Stamp Services

Stamp Announcement 26-25: U.S. Flag Stamp

FDOI

On June 9, 2026, in New York. NY, the United States Postal Service® will issue the U.S. Flag stamp (Forever® priced at the First-Class Mail® rate) in one design, in a pressure-sensitive adhesive (PSA) pane of 20 stamps (Item 130100), a PSA double-sided booklet of 20 stamps (Item 686000), a PSA coil of 100 stamps (Item 741100), a PSA coil of 3,000 stamps (Item 752400), and a PSA coil of 10,000 stamps (Item 763200). This stamp will go on sale nationwide June 9, 2026, and must not be sold or canceled before the first-day-of-issue.

The Postal Service™ continues its long tradition of honoring the U.S. flag as the nation celebrates its 250th anniversary. The photograph on this 2026 stamp, a knit interpretation of a 13-star flag, is from an iconic sweater introduced by Polo Ralph Lauren in 1989. The knit flag is also featured on the 2026 American Icons pane, an issuance curated for the Postal Service by Ralph Lauren. Beneath the flag on this mail use stamp are America’s anniversary dates: 1776 and 2026, both in red, with a golden, five-pointed star between them. USPS art director Greg Breeding designed the stamp using a photograph from the Ralph Lauren Corporation.

Availability to Post Offices: Item 130100, U.S. Flag (Forever Priced at the First-Class Mail Rate), Pane of 20 Stamps

Stamp Fulfillment Services will not make an automatic push distribution to Post Offices. Post Offices may begin ordering stamps before the FDOI through SFS Web at sfsweb.usps.gov/sfsweb.

Availability to Post Offices: Item 686000, U.S. Flag (Forever Priced at the First-Class Mail Rate), Booklet of 20 Stamps

Stamp Fulfillment Services will not make an automatic push distribution to Post Offices. Post Offices may begin ordering stamps before the FDOI through SFS Web at sfsweb.usps.gov/sfsweb/.

Availability to Post Offices: Item 741100, U.S. Flag (Forever Priced at the First-Class Mail Rate), Coil of 100 Stamps

Stamp Fulfillment Services will not make an automatic push distribution to Post Offices. Post Offices may begin ordering stamps before the FDOI through SFS Web at sfsweb.usps.gov/sfsweb/.

Availability to Post Offices: Item 752400, U.S. Flag (Forever Priced at the First-Class Mail Rate), Coil of 3,000 Stamps

Stamp Fulfillment Services will not make an automatic push distribution to Post Offices. Post Offices may begin ordering stamps before the FDOI through SFS Web at sfsweb.usps.gov/sfsweb/.

Availability to Post Offices: Item 763200, U.S. Flag (Forever Priced at the First-Class Mail Rate), Coil of 10,000 Stamps

Stamp Fulfillment Services will not make an automatic push distribution to Post Offices. Post Offices may begin ordering stamps before the FDOI through SFS Web at sfsweb.usps.gov/sfsweb/.

How to Order the First-Day-of-Issue Postmark

The first-day-of-issue postmark is a postmark notating the day a stamp is first authorized for use by the Postal Service. Customers have 120 days to obtain the first-day-of-issue postmark by mail. All requests for first-day-of-issue postmarks (Traditional or Digital Color Postmark) must be sent to the following address with the choice of Traditional or Digital Color Postmark identified. All orders must be postmarked by October 9, 2026.

FDOI – U.S. Flag Stamp
USPS Stamp Fulfillment Services
8300 NE Underground Drive, Suite 300
Kansas City, MO 64144-9900

After applying the first-day-of-issue postmark, the Postal Service will return the envelopes through the mail. There is no charge for the postmark up to a quantity of 50. There is a 5-cent charge for each additional postmark over 50.

Customers can also submit collectable paper items or memorabilia of their choice for a black and white cancelation. The request must include packaging large enough to accommodate their canceled items along with sufficient postage affixed for the return of their postmarked item.

If the canceled item is not mailable by First-Class, and return packaging with postage is not provided, the order must include a way to contact the customer for payment. Payment for quantities greater than 50 cancels and/or postage for shipping must be submitted by check, money order, or credit card.

Digital Color Postmarks

Only select stamp issues offer a digital color postmark. Digital color postmarks can only be affixed to paper products. Customers may submit #6 or #10 envelopes constructed of paper rated as “laser safe.” The Postal Service recommends envelopes of 80-pound Accent Opaque, acid-free, 9/16-inch side seams with no glue on the flap. The maximum size of all digital color postmarks is 2 inches (vertically) by 4 inches (horizontally). Allow sufficient space on the envelope to accommodate the postmark. Do not use self-adhesive labels for addresses on the envelope. Two test envelopes must be included. There is a 50-cent charge per postmark at the time of servicing. Customers must submit a check, money order, or credit card for payment.

The Postal Service reserves the right to not accept hand-painted and other cachet envelopes that are not compatible with our digital color postmark equipment. The Postal Service also reserves the right to substitute traditional black rubber postmarks if use of non-specified envelopes results in poor image quality or damage to equipment.

Customers must affix the stamps to the envelopes and address them to themselves or others for return through the mail. Or they may include an additional self-addressed return envelope, large enough to accommodate their canceled items, with sufficient postage affixed for return of their postmarked items.

After applying the first-day-of-issue postmark, the Postal Service will return the envelopes to the customer by U.S. Mail®.

How to Order First-Day Covers

The Postal Service also offers first-day covers for new stamp issues and Postal Service stationery items postmarked with the official first-day-of-issue cancelation. Each item has an individual catalog number and is offered in the USA Philatelic catalog and online at store.usps.com/store/home. Customers may register to receive a free USA Philatelic catalog online at usps.com/philatelic.

Locally produced items are not authorized. Only merchandise that has been approved and assigned an item number by Headquarters Retail Marketing may be produced and sold.

Technical details will appear in a future edition of the Postal Bulletin.