Virtual Stamp Club

The U.S. Postal Service has announced more than 25 of the issues it plans for 2026. They include obvious choices like the Declaration of Independence, Colorado Statehood and Year of the Horse, but some surprises like Barbie, Muhammad Ali and Bruce Lee. We have pictures of every announced issue.

Here's the list:

U.S. 2026 Stamp Program

Last Updated May 1: Barbie stamps announced. Scott catalogue numbers for Lowriders, Sunflowers, Figures.

USPS Seeks Rate Hike In July. The basic letter rate would go to 82¢ on July 12^th.

USPS Gets "Temporary" Fuel Surcharge for its shipping services (Priority and Express Mail, Ground Advantage, Parcel Select), but not first-class mail. The increase will run from April 26 through January 17 — unless of course the surcharge becomes permanent, like much of last winter's holiday surcharge.

Boston 2026 Stamp Show News

Coins To Play Role: The American Numismatic Association will have a booth and hold a Boy Scout coin collecting merit badge workshop. Other collecting specialties at the show are postcards and ephemera.

There will be eight different official souvenir show covers for Boston 2026, designed by noted philatelic artist Chris Calle. Eight different daily postmarks, too.

Exploring Stamps will have a YouTube studio at one of the booths.

Attending the show? There's an app for that.

Boston 2026 has obtained a ruling from the U.S. government that stamps and covers may enter the country without paying fees, including an update after the Supreme Court ruling.

Take a "field trip" to a stamp museum during the show.

Queen Elizabeth II's classic Rolls Royce (right) will anchor a special British Commonwealth exhibit — and you can help.

Following a large grant for its youth programs, Boston 2026 outlines the opportunities for schools and scout groups.

Garfield the Cat on Dutch Stamps The comic strip has been popular with the Dutch for nearly 50 years. The new isue includes five postage stamps and a 24k gold stamp, too.

Britain Celebrates Queen Elizabeth II This would have been the monarch's centenary. She was born in the aftermath of the First World War, raised during the second, and reigned during the Jet Age, Space Age and Digital Age. Eight of the stamps commemorate her life, while four note her love of dogs and horses.

Hisey, Verge, Lyons Are Luff Winners Liz was honored for service the APS, Charles for contributions to philately and Larry for research. Glenn Silverman recognized for helping guarantee the future of philately, and other award-winners will receive their citations at Boston 2026. The list is here.

Canada's 2026 Stamp Program Canada Post isn't providing much detail. The Black History issue features hip-hop artists and there will be issues for Quebec's cabanes à sucre (sugar shacks), blood donations, wolves, jack o' lanterns, Chinese-Canadian undercover agents and the Royal Canadian Legion (left), plus new entries in the Truth & Reconciliation, flowers, Eid, Diwali, Hanukkah and Christmas series. See the initial announcement.

FDC Cachet Catalogues Republished Long out of print and hard to find, the Mellone first day cover cachet catalogues have been republished in digital form by the American First Day Cover Society. They cover issues from 1901 through the 1950s, and the 1960s catalogue is on the way. (Don't worry, you can also get "hard copies.") Details are here.

"Help! I just inherited this stamp collection!"
Just been given Aunt Matilda's old stamp collection and don't know what to do with it? We can help.

Want to Know What Other Collectors Think? The Virtual Stamp Club has its own comments section as well as a Facebook Group. Or visit the former home of The VSC (1996-2013), now called The Stamp Collecting Forum.

Quotable: "A drawing in which he scratches something to pieces with his nails didn’t make the cut; it didn’t work well on a standalone image."
— Dutch stamp designer Frank Janse, on choosing images for the Garfield stamps

Last Updated May 1