Lunar New Year: Year of the Horse Stamps
About This Stamp
In 2026, the U.S. Postal Service issues the seventh of 12 stamps in the newest Lunar New Year series. Parades, fireworks, and festivals mark the Lunar New Year holiday in Chinese, Vietnamese, Korean, and other East and Southeast Asian communities across America.
Beginning in 2020, in observance of the Lunar New Year holiday, the U.S. Postal Service introduced its third — and current — Lunar New Year stamp series. This is the seventh Forever® stamp in that series, which will continue through 2031 with stamps for the Year of the Ram, Monkey, Rooster, Dog, and Boar.
Art director Antonio Alcalá designed the stamp with original art by Camille Chew. Two previous award-winning Lunar New Year series ran from 1992 to 2004 and from 2008 to 2019 and showcased the art of Clarence Lee and Kam Mak, respectively.
“I love the current series!” says Alcalá. “Whenever I speak about the stamp program to students or other professional designers, this Lunar New Year series always gets positive feedback. One woman even got a tattoo of the Year of the Rat artwork on her leg — truly a ‘forever stamp’!”
The Year of the Horse stamp features a colorful three-dimensional mask depicting a horse. Calling to mind the elaborately decorated masks used in the dragon or lion dances, often performed during Lunar New Year parades, artist Camille Chew’s three-dimensional designs are a contemporary take on the long tradition of paper-cut folk-art crafts created during this auspicious time of year.
Chew constructed the three-dimensional horse mask out of hand printed paper, then cut, scored, and folded it into shape. She then embellished the mask with acrylic paint and other paper elements, like flowers and tassels, and covered the back of the mask in a layer of papier-mâché. The mask was then photographed on a white background for this series.
“Overall,” Alcalá says, “the positive responses to the more contemporary look are numerous and encouraging.”
The Year of the Horse begins February 17, 2026, and concludes on February 5, 2027. People born in the Year of the Horse are said to be energetic, free-spirited, confident, and hardworking, as horses are symbols of speed, strength, and endurance. These attributes resonate with many who seek success, stability, and good fortune in the new year.
In the United States, the Year of the Horse is particularly popular due to its associations with ambition, independence, and freedom — qualities that align with the American ethos. Many Asian-Americans and non-Asians alike view the Year of the Horse as a time to embrace energy and drive, set new goals, and tackle challenges head-on.
Frequently Asked Questions
How it works?
A Forever® stamp is for sending domestic mail weighing up to 1 oz via First-Class Mail®.
Purpose: Send letters and cards up to 1 oz (approximately 4 sheets of regular, 8-1/2" x 11" paper in a rectangular envelope)
within the U.S., including U.S. territories and military bases overseas.
Value: Always valid for the First-Class Mail 1 oz rate, even if postage rates increase. Visit First-Class Mail and Postage to view
current rates.
Other Uses: Pair this stamp’s value with other postage to meet mailing costs when additional postage is required.
Use the Retail Postage Calculator to determine the exact cost of your mail.
Why is "FOREVER" crossed out in the image?
So the lines in your picture:
- It does not mean that the stamp has expired;
- It does not mean that you cannot continue to use it;
- Nor a postmark;
- It's just an artificial anti-copying line added to the display image.
Note: If the physical stamp you receive actually has this crossed line printed on it, be cautious. It may be a display sample, a replica or a fake stamp, rather than a normal usable stamp.
What are the common types of stamps, and how do they differ?
- Forever Stamp: Valid for standard domestic letters within the U.S. These stamps typically do not bear a fixed face value; they remain valid for mailing a standard one-ounce letter at the current rate, even if postage prices increase in the future.
- Global Forever Stamp: Primarily used for standard international letters or postcards sent from the U.S. to other countries. The main difference between this and a standard Forever Stamp lies in its scope of use and postage value.
- Postcard Stamp: Designed specifically for domestic postcards that meet USPS size standards; the postage rate is typically lower than that for standard letters.
- Additional Ounce Stamp: Used to cover the cost of weight exceeding the first ounce; these are usually used in conjunction with a Forever Stamp or other stamps.
- Two-Ounce and Three-Ounce Stamps: Suitable for heavier letters, greeting cards, wedding invitations, or multi-page documents, eliminating the need to combine multiple stamps to cover the required postage.
- Fixed-Value Stamps: These stamps display a specific monetary value (e.g., 1¢, 5¢, or other amounts) and are primarily used to make up postage differences or in combination with other stamps.
- Commemorative and Thematic Stamps: Typically issued to mark historical events, cultural or artistic themes, holidays, notable figures, animals, or natural landscapes. While suitable for regular mail, these stamps are also popular among collectors due to their unique designs and limited release periods.
It is important to note that a stamp's theme and its postage class can overlap; for example, a holiday-themed stamp might also be a Forever Stamp. When purchasing, check for markings such as FOREVER, GLOBAL, POSTCARD, ADDITIONAL OUNCE, or a specific face value to confirm the stamp's intended use.
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- At StampResale, you will find a diverse range of U.S. stamps—including classic Forever Stamps, holiday-themed issues, commemorative stamps, and specialty collections—catering to needs ranging from everyday mailing and gift-giving to serious collecting.
We also frequently offer limited-time discounts, bundle deals, and exclusive promotions, providing you with a wider selection and greater value while guaranteeing the authenticity and quality of our stamps.
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