The 2023 U.S. stamp program has put me in a good mood today. Not only will we have fluffy bunnies, flowers, woodland animals and a big yellow school bus, we will be honoured with stamps celebrating 2 women who were giants in their fields – Toni Morrison, one of the great American authors who was seminal in forming my appreciation of African American authors and Ruth Bader Ginsburg, US Supreme Court Justice. 

As expected, fan favourites return with the 50th anniversary of the LOVE stamps, Black Heritage, Lunar New Year and various looks at iconic American landscapes. Both Ethel Kessler, Antonio Alcalá and Greg Breeding return for the bulk of design duties with the 2023 program, and I think this may be their strongest year yet. But then, any program that honours Toni Morrison is a winning one. 

Let’s take a quick look at the coming year. 

January

Red Fox
Topics: Wildlife | animals  

1 stamp, FDC, cancel, sheets of 20
offset, microprint
FDC includes the 2021 Bush Rabbit stamp

Red Fox (Vulpes vulpes fulva) Red Fox | National Wildlife Federation (nwf.org)

Wildlife illustrator Dugald Stermer’s (1936-2011) pencil and water colour of a little red fox just might be the best wildlife stamp the US has issue to date. The US is traditionally strong in animal stamps, but Stermer’s artwork is simply stunning. This is one to collect. 

Dugald Stermer dies at 74; artist updated 1984 Olympic medals – Los Angeles Times (latimes.com)

Artist: Dugald Stermer
Designer: Ethel Kessler

Release date: January 5, 2023

School Bus
Topics: vehicles 

1 stamp, sheets of 20, FDC, cancel
offset, microprint 
FDC includes the 2022 US Flag stamp

The wheels on the bus go round and round
Round and round
Round and round

The yellow school bus is a classic symbol of schools in North America. Millions of children have been shuttled to and from school and class trips on yellow school busses, since 1939.  The colour is called National School Bus Glossy Yellow and is instantly identifiable in both Canada and the US.  The stamp is the collaborative work of artist Steve Wolf, art director Greg Breeding and stamp designer Mike Ryan.

And if you’re curious, the official school bus colour is hex #F5A400.  

Designer: Mike Ryan

Release date: January 5, 2023

Love
50th anniversary
Topics: animals | special events

2 stamps,  sheets of 20, 2 FDCs, 2 cancels (black and digital colour)

This pair marks the 50th issue of the immensely popular LOVE series. The original artwork, oils on wood panel, is supplied by Chris Buzelli. The first LOVE stamp was released January 26, 1973, with the now instantly recognisable art by Robert Indiana.

Release ceremony will take place January 19 at

Austin Pets Alive!
1156 West Cesar Chavez St.
Austin, TX 78703

 #LoveStamps

Artist:  Chris Buzelli
Rhode Island School of Design graduate Chris Buzelli now lives and works in NYC. This is his first stamp for USPS
Designer: Ethel Kessler

Release date: January 19, 2023

Lunar New Year – Year of the Rabbit 
4th in series
Topics: Lunar New Year | Rabbits

1 stamp, FDC, 2 cancels, red envelope, pinback, commemorative panel, framed stamp/artwork, sheets of 20, press cut sheets (not shown)
offset, foil stamping, flexigraphic, microprint

The annual Lunar New Year returns with another paper-cut folk art by Camille Chew. She designed the previous 3 stamps in this 12-stamp series. 2023 is the Year of the Water Rabbit and officially starts Sunday, January 22nd, 2023. 

Artist: Camille Chew
This is the 4th stamp created by Chew for the Lunar New Year cycle

Designer: Antonio Alcalá

Release date: January 22, 2023

Florida Everglades (Priority Mail)
Topics: landscape | tourism

1 stamp, mini sheets of 4, FDC, 2 cancels (black and digital colour)

This stamp will be released in Homestead, FL. 

Designer: Greg Breeding
Artist: Dan Cosgrove
Previous stamps by Cosgrove include 2022 Monument Valley, 2020 Big Bend, Grand Island Ice Caves and 2019 USS Missouri . His style may look familiar to some. He has also designed a series of graphic posters for Cunard Lines 

Release date: January 22, 2023

Sailboats
Postcard stamps
Topics: boats

2 stamps, FDC, cancel, sheets of 20
offset

Two post card stamps featuring Libby VanderPloeg’s digital artwork will sail into view. Oh come on, you know I had to use that corny line!

Artist: Libby VanderPloeg
This is VanderPloeg’s first stamp for USPS. 

Designer: Antonio Alcalá

Release date: January 22, 2023

Great Smoky Mountains
Series: American Landmarks
Topics: landscape | tourism

1 stamp, mini sheets of 4, 1 FDC, cancels (black and digital colour)

Dan Cosgrove returns with another American Landmarks Expedited Service issue. Previous stamps by Cosgrove include the 2021 Monument Valley, 2009 Redwood Forest and Geyser “Old Faithful” – American Bison.  The Great Smokies is one of the United States most visited National Park. 

Artist: Dan Cosgrove
Designer: Greg Breeding

Designer: January 22, 2023

Ernest J. Gaines (1933-2019)
Series: Black Heritage
Topics: history | people | literature

1 stamp, FDC, 2 cancels (black and digital colour), sheets of 20
offset, microprint

2023 is the year of excellent authors, with Ernest J. Gaines selection for the 46th Black Heritage stamp. These classics of American literature, “The Autobiography of Miss Jane Pittman” and “A Lesson Before Dying”, “drew from [Gaines’] childhood as the son of sharecroppers on a Louisiana plantation to explore the untold stories of rural African Americans, adding a vital voice to American literature” (U.S. Postal Service Reveals Stamps for 2023, Oct. 24, 2022)

The Author | Ernest J. Gaines Center (louisiana.edu)

Artist Robert Peterson’s original oil painting was tapped for this stamp.

Release ceremony:

Monday,  Jan. 23, 2023, at 11 a.m. CST

University of Louisiana at Lafayette
620 McKinley Street
Lafayette, LA 70503
 #BlackHeritageStamps  #ErnestGainesStamp.

Artist: Robert Peterson

Peterson’s paintings began to evolve and focus more on the Black experience through the lens of his life which is projected onto each new work stating that, “My art is my truth and my voice, it reflects a softer side of black people often not portrayed in the media and yet it still finds a way to show our strength and resilience, something that I want to see more of in galleries and museums.  Here Artist Robert Peterson Talk About Reflecting the “Softer Side of Black People” With his Art – The Community Voice (communityvoiceks.com)

Designer: Mike Ryan

Release date: January 23, 2023

February

Women’s Soccer
Topics: sports | women

1 stamp, FDC, 2 cancels, sheets of 20, 3 notebook, pin 
offset, microprint

U.S.P.S. also released tshirts and really cool vinyl stickers.

This is a nice companion piece to the 2022 Title IX stamps that honoured the breaking down of barriers to women’s participation in sports. The US Women’s Soccer program has created a world class, and highly competitive national team through vibrant, exciting leagues starting with young girls and going all the way to the top tier National club. The late Noah MacMillan’s (1988-2022) artwork is featured.

Artist: Noah MacMillan
Illustrator MacMillan died in 2022, shortly before USPS announced his soccer illustrations were slated to appear on a new stamp. His twin passions were soccer and art. 

“He had two great passions,” said Jeffrey. “One was soccer and one was art. And so he literally found a college that had a soccer summer camp, then an art program.” Jeffery MacMillan, Noah’s father

Noah’s family set up a scholarship in his name at Washington University – Noah Philip MacMillan Portfolio Plus Scholarship. Students at the summer art program will be eligible. You can see artwork prints for sale here Noah MacMillan’s Store | Society6. Money will go to funding the scholarship. 

Designer: Antonio Alcalá

Release date: February 16, 2023

$10 Floral Geometry
Topics: flowers

1 stamp, FDC, 2 cancels
foil stamping, offset, microprint

USPS adds another to the 2022 Floral Geometry set. Spaeth Hill’s use of water colours and foil stamping sets this stamp series apart. 

Designer: SpaethHill
Designer firm SpaethHill has been in business for 20+ years. 

Release date: February 24, 2023

March

Toni Morrison (1931-2019)
Topics: people | literature | black history

1 stamp, FDC, 2 cancels, 3 notebooks, portfolio, sheets of 20
offset, microprint

Release ceremony:

Tuesday, March 7, 2023, at 11 a.m. EST

Where:

There isn’t enough space here to give justice to Toni Morrison’s legacy. 

Toni Morrison: Nobel Prize-winning author dies at 88 – BBC News 
Truth Is Trouble: Toni Morrison’s Advocacy Against Censorship | The New York Public Library (nypl.org)

Designer: Ethel Kessler using Deborah Feingold’s photograph, taken in 2000.
You can learn more about Feingold here deborahfeingold | International Center of Photography (icp.org) 

Release date: March 7, 2023

Railroad Stations
Topics: trains | architecture | tourism

5 stamps, sheet of 20, 5 FDCs, 2 cancels, 5 notebooks, portfolio, framed matted stamps
offset,  digital art

Five railroad stations are given a stylized look by Down the Street Designs of Los Angeles.  Their work may look familiar to some of you. They’ve created ads for ESPN, Jameson’s Whisky and Google. Train stations are:

• Tamaqua Station in Pennsylvania
• Point of Rocks Station in Maryland
• Main Street Station in Richmond, VA
• Santa Fe Station in San Bernardino, CA
• Union Terminal in Cincinnati, OH

Release ceremony:

Thursday, March 9, at 11 a.m. EST

Where:
Cincinnati Union Terminal 
1301 Western Ave.
Cincinnati, OH 45203

Designer: Down the Street Designs
This is the Highland Park, Los Angeles firm’s first stamp design for U.S.P.S.

Art director: Derry Noyes

Release date: March 9, 2023

Women Support The War Effort – 
Topic: Crypto | Veve |history

Editions: 5,999
Rarity: Rare
Edition Type: First Edition

Original release 1999 as part of the Celebrate the Century

Release date: March 17, 2023

Art of the Skateboard
Topics: sports | art

4 stamps, sheet of 20, 4 FDC, 2 cancels
offset

This release also includes a set of vinyl stickers

Artists: 
Crystal Worl 
William James Taylor Jr. 
Di’Orr Greenwood
MazPaz (Federico Frum)

Release ceremony:

Cowtown’s 21st annual Phoenix Am contest
Friday, March 24, 2023, at 11 a.m. MT

Where:

Desert West Skate Plaza
6602 W. Encanto Blvd.
Phoenix, AZ 85035

Designer: Antonio Alcalá

Release date: March 24, 2023

April

Tulip Blossoms
1st in set of 2
Topics: flowers

10 stamps

Designer: Greg Breeding
Photographer: Denise Ippolito
A CREATIVE ADVENTURE photography by denise ippolito

Release date: April 5, 2023

U.S. Flag
Topics: flags

1 stamp, booklets, sheets of 20, coils

Artist: Hong Li
Designer: Antonio Alcalá

Release date: April 10, 2023

Roy Lichtenstein (1923-1997)
Topics: art 

5 stamps, sheets of 20, 5 FDCs, 2 cancels, framed matted stamps, 10 oversized postcards
Offset flexographic

Painter, sculptor and illustrator, Roy Lichtenstein was best known for his contributions to the modern pop art culture. Five stamps feature the following works:

• Standing Explosion (Red) (porcelain enamel on steel, 1965)
• Modern Painting I (acrylic, oil, graphite pencil on canvas, 1966)
• Still Life with Crystal Bowl (acrylic, oil, graphite pencil on canvas, 1972)
• Still Life with Goldfish (acrylic, oil, graphite pencil on canvas, 1972)
• Portrait of a Woman (acrylic, oil, graphite pencil on canvas, 1979). 

The accompanying sheet will have a photograph of Lichtenstein in the selvedge.  
Roy Lichtenstein | MoMA
Roy Lichtenstein Paintings, Bio, Ideas | TheArtStory

Designer: Derry Noyes 

Release date: April 24, 2023

May

Tomie dePaola (1934-2020)
Topics: art

1 stamp, 1 FDC, 2 cancels, sheets of 20
offset

The stamp features artwork from the cover of “Strega Nona” dePaola’s Caldecott Honor award winning book. Tomie dePaola

U.S.P.S. has been doing some interesting merchandising lately. This set includes a bookmark! If you purchase one, drop me a photo with it in a book. This is a great tribute to Tomie.

Release ceremony: 
Friday, May 5, 2023, at 11 a.m. ET

Where:
Currier Museum of Art 
150 Ash St.
Manchester, NH 03104

Designer: Derry Noyes

Release date: May 5, 2023

Chief Standing Bear (ca. 1829-1908)
Topics: history | indigenous history

Chief Standing Bear

1 stamp, 2 FDCs, cancel, portfolio, sheets of 15
offset

 Art director Derry Noyes designed this tribute to Chief Standing Bear, who fought and won Native Americans’ recognition as “persons under the law” with the same rights as every other person in the US. Artist Thomas Blackshear II used an original 1877 photograph of Standing Bear for the artwork.

In 1877, the U.S. Army had forcibly relocated some 700 Ponca to Indian Territory (what is now Oklahoma) after the federal government had given away the tribe’s homeland in the Niobrara River Valley in what is now northeastern Nebraska.

In a landmark civil rights case, Standing Bear v. Crook, Standing Bear sued the government for his freedom after being arrested, along with 29 other Ponca, for attempting to return to his homeland. Lawyers filed a writ of habeas corpus to test the legality of the detention, an unprecedented action on behalf of a Native American.

After winning the case, Standing Bear and the members of the Ponca who had followed him were allowed to return to their old Nebraska reservation along the Niobrara River.

One issue that his 1879 trial had raised was finally resolved in 1924 when Congress adopted the Indian Citizenship Act, which conferred citizenship on all Native Americans born in the United States. USPS news release Apr 6, 2023 U.S. Postal Service Honors Chief Standing Bear

Release ceremony: 
Friday, May 12, 2023, at 11 a.m. CDT

Where:
Centennial Mall
Between P and Q streets
Lincoln, NE 68508

Biographies of Plains Indians: Standing Bear – 1829-1908 – American Indian Relief Council is now Northern Plains Reservation Aid (nativepartnership.org) 

Artist: Thomas Blackshear II
Blackshear was inducted into the Society of Illustrators’ Hall of Fame in 2020. Thomas Blackshear – Illustration History
Designer: Derry Noyes

Release date: May 12, 2023

Endangered Species
Series: wildlife
Topics: wildlife

20 stamps, 2 FDCs, 2 cancel

A 20-stamp set will be released for the 50th anniversary of the Endangered Species Act.  

The stamps showcase photographs of endangered animals found within the 50 states and U.S. territories, as well as two North American species living near U.S. borders.

The 20 images are from thousands in National Geographic Explorer and photographer Joel Sartore’s “National Geographic Photo Ark,” a project to document every species living in the world’s zoos, aquariums and wildlife sanctuaries, inspire action through education, and help protect wildlife by supporting on-the-ground conservation efforts.
Postal Service Spotlights Endangered Species – Newsroom – About.usps.com

Photographer: Joel Sartore
Designer: Derry Noyes

Release date: May 19, 2023

June

Waterfalls
Series: landscapes

12 stamps on sheet, 2 sets of FDCs, 2 cancels, 6 fieldnotes
offset

Designer Greg Breeding had lots to choose from with this series. He settled on 12 different waterfall scenes from across the United States. 

First row: Deer Creek Falls, Grand Canyon National Park, AZ, photo by Sandra Woods; Nevada Fall, Yosemite National Park, CA, photo by Quang-Tuan Luong; Harrison Wright Falls, Ricketts Glen State Park, PA; and Lower Falls of the Yellowstone River, Yellowstone National Park, WY, photos by Kenneth Keifer.

Second row: Waimoku Falls, Haleakalā National Park, HI, photo by Quang-Tuan Luong; Stewart Falls, Mount Timpanogos Wilderness, UT, photo by Nicole Nugent; Niagara Falls, Niagara Falls State Park, NY, photo by John Cancalosi; and Dark Hollow Falls, Shenandoah National Park, VA, photo by Quang-Tuan Luong.

Third row: Grotto Falls, Great Smoky Mountains National Park, TN, photo by Joe Miller; Sunbeam Falls, Mount Rainier National Park, WA, photo by Kevin Schafer; LaSalle Canyon Waterfall, Starved Rock State Park, Oglesby, IL, photo by David B. Vernon; and Upper Falls, Blue Ridge Parkway, NC, photo by Tim Fitzharris.

Framing the stamps is selvage that again features David B. Vernon’s LaSalle Canyon image

Designer: Greg Breeding

Release date:  June 13, 2023

July

John Lewis (1940-2020)
Topics: history | black history

1 stamp, sheets of 15, portfolio, FDC, cancel, field notes, bookmark
offset

There is perhaps no single figure whose own life and career embodies the promise, success, and continued challenges of civil rights for Black Americans than John Lewis. We mourn this tremendous loss and look back on his incredible history through our holdings dating back to the early 1960s, including the March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom and “Bloody Sunday,” the first March from Selma to Montgomery. We Remember Civil Rights Legend John Lewis – Pieces of History (archives.gov)

There was perhaps no single figure whose own life and career embodied the promise, success, and continued challenges of civil rights for Black Americans than John Lewis. Born in 1940 in Alabama, Lewis was at the forefront of the Civil Rights movement of the 1950s and 1960s. John Lewis (February 21, 1940 – July 17, 2020) | National Archives

Remembering Congressman John R. Lewis | Smithsonian Institution (si.edu) 

Photographer:  Marco Grob, taken Aug. 26, 2013 for Time Magazine. 
Selvedge photographer: Steve Schapiro. Sheet selvedge will feature in 1963, featuring Lewis outside a workshop on non-violent resistance. 

Release date: July 21, 2023

August

Life Magnified

20 stamps, 2 sets of FDCs, 2 cancels, portfolio, sheet of 15 
offset, flexographic

Designer: Derry Noyes

Release date: August 10, 2023

Thinking of You

5 stamps, sheets of 20, note cards, 2 sets of FDC, 2 cancels
offset

Artist: Ellen Surrey

Release date: August 11, 2023

September

Piñatas!
Topics: celebrations | culture

4 stamps

Artist: Víctor Meléndez  

Release date: September 8, 2023

Snow Globes
Series: Christmas
Topics: celebrations | Christmas

4 stamps

Christmas snow globes will pop up sometime in fall for the Christmas season. Gregory Manchess created 4 different winter/Christmas themes featuring snowmen, Santa, deer and a Christmas tree. 

Artist: Gregory Manchess

Release date: September 19, 2023

OSIRIS-REx
Topics: space

NASA’s OSIRIS-REx  is expected to return to earth Sept. 24, 2023 after a multi year mission to collect asteroid dust and rocks. 

 Release date: September 22, 2023

October

Ruth Bader Ginsburg (1933-2020)
Topics: history | women 

1 stamp

R.B.G. was a powerful figure who inspired generations of women to pursue their passions and fight for rights. 

Ruth Bader Ginsburg | National Women’s History Museum (womenshistory.org)

Artist:  Michael J. Deas, using a photograph by Philip Bermingham

Release date: October 2, 2023 

Winter Woodland Animals
Topics: art | wildlife

4 stamps

 Artist: Katie Kirk

Release date: October 10, 2023

TBA

Patriotic Block

Patriotic Block

The list wraps up with a patriotic block of stamps by artist Carol Beehler.  It will be used primarily by non-profits. 

Late Additions

More stamp images were released Dec. 13, 2022. 

Northern Cardinal (Stamped Envelope)
Topics: birds 

Artist: Kandis Vermeer Phillips 
Designer: Antonio Alcalá

Bridges

• Arrigoni Bridge in Middletown, CT
• Bob Kerrey Pedestrian Bridge in Omaha, NE
• Skydance Bridge in Oklahoma City
• Iowa-Illinois Memorial Bridge in Bettendorf, IA, and Moline, IL

Designer: Ethel Kessler

As 2023 progresses, expect more details, including FDCs, cancels and whatever tweaks my fancy.  There will be a few stamps not on this list that will be released as well. Right now, these are teasers for you. If you need a fix, why not amble over to the 2022 program The US 2022 stamp program. If that isn’t enough, try Peeking at USPS stamps 2021