{"id":19845,"date":"2025-10-29T15:53:14","date_gmt":"2025-10-29T19:53:14","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/virtualstampclub.com\/lloydblog\/?p=19845"},"modified":"2026-07-08T15:36:11","modified_gmt":"2026-07-08T19:36:11","slug":"route-66-u-s-2026","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/virtualstampclub.com\/lloydblog\/?p=19845","title":{"rendered":"Route 66 (U.S. 2026)"},"content":{"rendered":"

From the USPS on October 29, 2025:<\/em><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>With these stamps, the Postal Service celebrates the 100th anniversary of Route 66, the legendary highway that originally stretched about 2,400 miles from Chicago to Los Angeles. Dubbed \u201cThe Mother Road\u201d by author John Steinbeck, Route 66 forever changed how Americans travel and became a symbol of freedom and adventure. The pane of 16 stamps includes photographs by David Schwartz from each of the eight states Route 66 passes through, with each one repeated twice. The selvage features a photo by Schwartz of the open road rolling through hills in Crookton, AZ, along the longest continuous drivable stretch of Route 66 in the state.<\/p>\n

More details will be posted below the line, with the most recent information at the top.<\/em><\/p>\n

\n

Updated July 8th<\/sup>:<\/strong><\/span>
\nHere are the Scott catalogue numbers for this issue:
\n6074-81 Route 66
\n6074 Munger Moss Motel
\n6075 Ford Model A
\n6076 Oil Capital Motel
\n6077 Grants Cafe Sign
\n6078 Conoco Tower Station
\n6079 Kan-O-Tex Gas Pump
\n6080 motel sign
\n6081 Beverly Hills City Hall<\/p>\n

Updated April 15th<\/sup>:<\/strong><\/span>
\nTechnical Specifications:<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Issue: Route 66 Stamps
\nItem Number: 488400
\nDenomination & Type of Issue: First-Class Mail Forever\u00ae
\nFormat: Pane of 16 (8 designs)
\nSeries: N\/A
\nIssue Date & City: May 5, 2026, Phoenix, AZ 85026
\nArt Director: Greg Breeding, Charlottesville, VA
\nDesigner: Greg Breeding, Charlottesville, VA
\nExisting Photos: David Schwartz, Lakewood, OH
\n\"\"<\/a>Modeler: Daryl DeMont
\nManufacturing Process: Offset
\nPrinter: Ashton Potter (USA) Ltd. (APU)
\nPress Type: Muller A76
\nStamps per Pane: 16
\nPrint Quantity: 26,000,000 stamps
\nPaper Type: Nonphosphored Type III, Block Tag Applied
\nAdhesive Type: Pressure-sensitive
\nColors: Cyan, Magenta, Yellow, Black
\nStamp Orientation: Square
\nImage Area (w x h): 1.0850 x 1.0850 in. \/ 27.5590 x 27.5590 mm.
\nOverall Size (w x h): 1.2250 x 1.2250 in. \/ 31.1150 x 31.1150 mm.
\nFull Pane Size (w x h): 8.0500 x 5.9300 in. \/ 204.4700 x 150.6220 mm.
\nPress Sheets Size (w x h): 24.6500 x 12.1100 in. \/ 626.1100 x 307.5940 mm.
\n\"\"<\/a>Plate Size: 192 stamps per revolution
\nPlate Number: \u201cP\u201d followed by four (4) single digits
\nMarginal Markings:
\nFront: ROUTE 66 Road Sign
\nBack: ROUTE 66 Road Sign \u2022 Descriptive Text \u2022 Map of United States identifying Route 66 and locations \u2022 \u00a9 2025 USPS \u2022 USPS logo \u2022 Two barcodes (488400) \u2022 Plate position diagram (6) \u2022 Promotional text<\/p>\n

Updated April 3rd<\/sup>:<\/strong><\/span>
\nHere are the first-day postmarks for this issue: \"\"<\/a>The Digital Color Postmark measures 2.65″ x 1.33″\"\"<\/a>The Pictorial Postmark measures 2.39″ x 1.24″<\/p>\n

Surprisingly, there is no “special” postmark for local post offices to use. Or not yet.<\/p>\n

From the<\/em> Postal Bulletin:<\/p>\n

On May 5, 2026, in Phoenix, AZ, the United States Postal Service\u00ae will issue the Route 66 stamps (Forever\u00ae priced at the First-Class Mail\u00ae rate), in eight designs, in a pressure-\"\"<\/a>sensitive adhesive (PSA) pane of 16 stamps (Item 488400). These stamps will go on sale nationwide May 5, 2026, and must not be sold or canceled before the first-day-of-issue. The Route 66 commemorative pane of 16 stamps must not be split and the stamps must not be sold individually.<\/p>\n

For a century, drivers have hit the open road chasing the American Dream along Route 66, the legendary highway that originally stretched about 2,400 miles from Chicago to Los Angeles. Established on November 11, 1926, Route 66 forever changed how Americans travel and became a symbol of freedom and adventure. Eight different photographs, featured twice on the stamp pane, show a site from each state that Route 66 runs through. The selvage features a photograph of Route 66 stretching into the distance in Arizona, capturing the sense of possibility the open road inspires. Art director Greg Breeding designed the stamps and stamp pane with existing photographs by David Schwartz.<\/p>\n

Automatic distribution.<\/p>\n

How to Order the First-Day-of-Issue<\/span> Postmark:<\/strong><\/span>
\nThe first-day-of-issue postmark is a postmark notating the day a stamp is first authorized for use by the Postal Service\u2122. 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 September 5, 2026.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>FDOI \u2013 Route 66 Stamps<\/strong><\/span>
\nUSPS Stamp Fulfillment Services<\/strong><\/span>
\n8300 NE Underground Drive, Suite 300<\/strong><\/span>
\nKansas City, MO 64144-9900<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Technical details are not yet available.<\/p>\n

Updated March 11th<\/sup>:<\/strong><\/span>
\n[ceremony details] [click on any of the pictures for larger versions]<\/em><\/span>
\nRoute 66 Stamps To Be Issued at National Postal Forum<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

What:<\/strong><\/span> The U.S. Postal Service will commemorate Route 66 on that historic highway\u2019s centennial with a set of eight stamps. The first-day-of-issue event will be held at the \"\"<\/a>National Postal Forum, also known as the NPF, at the Phoenix Convention Center. The NPF is the mailing and shipping industry\u2019s premier educational venue, trade show and networking event.<\/p>\n

The first-day-of-issue event is free and open to the public, and will be held in the convention center\u2019s lobby, so there is no need to purchase tickets to the NPF to attend the unveiling. News of the stamps is being shared with the hashtag #Route66Stamps.<\/p>\n

Who:<\/strong><\/span> Jeffery A. Adams, USPS corporate communications vice president
\nRod Reid, United States Route 66 Centennial Commission, chairman
\nDavid J. Schwartz, the stamps\u2019 photographer<\/p>\n

When:<\/strong><\/span> Tuesday, May 5, 2026, at 9:15 a.m. Mountain<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>Where:<\/strong><\/span>
\nNational Postal Forum
\nPhoenix Convention Center
\n100 N. 3rd Street
\nPhoenix, AZ 85004<\/p>\n

RSVP:<\/strong><\/span> Attendees are encouraged to register at: usps.com\/route66stamps<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Background:<\/strong><\/span> For a century, drivers have hit the open road chasing the American dream along Route 66, the legendary highway that originally stretched about 2,400 miles from \"\"<\/a>Chicago to Los Angeles. Dubbed \u201cThe Mother Road\u201d by author John Steinbeck, Route 66 forever changed how Americans travel and became a symbol of freedom and adventure. Route 66 was established on Nov. 11, 1926, connecting rural communities across eight states. During the Great Depression, people seeking better opportunities drove Route 66 west, and it became a symbol of postwar optimism. Along the route, mom-and-pop cafes, drive-in restaurants, souvenir shops, curiosities, motels and gas stations with neon signs highlighted the journey.<\/p>\n

The Federal-Aid Highway Act of 1956 provided funding for a new interstate highway system, and Route 66 was gradually replaced. Route 66 still unites the country with its call for adventure in pursuit of freedom and possibility on the open road.<\/p>\n

Eight different photographs, featured twice on the stamp pane, show a site from each state that Route 66 runs through. The selvage features a photograph of Route 66 stretching into the distance in Arizona, capturing the sense of possibility the open road inspires. Greg Breeding, an art director for USPS, designed the stamps and stamp pane using existing photographs by David J. Schwartz.<\/p>\n

Updated February 17th<\/sup>:<\/strong><\/span>
\nThese stamps will be issued May 5 in Phoenix.<\/p>\n

Updated November 25th<\/sup>:<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

As requested by VSC member J.G. Haught<\/strong><\/span>, and provided by USPS spokesman Jim McKean:<\/p>\n

In the first and third rows, the Route 66 shield is in the top left corner of each stamp, with “USA” running vertically below it in white. “FOREVER” is in the bottom right corner. From left to right:<\/p>\n