United States Postal Service Released New Holiday Stamp
The latest seasonal release features a 16th-century painting from the Clark Art Institute collection.
Updated on Oct. 10, 2026 in Collecting
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The United States Postal Service has issued a new holiday stamp featuring the Virgin and Child Enthroned painting. This Forever stamp is valid for mailing one-ounce First-Class Mail items.
Why it matters
The release continues the long-standing tradition of seasonal stamps that the Postal Service first introduced in 1966. These stamps remain a popular option for holiday correspondence across the nation.
The Postal Service printed 185 million of the new Forever stamps, which are available in booklets of twenty. Each stamp covers the current postage cost for one-ounce First-Class Mail.
The players
United States Postal Service
This independent agency of the executive branch is responsible for providing postal service in the United States.
Clark Art Institute
Located in Williamstown, Massachusetts, this art museum and research center holds the painting used for the stamp.
The details
The featured artwork is a 16th-century painting titled Virgin and Child Enthroned, which currently resides in the Clark Art Institute collection located in Williamstown, Massachusetts. The issuance marks a return to religious-themed holiday imagery following a pause that began in 2009.
Timeline
1966: The Postal Service began its holiday stamp tradition.
2009: The service paused its annual Madonna and Child stamps.
2026: The USPS issued the new holiday stamp.
Culture Shift
The release of this stamp follows a pattern set by the 1966 USPS holiday stamp tradition. This issuance highlights a continued public interest in traditional art themes during the holiday season.
The Forever stamps can be used for any standard one-ounce First-Class Mail, ensuring they remain valid regardless of future postage rate adjustments. Consumers can purchase these booklets of twenty at local post offices to use for holiday greeting cards.
The takeaway
Using commemorative stamps can add a traditional touch to seasonal correspondence while utilizing the convenience of non-expiring Forever postage. Collectors should note that these seasonal issues often see high demand as the holiday season progresses.
Further reading
Learn more about philately and seasonal releases in the Collecting section.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Iberkshires.
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Do you plan to send traditional holiday cards via postal mail this year?
