Something for everyone

USPS previews next year’s stamps

Oct. 22, 2019 at 10:47 a.m. ET

Stamp collage — USPS has announced some of its planned 2020 stamps, including releases honoring Gwen Ifill, Arnold Palmer and Hip Hop.

The Postal Service has announced some of its planned 2020 stamp releases.

Here’s what’s coming:

Year of the Rat, the first of 12 stamps in the Postal Service’s third Lunar New Year series
Made of Hearts, a continuation of the Postal Service’s tradition of stamps that celebrate love
Gwen Ifill, the 43rd stamp in the Black Heritage series
Let’s Celebrate!, which can be used for greeting cards, invitations and gift-bearing envelopes and packages
Wild Orchids, 10 stamps — available in booklets of 20 and coils of 3,000 and 10,000 — that will celebrate the exotic beauty of orchids
Arnold Palmer, honoring the champion golfer
Maine Statehood, celebrating the Pine Tree State’s 200th anniversary
Contemporary Boutonniere, which can be used for party invitations, thank-you notes, announcements, birthday cards and more
Garden Corsage, a 2-ounce stamp for wedding, anniversary and other invitations
Earth Day, which will mark the annual commemoration’s 50th anniversary
American Gardens, 10 stamps, available in panes of 20, that feature different photographs of botanic, country estate and municipal gardens
Voices of the Harlem Renaissance, a pane of 20 stamps that will celebrate four literary figures from one of the nation’s great artistic and literary movements
Enjoy the Great Outdoors, five stamps that show scenes of outdoor activities
Hip Hop, four stamps, available in panes of 20, that will celebrate the music, dance and art movement and are digitally tinted to make the images appear to move
Fruits & Vegetables, a booklet of 20 stamps featuring 10 still-life paintings
Thank You, four stamps, available in booklets of 20, that can be used for notes, cards and letters of thanks
19th Amendment: Women Vote, commemorating the centennial of the ratification of the U.S. constitutional amendment that guarantees women the right to vote
Mayflower in Plymouth Harbor, which will mark the 400th anniversary of the Pilgrims’ arrival in the New World

“These miniature works of art offer something for everyone interested in American history and culture,” said Stamp Services Acting Executive Director William Gicker.

“From notable figures such as golf legend Arnold Palmer and esteemed journalist Gwen Ifill to the cultural phenomenon of hip hop to a celebration of the great outdoors, this program is wide-ranging and adds to the history of our great nation as recorded through the U.S. stamp program.”

USPS announced the stamps Oct. 22. The designs are preliminary and subject to change.

The Postal Service plans to announce additional stamps in 2020.

Stamp showing illustration of whimsical rat mask

Year of the Rat, the first stamp in a new Lunar New Year series, will call to mind the elaborately decorated masks used in the dragon dance performed during Lunar New Year parades. The Year of the Rat begins Jan. 25, 2020, and ends Feb. 11, 2021.Year of the Rat, the first stamp in a new Lunar New Year series, will call to mind the elaborately decorated masks used in the dragon dance performed during Lunar New Year parades. The Year of the Rat begins Jan. 25, 2020, and ends Feb. 11, 2021.

Stamp showing colorful heart illustration

Made of Hearts, a continuation of the Postal Service’s tradition of stamps that celebrate love, will feature horizontal lines of red and pink hearts on a white background.Made of Hearts, a continuation of the Postal Service’s tradition of stamps that celebrate love, will feature horizontal lines of red and pink hearts on a white background.

Stamp showing portrait of smiling Gwen Ifill

The 43rd stamp in the Black Heritage series will honor Gwen Ifill (1955-2016), one of the nation’s most esteemed journalists and a trailblazer in the profession.The 43rd stamp in the Black Heritage series will honor Gwen Ifill (1955-2016), one of the nation’s most esteemed journalists and a trailblazer in the profession.

Stamp showing colorful illustration

Let’s Celebrate! will feature an array of colorful circles in varying sizes arranged in a random pattern.Let’s Celebrate! will feature an array of colorful circles in varying sizes arranged in a random pattern.

2 sheets of stamps showing orchids

The Wild Orchids stamps — available in booklets of 20 and coils of 3,000 and 10,000 — will feature 10 images of species that grow in the United States.The Wild Orchids stamps — available in booklets of 20 and coils of 3,000 and 10,000 — will feature 10 images of species that grow in the United States.

Stamp showing Palmer swinging golf club

The Arnold Palmer stamp will honor the champion golfer (1929-2016) who helped transform a game once seen as a pastime for the elite into a sport enjoyed by the masses. The image shows Palmer at the 1964 U.S. Open.The Arnold Palmer stamp will honor the champion golfer (1929-2016) who helped transform a game once seen as a pastime for the elite into a sport enjoyed by the masses. The image shows Palmer at the 1964 U.S. Open.

Stamp showing painting of cliffs over sea

Maine Statehood will celebrate the 200th anniversary of the nation’s 23rd state by showcasing Edward Hopper’s 1914 “Sea at Ogunquit” painting.Maine Statehood will celebrate the 200th anniversary of the nation’s 23rd state by showcasing Edward Hopper’s 1914 “Sea at Ogunquit” painting.

Stamp showing boutonniere

Contemporary Boutonniere, similar in design to the planned Garden Corsage stamp, features a photograph of an arrangement of a burgundy mini-cymbidium orchid bloom, a succulent and a touch of green hydrangea, accented with loops of variegated lily grass.Contemporary Boutonniere, similar in design to the planned Garden Corsage stamp, features a photograph of an arrangement of a burgundy mini-cymbidium orchid bloom, a succulent and a touch of green hydrangea, accented with loops of variegated lily grass.

Stamp showing corsage

Garden Corsage, a 2-ounce stamp, features a photograph of a corsage containing a spray of peach roses and a pink ranunculus, accented with deep-pink heather and seeded eucalyptus.Garden Corsage, a 2-ounce stamp, features a photograph of a corsage containing a spray of peach roses and a pink ranunculus, accented with deep-pink heather and seeded eucalyptus.

Stamp showing colorful illustration of Earth

The Earth Day stamp, celebrating the annual commemoration’s 50th anniversary, will feature a playful painting of the planet with small green lines surrounding Earth and hand-lettered text.The Earth Day stamp, celebrating the annual commemoration’s 50th anniversary, will feature a playful painting of the planet with small green lines surrounding Earth and hand-lettered text.

Sheet of stamps showing garden photographs

American Gardens, a pane of 20 stamps, will feature 10 photographs of botanic, country estate and municipal gardens, taken between 1996 and 2014.American Gardens, a pane of 20 stamps, will feature 10 photographs of botanic, country estate and municipal gardens, taken between 1996 and 2014.

4 stamps showing illustrations of African-American literary figures

The Voices of the Harlem Renaissance release, a pane of 20 stamps, will showcase stylized pastel portraits of four literary figures: Alain Locke, Nella Larsen, Arturo Alfonso Schomburg and Anne Spencer.The Voices of the Harlem Renaissance release, a pane of 20 stamps, will showcase stylized pastel portraits of four literary figures: Alain Locke, Nella Larsen, Arturo Alfonso Schomburg and Anne Spencer.

Five stamps showing illustrations of outdoor scenes

Enjoy the Great Outdoors will feature hand-sketched and painted designs depicting five scenes of outdoor activities: building a sandcastle, hiking, cross-country skiing, canoeing and biking.Enjoy the Great Outdoors will feature hand-sketched and painted designs depicting five scenes of outdoor activities: building a sandcastle, hiking, cross-country skiing, canoeing and biking.

4 stamps showing hip-hop imagery

The four Hip Hop stamps, available in panes of 20, will feature four photographs depicting rapping, breakdancing, DJing and graffiti art. The images are digitally tinted to appear in motion.The four Hip Hop stamps, available in panes of 20, will feature four photographs depicting rapping, breakdancing, DJing and graffiti art. The images are digitally tinted to appear in motion.

Stamps showing realistic paintings of fruits and vegetables

Fruits & Vegetables will be a booklet of 20 stamps featuring 10 still-life paintings.Fruits & Vegetables will be a booklet of 20 stamps featuring 10 still-life paintings.

4 stamps bearing the words thank you

The Thank You booklet of 20 stamps will feature four designs that have the words “thank you” highlighted in gold foil.The Thank You booklet of 20 stamps will feature four designs that have the words “thank you” highlighted in gold foil.

Stamp showing illustration of women marching and carrying flags

19th Amendment: Women Vote will mark the centennial of the amendment’s ratification with a stylized illustration of suffragists marching together.19th Amendment: Women Vote will mark the centennial of the amendment’s ratification with a stylized illustration of suffragists marching together.

Stamp showing oil painting of ship in harbor

The Mayflower in Plymouth Harbor stamp will mark the 400th anniversary of the Pilgrims’ arrival in the New World with a watercolor, acrylic and gouache painting.The Mayflower in Plymouth Harbor stamp will mark the 400th anniversary of the Pilgrims’ arrival in the New World with a watercolor, acrylic and gouache painting.

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