SOUTH CAROLINA — The U.S. Postal Service recently announced the release of its 2026 Love stamps, four charming scenes of stylized birds inhabiting a colorful world where hearts appear — like love itself — in sweet and surprising ways.
Stamp artist James Yang drew inspiration from mid-century American design and Japanese children’s book illustrations. The illustrator began with pencil sketches on tracing paper, later scanning and refining them digitally. He said that birds proved to be a versatile and visually interesting metaphor for couples, allowing him to explore themes of affection in playful ways.
“I am a big fan of mid-century design and love the rendering of birds by Charles and Ray Eames and by children’s book artists of the era,” Yang said. “At the time the stamp art was created, I was also working on the children’s book ‘Bus! Stop!,’ which features two birds throughout the storyline.”
The four stamp scenes include a bird duo inspecting leafy branches adorned with small white hearts; a blue bird presenting a heart-shaped flower to a red bird; two white birds resting in a nest beneath a heart-shaped moon; and a pair of birds exploring a flurry of orange and yellow hearts falling like petals.
Ethel Kessler, an art director for USPS, designed the stamps using Yang’s images. The 2026 Love stamps are Forever stamps and will always be equal in value to the current First-Class Mail 1-ounce price.