© 2026 USPS
On October 2, 2026, in Williamstown, MA, the United States Postal Service® will issue the Christmas Madonna and Child stamp (Forever® priced at the First-Class Mail® rate), in one design, in a pressure-sensitive adhesive (PSA) double-sided booklet of 20 stamps (Item 686200). This stamp will go on sale nationwide October 2, 2026, and must not be sold or canceled before the first-day-of-issue.
To be sold in booklets of 20, this Christmas stamp features The Virgin and Child Enthroned, a Netherlandish painting that dates from around the year 1500 and was originally attributed to an unnamed artist known only as “The Master of the Embroidered Foliage.” Scholars now believe that the painting was created in a workshop by several artists and assistants, as was common practice at the time. The painting is in the collection of the Clark Art Institute in Williamstown, Massachusetts. Greg Breeding served as designer and art director.
Stamp Fulfillment Services will make an automatic push distribution to Post Offices of a quantity to cover approximately 30 days of sales. Distribution quantities for the automatic push distribution will be available by logging on to SFS Web at sfsweb.usps.gov. Post Offices may begin ordering stamps prior to the first-day-of-issue through SFS Web; offices must also check the amount they will receive on their automatic push distribution.
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 February 2, 2027.
FDOI – Christmas Madonna and Child Stamp
USPS Stamp Fulfillment Services
8300 NE Underground Drive, Suite 300
Kansas City, MO 64144-9900
Customers may purchase new stamps at their local Post Office™ or at The Postal Store® website at store.usps.com/store/home. They must affix the stamps to envelopes of their choice, address envelopes (to themselves or others), and place them in a larger envelope and mail to the above address.
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 provided that such items bear unused, corresponding postage stamps equal to or greater than the applicable First-Class Mail rate. 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.
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 corresponding stamps (unused and equal to or greater than the applicable First-Class rate) 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®.
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.
Issue:
|
Christmas Madonna and Child Stamp
|
Item Number:
|
686200
|
Denomination &
Type of Issue:
|
First-Class Mail Forever
|
Format:
|
Double-sided Booklet of 20 (1 design)
|
Series:
|
N/A
|
Issue Date & City:
|
October 2, 2026, Williamstown, MA 01267
|
Art Director:
|
Greg Breeding, Charlottesville, VA
|
Designer:
|
Greg Breeding, Charlottesville, VA
|
Existing Art:
|
The Master of the Embroidered Foliage
|
Modeler:
|
Sandra Lane / Michelle Finn
|
Manufacturing Process:
|
Offset
|
Printer:
|
Banknote Corporation of America
|
Press Type:
|
Alprinta 74
|
Stamps per Booklet:
|
20
|
Print Quantity:
|
185,000,000 stamps
|
Paper Type:
|
Phosphor, Block Tag
|
Colors:
|
PMS 10418 C, Cyan, Magenta, Yellow, Black
|
Adhesive Type:
|
Pressure-sensitive
|
Stamp Orientation:
|
Vertical
|
Image Area (w x h):
|
0.7700 x 1.0500 in. / 19.5580 x
26.6700 mm.
|
Stamp Size (w x h):
|
0.9100 x 1.1900 in. / 23.1140 x
30.2260 mm..
|
Booklet Size (w x h):
|
5.7430 x 2.3750 in. / 145.8720 x
60.3250 mm.
|
Plate Size:
|
800 stamps per revolution
|
Plate Number:
|
“B” followed by five (5) single digits
|
Marginal Markings:
|
Header: CHRISTMAS • Madonna and Child • TWENTY FIRST-CLASS™ FOREVER® STAMPS • © 2026 USPS in peel strip area • Barcode • USPS logo • Promotional text • Plate number in peel strip area
|
— Stamp Services,
Marketing, 8-20-26
