The 2011 Stamp Program was unveiled this week at the annual American Philatelic Society StampShow 2010 in Richmond, VA.

Leading off next year’s schedule is the Lunar New Year stamp — celebrating the Year of the Rabbit. As the year progresses, USPS will introduce stamps honoring former President Ronald Reagan, actors Helen Hayes and Gregory Peck, first-man-in-space Alan Shepard and the Indianapolis 500 auto race.

The Postal Service will continue its various stamp themes. The Black Heritage series will honor former Congresswoman Barbara Jordan, the Literary Arts series will commemorate Mark Twain and the American Treasures series will feature artist Edward Hopper’s painting, The Long Leg. A strip of five stamps — the newest in the Latin Music Legends series — will feature Tito Puente, Carmen Miranda, Selena, Carlos Gardel and Celia Cruz.

A panel of 12 stamps will honor American leaders of industrial design and a strip of four stamps will feature the works of African-American artist and writer Romare Beardon. American scientists Melvin Calvin, Asa Gray, Maria Goeppert Mayer and Severo Ochoa will be remembered with a block of stamps.

USPS will feature the Civil War in a pane of stamps, as well as Garden of Love, a 10-stamp set of flowers. USPS will honor the U.S. Merchant Marine service with a block of four stamps featuring historic vessels. And the Postal Service will issue a stamp honoring Kansas statehood and also its third, ten-stamp set of the Flags of our Nation series.

Next year’s Christmas stamp will feature Raphael’s Madonna of the Candelabra, while the holiday contemporary entry will be a block of four Holiday Baubles.

Finally, Owney the Postal Dog — the legendary canine who travelled the country on railway mail cars during the late 19th century — will be remembered with his own stamp.

source: USPS  News Link