USPS New Issues 2012 (Stamp News Now)

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2012 USPS New Issues Calendar This list is in approximate chronological order. As new issue 2012 stamps are annouced more stamp issues will be added here. As they are announced, we also will provide first day request addresses and deadlines as part of our First Day Covers information page. If you are not familiar to stamp collecting, below are some terms that we use to describe the 2012 Stamp Issues: Se-tenants - Se-tenants are stamps of different designs placed adjacent to each other. Forever Stamps - Forever Stamps do not have a stated denomination and may be used for a given rate class, usually one-ounce First Class, even after it changes. Pressure Sensitive Adhesive (PSA) Water Activated Gum (WAG)
	Spectrum Eagle [Click to see the full Spectrum] — January 3, 2012 \| Liberty, MO 64068 \| Non-denominated (25¢ assigned value) Spectrum Eagle PSA coils of 3,000 and 10,000 The new “Spectrum Eagle” Presorted First-Class Mail non-denominated stamp comes in six color varieties. The eagle’s profile is depicted in white, set against a sequence of six varying shades of reds, yellows, greens, and blues. Each color blends with the one following, resulting in a gradual spectrum from left to right across the six stamps. The stamps are used by bulk mailers because mail with a postage stamp on the envelope has a better chance of being opened than mail with a printed indicia. The issue was designed by Ethel Kessler, who also was the Art Director and Typographer.
	New Mexico Statehood — January 6, 2012 \| Santa Fe, NM 87501 \| Forever (45¢) stamp in PSA pane of 20 With this stamp, the U.S. Postal Service honors the 100 years that have passed since January 6, 1912, when New Mexico became the 47th state in the Union. The stamp art shows a landscape in northern New Mexico, about 65 miles northwest of Albuquerque. In this sweeping view of the high desert, junipers and piñon pines grow in the foreground. In the middle distance, the Rio Puerco courses through an arroyo, while in the background, two peaks known as Cerro de Santa Clara and Cerro de Guadalupe are silhouetted against a vast sky. Today, New Mexico is the fifth-largest state in the U.S., known for its rich history, vibrant cultures, and stunning geographic diversity.
	Aloha Shirts [Click to see 5 designs] — January 19, 2012 \| Honolulu, HI 96820 \| Set of five 32¢ post card rate stamps se-tenant in PSA pane of 20 and PSA coil of 100 The Aloha Shirts set of five stamps will be issued in the post card rate, now 32¢. Two of the shirts depict surfers and their boards; one shows fossil fish, shells, and sea stars; another shows a tropical flower known as the bird of paradise; and one shows Kilauea, a volcano on the Big Island of Hawai‘i.
	Glacier National Park, Montana — January 19, 2012 \| Kalispell, MT 59901 \| 85¢ International (Canada, Mexico) rate stamp in PSA pane of 20 This international rate stamp celebrates Montana’s Glacier National Park. Often described as one of the most stunning national parks in the U.S., Glacier was established on May 11, 1910. The stamp image shows Logan Pass, the highest point on the park’s Going-to-the-Sun Road. Peaks of the Northern Rocky Mountains fill the photo’s background. Named for the glaciers that sculpted the landscape more than 10,000 years ago and for the Little Ice Age glaciers there today, the park preserves more than a million acres of peaks and valleys, meadows, lakes and forest. It is a haven for wildlife with 277 species of birds and 67 species of mammals.
	Wedding Cake — January 20, 2012 \| Alexandria, VA 22314 \| 65¢ First Class 2 ounce rate stamp in PSA pane of 20 This Weddings stamp uses the same design as the 2011 64¢ Wedding Cake stamp, and is part of an ongoing series of issues that can be used to mail Wedding invitations. The 65¢ stamp can be used on the outer envelope, which contains the Wedding invitation, an RSVP card, and an RSVP envelope on which last year’s Wedding Roses Forever First Class rate stamp can be used. Pastry chef Peter Brett created and designed the cake. Art Director Ethel Kessler incorporated it into her stamp design
	Weather Vanes [Click to see 5 designs] — January 20, 2012 \| Shelburne, VT 05482 \| Set of five Forever (45¢) stamps se-tenant in PSA double-sided booklet of 20 The Weather Vanes coil stamps picture five weather vanes that were made in the United States during the 19th century. Unlike most new U.S. issues, they will be denominated in the First Class Letter Mail rate instead of as Forever issues. Before 1850, most American weather vanes were created by individual craftsmen. During the second half of the 19th century—in what collectors consider the “golden age” of American weather vanes—factories around Boston and New York City began mass-producing weather vanes. The five weather vanes, reproducing a cow, and eagle, a centaur and two roosters, all are part of the collection of the Shelburne Museum in Shelburne, Vermont.
	Baltimore Checkerspot Butterfly — January 20, 2012 \| Baltimore, MD 21233 \| 65¢ First Class 1 ounce additional (odd-sized) rate stamp in PSA pane of 20 The official insect of the state of Maryland, the black and orange Baltimore checkerspot butterfly graces the second butterfly stamp for use on large greeting card envelopes. In addition to being issued as a stamp, envelopes for many large cards requiring the additional postage will feature a preprinted silhouette of a butterfly to suggest the use of this stamp. Like the Baltimore oriole, this colorful butterfly is named after George Calvert, Lord Baltimore, who helped found the colony of Maryland. The butterfly’s colors resemble those on Calvert’s coat of arms.
	Birds of Prey [Click to see 5 designs] — January 20, 2012 \| Washington, DC 20066 \| Set of five 85¢ First Class 3 ounce rate stamps se-tenant in PSA pane of 20 The five birds of prey on these stamps are the northern goshawk, peregrine falcon, golden eagle, osprey, and northern harrier. Birds of prey, also known as raptors, thrive in diverse habitats and live on every continent except Antarctica. The roughly 500 species of birds of prey, also known as raptors, include birds that hunt by day, such as falcons, eagles, and harriers, and birds that hunt by night — the owls. They are carnivorous, use their powerful talons to capture prey, and their exceptionally keen eyesight allows them to see small objects in detail, even from a great distance. The 85¢ Birds of Prey stamps pay the First Class three-ounce rate.
	Dogs at Work [Click to see 4 designs] — January 20, 2012 \| Merrifield, VA 22081 \| Set of four 65¢ First Class 2 ounce rate stamps se-tenant in PSA pane of 20 While the earliest dogs helped human hunters bring home prey, today’s dogs excel at a variety of jobs. The U.S. Postal Service celebrates the enduring partnership between dogs and people with this set of four stamps, which depict four hard-working canines: a guide dog assisting a woman who is blind, a tracking dog on the trail of a scent, a therapy dog visiting an elderly woman in her home, and a search and rescue dog standing in a field, ready to tackle the next assignment. The 65¢ stamps pay the First Class two-ounce rate.
	Lancaster County, Pa., Amish Country — January 20, 2012 \| Lancaster, PA 17601 \| $1.05 International rate stamp in PSA pane of 20 Designed to draw attention to the wonders of the United States, this $1.05 International rate stamp shows the glories of Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, with one of its beautiful, iconic farmsteads set amid gently rolling hills. Known for its breathtaking rural scenery, agricultural bounty, and small towns with evocative names like Bird-in-Hand and Paradise, Lancaster County is perhaps most famous as part of the Pennsylvania Dutch Country. The Amish, with their horse-drawn buggies, one-room schoolhouses, and traditional lifestyle, give the county a traditional, Old World charm.
	Sailboat Stamped Post Card — January 22, 2012 \| Oyster Bay, NY 11771 \| Forever (32¢) stamped card in single-cut cards, double-reply cards and sheets of 40 cards The Postal Service highlights America’s scenic beauty with this stamped card. Whether racing along the coast or simply bobbing in harbors, sailboats add to the allure of any water view. This impressionistic image of a moored sailboat was created by Burton Silverman, who painted the scene in oil on a gesso surface board. The sailboat, a one-masted sloop, rests with its sails furled while a single sailor stands on deck. Silverman based the painting on a photograph he took during a summer sailing trip to Long Island Sound. The card was designed by art director Derry Noyes.
	Celebrating Lunar New Year: Year of the Dragon — January 23, 2012 \| San Francisco, CA 94188 \| Forever (45¢) stamp in PSA pane of 12 Fifth in the series of designs by artist Kim Mak, celebrating Lunar New Year, which in 2012 is Jan. 23, a bit earlier than usual.
	Bonsai [Click to see 5 designs] — January 23, 2012 \| Sacramento, CA 95813 \| Set of five Forever (45¢) stamps se-tenant in PSA double-sided booklet of 20 This set of five stamps pictures bonsai plants. Bonsai is Japanese for “plant in a pot,” but the plants are typically trees that have been trained or miniaturized, and can live for decades.
	Purple Martin Stamped Envelope — January 23, 2012 \| Mulberry, FL 33860 \| Forever (45¢) stamped envelope with WAG or PSA in three different sizes (#6-3/4, #9 and #10) regular and window formats (a total of 12 different envelopes) Two purple martins—the largest swallow in North America—are seen on the Purple Martin Stamped Envelope. In the eastern U.S., purple martins live almost exclusively in backyard birdhouses. Native Americans were the first to build houses for these acrobatic fliers, hanging up hollow gourds for them to nest in. Purple martins make excellent neighbors, as they devour many insects that people find annoying, such as flies, wasps, and stink bugs. This is a Forever stamped envelope, so the value of the postage is always equal to the value of the current First-Class Mail one-ounce rate.
	John H. Johnson — January 31, 2012 \| Chicago, IL 60607 \| Forever (45¢) stamp in PSA pane of 20 The 35th release in the Black Heritage series celebrates one of the most influential Black publishers, founder of Ebony and Jet magazines, and an important leader in the Civil Rights movement. The design is based on a photo by David McCann. It will probably be issued in February in Chicago, Johnson’s hometown.
	Heart Health — February 2012 \| Site to be determined \| Forever (45¢) stamp The year’s social awareness issue “focuses on the feelings of wellness and vitality that comes from physical exercise,” according to the Postal Service announcement. The striding figure in the center of California artist Nicholas Wilton’s design does indeed have a full red heart.
	Love Ribbons — February 14, 2012 \| Colorado Springs, CO 80903 \| Forever (45¢) stamp in PSA pane of 20 New York graphic designer Louise Fili’s impression of Love is a swirl of pink-tinged white satin ribbons on a red background, almost extending off the edge of the stamp.
	Arizona Statehood — February 14, 2012 \| Phoenix, AZ 85026 \| Forever (45¢) stamp in PSA pane of 20 Arizona was part of Mexico until 1848, when the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo, which ended the U.S.-Mexican War, resulted in the United States’ acquiring most of the land that makes up the present-day state. One of America’s last frontiers, Arizona became the 48th state in the Union on February 14, 1912. The stamp art celebrates this beauty with an original painting of Cathedral Rock, one of the colorful and much admired sandstone rock formations of Sedona, Arizona.
	Danny Thomas — February 16, 2012 \| Memphis, TN 38101 \| Forever (45¢) stamp in PSA pane of 20 Entertainer Danny Thomas left as his greatest legacy the St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, which he started in gratitude for a prayer of his own having been answered. The Memphis, Tennessee facility specializes in treating children for catastrophic diseases regardless of race, religion or a family’s ability to pay. In Danny Thomas’ own words, “No child should die in the dawn of life.” The Forever First Class rate stamp shows a smiling Danny Thomas in the foreground with the St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital in the background. It was designed by Greg Breeding using the artwork of Tim O’Brien.
	Cherry Blossom Centennial [Click to see larger version] — March 24, 2012 \| Washington, DC 20066 \| Forever (45¢) stamp In 1912 Japan gave 3,000 cherry trees to the United States, which were planted round the Tidal Basin in the nation’s capital. In artist Paul Rogers’s design for the se-tenent stamps, blossoming trees arch over a family on a stroll with two girls dressed in bright kimonos, the Washington Monument in the background. In the stamp on the right, the Jefferson Memorial is the backdrop for sightseers under a canopy of pink blooms. Although this seems like an ideal subject for a joint issue with Japan, no such arrangements have been made to date.
	José Ferrer — April 2012 \| New York, NY 10199 \| Forever (45¢) stamp One of America’s most versatile and honored actors, José Ferrer is the 14th luminary celebrated in the U.S. Postal Service’s *Distinguished Americans* series. The stamp shows Ferrer at the height of his fame, his elegant and timeless look captured in an oil-on-canvas portrait.
	William H. Johnson — April 7, 2012 \| Baltimore, MD 21233 \| Forever (45¢) stamp An entry in the American Treasures art series celebrates the work of the influential African-American artist, who has become somewhat of an icon in the art world. Upon his death in 1970 he donated his entire collection to the Smithsonian American Art Museum, where a gallery is devoted to his works.
	Twentieth-Century Poets [Click to see 10 designs] — April 21, 2012 \| Los Angeles, CA 90001 \| Forever (45¢) stamp The ten great Twentieth-Century Poets on these Forever stamps honor Elizabeth Bishop, Joseph Brodsky, Gwendolyn Brooks, E. E. Cummings, Robert Hayden, Denise Levertov, Sylvia Plath, Theodore Roethke, Wallace Stevens and William Carlos Williams—a group that include winners of numerous Pulitzer Prizes, National Book Awards, and honorary degrees. The reverse of the pane of 20 stamps includes an excerpt from one poem by each of the ten poets. Most of the honorees are American born, one exception being Joseph Brodsky, an exile from the Soviet Union who became the first foreign-born poet to be appointed Poet Laureate of the United States.
	Civil War. “1862: A Nation Touched with Fire” [Click to see 2 designs] — April 24, 2012 \| New Orleans, LA 70113 \| Forever (45¢) stamp “1862: A Nation Touched with Fire” is the title of the next sheet in this series. Highlighted are the Battle of New Orleans, which lasted from April 24 to May 1, 1862, and the Battle of Antietam in September. The background illustration (not shown) is from a Currier and Ives print.
	Louisiana Statehood — April 30, 2012 \| Baton Rouge, LA 70826 \| Forever (45¢) stamp Known for its vibrant music, authentic cuisine, and dynamic mingling of cultures, the “Pelican State” became the 18th state in the Union on April 30, 1812. The stamp art features a photograph of Flat Lake, which is located in the Atchafalaya Basin, the largest contiguous river swamp in the United States.
	Great Film Directors [Click to see 4 designs] — May 2012 \| Silver Spring, MD 20910 \| Forever (45¢) stamp Fans of Hollywood will probably debate endlessly both which directors were better than others, and which films deserve more recognition than others. The selections for this block of four are John Ford, Frank Capra, Billy Wilder and John Huston. Just a list of their great films would probably fill a couple of pages.
	Bicycling [Click to see 4 designs] — May 2012 \| Minneapolis, MN 55401 \| Forever (45¢) stamp Another strip of four: a young child just learning to ride with training wheels; a commuter pedaling to work; a road racer; and an airborne BMX rider.
	Send a Smile [Click for 5 designs] — May 2012 \| Orlando, FL 32862 \| Forever (45¢) stamp Another collaboration with the Disney Studios’ Pixar series of motion pictures, following this year’s “Send Hello” set. The designs show characters from A Bug’s Life (1998), Toy Story 2 (1999), Monsters, Inc. (2001), Finding Nemo (2003) and The Incredibles (2004). The stamps will be issued August 19 at the Disney convention in California.
	Celebrate Scouting — June 9, 2012 \| Washington, DC 20066 \| Forever (45¢) stamp A follow up to this year’s scouting stamp picturing a boy is another design by Craig Frazier picturing a girl, celebrating the centennial of the scouting movement.
	Major League Baseball All-Stars [Click to see 4 designs] — July 2012 \| Cooperstown, NY 13326 \| Forever (45¢) stamp The four subjects are Joe DiMaggio, Ted Williams, Larry Doby (first Black player in the American League) and Willie Stargell. Here’s one issue where the first day date and city have already been decided. They will be introduced at the Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown during the annual induction ceremonies.
	Innovative Choreographers [Click to see 4 designs] — July 28, 2012 \| Los Angeles, CA 90052 \| Forever (45¢) stamp Fans of classical and theatrical dance will enjoy seeing portraits of Isadora Duncan, Jose Limon, Katherine Dunham and Bob Fosse, illustrated by theater poster artist James McMullan.
	Flags of our Nation [Click to see 10 designs] — August 16, 2012 \| Sacramento, CA 95813 \| Forever (45¢) stamp This series has reached the end of the alphabet, with the states of Texas, Utah, Vermont, Virgin Islands, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia, Wisconsin, Wyoming and another U.S. flag. The format once again is two strips of five stamps in coils.
	Edgar Rice Burroughs — August 17, 2012 \| Tarzana, CA 91356 \| Forever (45¢) stamp Best known as the creator of Tarzan and other denizens of the jungle, Burroughs wrote a number of other novels that are still widely read. A Disney film based on his “John Carter on Mars” series will be released next March, but the stamp will be issued during the Burroughs convention in California in August. The stamp, designed by artist Sterling Hundley, shows a view of Tarzan clinging to a tree, combined with a profile of Burroughs based on a 1934 photo.
	The War of 1812: USS Constitution — August 18, 2012 \| Boston, MA 02205 \| Forever (45¢) stamp The bicentennial of the start of this war with Britain is commemorated with a stamp picturing the conflict’s most famous ship, the USS Constitution, more popularly known as Old Ironsides. The stamp reproduces a very early painting of the ship by Michel Fellice Corne, now in the USS Constitution Museum in Boston. No decision has been made yet on whether to continue this series to the war’s end in 1815.
	O. Henry — September 11, 2012 \| Greensboro, NC 27420 \| Forever (45¢) stamp The 28th stamp in the Literary Arts series will picture this perennially popular writer, whose real name was William Sydney Porter. His adventurous personal life was almost more exciting than his short stories, which are famous for their wit, wordplay, warm characterization and clever twist endings.
	Christmas Traditional: Holy Family — October 2012 \| Site to be determined \| Forever (45¢) stamp A departure from the Madonna & Child designs the USPS usually selects, the Holy Family stamp celebrates Christmas with a scene from the Nativity story. Art director William J. Gicker, designer Greg Breeding, and artist Nancy Stahl created a design that shows Joseph leading a donkey that carries Mary and Jesus, guided by a star shining in the twilight of a desert sky.
	Earthscapes [Click to see 15 designs] — October 1, 2012 \| Washington, DC 20066 \| Forever (45¢) stamp Fifteen different views based on aerial or satellite photographs of a wide variety of scenes all across the country. There are five stamps in three groups: Natural: Glacier and Icebergs, Volcanic Crater, Geothermal Spring, Butte in Early Morning Fog, Inland Marsh; Agricultural: Salt Evaporation Ponds, Long Rafts on Way to Sawmill, Center Pivot Irrigation, Cherry Orchard, Cranberry Harvest; and Urban: Residential Subdivision, Barge Fleeting, Railroad Roundhouse, Skyscraper Apartments, and Highway Interchange.
	Santa and Sleigh [Click to see 4 designs] — October 14, 2012 \| New York, NY 10199 \| Forever (45¢) stamp The Santa and Sleigh block of four was the work of California artist Paul Rogers. Following what seems to have become a long-standing custom, the stamps will be issued at the ASDA National Postage Stamp Show in New York in October. No plans were announced for new traditional (religious) Christmas, Hanukkah or Kwanzaa stamps.
	Sunshine Skyway Bridge — Issue date to be determined \| Bradenton, FL 34206 \| $5.15 Priority Mail Stamp The U.S. Postal Service celebrates the Sunshine Skyway Bridge in Florida with this *Priority Mail* ® stamp. The bridge was one of the first major concrete-and-steel, cable-stayed bridges in the United States. Completed in 1987, the main bridge and approach spans stretch more than four miles across Tampa Bay and link the Gulf Coast communities surrounding St. Petersburg and Bradenton.
	Carmel Mission — Issue date to be determined \| Carmel, CA 93923 \| $18.95 Express Mail Stamp Often described as one of the most beautiful mission churches in the state of California, Carmel Mission is known for its dome-shaped bell tower and elaborate star-shaped window. Formally known as Mission San Carlos Borroméo del Río Carmelo, Carmel Mission was founded on June 3, 1770. It was the second in what would become a chain of 21 Spanish missions along the coast of California, each positioned about one day’s ride on horseback from the next. Designed by Art Director Phil Jordan, the stamp features an illustration created by artist Dan Cosgrove.
	Four Flags [Click to see block of 4] — Issue date and site to be determined \| Forever (45¢) stamp In addition to the Flags of Our Nation and the currently available Liberty/Flag stamps, in 2012 the USPS also will be issuing a Four Flags set. A single word—Freedom, Liberty, Equality, Justice—appears on each of the four stamps. The typeface is meant to recall the look of Colonial-era printing. The flag illustration by the late Arnold Holeywell is based on a photograph taken by art director Howard Paine.

2012 USPS New Issues Calendar This list is in approximate chronological order. As new issue 2012 stamps are annouced more stamp issues will be added here. As they are announced, we also will provide first day request addresses and deadlines as part of our First Day Covers information page. If you are not familiar to stamp collecting, below are some terms that we use to describe the 2012 Stamp Issues: Se-tenants - Se-tenants are stamps of different designs placed adjacent to each other. Forever Stamps - Forever Stamps do not have a stated denomination and may be used for a given rate class, usually one-ounce First Class, even after it changes. Pressure Sensitive Adhesive (PSA) Water Activated Gum (WAG)
	Spectrum Eagle [Click to see the full Spectrum] — January 3, 2012 \| Liberty, MO 64068 \| Non-denominated (25¢ assigned value) Spectrum Eagle PSA coils of 3,000 and 10,000 The new “Spectrum Eagle” Presorted First-Class Mail non-denominated stamp comes in six color varieties. The eagle’s profile is depicted in white, set against a sequence of six varying shades of reds, yellows, greens, and blues. Each color blends with the one following, resulting in a gradual spectrum from left to right across the six stamps. The stamps are used by bulk mailers because mail with a postage stamp on the envelope has a better chance of being opened than mail with a printed indicia. The issue was designed by Ethel Kessler, who also was the Art Director and Typographer.
	New Mexico Statehood — January 6, 2012 \| Santa Fe, NM 87501 \| Forever (45¢) stamp in PSA pane of 20 With this stamp, the U.S. Postal Service honors the 100 years that have passed since January 6, 1912, when New Mexico became the 47th state in the Union. The stamp art shows a landscape in northern New Mexico, about 65 miles northwest of Albuquerque. In this sweeping view of the high desert, junipers and piñon pines grow in the foreground. In the middle distance, the Rio Puerco courses through an arroyo, while in the background, two peaks known as Cerro de Santa Clara and Cerro de Guadalupe are silhouetted against a vast sky. Today, New Mexico is the fifth-largest state in the U.S., known for its rich history, vibrant cultures, and stunning geographic diversity.
	Aloha Shirts [Click to see 5 designs] — January 19, 2012 \| Honolulu, HI 96820 \| Set of five 32¢ post card rate stamps se-tenant in PSA pane of 20 and PSA coil of 100 The Aloha Shirts set of five stamps will be issued in the post card rate, now 32¢. Two of the shirts depict surfers and their boards; one shows fossil fish, shells, and sea stars; another shows a tropical flower known as the bird of paradise; and one shows Kilauea, a volcano on the Big Island of Hawai‘i.
	Glacier National Park, Montana — January 19, 2012 \| Kalispell, MT 59901 \| 85¢ International (Canada, Mexico) rate stamp in PSA pane of 20 This international rate stamp celebrates Montana’s Glacier National Park. Often described as one of the most stunning national parks in the U.S., Glacier was established on May 11, 1910. The stamp image shows Logan Pass, the highest point on the park’s Going-to-the-Sun Road. Peaks of the Northern Rocky Mountains fill the photo’s background. Named for the glaciers that sculpted the landscape more than 10,000 years ago and for the Little Ice Age glaciers there today, the park preserves more than a million acres of peaks and valleys, meadows, lakes and forest. It is a haven for wildlife with 277 species of birds and 67 species of mammals.
	Wedding Cake — January 20, 2012 \| Alexandria, VA 22314 \| 65¢ First Class 2 ounce rate stamp in PSA pane of 20 This Weddings stamp uses the same design as the 2011 64¢ Wedding Cake stamp, and is part of an ongoing series of issues that can be used to mail Wedding invitations. The 65¢ stamp can be used on the outer envelope, which contains the Wedding invitation, an RSVP card, and an RSVP envelope on which last year’s Wedding Roses Forever First Class rate stamp can be used. Pastry chef Peter Brett created and designed the cake. Art Director Ethel Kessler incorporated it into her stamp design
	Weather Vanes [Click to see 5 designs] — January 20, 2012 \| Shelburne, VT 05482 \| Set of five Forever (45¢) stamps se-tenant in PSA double-sided booklet of 20 The Weather Vanes coil stamps picture five weather vanes that were made in the United States during the 19th century. Unlike most new U.S. issues, they will be denominated in the First Class Letter Mail rate instead of as Forever issues. Before 1850, most American weather vanes were created by individual craftsmen. During the second half of the 19th century—in what collectors consider the “golden age” of American weather vanes—factories around Boston and New York City began mass-producing weather vanes. The five weather vanes, reproducing a cow, and eagle, a centaur and two roosters, all are part of the collection of the Shelburne Museum in Shelburne, Vermont.
	Baltimore Checkerspot Butterfly — January 20, 2012 \| Baltimore, MD 21233 \| 65¢ First Class 1 ounce additional (odd-sized) rate stamp in PSA pane of 20 The official insect of the state of Maryland, the black and orange Baltimore checkerspot butterfly graces the second butterfly stamp for use on large greeting card envelopes. In addition to being issued as a stamp, envelopes for many large cards requiring the additional postage will feature a preprinted silhouette of a butterfly to suggest the use of this stamp. Like the Baltimore oriole, this colorful butterfly is named after George Calvert, Lord Baltimore, who helped found the colony of Maryland. The butterfly’s colors resemble those on Calvert’s coat of arms.
	Birds of Prey [Click to see 5 designs] — January 20, 2012 \| Washington, DC 20066 \| Set of five 85¢ First Class 3 ounce rate stamps se-tenant in PSA pane of 20 The five birds of prey on these stamps are the northern goshawk, peregrine falcon, golden eagle, osprey, and northern harrier. Birds of prey, also known as raptors, thrive in diverse habitats and live on every continent except Antarctica. The roughly 500 species of birds of prey, also known as raptors, include birds that hunt by day, such as falcons, eagles, and harriers, and birds that hunt by night — the owls. They are carnivorous, use their powerful talons to capture prey, and their exceptionally keen eyesight allows them to see small objects in detail, even from a great distance. The 85¢ Birds of Prey stamps pay the First Class three-ounce rate.
	Dogs at Work [Click to see 4 designs] — January 20, 2012 \| Merrifield, VA 22081 \| Set of four 65¢ First Class 2 ounce rate stamps se-tenant in PSA pane of 20 While the earliest dogs helped human hunters bring home prey, today’s dogs excel at a variety of jobs. The U.S. Postal Service celebrates the enduring partnership between dogs and people with this set of four stamps, which depict four hard-working canines: a guide dog assisting a woman who is blind, a tracking dog on the trail of a scent, a therapy dog visiting an elderly woman in her home, and a search and rescue dog standing in a field, ready to tackle the next assignment. The 65¢ stamps pay the First Class two-ounce rate.
	Lancaster County, Pa., Amish Country — January 20, 2012 \| Lancaster, PA 17601 \| $1.05 International rate stamp in PSA pane of 20 Designed to draw attention to the wonders of the United States, this $1.05 International rate stamp shows the glories of Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, with one of its beautiful, iconic farmsteads set amid gently rolling hills. Known for its breathtaking rural scenery, agricultural bounty, and small towns with evocative names like Bird-in-Hand and Paradise, Lancaster County is perhaps most famous as part of the Pennsylvania Dutch Country. The Amish, with their horse-drawn buggies, one-room schoolhouses, and traditional lifestyle, give the county a traditional, Old World charm.
	Sailboat Stamped Post Card — January 22, 2012 \| Oyster Bay, NY 11771 \| Forever (32¢) stamped card in single-cut cards, double-reply cards and sheets of 40 cards The Postal Service highlights America’s scenic beauty with this stamped card. Whether racing along the coast or simply bobbing in harbors, sailboats add to the allure of any water view. This impressionistic image of a moored sailboat was created by Burton Silverman, who painted the scene in oil on a gesso surface board. The sailboat, a one-masted sloop, rests with its sails furled while a single sailor stands on deck. Silverman based the painting on a photograph he took during a summer sailing trip to Long Island Sound. The card was designed by art director Derry Noyes.
	Celebrating Lunar New Year: Year of the Dragon — January 23, 2012 \| San Francisco, CA 94188 \| Forever (45¢) stamp in PSA pane of 12 Fifth in the series of designs by artist Kim Mak, celebrating Lunar New Year, which in 2012 is Jan. 23, a bit earlier than usual.
	Bonsai [Click to see 5 designs] — January 23, 2012 \| Sacramento, CA 95813 \| Set of five Forever (45¢) stamps se-tenant in PSA double-sided booklet of 20 This set of five stamps pictures bonsai plants. Bonsai is Japanese for “plant in a pot,” but the plants are typically trees that have been trained or miniaturized, and can live for decades.
	Purple Martin Stamped Envelope — January 23, 2012 \| Mulberry, FL 33860 \| Forever (45¢) stamped envelope with WAG or PSA in three different sizes (#6-3/4, #9 and #10) regular and window formats (a total of 12 different envelopes) Two purple martins—the largest swallow in North America—are seen on the Purple Martin Stamped Envelope. In the eastern U.S., purple martins live almost exclusively in backyard birdhouses. Native Americans were the first to build houses for these acrobatic fliers, hanging up hollow gourds for them to nest in. Purple martins make excellent neighbors, as they devour many insects that people find annoying, such as flies, wasps, and stink bugs. This is a Forever stamped envelope, so the value of the postage is always equal to the value of the current First-Class Mail one-ounce rate.
	John H. Johnson — January 31, 2012 \| Chicago, IL 60607 \| Forever (45¢) stamp in PSA pane of 20 The 35th release in the Black Heritage series celebrates one of the most influential Black publishers, founder of Ebony and Jet magazines, and an important leader in the Civil Rights movement. The design is based on a photo by David McCann. It will probably be issued in February in Chicago, Johnson’s hometown.
	Heart Health — February 2012 \| Site to be determined \| Forever (45¢) stamp The year’s social awareness issue “focuses on the feelings of wellness and vitality that comes from physical exercise,” according to the Postal Service announcement. The striding figure in the center of California artist Nicholas Wilton’s design does indeed have a full red heart.
	Love Ribbons — February 14, 2012 \| Colorado Springs, CO 80903 \| Forever (45¢) stamp in PSA pane of 20 New York graphic designer Louise Fili’s impression of Love is a swirl of pink-tinged white satin ribbons on a red background, almost extending off the edge of the stamp.
	Arizona Statehood — February 14, 2012 \| Phoenix, AZ 85026 \| Forever (45¢) stamp in PSA pane of 20 Arizona was part of Mexico until 1848, when the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo, which ended the U.S.-Mexican War, resulted in the United States’ acquiring most of the land that makes up the present-day state. One of America’s last frontiers, Arizona became the 48th state in the Union on February 14, 1912. The stamp art celebrates this beauty with an original painting of Cathedral Rock, one of the colorful and much admired sandstone rock formations of Sedona, Arizona.
	Danny Thomas — February 16, 2012 \| Memphis, TN 38101 \| Forever (45¢) stamp in PSA pane of 20 Entertainer Danny Thomas left as his greatest legacy the St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, which he started in gratitude for a prayer of his own having been answered. The Memphis, Tennessee facility specializes in treating children for catastrophic diseases regardless of race, religion or a family’s ability to pay. In Danny Thomas’ own words, “No child should die in the dawn of life.” The Forever First Class rate stamp shows a smiling Danny Thomas in the foreground with the St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital in the background. It was designed by Greg Breeding using the artwork of Tim O’Brien.
	Cherry Blossom Centennial [Click to see larger version] — March 24, 2012 \| Washington, DC 20066 \| Forever (45¢) stamp In 1912 Japan gave 3,000 cherry trees to the United States, which were planted round the Tidal Basin in the nation’s capital. In artist Paul Rogers’s design for the se-tenent stamps, blossoming trees arch over a family on a stroll with two girls dressed in bright kimonos, the Washington Monument in the background. In the stamp on the right, the Jefferson Memorial is the backdrop for sightseers under a canopy of pink blooms. Although this seems like an ideal subject for a joint issue with Japan, no such arrangements have been made to date.
	José Ferrer — April 2012 \| New York, NY 10199 \| Forever (45¢) stamp One of America’s most versatile and honored actors, José Ferrer is the 14th luminary celebrated in the U.S. Postal Service’s *Distinguished Americans* series. The stamp shows Ferrer at the height of his fame, his elegant and timeless look captured in an oil-on-canvas portrait.
	William H. Johnson — April 7, 2012 \| Baltimore, MD 21233 \| Forever (45¢) stamp An entry in the American Treasures art series celebrates the work of the influential African-American artist, who has become somewhat of an icon in the art world. Upon his death in 1970 he donated his entire collection to the Smithsonian American Art Museum, where a gallery is devoted to his works.
	Twentieth-Century Poets [Click to see 10 designs] — April 21, 2012 \| Los Angeles, CA 90001 \| Forever (45¢) stamp The ten great Twentieth-Century Poets on these Forever stamps honor Elizabeth Bishop, Joseph Brodsky, Gwendolyn Brooks, E. E. Cummings, Robert Hayden, Denise Levertov, Sylvia Plath, Theodore Roethke, Wallace Stevens and William Carlos Williams—a group that include winners of numerous Pulitzer Prizes, National Book Awards, and honorary degrees. The reverse of the pane of 20 stamps includes an excerpt from one poem by each of the ten poets. Most of the honorees are American born, one exception being Joseph Brodsky, an exile from the Soviet Union who became the first foreign-born poet to be appointed Poet Laureate of the United States.
	Civil War. “1862: A Nation Touched with Fire” [Click to see 2 designs] — April 24, 2012 \| New Orleans, LA 70113 \| Forever (45¢) stamp “1862: A Nation Touched with Fire” is the title of the next sheet in this series. Highlighted are the Battle of New Orleans, which lasted from April 24 to May 1, 1862, and the Battle of Antietam in September. The background illustration (not shown) is from a Currier and Ives print.
	Louisiana Statehood — April 30, 2012 \| Baton Rouge, LA 70826 \| Forever (45¢) stamp Known for its vibrant music, authentic cuisine, and dynamic mingling of cultures, the “Pelican State” became the 18th state in the Union on April 30, 1812. The stamp art features a photograph of Flat Lake, which is located in the Atchafalaya Basin, the largest contiguous river swamp in the United States.
	Great Film Directors [Click to see 4 designs] — May 2012 \| Silver Spring, MD 20910 \| Forever (45¢) stamp Fans of Hollywood will probably debate endlessly both which directors were better than others, and which films deserve more recognition than others. The selections for this block of four are John Ford, Frank Capra, Billy Wilder and John Huston. Just a list of their great films would probably fill a couple of pages.
	Bicycling [Click to see 4 designs] — May 2012 \| Minneapolis, MN 55401 \| Forever (45¢) stamp Another strip of four: a young child just learning to ride with training wheels; a commuter pedaling to work; a road racer; and an airborne BMX rider.
	Send a Smile [Click for 5 designs] — May 2012 \| Orlando, FL 32862 \| Forever (45¢) stamp Another collaboration with the Disney Studios’ Pixar series of motion pictures, following this year’s “Send Hello” set. The designs show characters from A Bug’s Life (1998), Toy Story 2 (1999), Monsters, Inc. (2001), Finding Nemo (2003) and The Incredibles (2004). The stamps will be issued August 19 at the Disney convention in California.
	Celebrate Scouting — June 9, 2012 \| Washington, DC 20066 \| Forever (45¢) stamp A follow up to this year’s scouting stamp picturing a boy is another design by Craig Frazier picturing a girl, celebrating the centennial of the scouting movement.
	Major League Baseball All-Stars [Click to see 4 designs] — July 2012 \| Cooperstown, NY 13326 \| Forever (45¢) stamp The four subjects are Joe DiMaggio, Ted Williams, Larry Doby (first Black player in the American League) and Willie Stargell. Here’s one issue where the first day date and city have already been decided. They will be introduced at the Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown during the annual induction ceremonies.
	Innovative Choreographers [Click to see 4 designs] — July 28, 2012 \| Los Angeles, CA 90052 \| Forever (45¢) stamp Fans of classical and theatrical dance will enjoy seeing portraits of Isadora Duncan, Jose Limon, Katherine Dunham and Bob Fosse, illustrated by theater poster artist James McMullan.
	Flags of our Nation [Click to see 10 designs] — August 16, 2012 \| Sacramento, CA 95813 \| Forever (45¢) stamp This series has reached the end of the alphabet, with the states of Texas, Utah, Vermont, Virgin Islands, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia, Wisconsin, Wyoming and another U.S. flag. The format once again is two strips of five stamps in coils.
	Edgar Rice Burroughs — August 17, 2012 \| Tarzana, CA 91356 \| Forever (45¢) stamp Best known as the creator of Tarzan and other denizens of the jungle, Burroughs wrote a number of other novels that are still widely read. A Disney film based on his “John Carter on Mars” series will be released next March, but the stamp will be issued during the Burroughs convention in California in August. The stamp, designed by artist Sterling Hundley, shows a view of Tarzan clinging to a tree, combined with a profile of Burroughs based on a 1934 photo.
	The War of 1812: USS Constitution — August 18, 2012 \| Boston, MA 02205 \| Forever (45¢) stamp The bicentennial of the start of this war with Britain is commemorated with a stamp picturing the conflict’s most famous ship, the USS Constitution, more popularly known as Old Ironsides. The stamp reproduces a very early painting of the ship by Michel Fellice Corne, now in the USS Constitution Museum in Boston. No decision has been made yet on whether to continue this series to the war’s end in 1815.
	O. Henry — September 11, 2012 \| Greensboro, NC 27420 \| Forever (45¢) stamp The 28th stamp in the Literary Arts series will picture this perennially popular writer, whose real name was William Sydney Porter. His adventurous personal life was almost more exciting than his short stories, which are famous for their wit, wordplay, warm characterization and clever twist endings.
	Christmas Traditional: Holy Family — October 2012 \| Site to be determined \| Forever (45¢) stamp A departure from the Madonna & Child designs the USPS usually selects, the Holy Family stamp celebrates Christmas with a scene from the Nativity story. Art director William J. Gicker, designer Greg Breeding, and artist Nancy Stahl created a design that shows Joseph leading a donkey that carries Mary and Jesus, guided by a star shining in the twilight of a desert sky.
	Earthscapes [Click to see 15 designs] — October 1, 2012 \| Washington, DC 20066 \| Forever (45¢) stamp Fifteen different views based on aerial or satellite photographs of a wide variety of scenes all across the country. There are five stamps in three groups: Natural: Glacier and Icebergs, Volcanic Crater, Geothermal Spring, Butte in Early Morning Fog, Inland Marsh; Agricultural: Salt Evaporation Ponds, Long Rafts on Way to Sawmill, Center Pivot Irrigation, Cherry Orchard, Cranberry Harvest; and Urban: Residential Subdivision, Barge Fleeting, Railroad Roundhouse, Skyscraper Apartments, and Highway Interchange.
	Santa and Sleigh [Click to see 4 designs] — October 14, 2012 \| New York, NY 10199 \| Forever (45¢) stamp The Santa and Sleigh block of four was the work of California artist Paul Rogers. Following what seems to have become a long-standing custom, the stamps will be issued at the ASDA National Postage Stamp Show in New York in October. No plans were announced for new traditional (religious) Christmas, Hanukkah or Kwanzaa stamps.
	Sunshine Skyway Bridge — Issue date to be determined \| Bradenton, FL 34206 \| $5.15 Priority Mail Stamp The U.S. Postal Service celebrates the Sunshine Skyway Bridge in Florida with this *Priority Mail* ® stamp. The bridge was one of the first major concrete-and-steel, cable-stayed bridges in the United States. Completed in 1987, the main bridge and approach spans stretch more than four miles across Tampa Bay and link the Gulf Coast communities surrounding St. Petersburg and Bradenton.
	Carmel Mission — Issue date to be determined \| Carmel, CA 93923 \| $18.95 Express Mail Stamp Often described as one of the most beautiful mission churches in the state of California, Carmel Mission is known for its dome-shaped bell tower and elaborate star-shaped window. Formally known as Mission San Carlos Borroméo del Río Carmelo, Carmel Mission was founded on June 3, 1770. It was the second in what would become a chain of 21 Spanish missions along the coast of California, each positioned about one day’s ride on horseback from the next. Designed by Art Director Phil Jordan, the stamp features an illustration created by artist Dan Cosgrove.
	Four Flags [Click to see block of 4] — Issue date and site to be determined \| Forever (45¢) stamp In addition to the Flags of Our Nation and the currently available Liberty/Flag stamps, in 2012 the USPS also will be issuing a Four Flags set. A single word—Freedom, Liberty, Equality, Justice—appears on each of the four stamps. The typeface is meant to recall the look of Colonial-era printing. The flag illustration by the late Arnold Holeywell is based on a photograph taken by art director Howard Paine.

2012 USPS New Issues Calendar