Announcement of 2027 Stamp Subjects
The U.S. Postal Service announced its 2027 Stamp Subjects on Monday, revealing a diverse collection that spans sports legends, mythical creatures, vegetables, unicorns, and more. The announcement, covered by NBC Bay Area and NBC San Diego, highlights the agency's continued effort to blend cultural heritage with whimsical artistic expression in its annual philatelic releases.
Honoring Baseball and Basketball Legends
Among the most significant additions to the 2027 lineup is the inclusion of baseball icon Willie Mays, who will be honored with the 50th stamp in the USPS Black Heritage series. Mays played primarily for the New York and San Francisco Giants during a 23-year career, cementing his status as one of the sport's most enduring figures.
The stamp dedicated to Mays features a portrait of him wearing a New York Giants hat, capturing his iconic over-the-shoulder catch from the 1954 World Series. The artwork was created by USPS art director Antonio Alcalá, who utilized photographs from Getty Images to bring the legendary moment to life on paper.
Also featured in the sports legends set is women’s college basketball coach Pat Summitt. Her career at the University of Tennessee spanned 38 years, during which she won over 1,000 games and eight national championships, establishing a legacy of excellence in collegiate athletics.
The stamp honoring Summitt displays a portrait in oil-on-primed-linen, created by artist Roberto Parada. The design was executed by USPS art director Ethel Kessler, ensuring that the visual representation matches the gravity of Summitt's contributions to women's sports.
Mythical Creatures and Whimsical Themes
Beyond historical figures, the 2027 series embraces fantasy and folklore through a new Mythical Creatures set. This collection features five stamps depicting regional favorites from American lore. Among them is the Mothman, first reported in 1966, as well as the Jackalope, which was created by taxidermist brothers in Wyoming in the 1930s. The set also includes the Squonk, a creature drawn from Pennsylvania lumbermen’s lore.
Adding to the whimsical nature of the release is a pane of 16 unicorn stamps. This collection features four distinct scenes by artist Kendra Binney, who used mixed-media artwork to depict the mythical beasts. The pane was designed by USPS art director Derry Noyes.
Cultural Celebrations and Culinary Art
The 2027 Lunar New Year stamp marks the Year of the Goat, serving as the eighth stamp in the third series which began in 2020. Artist Camille Chew created cut-paper masks representing the 12 animals of the Chinese zodiac for this release. USPS art director Antonio Alcalá designed the final stamp using a photograph by Sally Andersen-Bruce.
In the realm of traditional themes, the 2027 Love stamp was designed by artist Lisa Congdon with art direction from Greg Breeding. The design features geometric shapes and symbols intended to evoke joy, continuing the long-standing tradition of the Love series.
For those interested in culinary aesthetics, the "Veggies Forever" booklet contains 20 stamps featuring close-up photographs of various vegetables. The collection includes red onion, Savoy cabbage, red cabbage, purple cauliflower, beech mushrooms, purple asparagus, an artichoke, a fairy tale eggplant, rhubarb, and a watermelon radish. These stamps were designed by Ethel Kessler using photos by Renée Comet.