Hello, 2021

USPS announces upcoming stamps

Nov. 17, 2020 at 10:05 a.m. ET

The Postal Service has announced plans for 19 stamp releases next year.

The Postal Service has announced some of next year’s planned stamp releases.

Here’s what’s coming:

Year of the Ox, the second release in the new Lunar New Year series
Love, which will feature three large hearts shown in an unconventional palette of color duos
Chien-Shiung Wu, honoring one of the most influential nuclear physicists of the 20th century
Garden Beauty, a booklet of 20 stamps that will feature 10 designs celebrating America’s love of flowers and gardens
Mystery Message, a stamp that features bright colors and interesting shapes in a design that spells out a mystery message
Colorado Hairstreak, the eighth nonmachinable butterfly stamp for use on irregularly sized envelopes
Barns, four postcard stamps that celebrate the beauty and history of American barns
Backyard Games, a pane of 16 stamps featuring eight designs of games that people play outdoors for fun, such as croquet and horseshoes
Day of the Dead, the first American stamps honoring the Mexican holiday, which is increasingly popular in the United States
Brush Rabbit, which will be available in panes of 20 or coils of 100
Heritage Breeds, showcasing preindustrial farm animals that are enjoying renewed attention, such as the Narragansett turkey and the American Cream draft horse
Raven Story, a stamp that depicts a figure of great significance to the Indigenous peoples of the Northwest Coast
Go for Broke: Japanese American Soldiers of WWII, a stamp honoring the contributions of 33,000 soldiers who served in the U.S. Army during World War II
Western Wear, a booklet of 20 stamps featuring four graphic illustrations of staples like cowboy hats and belt buckles
Mid-Atlantic Lighthouses, five stamps that will continue a long-running series celebrating American lighthouses
Missouri Statehood, honoring the 24th state, which entered the Union on Aug. 10, 1821
Message Monsters, a pane of 20 stamps that offer dozens of self-adhesive accessories that customers can use to personalize cards, letters and envelopes
Espresso Drinks, four designs in a pane of 20
Happy Birthday, conveying exuberant greetings by calling to mind the childhood excitement of a birthday party

“A handwritten letter shows the recipient how much you care. The stamp you choose to adorn your envelope adds an extra important touch,” said William Gicker, the USPS Stamp Services director. “The new 2021 stamps are designed to look beautiful on your envelopes, to be educational and to appeal to collectors and pen pals around the world. As always, the program offers a variety of subjects celebrating American culture and history, and this year, we made a special effort to include a little fun.”

USPS announced the stamps Nov. 12. The designs are preliminary and subject to change.

The Postal Service plans to announce additional 2021 stamps later.

Share your feedback at uspslink@usps.gov. Your comments could be included in the “Mailbag” column.

Year of the Ox, the latest Lunar New Year stamp, will call to mind the elaborately decorated masks used in the dragon or lion dances often performed during Lunar New Year parades.Year of the Ox, the latest Lunar New Year stamp, will call to mind the elaborately decorated masks used in the dragon or lion dances often performed during Lunar New Year parades.

The Love stamp series will continue with a lighthearted and colorful digital illustration with the word “LOVE” and three large hearts shown in an unconventional palette of color duos, set against a dark blue background.The Love stamp series will continue with a lighthearted and colorful digital illustration with the word “LOVE” and three large hearts shown in an unconventional palette of color duos, set against a dark blue background.

The Chien-Shiung Wu stamp will honor the influential nuclear physicist (1912-1997), who established herself as the authority on conducting precise and accurate research to test fundamental theories of physics.The Chien-Shiung Wu stamp will honor the influential nuclear physicist (1912-1997), who established herself as the authority on conducting precise and accurate research to test fundamental theories of physics.

Garden Beauty, a booklet of 20 stamps, will celebrate America’s love of flowers and gardens with 10 designs, including a pink flowering dogwood, a rose-pink and white tulip, and a yellow moth orchid with a pink center.Garden Beauty, a booklet of 20 stamps, will celebrate America’s love of flowers and gardens with 10 designs, including a pink flowering dogwood, a rose-pink and white tulip, and a yellow moth orchid with a pink center.

The Mystery Message stamp pane offers a visual riddle. Each colorful stamp contains a letter in an interesting pattern that were carefully placed on the pane to spell out a message. Can you read it?The Mystery Message stamp pane offers a visual riddle. Each colorful stamp contains a letter in an interesting pattern that were carefully placed on the pane to spell out a message. Can you read it?

The Colorado hairstreak graces the eighth nonmachinable butterfly stamp for use on irregularly sized envelopes, such as square greeting cards, invitations or announcements.The Colorado hairstreak graces the eighth nonmachinable butterfly stamp for use on irregularly sized envelopes, such as square greeting cards, invitations or announcements.

The four Barns postcard stamps celebrate the beauty and history of American barns. With differing qualities of light and color, each piece reflects one of the four seasons.The four Barns postcard stamps celebrate the beauty and history of American barns. With differing qualities of light and color, each piece reflects one of the four seasons.

Backyard Games, a pane of 16 stamps, features eight designs, including badminton, bocce, cornhole and horseshoes.Backyard Games, a pane of 16 stamps, features eight designs, including badminton, bocce, cornhole and horseshoes.

Day of the Dead, a popular holiday in Mexico that has caught on in the United States, will be featured on four stamps.Day of the Dead, a popular holiday in Mexico that has caught on in the United States, will be featured on four stamps.

Brush Rabbit, an additional-ounce stamp available in panes of 20 or coils of 100, will feature an illustration of a small, brownish cottontail rabbit found on the West Coast and in Baja California, Mexico.Brush Rabbit, an additional-ounce stamp available in panes of 20 or coils of 100, will feature an illustration of a small, brownish cottontail rabbit found on the West Coast and in Baja California, Mexico.

The Heritage Breeds stamps will pay tribute to preindustrial farm animals that are enjoying renewed attention for their unique genetic traits, including the American Mammoth Jackstock donkey, the Narragansett turkey and the San Clemente Island goat.The Heritage Breeds stamps will pay tribute to preindustrial farm animals that are enjoying renewed attention for their unique genetic traits, including the American Mammoth Jackstock donkey, the Narragansett turkey and the San Clemente Island goat.

Merging traditional artwork with modern design touches, the Raven Story stamp will depict one of many stories about a figure of great significance to the Indigenous peoples of the Northwest Coast.Merging traditional artwork with modern design touches, the Raven Story stamp will depict one of many stories about a figure of great significance to the Indigenous peoples of the Northwest Coast.

Go for Broke: Japanese American Soldiers of WWII will recognize the contributions of 33,000 soldiers who served in the U.S. Army during World War II. “Go for Broke” was the motto of an all-Japanese American infantry battalion and came to represent all Japanese American units formed during the war.Go for Broke: Japanese American Soldiers of WWII will recognize the contributions of 33,000 soldiers who served in the U.S. Army during World War II. “Go for Broke” was the motto of an all-Japanese American infantry battalion and came to represent all Japanese American units formed during the war.

Western Wear will feature four graphic illustrations: a cowboy hat, a cowboy boot with a spur, a Western shirt, and a belt buckle featuring a longhorn head.Western Wear will feature four graphic illustrations: a cowboy hat, a cowboy boot with a spur, a Western shirt, and a belt buckle featuring a longhorn head.

Mid-Atlantic Lighthouses will continue the long-running stamp series celebrating American lighthouses. The new stamps will feature lighthouses in Thomas Point Shoal, MD; Montauk Point, NY; Harbor of Refuge, DE; Navesink, NJ; and Erie Harbor Pierhead, PA.Mid-Atlantic Lighthouses will continue the long-running stamp series celebrating American lighthouses. The new stamps will feature lighthouses in Thomas Point Shoal, MD; Montauk Point, NY; Harbor of Refuge, DE; Navesink, NJ; and Erie Harbor Pierhead, PA.

The Missouri Statehood stamp will celebrate the bicentennial of the 24th state, which entered the Union on Aug. 10, 1821. The stamp shows the Bollinger Mill State Historic Site.The Missouri Statehood stamp will celebrate the bicentennial of the 24th state, which entered the Union on Aug. 10, 1821. The stamp shows the Bollinger Mill State Historic Site.

Message Monsters, a pane of 20 stamps, will feature four designs and self-adhesive accessories that customers can use to personalize their cards, letters and envelopes for delighted recipients. The decorations will include hearts, hats, voice balloons, flowers and thought bubbles.Message Monsters, a pane of 20 stamps, will feature four designs and self-adhesive accessories that customers can use to personalize their cards, letters and envelopes for delighted recipients. The decorations will include hearts, hats, voice balloons, flowers and thought bubbles.

America’s love of coffee will be celebrated with Espresso Drinks, a booklet of 20 stamps that feature digital illustrations of a caffe latte, an espresso, a caffe mocha and a cappuccino.America’s love of coffee will be celebrated with Espresso Drinks, a booklet of 20 stamps that feature digital illustrations of a caffe latte, an espresso, a caffe mocha and a cappuccino.

The Happy Birthday stamp will feature five letters inspired by a different party decoration in the midst of a flurry of multicolored ribbons and confetti.The Happy Birthday stamp will feature five letters inspired by a different party decoration in the midst of a flurry of multicolored ribbons and confetti.

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