WASHINGTON — The U.S. Postal Service announced new stamp designs on June 27, 2025, featuring four Holiday Cheer stamps and a commemorative stamp honoring humanitarian Elie Wiesel. The designs, still preliminary and subject to change, will be released in September alongside other stamps celebrating American culture and history. Release dates and locations for stamps through December 2025 were also disclosed.
The Holiday Cheer stamps, a booklet of 20, showcase festive imagery: a trio of amaryllis flowers, a holly wreath, an evergreen branch with fruit, and cardinals on mistletoe. Artist Denise Fiedler created the designs using a collage technique, combining gouache and acrylic paint on vintage gardening book paper, cut and pasted onto archival cotton board. Derry Noyes, a USPS art director, designed the stamps, which will be released on September 13 in Washington, DC, at ZIP code 20066.
The Elie Wiesel stamp, the 18th in the Distinguished Americans series, honors the Holocaust survivor and humanitarian (1928–2016). Wiesel, known for his extensive writings on the Holocaust, including the memoir “Night,” is depicted in a 1999 black-and-white photograph by Sergey Bermeniev. Designed by USPS art director Ethel Kessler, the stamp for 2-ounce mail will be released on September 17 in New York, NY, at ZIP code 10199.
The USPS also detailed release schedules for other 2025 stamps. On July 23, Washington, DC, will host ceremonies for “Putting a Stamp on the American Experience” and “250 Years of Delivering” at ZIP code 20066. On August 1, “SpongeBob SquarePants” stamps will debut in New York, NY, at ZIP code 10199. The Boston 2026 World Stamp Show and Luna Moth (nonmachinable surcharge) stamps will launch on August 14 and 16, respectively, in Schaumburg, IL, at ZIP code 60194. On September 9, a stamp honoring William F. Buckley Jr. will be released in New Haven, CT, at ZIP code 06511. Following the Holiday Cheer and Elie Wiesel releases, Winter Landscapes stamps will debut on September 19 in Danville, IN, at ZIP code 46122. Dates and locations may change, with further 2025 ceremony details to be announced.
The Holiday Cheer stamps aim to capture the warmth of the holiday season, reflecting traditions of decorating and celebration. Fiedler’s collage technique provides a textured, handcrafted aesthetic, distinguishing these stamps from previous holiday designs like the 2024 Holiday Joy stamps. The choice of natural elements—flowers, wreaths, and birds—aligns with the USPS’s tradition of emphasizing universal holiday symbols accessible to diverse audiences.
The Elie Wiesel stamp recognizes his contributions as a writer, educator, and Nobel Peace Prize laureate. His work chronicled the atrocities of Nazi concentration camps, advocating for human rights and compassion. The stamp’s black-and-white photograph captures Wiesel’s contemplative expression, emphasizing his role as a moral voice. As a 2-ounce stamp, it serves practical mailing needs while commemorating his legacy.
The USPS’s 2025 stamp program reflects a blend of cultural, historical, and natural themes. The “250 Years of Delivering” stamp celebrates the Postal Service’s founding in 1775, while “Putting a Stamp on the American Experience” highlights shared national moments. The “SpongeBob SquarePants” stamp targets younger collectors, and the Luna Moth stamp appeals to nature enthusiasts. The William F. Buckley Jr. stamp honors the conservative commentator, and Winter Landscapes will showcase scenic beauty.
Stamp releases involve first-day-of-issue ceremonies, often attended by postal officials, local leaders, and collectors. These events, held in cities tied to the stamp’s theme, include cancellations—postmarks applied to stamps on their release date, prized by philatelists. The USPS’s selection of release locations, like New York for Wiesel and Washington for Holiday Cheer, reflects cultural or historical relevance. For example, New York’s role as a publishing hub aligns with Wiesel’s literary career.
The USPS has issued holiday-themed stamps annually since 1962, starting with a Christmas wreath design. The Distinguished Americans series, launched in 2000, has honored figures like physicist Richard Feynman and author Zora Neale Hurston. Stamps remain a functional and collectible medium, with designs chosen through the Citizens’ Stamp Advisory Committee, which reviews thousands of public suggestions yearly. The committee prioritizes subjects of broad appeal, avoiding living persons or recent events to ensure timeless relevance.
Collectors and customers can purchase the Holiday Cheer and Elie Wiesel stamps at post offices or online at usps.com upon release. The USPS’s 2025 lineup continues its mission to reflect America’s diversity and history, serving both practical mailing needs and cultural preservation.
