Reissued stamp, souvenir sheet available nationwide June 1
LATROBE, PA – The iconic 2018 Mister Rogers stamp featuring the beloved television personality was recently announced as the winner of the United States Postal Service (USPS) Stamp Encore contest.
To celebrate the 250th anniversary of the Postal Service, the public was invited to vote for their favorite stamp pane out of 25 recent offerings. Over 500,000 votes were cast, and the Fred Rogers stamp secured the win by more than 40,000 votes.
The announcement was made by the Postal Service on Sunday, May 24, during the Boston 2026 World Exposition.
The stamp depicts Rogers sporting his signature red cardigan sweater and standing alongside King Friday XIII, a character from the fictional puppet kingdom featured in the “Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood” TV show.
Originally dedicated on March 23, 2018, the stamp was reissued as part of the exposition’s festivities and available exclusively at the expo through May 30. The stamps—issued in panes of 20—and a new, four-image Mister Rogers souvenir sheet will be available at USPS locations nationwide and online at The Postal Store starting June 1.
“Fred Rogers considered the space between the television set and a viewer to be ‘holy ground,’” said Emma Swift Lee, executive director of the Fred Rogers Institute. Swift attended the ceremony as the stamp was recognized as the winner. “The mail children sent to Mister Rogers, and his letters back, became an essential extension of that sacred connection. Reissuing this stamp beautifully honors the enduring ties he built with his television friends.”
Derry Noyes, an art director for USPS, designed the stamp using a photograph by Walt Seng. During the initial run in 2018, USPS ordered a print run of 12 million; the stamps sold out in a few weeks.
The re-release coincides with Mister Rogers Family Days celebrated from June 1-6 in Latrobe, Rogers’ hometown. As part of the Family Days, the Fred Rogers Institute hosted a Community Open House on Monday, June 1, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. inside the Fred M. Rogers Center on the Saint Vincent College campus.
The week continues Wednesday, June 3, with “Sounds of the Neighborhood” featuring the personal pianos of Fred and Joanne Rogers publicly for the first time in a duo concert. The classical tribute featuring an evening of piano music performed by accomplished pianists and sisters Gloria Cook and Cynthia Lawing is scheduled for 7:30-8:30 p.m. inside the Rogers Center (Room AB). Doors open at 7 p.m. Preregistration was required and registration is now full.
On Thursday, June 4, Rogers will be introduced to a global audience as the “Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood” YouTube channel will launch 25 years after the series concluded. The show originally aired from 1968 to 2001.
The official channel will engage audiences of all ages with full episodes, clips and compilations from the show featuring Rogers’ timeless messages of community, education and kindness.
