmt":"2024-11-17T19:43:42","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/virtualstampclub.com\/lloydblog\/?p=18588"},"modified":"2025-11-05T18:39:35","modified_gmt":"2025-11-05T23:39:35","slug":"annual-holiday-secular-christmas-issue-u-s-2025","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/virtualstampclub.com\/lloydblog\/?p=18588","title":{"rendered":"Holiday Cheer (U.S. 2025)"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><span style=\"color: #008000;\"><strong><a href=\"http:\/\/virtualstampclub.com\/lloydblog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/s_holidaycheer.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignright size-medium wp-image-19501\" src=\"http:\/\/virtualstampclub.com\/lloydblog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/s_holidaycheer-234x300.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"234\" height=\"300\" srcset=\"https:\/\/virtualstampclub.com\/lloydblog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/s_holidaycheer-234x300.png 234w, https:\/\/virtualstampclub.com\/lloydblog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/s_holidaycheer-117x150.png 117w, https:\/\/virtualstampclub.com\/lloydblog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/s_holidaycheer.png 750w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 234px) 100vw, 234px\" \/><\/a>Confirmed on June 26<sup>th<\/sup>:<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<p>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.<\/p>\n<p>These stamps will be issued September 13<sup>th<\/sup> in Washington, DC.<\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #ff0000;\"><em>Posted November 24, 2024:<\/em><\/span><br \/>\nNothing about this issue has been announced or confirmed, but <span style=\"color: #008000;\"><strong>The Virtual Stamp Club<\/strong><\/span> will go out on an evergreen limb and say that there <em>will<\/em> be such an issue and that it will likely be at least four stamps and have the word &#8220;holiday&#8221; in its name. While no references will be made in the promotional material to &#8220;Christmas,&#8221; the designs will have symbols associated with that holiday and the word &#8220;seasonal&#8221; will be used several times.<\/p>\n<p>However, stamps for the Madonna and Child, Hanukkah and Kwanzaa are unlikely, inasmuch as these seem to be on a two-year cycle and stamps for these subjects were issued in 2024.<\/p>\n<hr width=\"50%\" \/>\n<p><span style=\"color: #ed4f35;\"><strong>Updated November 5<sup>th<\/sup>:<\/strong><\/span><br \/>\nThe Scott catalogue numbers for this issue are:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>6033 Amaryllis Flowers<\/li>\n<li>6034 Holly Wreath<\/li>\n<li>6035 Evergreen Branch<\/li>\n<li>6036 Cardinals on Mistletoe<\/li>\n<li>6036a Block of 4<\/li>\n<li>6036b Booklet pane of 20<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"color: #ed4f35;\"><strong>Updated August 9<sup>th<\/sup>:<\/strong><\/span><br \/>\nHere are the first-day postmarks for this issue:<a href=\"http:\/\/virtualstampclub.com\/lloydblog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/cheer_dcp_vsc.png\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-19612\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter wp-image-19612 size-full\" src=\"http:\/\/virtualstampclub.com\/lloydblog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/cheer_dcp_vsc.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"907\" height=\"781\" srcset=\"https:\/\/virtualstampclub.com\/lloydblog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/cheer_dcp_vsc.png 907w, https:\/\/virtualstampclub.com\/lloydblog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/cheer_dcp_vsc-300x258.png 300w, https:\/\/virtualstampclub.com\/lloydblog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/cheer_dcp_vsc-150x129.png 150w, https:\/\/virtualstampclub.com\/lloydblog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/cheer_dcp_vsc-348x300.png 348w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 907px) 100vw, 907px\" \/><\/a>The Digital Color Postmark measures 2.59&#8243; x 1.47&#8243; <a href=\"http:\/\/virtualstampclub.com\/lloydblog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/cheer_bw_vsc.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-19611\" src=\"http:\/\/virtualstampclub.com\/lloydblog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/cheer_bw_vsc.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"1067\" height=\"324\" srcset=\"https:\/\/virtualstampclub.com\/lloydblog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/cheer_bw_vsc.png 1067w, https:\/\/virtualstampclub.com\/lloydblog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/cheer_bw_vsc-300x91.png 300w, https:\/\/virtualstampclub.com\/lloydblog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/cheer_bw_vsc-1024x311.png 1024w, https:\/\/virtualstampclub.com\/lloydblog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/cheer_bw_vsc-150x46.png 150w, https:\/\/virtualstampclub.com\/lloydblog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/cheer_bw_vsc-500x152.png 500w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1067px) 100vw, 1067px\" \/><\/a>There is no Pictorial Postmark, just the FDOI &#8220;killer bars.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #ed4f35;\"><em>From the Postal Bulletin:<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n<p>On September 13, 2025, in Washington, DC, the United States Postal Service\u00ae will issue <a href=\"http:\/\/virtualstampclub.com\/lloydblog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/s_holidaycheer.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignright size-medium wp-image-19501\" src=\"http:\/\/virtualstampclub.com\/lloydblog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/s_holidaycheer-234x300.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"234\" height=\"300\" srcset=\"https:\/\/virtualstampclub.com\/lloydblog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/s_holidaycheer-234x300.png 234w, https:\/\/virtualstampclub.com\/lloydblog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/s_holidaycheer-117x150.png 117w, https:\/\/virtualstampclub.com\/lloydblog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/s_holidaycheer.png 750w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 234px) 100vw, 234px\" \/><\/a>the Holiday Cheer stamps (Forever\u00ae priced at the First-Class Mail\u00ae rate), in four designs, in a pressure-sensitive adhesive (PSA) double-sided booklet of 20 stamps (Item 685600). These stamps will go on sale nationwide September 13, 2025, and must not be sold or canceled before the first-day-of-issue.<\/p>\n<p>Four new designs in this booklet of 20 usher in the holiday season. Each stamp features a collage of either a holly wreath, three amaryllis flowers, cardinals perched on mistletoe, or an evergreen branch decorated with fruit. Art director Derry Noyes designed the stamps with artwork by Denise Fiedler.<\/p>\n<p>Automatic distribution.<\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #ed4f35;\"><strong>How to Order the First-Day-of-Issue Postmark:<\/strong><\/span><br \/>\nCustomers have 120 days to obtain the first-day-of-issue postmark by mail. They may purchase new stamps at their local Post Office\u2122 or at The Postal Store\u00ae website at usps.com\/shop. They must affix the stamps to envelopes of their choice, address the <a href=\"http:\/\/virtualstampclub.com\/lloydblog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/s_holidaycheer.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignright size-thumbnail wp-image-19501\" src=\"http:\/\/virtualstampclub.com\/lloydblog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/s_holidaycheer-117x150.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"117\" height=\"150\" srcset=\"https:\/\/virtualstampclub.com\/lloydblog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/s_holidaycheer-117x150.png 117w, https:\/\/virtualstampclub.com\/lloydblog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/s_holidaycheer-234x300.png 234w, https:\/\/virtualstampclub.com\/lloydblog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/s_holidaycheer.png 750w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 117px) 100vw, 117px\" \/><\/a>envelopes (to themselves or others), and place them in a larger envelope addressed to:<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 40px;\"><span style=\"color: #ed4f35;\"><strong>FDOI \u2013 Holiday Cheer Stamps<br \/>\nUSPS Stamp Fulfillment Services<br \/>\n8300 NE Underground Drive, Suite 300<br \/>\nKansas City, MO 64144-9900<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<p>After applying the first-day-of-issue postmark, the Postal Service\u2122 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 13, 2026.<\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #ed4f35;\"><strong>Technical Specifications:<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 40px;\">Issue: Holiday Cheer Stamps<br \/>\nItem Number: 685600<br \/>\n<a href=\"http:\/\/virtualstampclub.com\/lloydblog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/s_holidaycheer.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignright size-thumbnail wp-image-19501\" src=\"http:\/\/virtualstampclub.com\/lloydblog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/s_holidaycheer-117x150.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"117\" height=\"150\" srcset=\"https:\/\/virtualstampclub.com\/lloydblog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/s_holidaycheer-117x150.png 117w, https:\/\/virtualstampclub.com\/lloydblog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/s_holidaycheer-234x300.png 234w, https:\/\/virtualstampclub.com\/lloydblog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/s_holidaycheer.png 750w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 117px) 100vw, 117px\" \/><\/a>Denomination &amp; Type of Issue: First-Class Mail Forever<br \/>\nFormat: Double-Sided Booklet of 20 (4 designs)<br \/>\nSeries: N\/A<br \/>\nIssue Date &amp; City: September 13, 2025, Washington, DC 20066<br \/>\nArt Director: Derry Noyes, Washington, DC<br \/>\nDesigner: Derry Noyes, Washington, DC<br \/>\nArtist: Denise Fiedler, San Francisco, CA<br \/>\nModeler: Joseph Sheeran<br \/>\nManufacturing Process: Offset<br \/>\nPrinter: Ashton Potter (USA) Ltd. (APU)<br \/>\nPress Type: Muller A76<br \/>\n<a href=\"http:\/\/virtualstampclub.com\/lloydblog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/s_holidaycheer.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignright size-thumbnail wp-image-19501\" src=\"http:\/\/virtualstampclub.com\/lloydblog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/s_holidaycheer-117x150.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"117\" height=\"150\" srcset=\"https:\/\/virtualstampclub.com\/lloydblog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/s_holidaycheer-117x150.png 117w, https:\/\/virtualstampclub.com\/lloydblog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/s_holidaycheer-234x300.png 234w, https:\/\/virtualstampclub.com\/lloydblog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/s_holidaycheer.png 750w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 117px) 100vw, 117px\" \/><\/a>Stamps per Booklet: 20<br \/>\nPrint Quantity: 500,000,000<br \/>\nPaper Type: Nonphosphored Type III, Block Tag<br \/>\nColors: Cyan, Magenta, Yellow, Black<br \/>\nAdhesive Type: Pressure-sensitive<br \/>\nStamp Orientation: Vertical<br \/>\nImage Area (w x h): 0.7700 x 1.0500 in. \/ 19.5580 x 26.6700 mm.<br \/>\nStamp Size (w x h): 0.9100 x 1.1900 in. \/ 23.1140 x 30.2260 mm.<br \/>\nBooklet Size (w x h): 5.7600 x 2.3800 in. \/ 146.3040 x 60.425 mm.<br \/>\nPlate Size: 880 stamps per revolution<br \/>\nPlate Number: \u201cP\u201d followed by four (4) single digits<br \/>\nMarginal Markings: Header: Holiday Cheer \u2022 Twenty First-Class\u2122 Forever\u00ae Stamps \u2022 \u00a9 2025 USPS in peel strip area \u2022 Barcode \u2022 USPS logo \u2022 Promotional text \u2022 Plate number in peel strip area<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Confirmed on June 26th: 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 &hellip; <a href=\"https:\/\/virtualstampclub.com\/lloydblog\/?p=18588\">Continue reading <span class=\"meta-nav\">&rarr;<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[113],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-18588","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-us-2025"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/virtualstampclub.com\/lloydblog\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/18588","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/virtualstampclub.com\/lloydblog\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/virtualstampclub.com\/lloydblog\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/virtualstampclub.com\/lloydblog\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/virtualstampclub.com\/lloydblog\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=18588"}],"version-history":[{"count":8,"href":"https:\/\/virtualstampclub.com\/lloydblog\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/18588\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":19876,"href":"https:\/\/virtualstampclub.com\/lloydblog\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/18588\/revisions\/19876"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/virtualstampclub.com\/lloydblog\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=18588"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/virtualstampclub.com\/lloydblog\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=18588"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/virtualstampclub.com\/lloydblog\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=18588"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}