Last reviewed: August 25, 2026. Postal prices can change; verify unusual pieces with USPS before mailing.
The Boston 2026 World Stamp Show issue has two blue, intaglio-printed Forever stamp designs: one depicts the Old North Church and the other a colonial “midnight rider” on horseback. USPS released the pane on August 14, 2025, to build anticipation for the international exhibition held in Boston in May 2026.
What the two stamps show
The Old North Church design anchors the set in a specific Boston landmark. The rider design evokes the network of warnings associated with the opening of the American Revolution. Together, the images connect the show’s host city with the approaching 250th anniversary of the United States without claiming that a single rider alone carried the entire story.
Dan Gretta created the digital illustrations, and USPS art director Greg Breeding designed the stamps. Intaglio printing gives the blue line work a character associated with engraved stamps and documents, which suits both the Revolutionary-era subject and a major philatelic exhibition.
Issue details
| Issue date | August 14, 2025 |
|---|---|
| First-day city | Schaumburg, Illinois, during the Great American Stamp Show |
| Format | Pane of 20; two designs |
| USPS item | 487300 |
| Value | Forever |
| Artist | Dan Gretta |
| Designer/art director | Greg Breeding |
The pane was sold as a commemorative pane rather than split into individual stamps at USPS retail. Individual examples may appear later through collectors or secondary-market sellers, but a listing should still be compared with the official pane and announcement.
What was Boston 2026?
The Boston 2026 World Expo ran May 23–30, 2026. USPS described it as the 12th international philatelic exhibition held in the United States and a once-a-decade gathering. Exhibitions of this scale combine competitive collections, dealers, postal administrations, societies, educational sessions, and new stamp ceremonies.
The commemorative issue therefore has two layers: it advertises a stamp show, while its designs make a historical argument about Boston’s role in the Revolution. That makes it relevant both to event collectors and to topical collections focused on Boston, the Revolution, churches, horses, or stamp exhibitions.
How to identify and collect the pane
- Confirm there are two alternating blue designs.
- Look for the Old North Church and rider subjects, plus Boston 2026 show wording.
- Check the pane-of-20 format and USPS item 487300 against the Postal Bulletin.
- Store the pane flat in archival material; do not hinge mint self-adhesive stamps.
- Record whether an item is mint, used, or on an event cover rather than treating all formats as equivalent.
For broader year-by-year identification, use the Forever stamp design index. New collectors can start with our practical collecting plan.
Frequently asked questions
Were the Boston 2026 stamps issued in 2026?
No. They were issued on August 14, 2025, ahead of the May 2026 exhibition.
Are they valid Forever stamps?
Yes. Each stamp pays the current domestic one-ounce First-Class Mail letter price.
Who designed the images?
Dan Gretta created the digital illustrations; Greg Breeding designed the stamps as USPS art director.
