What:

First-Day-of-Issue dedication ceremony for Christmas Carols Forever stamps. Please share the news using the hashtag #HolidayStamps.

Who:

U.S. Postal Service Brand Marketing Executive Director Christopher Karpenko
American Philatelic Society American Philatelist Editor Jay Bigalke
U.S. Postal Service Stamp Services Director Mary-Anne Penner

When:

Thurs., Oct. 5 @ noon

Where:

American Stamp Dealers Assn. Fall Stamp Show
 New York Hilton Midtown
 1335 Avenue of the Americas
 6th Ave. and West 53rd St.
 New York, NY

Background:

The  U.S. Postal Service celebrates the Holiday season with four new Forever stamps featuring images that illustrate a major theme of each of four beloved Christmas carols: “Jingle Bells,” “Deck the Halls,” “Silent Night” and “Jolly Old Saint Nicholas.” Familiar lines from each song highlight the individual stamps. The shades of blue in the backgrounds of the stamps evoke the evening scenes from the four carols. This booklet of 20 stamps includes five of each design. The late Howard E. Paine was the art director. Artist Steve McCracken of Winchester, VA, created original art for the project.

The stamps may be pre-ordered in early Sept. for delivery shortly after the Oct. 5 issuance at usps.com/shop.