6 New USPS Stamps Hitting Post Offices This January
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January is bringing more than cold weather and fresh resolutions — it’s also delivering a brand-new lineup of USPS stamps . The U.S. Postal Service has officially rolled out five new stamp designs hitting post offices this month, featuring eye-catching artwork, cultural tributes, and limited-edition releases collectors love. Whether you’re a longtime philatelist or just want to add a little personality to your mail, these are the five new USPS stamps you’ll start seeing nationwide in January.
RELATED: New USPS Postmark Rules Could Delay Your Mail and Affect Important Deadlines .
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Calling all love birds! This year’s love stamps , released ahead of Valentine’s Day, feature “four charming scenes of stylized birds inhabiting a colorful world where hearts appear — like love itself — in sweet and surprising ways,” according to the USPS.
The Forever stamps were designed by stamp artist James Yang , who was inspired by the midcentury-modern renderings of birds by Charles and Ray Eames, as well as Japanese children’s book illustrations of the same era.
USPS
As the USPS notes, boxing great Muhammad Ali once said, “I should be a postage stamp, because that’s the only way I’ll ever get licked.” Well, that day has come, as he is being honored with two new Forever Stamps .
“Muhammad Ali not only revolutionized boxing, he reshaped sports, fought for his beliefs, and became a symbol of courage, integrity and love” said Ronald A. Stroman , a member of the Postal Service Board of Governors and dedicating official for the stamps.
“Beyond sports, his life was marked by extraordinary humanitarianism. As a global goodwill ambassador, he dedicated himself to service. He promoted peace and understanding across racial, religious and national lines,” Stroman added. “As we dedicate these stamps, we remember Muhammad as a great boxer and a man who dared to be bold and used his fame to improve humanity.”
USPS
This year, the Lunar New Year falls on Feb. 17, marking the beginning of the Year of the Fire Horse. In celebration, the USPS’s new Year of the Horse Forever Stamp evokes “the elaborately decorated masks used in the dragon or lion dances often performed during Lunar New Year parades.”
It was designed by artist Camille Chew , who was inspired by the traditional folk-art paper crafts often created during these celebrations.
RELATED: 4 USPS Mail Price Increases Happening This Month .
USPS
Famous for popularizing martial arts movies in the 1970s, Bruce Lee was a martial artist himself, as well as an actor and filmmaker. “Lee captivated film audiences with his skill, charisma and screen presence and inspired a generation of young fans to explore action movies, mixed martial arts and Asian culture,” writes the USPS.
Therefore, he is now being honored with a Forever stamp , which features an illustration of Lee executing his famous flying kick.
USPS
The USPS’s 49th Black Heritage Forever stamp honors Phillis Wheatley , the first African-American published poet and the first author of African descent in the American Colonies to publish a book.
Wheatley was brought to Boston from West Africa on a slave ship. She published her first collection, Poems on Various Subjects, Religious and Moral , in 1773, the same year she was freed from slavery. “She went on to correspond with figures such as George Washington, who praised her poetic talent, explains the USPS.
USPS
This lovely Angel’s Trumpets design is showcased on the USPS’s latest 4-cent stamp . “The stamp follows the 2024 release of other low-denomination flower stamps — the 1-cent Fringed Tulip, 2-cent Daffodils, 3-cent Peonies, 5-cent Red Tulips, and 10-cent Poppies and Coneflowers,” they explain.
The angel’s trumpet was originally native to South America and is now considered extinct in the wild. “Angel’s trumpets can propagate easily and are frequently shared among gardeners or passed down through generations as a houseplant or as part of a landscape,” explains the USPS. “With their bold flowers and alluring scent, angel’s trumpets are a cherished part of summer nights across the country.”
4 USPS Mail Price Increases Happening Next Month
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You may not realize it, but the United States Postal Service (USPS) plays an extra special role this time of year, from getting your family holiday cards out to ensuring you get those packages on their way before the shipping deadlines pass. However, it’s also the season where your budget can get stretched paper-thin—and now, the postal service could put a little more strain on it as well. That’s because the USPS has announced it will soon institute mail price increases that could affect your bottom line.
RELATED: USPS Is Hiking Mail Prices This Fall—Here’s What It’ll Cost You .
“Although Mailing Services price increases are based on the consumer price index, Shipping Services prices are primarily adjusted according to market conditions,” the USPS wrote in a Nov. 14 press release announcing the hike. “The governors believe these new rates will keep the Postal Service competitive while providing the organization with needed revenue.”
The USPS also pointed out that it was not planning on changing any pricing for its mailing services, as the federal entity announced earlier this year. That means you shouldn’t expect to pay more for a First-Class stamp. And while it may seem like bad timing for consumers, the organization also pointed out that the move to charge more was justified.
“As part of the Postal Service’s network modernization and transformation plan, these proposed changes will support creation of a revitalized organization capable of achieving its public service mission—providing a nationwide, integrated network for the delivery of mail and packages at least six days a week—in a cost-effective and financially sustainable manner over the long term, just as the U.S. Congress has intended,” they wrote in the press release.
So, what can you expect the next time you visit the post office? Read on to see how much more you’ll be paying when the new rules go into effect.
RELATED: 3 USPS Mail Changes Happening Now—And How They’ll Affect You .
1. Priority Mail
Thanks to its relative affordability, this tier can help get packages weighing 70 pounds or less to their destination in 2 to 3 days for a flat rate , no matter where they’re going. But when new pricing goes into effect on Jan. 18, 2026, you’ll pay 6.6 percent more for the service
2. Priority Mail Express
Customers who need to get their packages to their destinations in a rush typically opt for Priority Mail Express , which pushes up the delivery window to 1 to 3 days. Still, it offers a flat rate to send packages up to 70 pounds to any state. However, the USPS says pricing (which starts at $32.50) will increase by 5.1 percent in January.
3. Ground Advantage
Thanks to its lower rates for slower delivery times, Ground Advantage tends to be a popular option for anyone sending off a large number of packages ( especially businesses ). But starting Jan. 18, the price of this service will increase by 7.8 percent.
4. Parcel Select
This service may largely have been replaced by the advent of Ground Advantage, but large volume shippers (such as businesses) still have the option to use the 2 to 8 day shipping option. Next month, it will increase in cost by 6 percent.
