Author Archives: VSC

Aerobatic Team’s 60th Anniversary (UK 2024)

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[press release] [click on any of the pictures for larger versions]
Royal Mail Celebrates 60th Display Season of the Red Arrows with Special Stamps

  • A set of 12 Special Stamps mark the history of the RAF aerobatic team, the Red Arrows, as they embark on their milestone Diamond 60th display season
  • Captivating photographs capture some of the Red Arrows’ breath-taking manoeuvres and iconic formations
  • The stamps and a range of collectible products are available from today (20 June) at www.royalmail.com/redarrows and by telephone on 03457 641641

Royal Mail has revealed 12 stamp images being issued to mark the 60th display season of the Red Arrows, one of the world’s premier national aerobatic teams.

Each stamp in the main set of eight tells a story of precision, skill and sheer daring as the Red Arrows paint the sky with their trademark red, white and blue trails.

An additional sheet of four stamps showcases the Red Arrows’ performances on the world stage, including iconic landmarks such as the Eiffel Tower, the Pyramids in Egypt and Niagara Falls.

For six decades, the Red Arrows – the Royal Air Force (RAF) Aerobatic Team – have thrilled and entertained millions of people around the world with their dynamic displays and colourful close-formation flypasts.

Officially established in 1964 and with their first public display taking place seven months later, the Red Arrows and their red-painted Gnat jet trainers soon became the showpiece of the RAF – and one of Britain’s most important international ambassadors. {Shown at right, the “stamp souvenir” or unaddressed first day cover, £16.25.]

Now in their 60th season and flying BAE Systems Hawks in displays since 1980, the Red Arrows continue to demonstrate their awe-inspiring teamwork and excellence around the globe. {Shown at left, the minisheet FDC, £9.90]

David Gold, Director of External Affairs and Policy said: “During important national celebrations such as His Majesty’s Coronation, and representing the UK globally, the Red Arrows have entertained us with spectacular displays of aeronautical excellence. We are proud to mark their 60th season with these striking new stamps.”

Squadron Leader Jon Bond, Team Leader of the Royal Air Force Aerobatic Team for 2024 and flying as Red 1, said: “This milestone season underscores the excellence, dedication and pride of all those who have worked for, supported or just simply watched a show by the Royal Air Force Aerobatic Team across the last 60 seasons. [Shown on the right, the medal cover, £19.99.]

“As well celebrating this heritage, these new stamps – many of which feature brilliant images taken by skilled RAF personnel – will hopefully inspire many more people using the wonder of aviation, just like each of our colourful, dynamic displays.”

The stamps, and a range of collectible products, are available now at www.royalmail.com/redarrows and by telephone on 03457 641 641. A Presentation Pack including all 12 stamps is priced at £22.00.
Above, the Buckingham Palace Gold Proof Coin Cover, £2,995.00 (US$3,787). A silver version is available at £98.50. Other “philatelic products” include postcards, a presentation pack, various panes of stamps, a prestige booklet, framed stamps and more.

Amos Media Part of New Collectibles Show

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[press release] [click on any of the pictures for larger versions]
Amos Media and Shepherd Expos Management Launch Tampa, Florida Show
Philatelic section will be part of the first Great American Coin and Collectibles Show, September 11-14, 2024

For the first time in the 148-year history of what today is Amos Media, publisher of Linn’s Stamps News (www.Linns.com), Coin World, and the Scott stamp catalogues, the company is directly involved in the creation of a show for collectors and dealers. In partnership with Shepherd Expos Management, the inaugural Great American Coin and Collectibles Show (www.GACC.show) will be held in Florida at the acclaimed Tampa Convention Center [right], September 11-14, 2024.

When word about the new show began to spread, a number of stamp dealers made inquiries about the availability of booth space, according to show planner Larry Shepherd. The Tampa show will include a philatelic section specifically for collectors and dealers of stamps, covers, and other philatelic items.

“For more than a year, we have been working on hosting a collectibles show. After watching the success Larry had with turning around the Central States Numismatic Society show we were convinced that a fresh, innovative approach would be welcomed,” said Amos Media Chairman Rick Amos [left].

“Coin and stamp shows have not changed much in 50 years, and we need to bring the concept into the 21st century. The ability to sell and buy online is a significant part of today’s marketplace, but we believe it is still vitally important to be able to see coins, bank notes, and stamps in person and to conduct transactions face-to-face, as well as offer in-person educational opportunities,” explained Amos.

“When Larry [right] became available, we were excited to partner with a proven professional who knows how to plan and deliver a successful show. He developed ways to make shows more relevant with new innovations for a new generation of collectors and dealers. Larry has a proven track record of professional show management success,” stated Amos.

Initial plans include a large bourse space that can accommodate nearly 600 dealers’ tables with between 30 and 50 tables in the philatelic section. There will also be a separate collectors’ annex with another 60 to 70 tables offering coins and other collectibles. A dealer-to-dealer trading day will be available for all table holders on September 10, the day before the show opens to the public.

Also, although the show ends on Saturday, September 14, the guarded security room will be open through, Monday, September 16, for the convenience of dealers and visitors who want to store their valuables while exploring the many Florida attractions and activities.

Significant discounts at seven Hilton and Marriott hotel properties near the convention center are available with rates starting as low as $159 per night.

“We encourage dealers and collectors to book their accommodations as early as possible to take advantage of the special rates while they are available,” said Shepherd.

Information about the hotels and the special rates can be found at www.GACC.show/hotels.

For additional information about the Great American Coin and Collectibles Show and to obtain a dealer application, visit www.GACC.show, or contact Larry Shepherd at 719-464-8801 or email at ShepherdExpos@gmail.com.

AFDCS Counting Down to Member 30,000

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[press release]
AFDCS Counting Down to Member Milestone
Awarding 30,000 Pennies to Lucky New Member And Proposer

The American First Day Cover Society will give a lucky new member and whoever proposes that member each a $300 credit — the equivalent of 30,000 pennies — to welcome member #30,000.

The winners can spend their prizes on the AFDCS.org website, buying FDCs, catalogues and handbooks; joining, renewing or upgrading their memberships; paying for successful AFDCS auction bids; and more. The complete rules are on our website. (No, you cannot join, quit, and join again to try to hit #30,000! And your dog is not eligible.)

The AFDCS today does not have 30,000 members: It is closer to 1,200. Some numbers may have been skipped; some people may have received more than one number over the years; and, of course, some former members no longer collect.

Member #1 was Richard S. Bohn, who was one of the philatelic leaders who came up with the idea of a national society for first day cover collectors. Unfortunately, he passed away within a year after the founding in 1955. The earliest still active membership number is 10, Gerald Strauss [left], the first editor of First Days.

The AFDCS is the largest not-for-profit first day cover society in the world, with members in more than a dozen countries. It publishes an award-winning journal, First Days, six times a year, as well as handbooks, catalogues and You-Tube videos; holds fundraising auctions; is a co-sponsor of the annual Great American Stamp Show, conducts an annual cachetmaking contest; and encourages philatelic exhibiting and writing about FDCs.

For more information about the AFDCS, visit www.afdcs.org, e-mail afdcs@afdcs.org or write the AFDCS at Post Office Box 27, Greer, SC 29652-0027.

USPS Adds Cheng To Advisory Panel

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[press release] [click on any of the pictures for larger versions]
New Member Appointed to Citizens’ Stamp Advisory Committee

WASHINGTON — The U.S. Postal Service today announced the appointment of Alicia Cheng, a graphic designer and educator, to the Citizens’ Stamp Advisory Committee (CSAC). Members are appointed to the committee by the postmaster general to provide expertise in business, history, science, technology, art, education, sports and other areas of public interest. Working together, they make recommendations for future stamp subjects.

Cheng is currently head of design at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York, where she leads the team responsible for designing exhibitions, permanent galleries and communications materials.

Before that, Cheng was a co-design director at the Cooper Hewitt, Smithsonian Design Museum and later went on to become a founding partner of MGMT. design, a collaborative female-owned graphic design studio focusing on exhibition design, museum publications, print, branding and data visualization.

She currently serves as an external critic for the Master of Fine Arts (MFA) program at the Rhode Island School of Design, and has taught at Yale University, Maryland Institute College of Art, Barnard College and the Cooper Union School of Art.

A keen student of the early development of communication and distribution systems, Cheng has contributed articles on Victorian photography and public service announcements to The Atlantic magazine and an article on the history of the printed ballot for The New Yorker. In 2020, she published the book “This Is What Democracy Looked Like: A Visual History of the Printed Ballot,” with an accompanying exhibition at the Cooper Union.

She is a member of the Board of Visitors for the Temple University Rome Program and was a past board member of AIGA/NY and the Fine Arts Federation, a design advocacy consortium in New York City.

Cheng attended Barnard College in New York City and received an MFA in graphic design from Yale University with a focus on information design and dance notation systems. She was born in Ann Arbor, MI, and resides in Brooklyn NY with her husband and daughter.

Submitting Stamp Suggestions
Due to the time required for research and approval in the stamp selection process, ideas for stamp subjects should be received at least three years prior to the proposed issuance. Each submission should include pertinent historical information and important dates associated with the subject. Proposals must be in writing and submitted by U.S. Mail. No in-person appeals, phone calls or emails are accepted. Mail your suggestion (one topic per letter) to the address below:

Stamp Development
Attn: Citizens’ Stamp Advisory Committee
475 L’Enfant Plaza SW, Room 3300
Washington, DC 20260-3501

Alex Trebek (U.S. 2024)

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[press release] [click on any of the pictures for larger versions]
CLUE: This Naturalized U.S. Citizen Is Now Honored With a Forever Stamp
CORRECT RESPONSE: Who Is Alex Trebek?

WASHINGTON — On the June 21 episode of “Jeopardy!”, host Ken Jennings announced that the U.S. Postal Service will issue a Forever stamp honoring beloved former host Alex Trebek concurrent with the show’s 60th Diamond Celebration that was launched earlier this year to celebrate the remarkable legacy of America’s Favorite Quiz Show. Presales for this special stamp begin today, June 21, at usps.com.

The first-day-of-issue event for the Alex Trebek stamp is free and open to the public. Details about the event are below. News of the stamp is being shared with the hashtag #AlexTrebekStamp.

Who:
• Michael Elston, Secretary of the Board of Governors of the U.S. Postal Service
• Ken Jennings, “Jeopardy!” host
• Jean Trebek, wife of Alex Trebek

When: Monday, July 22, 2024, at 4 p.m. Pacific time

Where: John Calley Park
Sony Pictures Studios
10371 Culver Blvd.
Culver City, CA 90232

RSVP: In order to enter the Sony Studios lot, attendees must register at:usps.com/alextrebekstamp

Background: This stamp commemorates Alex Trebek (1940–2020), the longtime host of the television quiz show “Jeopardy!” who became a respected and beloved presence in millions of homes.

The grid of 20 identical stamps resembles the array of video monitors that form the “Jeopardy!” game board.

On the stamp is written the prompt, “THIS NATURALIZED U.S. CITIZEN HOSTED THE QUIZ SHOW ‘Jeopardy!’ FOR 37 SEASONS” and underneath, upside down, is the correct response: “Who is Alex Trebek?”

On the stamp pane, relevant category headers appear at the top of each column of stamps, and to the left is a photograph of Trebek with a portion of the “Jeopardy!” set behind him.

Antonio Alcalá, an art director for USPS, designed the stamps using photography provided by Sony Pictures Entertainment and hand lettering by Marti Davila.

The Alex Trebek stamp will be issued in panes of 20. As Forever stamps, they will always be equal in value to the current First-Class Mail one-ounce price.

About Sony Pictures Television:
Sony Pictures Television (SPT) is one of the television industry’s leading content providers, producing, distributing and carrying programming worldwide in every genre and for every platform. In addition to managing one of the industry’s largest libraries of award-winning feature films, television shows and formats, SPT is home to a thriving global content business, operating a robust portfolio of wholly owned and joint-venture production companies across the United States, Europe, Latin America and Asia Pacific, as well as linear and digital channels around the world. SPT is a Sony Pictures Entertainment Co., a subsidiary of Tokyo-based Sony Group Corp.

About Jeopardy! :
Jeopardy!, America’s Favorite Quiz Show™, is in its 40th season in syndication. With a weekly audience of more than 20 million viewers, Jeopardy! is the top-rated quiz show on television. The show has won a total of 44 Emmy® Awards, holds the Guinness World Records® title for the most Emmy® Awards won by a TV game show, and received a Peabody Award for “celebrating and rewarding knowledge.” It originally debuted on March 30, 1964. Jeopardy! is produced by Sony Pictures Television, a Sony Pictures Entertainment Co.; it is distributed domestically by CBS Media Ventures

On July 22, 2024, in Culver City, CA, the United States Postal Service® will issue the Alex Trebek stamp (Forever® priced at the First-Class Mail® rate), in one design, in a pressure-sensitive adhesive (PSA) pane of 20 stamps (Item 485300). This stamp will go on sale nationwide July 22, 2024, and must not be sold or canceled before the first-day-of-issue. The Alex Trebek commemorative pane of 20 stamps must not be split and the stamps must not be sold individually.

This stamp commemorates Alex Trebek (1940–2020) who, as longtime host of the challenging television quiz show Jeopardy!, became a respected and beloved presence in millions of homes. The grid of 20 identical stamps resembles the array of video monitors that form the Jeopardy! playing board. On the stamp is written the prompt, “This naturalized U.S. citizen hosted the quiz show ‘Jeopardy!’ for 37 seasons” and underneath, upside down, is the correct response: “Who is Alex Trebek?” Above the stamps are category headers at the top of each column, and to the left is a photograph of Trebek with a portion of the Jeopardy! set behind him. Antonio Alcalá was the art director and designer for this stamp project, using photography provided by Sony Pictures Entertainment and hand lettering by Marti Davila.

Automatic distribution.

How to Order the First-Day-of-Issue Postmark:
Customers have 120 days to obtain the first-day-of-issue postmark by mail. They may purchase new stamps at their local Post Office® or at The Postal Store® website at store.usps.com/store/home. They must affix the stamps to envelopes of their choice, address the envelopes (to themselves or others), and place them in a larger envelope addressed to:

FDOI – Alex Trebek Stamp
USPS Stamp Fulfillment Services
8300 NE Underground Drive, Suite 300
Kansas City, MO 64144-9900

After applying the first-day-of-issue postmark, the Postal Service will return the envelopes through the mail. There is no charge for the postmark up to a quantity of 50. There is a 5-cent charge for each additional postmark over 50. All orders must be postmarked by November 22, 2024.

Technical Specifications:

Issue: Alex Trebek Stamp
Item Number: 485300
Denomination & Type of Issue: First-Class Mail Forever
Format: Pane of 20 (1 design)
Series: N/A
Issue Date & City: July 22, 2024, Culver City, CA 90230
Art Director: Antonio Alcalá, Alexandria, VA
Designer: Antonio Alcalá, Alexandria, VA
Existing Photos: Sony Pictures Entertainment
Modeler: Sandra Lane / Michelle Finn
Manufacturing Process: Offset, Microprint
Printer: Banknote Corporation of America
Press Type: Alprinta 74
Stamps per Pane: 20
Print Quantity: 30,000,000
Paper Type: Phosphor, Block Tag
Adhesive Type: Pressure-sensitive
Colors: Pantone 2736C, Pantone Cool Gray 9C, and Black
Stamp Orientation: Horizontal
Image Area (w x h): 1.4200 x 1.0850 in. / 36.0680 x
27.5590 mm
Overall Size (w x h): 1.5600 x 1.2250 in. / 39.6240 x
31.1150 mm
Full Pane Size (w x h): 9.5000 x 7.5000 in. / 241.3000 x
190.5000 mm
Press Sheets Size (w x h): 19.5000 x 23.0000 in. / 495.3000 x
584.2000 mm
Plate Size: 120 stamps per revolution
Plate Number: “B” followed by three (3) single digits in bottom two corners
Marginal Markings:
Front: Header: Alex Trebek • Jeopardy! host and television personality 1940–2020 • Plate number in bottom two corners
Back: © 2024 Jeopardy Productions, Inc. All rights reserved • © 2024 USPS • USPS Logo • Two barcodes (485300) • Plate position diagram (6) • Promotional text

Here are the first-day postmarks for this issue: The Digital Color Postmark measures 2.56″ x 1.50″ The Pictorial Postmark measures 2.16″ x 1.22″

Updated September 6th:
The Scott catalogue number for this issue is 5907.

Dogs (UK 2024)

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[press release] [click on any of the pictures for larger versions]
You’ll Be ‘Mutts’ About These:
Royal Mail Launches a Set of Paw-Some Special Stamps

  • A set of 10 stamps featuring images of some of the nation’s favourite dog breeds
  • Dogs featured: Dalmatian; Jack Russell-type Terrier; Labrador Retriever; Border Collie; Whippet; Siberian Husky; Chihuahua; Cocker Spaniel; Pembroke Welsh Corgi; and Pug
  • The stamps and a range of collectible products are available from 6 June at www.royalmail.com/dogs and by telephone on 03457 641641

Royal Mail on June 6 launched a paw-some set of 10 stamps featuring delightful images of some of the nation’s favourite dog breeds.

The stamps show: a Dalmatian; Jack Russell-type Terrier; Labrador Retriever; Border Collie; Whippet; Siberian Husky; Chihuahua; Cocker Spaniel; Pembroke Welsh Corgi; and Pug.

Dogs have shared our lives for thousands of years – working, hunting, guarding and providing companionship. Many different breeds evolved and were developed over the centuries, from the very smallest to the largest and shaggiest, from the bravest to the fastest, but regardless of type, dogs have remained loving and loyal. More people around the world own a dog than any other pet, and a third of households in the UK have one.

David Gold, Director of External Affairs and Policy said: “British people are known for their love of animals, and especially dogs. We hope that these beautiful stamps will bring added joy when they drop through people’s letterboxes on cards and letters – and remind our customers to place their cherished dog in another room when opening the door to collect mail from their postie!”

Royal Mail worked with animal expert Tamsin Pickeral on the stamp issue. Tamsin is also author of The Dog: 5,000 Years Of The Dog in Art and The Spirit of the Dog.

Did you know?

  • Dogs and Wolves share 99.9% of their genes.
  • The earliest undisputed dog on record is a dog found in a grave with its owners that lived 14,000 years ago in Germany.
  • There are approximately 12 million dogs in the UK (Statista April 24)
  • One third of UK households own a dog (Statista April 2024)
  • The first medal to recognise bravery of an animal was awarded by Our Dumb Friends League (now Blue Cross) to a dog called La Cloche who, on 24 July 1940, dived into the sea to save his owner. His owner was a French mariner who could not swim and went into the sea after their ship was torpedoed off the UK coast. (Guinness World Records)
  • The world’s oldest known breed of domesticated dog is the Saluki, which can be traced back to 329 BC. (Guinness World Records)
  • Depending on the breed or type a dog’s sense of smell is around 10,000-100,000 times better than ours. (Purina)
  • The Labrador retriever had the most UK Kennel Club registrations in 2023.

Royal Mail’s Dog Awareness Week will take place between 1-7 July 2024.

A dog’s life
The relationship between dogs and humans can be traced back tens of millennia. At one burial site in Germany, for example, dog and human remains from around 14,000 years ago were found together, suggesting that dogs had been domesticated by at least this time. Fossil evidence from Belgium indicates that the evolution of the dog – from an ancestor of the grey wolf and other wild canids – was happening around 31,000 years ago.

Over this vast expanse of time, dogs became an essential part of daily life, helping to hunt for food, pulling sleds, reducing vermin and providing companionship. Breeds or types evolved and were developed to be uniquely suited to their environment and roles – the sleek, fast sighthounds, for example, or the strong, tough Spitz-types. As people recognised the working abilities of their dogs, they began to breed them specifically to retain these characteristics.

The first dog shows were held in the 19th century, which led, in 1873, to the founding of the Kennel Club to govern contests and field trials. The Kennel Club now holds the register of pedigree dogs in the UK, and regulates all breed standards, with breeds assigned to seven different categories based on their original roles: Gundog, Hound, Pastoral, Terrier, Toy, Utility and Working. With welfare and best breeding practices in mind, the Kennel Club established the Assured Breeders Scheme, the only such scheme in the UK. All breeders in this scheme have been inspected and carry out vital breed-specific health testing and screening, to ensure that puppies are the healthiest they can be.

The stamps, and a range of collectible products, are available at www.royalmail.com/dogs and by telephone on 03457 641 641.

Postal Products:
AE472: First Day Envelope: £0.30
AF516: First Day Cover with Tallents House Postmark: £13.85
AP537: Presentation Pack: £11.90
AQ353: Postcards: £4.50
AS11500: Stamp Set: £11.00
AS11500AFS: Full Sheet 2nd Class x 50: £42.50
AS11500AHS: Half Sheet 2nd Class x 25: £21.25
AS11500BFS: Full Sheet 1st Class x 50: £67.50
AS11500BHS: Half Sheet 1st Class x 25: £33.75
AT157: Collectors Sheet [right]: £12.20
AW268: Stamp Souvenir: £13.85
N3364: Framed Collectors Sheet: £34.99
N3365: Framed Stamps: £34.99

Technical Details:
Design: Royal Mail Group Ltd
Acknowledgements: Dalmatian, Border Collie and Siberian Husky by Jane Burton/Warren Photographic Ltd; Jack Russell-type Terrier and Labrador Retriever by Mark Taylor/Warren Photographic Ltd; Whippet © FLPA/Alamy Stock Photo; Chihuahua © Life on White/Getty Images; Cocker Spaniel © Life on White/Alamy Stock Photo; Pembroke Welsh Corgi © YAY Media AS/Alamy Stock Photo; Pug © petographer/Alamy Stock Photo
Stamp Format: Square
Number per sheet: 25/50
Stamp Size: 35mm x 35mm
Printer : Cartor Security Printers
Print Process: Lithography
Phosphor: Bars as appropriate
Perforations: 14.5 x 14.5
Gum: PVA

Boston 2026 Show’s Bulletin #1 Available

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[press release] [click on any of the pictures for larger versions]
Boston 2026 Bulletin #1 Available

Bulletin #1 for Boston 2026 World Expo has just been released in digital format and is available for viewing and downloading at Boston2026.org.

This first of two expected bulletins contains over 50 pages introducing readers to the composition of the one-a-decade U.S. international exhibition through the people and organizations making it possible.

Boston 2026 President Yamil Kouri said, “Much work has gone into this informative booklet that will answer most questions potential attendees and participants have. We’ve also included several articles about greater Boston’s historical significance to the nation’s founding along with their philatelic tie-ins.”

Initial show hotel information is included. At this point arrangements have been made with eight hotels within walking distance of the Boston Convention and Exhibition Center, site of the show. More affordable options are being sought further away from the city center but easily accessible using the many public transportation options Boston offers. Reservations for all offerings will be available starting in the Spring of 2025.

Donors are gratefully acknowledged across several pages. Donation levels are explained with various thank-you premiums associated to each, including admittance to the Minuteman Club. As a recognized 501(c)3 organization donations may be tax-deductible to U.S. contributors who itemize.

Bulletin #1 features a listing of current booth holders, numbering over 75. Booth space is still available for 4- or 8-day options. Interested dealers are urged to contact US/Canada bourse chair Mark Reasoner (Mark.Reasoner@Boston2026.org) or international bourse chair Sandeep Jaiswal (Sandeep.Jaiswal@Boston2026.org). Postal administrations will be contacted later this year with participation information.

Boston 2026 World Expo takes place May 23-30, 2026, at the Boston Convention & Exhibition Center. Full show details may be found at Boston2026.org and on Twitter and Facebook. Sign up to be added to the Boston 2026 email list and receive updates when available.

Wide Variety of Covers in AFDCS Auction 98

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The American First Day Cover Society’s latest fund-raising auction is now online: All 1,200 lots are illustrated in color at www.afdcs.org/auction98/98index.html The sale will close a minute before midnight on June 23, 2024.

The lots offered range from a matched set of George Washington Bicentennial (Sc. 704-715) FDCs with the seldom-seen William Rabin cachet (Lot 28, shown on the right) to bulk lots (“Bundles of Fun”). Lot 388 is an Express Mail booklet pane of 3 (Sc. 1909a) on a House of Farnam variety (shown below left). Another lot has a rare variety of the first ArtCraft cachet (for the New York World’s Fair stamp, Sc. 853. Featured cachetmakers in this auction are Bevil, Collins, 6º, Carruthers Hays, Doris Gold (including artwork), Pugh, Carol Gordon, Crosby, Fluegel, and Peterman.

The offerings are not just first day covers: There are presidential inauguration covers dating back to 1929, as well as ceremony programs, first-day postmarked ephemera, and oversized FDCs and cards.

These auctions are held twice a year, with all the lots donated to the organization. Bidding is open to non-members as well as members, and bids may be submitted by regular mail, email, or — easiest of all — the “webform” on the website. The Terms of Sale can be found at www.afdcs.org/auction.html

The AFDCS is the largest not-for-profit first day cover society in the world, with members in more than a dozen countries. It publishes an award-winning journal, First Days, six times a year, as well as handbooks, catalogues and You-Tube videos, and is a co-sponsor of the annual Great American Stamp Show. It holds an annual cachetmaking contest (many of whose winners are offered in this auction) and encourages philatelic exhibiting and writing about FDCs.

For more information about the AFDCS, visit www.afdcs.org, e-mail afdcs@afdcs.org or write the AFDCS at Post Office Box 27, Greer, SC 29652-0027.

2024-25 Duck Stamp (U.S.)

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Updated August 5th:
Here are the Scott catalogue numbers:
RW91 $25 Northern Pintail Hunting Permit Stamp
RW91A $25 Northern Pintail Hunting Permit Stamp sheet of 1

From the Postal Bulletin May 16th:

On June 28, 2024, in Hanover, MD, the U.S. Department of the Interior will issue the $25 Migratory Bird Hunting and Conservation stamp for the 2024–2025 waterfowl hunting season. The pressure-sensitive adhesive (PSA) stamp will go on sale nationwide June 28, 2024, and is valid through June 30, 2025.

Item 337100, Pane of One: No automatic distribution but post offices may order it.
Item 337200, Pane of 20: No automatic distribution, and only sold by the USPS through Stamp Fulfillment Services.

Technical Specifications — Pane of 1:

Issue: Migratory Bird Hunting and Conservation Stamp
Item Number: 337100
Denomination & Type of Issue: $25.00, Special
Format: Pane of 1 (1 design)
Series: Federal Duck
Issue Date & City: June 28, 2024, Hanover, MD 21076
Art Director: Suzanne Fellows, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
Artist: Chuck Black
Modeler: Joseph Sheeran
Manufacturing Process: Offset, Flexographic, Microprint
Printer: Ashton Potter
Press Type: Muller A76
Stamps per Pane: 1
Print Quantity: 1,282,180 stamps
Paper Type: Nonphosphored Type III
Adhesive Type: Pressure-sensitive
Colors: Black, Cyan, Magenta, Yellow, Invisible Fluorescent
Stamp Orientation: Horizontal
Image Area (w x h): 1.7190 x 1.2660 in. / 43.6630 x
32.1560 mm
Overall Size (w x h): 1.8900 x 1.4170 in. / 48.0060 x
35.9920 mm
Full Pane Size (w x h): 6.1250 x 2.6250 in. / 155.5800 x
66.6750 mm
Plate Size: 36 stamps per revolution
Plate Numbers: N/A
Marginal Markings:
Front: Selvage Text: U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service • 2024–2025 Migratory Bird Hunting and Conservation Stamp • Celebrating the 25th Anniversary of the Harvest Information Program • Informative text • Artist: Chuck Black, Northern Pintail © • If applicable, sign your stamp.
Back: Verso-text • Ordering information • Barcode • U.S. Department of the Interior logo • U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service logo

Technical Specifications — Pane of 20:

Issue: Migratory Bird Hunting and Conservation Stamp
Item Number: 337200
Denomination & Type of Issue: $25.00, Special
Format: Pane of 20 (1 design)
Series: Federal Duck
Issue Date & City: June 28, 2024, Hanover, MD 21076
Art Director: Suzanne Fellows, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
Artist: Chuck Black
Modeler: Joseph Sheeran
Manufacturing Process: Offset, Flexographic, Microprint
Printer: Ashton Potter
Press Type: Muller A76
Stamps per Pane: 20
Print Quantity: 43,600 stamps
Paper Type: Nonphosphored Type III
Adhesive Type: Pressure-sensitive
Colors: Black, Cyan, Magenta, Yellow, Invisible Fluorescent
Stamp Orientation: Horizontal
Image Area (w x h): 1.7190 x 1.2660 in. / 43.6630 x
32.1560 mm
Overall Size (w x h): 1.8900 x 1.4170 in. / 48.0060 x
35.9920 mm
Full Pane Size (w x h): 8.2500 x 8.2500 in. / 209.5500 x
209.5500 mm
Plate Size: 180 stamps per revolution
Plate Numbers: “P” followed by five (5) single digits
Marginal Markings:
Front: Selvage Text: • Department of the Interior 20 x $25.00 (2 locations) • Artist: Chuck Black (4 locations) • Plate number (4 corners)
Back: Verso-text behind each stamp • Four barcodes • Plate position diagram (9)

Earlier press release from the Fish & Wildlife Service:

[press release] [click on any of the pictures for larger versions]
Montana Artist Chuck Black Wins 2023 Federal Duck Stamp Art Contest
Federal Duck Stamp Supports Wildlife Conservation

(Sep 16, 2023) — After two days of competition, Chuck Black of Belgrade, Montana, emerged as the winner of the 2023 Federal Duck Stamp Art Contest with an oil painting of a northern pintail. The announcement was made at an event and via live stream at the Olmstead Center at Drake University in Des Moines, Iowa.

Black’s oil painting will be made into the 2024-2025 Federal Migratory Bird Hunting and Conservation Stamp, or “Duck Stamp” which will go on sale in late June 2024. The Service produces the Federal Duck Stamp, which sells for $25 and raises approximately $40 million in sales each year. These funds support critical conservation to protect wetland habitats in the National Wildlife Refuge System for the benefit of wildlife and the enjoyment of people.

Earlier this week, the Migratory Bird Conservation Commission, chaired by Secretary of the Interior Deb Haaland, approved the allocation of more than $50.6 million in grants through the North American Wetlands Conservation Act and funds from the Migratory Bird Conservation Fund. The fund is made up partly of Duck Stamp dollars, to support the acquisition of lands from willing sellers for the Refuge System. The new areas provide additional access to the public to some of the most spectacular places available for hunting, fishing, birdwatching, hiking and other outdoor activities.

“I encourage everyone to buy a Duck Stamp as they have such a significant impact in conserving wetlands for waterfowl and so many other species,” said Service Director Martha Williams. “The art entries for this contest are impressive, and they serve as an important reminder of the wildlife and habitats the Duck Stamp is designed to protect.”

Since it was first established in 1934, Federal Duck Stamp sales to hunters, bird watchers, outdoor enthusiasts and collectors have raised more than $1.2 billion to conserve over 6 million acres of habitat for birds and other wildlife and provide countless opportunities for wildlife-oriented recreation on public lands.

Waterfowl hunters age 16 and older are required to purchase and carry the current Federal Duck Stamp. Many non-hunters, including birdwatchers, conservationists, stamp collectors and others, also purchase the stamp in support of habitat conservation. Additionally, a current Federal Duck Stamp can be used for free admission to any national wildlife refuge that charges an entry fee.

In addition to Chuck Black, Adam Grimm of Wallace, South Dakota, placed second with an acrylic painting of a northern pintail pair, and Gerald Mobley of Claremore, Oklahoma, took third place with an acrylic painting of a northern pintail.

Des Moines, Iowa, was chosen as the site of this year’s contest because of its importance in the conservation history of the Federal Duck Stamp. The Jay N. Darling Legacy Institute, located at Drake University, houses artifacts and other memorabilia used in the creation of the first Duck Stamp and interprets this important tie between art and conservation.

Of 199 entries judged in this year’s competition, 24 entries made it to the final round of judging. Eligible species for this year’s Federal Duck Stamp Contest were the snow goose, American black duck, northern pintail, ring-necked duck and harlequin duck. View the online gallery of the 2023 Federal Duck Stamp Art Contest entries.

For the first time in Federal Duck Stamp Contest history, the judging panel was comprised completely of females. The judges for this year’s Contest were Gail Anderson, MJ Davis, Rebecca Humphries, Rue Mapp, Dr. Karen Waldrop, and the alternate judge was Jennifer Scully.