Forever Stamps 2023 Tulip Blossoms – Nature Series, First-Class Postage

First Day of Issue:  April 5, 2023
First Day City:  Woodburn, Oregon
Printed by:  Banknote Corporation of America
Printing Method:  Offset
Format:  Double-sided booklet of 20

USPS’s Tulip Blossoms Stamps: A Celebration of Spring

First Day Ceremony at Wooden Shoe Tulip Festival: The Wooden Shoe Tulip Festival in Woodburn, Oregon, set the stage for the First Day of Issue Ceremony, capturing the spirit of Dutch culture amid blooming tulips and iconic wooden shoes.

About the Tulip Blossoms Set: Issued by the USPS to commemorate spring and the widespread admiration for tulips in America, the Tulip Blossoms set features 10 stamps. Each stamp showcases a close-up of a tulip, skillfully captured by photographer Denise Ippolito, with the flowers dominating the frame.

Historical Roots: Holland, Michigan, hosts one of the nation’s largest tulip festivals, Tulip Time, an eight-day extravaganza every spring. Commencing in 1928 with the import of 100,000 tulip bulbs from the Netherlands, the festival has evolved into a vibrant celebration of Dutch culture, encompassing parades, traditional dances, art installations, concerts, and more.

Tulip Time’s Evolution: The tulips, initially planted in 1928, bloomed the following spring, marking the inception of the festival. Although interrupted by World War II, Tulip Time resurged in 1946 with added splendor. In contemporary times, it features musical acts and garners support from local radio stations and businesses.

Floral Splendor Across Holland, Michigan: Tulip Time blankets Holland with around six million tulips lining streets, parks, and landmarks like Dutch Village and Windmill Island Gardens. The Veldheer Tulip Gardens, a local tulip farm, adds to the spectacle. Drawing over a million global visitors annually in the second week of May, the festival offers an enchanting spring day in Holland, Michigan.