Virtual Stamp Club

The Postal Service confirms: It will issue a stamp commemorating Henry "Hank" Aaron's 715^th home run. Other stamps in the 2024 program so far emphasize flowers, beauty, preservation and Black History, but some of the issues are just for fun.

U.S. 2024 Stamp Program

Last Updated April 16: Additional USPS philatelic product numbers through June, plus some items added for earlier issues.

Latest USPS rates: Letters are now 68¢. Other rates are here.

USPS seeking July 14^th rate hike

Jackson Joins CSAC The marketing executive and DAR member is the newest member of the panel that advises the USPS on new issues.

Canada's 2024 Stamp Program Canada is warning about two endangered species of frogs. Canada Post hasn't announced all the other details, but promises this year's stamp program is one "that shines a light on truth and reconciliation, the natural world, accomplished Canadians, a rare" natural phenomenon, and more.

Last Updated April 17, with preliminary information on the Community Foundation semi-postal and confirmed info on the earlier-than-expected Frogs issue.

Canada Post seeks May rate increase: Letters would go to 99¢

Don't Dawdle! "GASS Up" Now Yes, the show is in August, but:

Dealer and society booths are almost all gone

The best slots for meetings are going fast, too.

Some categories of exhibits are already full.

Sundman Donates $25K to Boston 2026 The Mystic Stamp Company president has long been a top recruiter for the American Philatelic Society. This is a personal donation to the next "International" (with a capital I) show in the U.S.

But Mystic then made a $25,000 donation of its own

Answers to Basic Exhibiting Q's Columnist John Hotchner has done it all: Won gold medals, awarded gold medals, and chaired the judging committees at national exhibitions. He answers basic questions about exhibiting — how it works and how you can find out more.

100 Years of British Commemoratives The ten stamps show 30 stamps, from 1924 to 2023, and mostly showed royalty for the first 40 years or so. Take a walk down memory lane.

Nature's Geometric Designs Nature has many recurring patterns — spirals, symmetry, fractals, Fibonacci sequences and more. A new Dutch minisheet looks at The Design Language Of Nature.

Netherlands 2024 stamp program

Horsing Around Is A Dutch Treat More than half a million people in the Netherlands regularly ride horses, making the animal a worthy entry in the Typically Dutch series. Earlier entries were cows and dogs. We'll even explain why these two horses appear so taken with each other even though they're blue.

And the U.S. has a horses issue coming up, too.

"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: "British commemorative stamps ... celebrate the best of the UK, our people and our national character."
— David Gold, Director of External Affairs and Policy, Royal Mail

Last Updated April 17