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The magic of a First Day Cover (FDC) lies in a single, fleeting moment in time. When the U.S. Postal Service releases a new stamp, an FDC captures that exact day, pairing the fresh stamp with a cancellation postmark from the official First Day of Issue city. Part history lesson, part visual art, and part tangible memory, collecting first day covers offers a deeply personal way to connect with the past and present. 1. Own a Piece of History An FDC isn't just postage—it is an official histor …

The Christmas Cookies Forever stamps, issued on September 19, 2026, at the Smithsonian National Postal Museum in Washington, D.C., celebrate the cherished holiday tradition of festive baking. Co-designed by USPS Art Director Greg Breeding and designer Kyrie Johnson, the booklet of 20 stamps features photographs by Sarah Cramer Shields showcasing four uniquely frosted sugar cookies baked by Johnson: Christmas Tree Stocking Wrapped Present Santa’s Face Set against alternating rich red and …

The Winter Wreath Global Forever stamp, issued on September 18, 2026, in Humble, Texas, offers a festive option for sending international single-piece First-Class Mail letters up to one ounce. Designed by USPS Art Director Greg Breeding using a photograph by Natalia Kostikova, the round stamp features a handmade, snow-flecked wreath crafted from artificial branches, pinecones, tiny berries, and hand-painted ornaments. Departing from traditional holiday red-and-green palettes, the design highligh …

The U.S. Coast Guard Academy Forever stamp, issued on September 12, 2026 in New London, CT, commemorates the 150th anniversary of the institution's founding in 1876. Continuing the Postal Service's tradition of honoring military service academies, the design bridges the academy's maritime heritage with modern operational force. Designed by USPS Art Director Antonio Alcalá, the vertical stamp features blue-tinted photographs highlighting two iconic vessels: USCGC Eagle (Top): The three-ma …

- The John Wooden stamp, honoring the legendary UCLA basketball coach was issued on February 24, 2024 in Los Angeles, CA. - The stamp features a portrait of Coach Wooden with a background in UCLA blue, highlighting a player defending a shot, symbolizing Wooden's defensive coaching philosophy. - The numbers on the jerseys of the players in the background, 4 and 10, represent the four perfect seasons and ten national championships Wooden achieved during his tenure at UCLA. - Designe …

- The Radiant Star stamp was issued on February 19, 2024 in Star, IDL. - It features a patriotic design with red and white stripes radiating from a blue star, incorporating elements from the American flag. - The stamp was designed by Carol Beehler, with Antonio Alcalá providing art direction, giving the star a three-dimensional look using two shades of blue. - Scott #: 5832.

- The Saul Bellow stamp was issued on February 6, 2024 in Chicago, IL. - This stamp is the 34th in the series and features a portrait of the renowned American novelist with a Chicago street scene backdrop. - Designed by Ethel Kessler with art by Joe Ciardiello, the stamp showcases Bellow in pen, ink, and watercolor, capturing the essence of his connection to Chicago. - The stamp is a Three-Ounce rate stamp. - Scott #: 5831. …

- The Constance Baker Motley stamp was issued on January 31, 2024 in New York, NY. - The stamp features a portrait of Constance Baker Motley, a civil rights pioneer and the first African American woman to argue a case before the U.S. Supreme Court. - This stamp is part of the Black Heritage series, being the 47th stamp in the collection. - The artwork for the stamp was created by Charly Palmer and is rendered in acrylic on canvas. - The design includes stenciled circular s …

- The Year of the Dragon stamp was issued on January 25, 2024 in Seattle, WA. - The 2024 Lunar New Year stamp celebrates the Year of the Dragon, the fifth sign in the Chinese zodiac, symbolizing success, wisdom, and power. - The stamp features the colors gold for prosperity and red for luck. - Artist Camille Chew crafted the dragon mask featured on the stamp using hand-printed paper, which was then cut, scored, and folded into shape. - Art Director Antonio Alcalá oversaw the design of …

- Cosmic Cliffs stamp is a $30.45 Priority Mail Express stamp issued by the U.S. Postal Service on January 22, 2024, in Greenbelt, MD. - It features a high-definition image of the Cosmic Cliffs within the Carina Nebula, captured by NASA's James Webb Space Telescope. - Art director Greg Breeding designed the stamp, using an image provided by NASA, ESA, Canadian Space Agency, and the Space Telescope Science Institute. - Scott #: 5828. …