Announced October 23, 2023:

The year 2024 will mark the 250th anniversary of the arrival of the first Shakers in the United States. Shaker communities made much of what they needed for daily life themselves, including furniture, fabrics, communal buildings and houses. These 12 stamps feature beautiful photographs of items that highlight the core elements of Shaker design: simplicity and utility. Derry Noyes, an art director for USPS, designed the stamps with existing photographs by Michael Freeman.

Further information will be posted below the line, with the newest information at the top.

Updated August 5^th:
Here are the Scott catalogue numbers:
5896 Shaker Designs pane of 12
a. Meeting Room, Hancock Shaker Village, Pittsfield, Massachusetts
b. Tannery, Mount Lebanon Shaker Village, New Lebanon, New York
c. Spinning Wheel, Fruitlands Museum, Harvard, Massachusetts
d. Staircases, Pleasant Hill Shaker Village, Harrodsburg, Kentucky
e. Dwelling House Hallway, South Union Shaker Village, Auburn, Kentucky
f. Silk Neckerchiefs, South Union Shaker Village
g. Rocking Chair, Canterbury Shaker Village, Canterbury, New Hampshire
h. Bentwood Box Detail, Hancock Shaker Village
i. Heater Stove, Hancock Shaker Village
j. Cupboard With Oval Boxes, Fruitlands Museum
k. Bentwood Boxes and Carriers, Fruitlands Museum
l. Cheese Baskets, Hancock Shaker Village
m. As #5896, imperforate
n. As #5896a, imperforate
o. As #5896b, imperforate
p. As #5896c, imperforate
q. As #5896d, imperforate
r. As #5896e, imperforate
s. As #5896f, imperforate
t. As #5896g, imperforate
u. As #5896h, imperforate
v. As #5896i, imperforate
w. As #5896j, imperforate
x. As #5896k, imperforate
y. As #5896l, imperforate

Updated May 16^th:
On June 20, 2024, in Pittsfield, MA, the United States Postal Service® will issue the Shaker Design stamps (Forever® priced at the First-Class Mail® rate) in 12 designs, in a pressure-sensitive adhesive (PSA) pane of 12 stamps (Item 581400). These stamps will go on sale nationwide June 20, 2024, and must not be sold or canceled before the first-day-of-issue. The Shaker Design commemorative pane of 12 stamps must not be split and the stamps must not be sold individually.

Issued to coincide with the 250th anniversary of the arrival of the first Shakers in America, these stamps celebrate the refined, timeless beauty of Shaker design. From modest oval boxes to furniture, textiles, and even architecture, the Shakers imbued everything they made with uncommon grace. These 12 stamps feature photographs of items that highlight the core elements of Shaker design: simplicity and utility. Art director Derry Noyes designed the stamps with existing photographs by Michael Freeman. The selvage features a black-and-white photograph of Brother Ricardo Belden (1868–1958) in his workshop at Hancock Shaker Village in Pittsfield, Massachusetts. It was taken by Samuel Kravitt circa 1935.

Item 581400, Pane of 12: 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 – Shaker Design Stamps
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 October 20, 2024.

Technical Specifications:

Issue: Shaker Design Stamps
Item Number: 581400
Denomination & Type of Issue: First-Class Mail Forever
Format: Pane of 12 (12 designs)
Series: N/A
Issue Date & City: June 20, 2024, Pittsfield, MA 01201
Art Director: Derry Noyes, Washington, DC
Designer: Derry Noyes, Washington, DC
Existing Photos: Michael Freeman
Existing Photo: Samuel Kravitt
Modeler: Joseph Sheeran
Manufacturing Process: Offset
Printer: Ashton Potter
Press Type: Muller A76
Stamps per Pane: 12
Print Quantity: 18,000,000
Paper Type: Nonphosphored Type III, Block Tagged
Adhesive Type: Pressure-sensitive
Colors: Black, Cyan, Magenta, Yellow, PMS 490C, PMS 1797C, PMS 4645C, PMS 4675C
Stamp Orientation: Vertical
Image Area (w x h): 1.0850 x 1.4200 in. / 27.5590 x
36.0680 mm
Overall Size (w x h): 1.2250 x 1.5600 in. / 31.1150 x
39.6240 mm
Full Pane Size (w x h): 8.4400 x 6.6000 in. / 214.3760 x
167.6400 mm
Press Sheets Size (w x h): 20.0500 x 25.5700 in. / 509.2700 x
649.4780 mm
Plate Size: 108 stamps per revolution
Plate Number: “P” followed by eight (8) single digits
Marginal Markings:
Front: Header: Shaker Design • Plate number in bottom two corners
Back: © 2023 USPS • USPS logo • Two barcodes (581400) • Plate position diagram (9) • Promotional text

Here are the first-day postmarks for this issue:The Digital Color Postmark measures 2.71″ x 1.06″The pictorial postmark measures 2.54″ x 1.25″

Updated April 17^th:
These stamps will be available online for pre-ordering on May 20. USPS collectibles have been added to the U.S. 2024 Stamp Program listing for this issue (“USPS Order Numbers”).

Updated February 23^rd:
These stamps will be issued June 20 in Pittsfield, Mass. That is the site of the Hancock Shaker Village, an open-air museum. Wikipedia. National Park Service.

Announced October 23, 2023:

This issuance encourages the protection of sea turtles, one of the oldest groups of animals on Earth. These ancient mariners can migrate long distances, sometimes crossing entire oceans. The pane of 18 stamps features close-up photographs of six species — the loggerhead, leatherback, hawksbill, Kemp’s ridley, olive ridley and green sea turtle — that depend on U.S. coastal waters for foraging and migratory habitats during various stages of their life. All six are listed and protected under the Endangered Species Act. Derry Noyes, an art director for USPS, designed the stamps and stamp pane using existing images.

Further information will be posted below the line, with the newest information at the top.

Updated August 5^th:
Here are the Scott catalogue numbers:

• 5865 Kemp’s Ridley Sea Turtle
• 5866 Green Sea Turtle
• 5867 Leatherback Sea Turtle
• 5868 Loggerhead Sea Turtle
• 5869 Hawksbill Sea Turtle
• 5870 Olive Ridley Sea Turtle
  b. Vert. strip of 6, #5865-5870
  c. Imperforate vert. strip of 6, #5865-5870Updated May 2^nd:
  On June 11, 2024, in Corpus Christi, TX, the United States Postal Service® will issue the Protect Sea Turtles stamps (Forever® priced at the First-Class Mail® rate) in six designs, in a pressure-sensitive adhesive (PSA) pane of 18 stamps (Item 581300). These stamps will go on sale nationwide June 11, 2024, and must not be sold or canceled before the first-day-of-issue.

  The Postal Service™ celebrates the protection of sea turtles with six new stamps, featuring species dependent on U.S. coastal waters for foraging and migratory habitats during various stages of their lives. All six turtles are listed and protected under the Endangered Species Act. The stamps showcase photographs of a Kemp‘s ridley, a leatherback, an olive ridley, a green sea turtle, a loggerhead, and a hawksbill. The selvage features another hawksbill sea turtle. Art director Derry Noyes designed the pane using existing photographs.

  Pane of 18, Item 581300, 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 – Protect Sea Turtles Stamps
  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 October 11, 2024.

  Technical Specifications:

  Issue: Protect Sea Turtles Stamps
  Item Number: 581300
  Denomination & Type of Issue: First-Class Mail Forever
  Format: Pane of 18 (6 designs)
  Series: N/A
  Issue Date & City: June 11, 2024, Corpus Christi, TX 78401
  Art Director: Derry Noyes, Washington, DC
  Designer: Derry Noyes, Washington, DC
  Existing Photo: Rowan Byrne
  Existing Photo: Claudio Contreras
  Existing Photo: David B. Fleetham
  Existing Photo: Doug Perrine
  Existing Photo: James D. Watt (deceased)
  Existing Photo: Solvin Zankl
  Existing Photo: Reinhard Dirscherl
  Modeler: Joseph Sheeran
  Manufacturing Process: Offset
  Printer: Ashton Potter (USA) Ltd. (APU)
  Press Type: Muller A76
  Stamps per Pane: 18
  Print Quantity: 27,000,000
  Paper Type: Nonphosphored Type III, Block Tagged
  Adhesive Type: Pressure-sensitive
  Colors: Cyan, Magenta, Yellow, Black
  Stamp Orientation: Horizontal
  Image Area (w x h): 1.4200 x 0.8400 in. / 36.0680 x 21.3360 mm
  Overall Size (w x h): 1.5600 x 0.9800 in. / 39.6240 x 24.8920 mm
  Full Pane Size (w x h): 6.3800 x 8.3000 in. / 162.0520 x 210.8200 mm
  Press Sheet Size (w x h): 12.8900 x 25.1500 in. / 638.8100 x 327.2790 mm
  Plate Size: 216 stamps per revolution
  Plate Number: “P” followed by four (4) single digits in bottom two corners
  Marginal Markings:
  Front: Header: PROTECT SEA TURTLES • KEMP’S RIDLEY • GREEN • LEATHERBACK • LOGGERHEAD • HAWKSBILL • OLIVE RIDLEY • Plate number in bottom two corners
  Back: © 2023 USPS • USPS logo • Two barcodes (581300) • Plate position diagram (6) • Promotional text

  Here are the first day postmarks for this issue:The Dig
  The Digital Color Postmark for this issue measures 2.87″ x 1.43″The Pictorial Postmark measures 2.36″ x 1.14″

  Updated April 17^th:
  These stamps will be available online for pre-ordering on May 11. USPS collectibles have been added to the U.S. 2024 Stamp Program listing for this issue (“USPS Order Numbers“).

  Updated February 23^rd:
  These stamps will be issued June 11 in Corpus Christi, TX. The Texas State Aquarium, one of the largest in the country, is located there, and among its exhibits is Tortuga Cay: Visitors can view the rehabilitated and unreleasable sea turtles above and below the water at this exhibit. Tortuga Cay includes three green sea turtles (Squirt, Pickles, and Crush), one Kemp’s ridley sea turtle (Daisy), one hawksbill sea turtle (Hemingway), and a loggerhead sea turtle (Tiki).

Announced October 23, 2023:

These vibrant stamps will add cheer and whimsical flair to cards and envelopes. The pane of 20 stamps features 10 typographic designs by 10 different artists in their unique styles, each with a single word as the prominent element –– smile (Don Clark), hello! (Tré Seals), peace (Jay Fletcher), love (Juan Carlos Pagan), fun (Gia Graham), sweet (Jeff Rogers), yes! (Ryan Feerer), cheers! (Lisa Congdon), kudos! (DKNG Studios) and happy (Gina Triplett). The round shape of the stamps, as well as shadowing and reflection effects, give the appearance of three-dimensional pinback buttons. The pane verso features an illustration of a round silver button back with pin fastener repeated 20 times, one for each pinback button stamp shown on the front of the pane. Greg Breeding, an art director for USPS, designed the stamps.

Further information will be posted below the line, with the newest information at the top.

Updated September 6^th:
The Scott catalogue numbers for this issue

• 5919 Smile
• 5920 Hello!
• 5921 Fun
• 5922 Sweet
• 5923 Kudos!
• 5924 Happy
• 5925 Peace
• 5926 Love
• 5927 Yes!
• 5928 Cheers!

Updated July 11^th: Jump to Details • Postmarks • Ceremony
On August 15, 2024, in Hartford, CT, the United States Postal Service® will issue the Pinback Buttons stamps (Forever® priced at the First-Class Mail® rate), in 10 designs, in a pressure-sensitive adhesive (PSA) pane of 20 stamps (Item 485500). These stamps will go on sale nationwide August 15, 2024, and must not be sold or canceled before the first-day-of-issue. The Pinback Buttons commemorative pane of 20 stamps must not be split and the stamps must not be sold individually.

Pinback Buttons is a pane of 20 stamps featuring 10 typographic designs by various artists in their unique styles. Each design showcases a single word: smile (Don Clark), hello! (Tré Seals), peace (Jay Fletcher), love (Juan Carlos Pagan), fun (Gia Graham), sweet (Jeff Rogers), yes! (Ryan Feerer), cheers! (Lisa Congdon), kudos! (DKNG Studios), and happy (Gina Triplett). The round shape of the stamps as well as shadowing and reflection effects give the appearance of three-dimensional pinback buttons. The pane verso features an illustration of a round silver button back with pin fastener repeated 20 times, one for each pinback button shown on the front of the pane. Art director Greg Breeding designed the stamps.

Automatic distribution.

How to Order the First-Day-of-Issue Postmark:
Customers have 120 days to get 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 – Pinback Buttons Stamps
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 December 15, 2024.

Technical Specifications:

Issue: Pinback Buttons Stamps
Item Number: 485500
Denomination & Type of Issue: First-Class Mail Forever
Format: Pane of 20 (10 designs)
Series: N/A
Issue Date & City: August 15, 2024, Hartford, CT 06101
Art Director: Greg Breeding, Charlottesville, VA
Designer: Greg Breeding, Charlottesville, VA
Artist: Don Clark
Artist: Lisa Congdon
Artist: Ryan Feerer
Artist: Jay Fletcher
Artist: Gia Graham
Artist: Juan Carlos Pagan
Artist: Jeff Rogers
Artist: Tré Seals
Artist: DKNG Studios
Artist: Gina Triplett
Modeler: Joseph Sheeran
Manufacturing Process: Offset, Flexographic
Printer: Ashton Potter
Press Type: Muller A76
Stamps per Pane: 20
Print Quantity: 35,000,000
Paper Type: Nonphosphored Type III, Spot Tag
Adhesive Type: Pressure-sensitive
Colors: Black, Cyan, Magenta, Yellow
Stamp Orientation: Round
Image Area (w x h): 1.1940 x 1.1940 in. / 30.3230 x 30.3230 mm
Overall Size (w x h): 1.3250 x 1.3250 in. / 33.6550 x 33.6550 mm
Full Pane Size (w x h): 6.5000 x 8.0000 in. / 165.1000 x 203.2000 mm
Press Sheets Size (w x h): 13.0000 x 24.0000 in. / 330.2000 x 609.6000 mm
Plate Size: 240 stamps per revolution
Plate Number: “P” followed by four (4) single digits in four corners
Marginal Markings:
Front: Plate number in four corners
Back: Back of button images • © 2023 USPS • USPS Logo • Two barcodes (485500) • Plate position diagram (6) • Promotional text

Here are the first-day postmarks for this issue: The Digital Color Postmark measures 3.00″ x 1.54″The Pictorial Postmark measures 2.27″ x 1.13″ Also available on the first-day: this Americover postmark, which measures 2.83″ x 1.71″

[press release] [click on any of the pictures for larger versions]
Pinback Buttons Stamps to Be Issued at Great American Stamp Show

What: Add cheery, whimsical flair to your cards and letters with vibrant new Pinback Buttons stamps, to be issued in conjunction with the Great American Stamp Show in Hartford, CT.

The first-day-of-issue event for the Forever stamps is free and open to the public. News of the stamps is being shared with the hashtag #PinbackButtonStamps.

Who: Shibani Gambhir, USPS vice president of sales intelligence and support

When: Thursday, Aug. 15, 2024 at 11 a.m. EDT

Where:
The Great American Stamp Show
Connecticut Convention Center
Hall AB
100 Columbus Blvd.
Hartford, CT 06103

RSVP: Attendees are encouraged to register at: usps.com/pinbackbuttons

Background: Since their appearance in 1896, pinback buttons have expressed viewpoints, made statements and shown off the interests of those who wear them. A novel medium, these buttons quickly came into popular use as advertising tools and for political campaigns. For more than 120 years, pinback buttons of various sizes have helped spread ideas and broadcast opinions on a wide variety of topics.

The designs and slogans adorning buttons reflect the era and values of the time in which they were created, like any other piece of pop culture ephemera. In this way, pinback buttons become historical tools providing insight into the moods, sentiments and worldviews of people living in a particular time and place.

Pinback Buttons is a pane of 20 stamps featuring 10 typographic designs by various artists in their own signature style. Each design imparts a single upbeat message: smile (Don Clark), hello! (Tré Seals), peace (Jay Fletcher), love (Juan Carlos Pagan), fun (Gia Graham), sweet (Jeff Rogers), yes! (Ryan Feerer), cheers! (Lisa Congdon), kudos! (DKNG Studios) and happy (Gina Triplett). The round shape of the stamps, and the shadowing and reflection effects used, give the appearance of three-dimensional pinback buttons. The pane verso features an illustration of a round silver button back with pin fastener repeated 20 times, one for each pinback button shown on the front of the pane. Greg Breeding, an art director for USPS, designed the stamps.

Because Pinback Buttons are Forever stamps, they will always be equal in value to the current First-Class Mail one-ounce price.

Updated December 19^th:
These stamps will be issued Thursday, August 15, at Great American Stamp Show in Hartford, Conn.

Announced October 23, 2023:

The 34th issuance in the Literary Arts series honors novelist Saul Bellow (1915-2005). Winner of three National Book Awards, a Pulitzer Prize and the Nobel Prize, Bellow is widely regarded as one of the greatest authors of the 20th century. The stamp art is a portrait of Bellow in pen, ink and watercolor based on photographs from 1982. In the background is a street scene of Chicago, where he lived most of his life. Ethel Kessler, an art director for USPS, designed the 3- ounce stamp with original art by Joe Ciardiello.

Further information will be posted below the line, with the newest information at the top.

Updated April 1^st:
The Scott catalogue number for this issue is 5831.

From the Postal Bulletin:
On February 6, 2024, in Chicago, IL, the United States Postal Service® will issue the Saul Bellow stamp (priced at the Non-denominated, 3-ounce Mail Rate) in one design, in a pressure-sensitive adhesive (PSA) pane of 20 stamps (Item 122900). This stamp will go on sale nationwide, February 6, 2024, and must not be sold or canceled before the first-day-of-issue.

The 34th stamp in the Literary Arts series honors novelist Saul Bellow (1915–2005). Winner of three National Book Awards, a Pulitzer Prize, and the Nobel Prize, Bellow is widely regarded as one of the greatest authors of the 20th century. The stamp art is a pen and ink and watercolor portrait of Bellow based on photographs from 1982. In the background is a street scene in Chicago, where he lived most of his life. Art director Ethel Kessler designed the stamp with original art by Joe Ciardiello.

No 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. Each cover must have sufficient postage to meet First-Class Mail® requirements. 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 – Saul Bellow 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 June 6, 2024.

Technical Specifications:

Issue: Saul Bellow Stamp
Item Number: 122900
Denomination & Type of Issue: 3-ounce Rate, Non-denominated, Mail Use
Format: Pane of 20 (1 design)
Series: Literary Arts
Issue Date & City: February 6, 2024, Chicago, IL 60607
Art Director: Ethel Kessler, Bethesda, MD
Designer: Ethel Kessler, Bethesda, MD
Illustrator: Joe Ciardiello, Milford, NJ
Modeler: Sandra Lane / Michelle Finn
Manufacturing Process: Offset, Microprint
Printer: Banknote Corporation of America
Press Type: Alprinta 74
Stamps per Pane: 20
Print Quantity: 8,000,000 stamps
Paper Type: Phosphor, Block Tag
Adhesive Type: Pressure-sensitive
Colors: Cyan, Magenta, Yellow, Black, PMS 259C
Stamp Orientation: Horizontal
Image Area (w x h): 1.4200 x 0.8400 in. / 36.0680 x 21.3360 mm
Overall Size (w x h): 1.5600 x 0.9800 in. / 39.6240 x 24.8920 mm
Full Pane Size (w x h): 7.2400 x 5.9200 in. / 183.8960 x 150.3680 mm
Plate Size: 240 stamps per revolution
Plate Numbers: “B” followed by five (5) single digits in four corners
Marginal Markings:
Front: Plate number in four corners
Back: © 2023 USPS • USPS logo • Two barcodes (122900) • Plate position diagram (6) • Promotional text

Updated January 31^st:
As reported by John Peterson of the American Ceremony Program Society, the University of Chicago is holding a first-day ceremony for this stamp honoring its former professor. It will be at 11:00 am on its Hyde Park Campus. Details and registration can be found at this link. Although USPS officials will participate, this is not considered a “Headquarters” (-arranged) ceremony.

Updated December 30^th:
Here are the first-day postmarks for this issue:The Digital Color Postmark measures 2.16″ x 1.17″ The Pictorial Postmark measures 2.59″ x 1.02″

Updated November 30^th:
This stamp will be issued Tuesday, February 6, in Chicago, without a “headquarters” first-day ceremony.

Announced October 23, 2023:

These stamps will be available for mailers who enjoy adorning their cards and letters with beautiful stamps depicting nature scenes. In each of the four photographs, a different female ruby-throated hummingbird hovers next to either a zinnia, cigar flower, spotted touch-me-not or sunflower. Garden Delights will be issued in booklets of 20. Greg Breeding, an art director for USPS, designed the stamps using existing photographs by wildlife photographer Ben King.

Further information will be posted below the line, with the newest information at the top.

Updated May 7^th:
The Scott catalogue numbers for this issue are
• 5845 Ruby-throated Hummingbird and Sunflower
• 5846 … and Spotted touch-me-not
• 5847 … and Zinnia
• 5848 … and Sugar Flowers
• a. Block of 4, #5845-5848
• b. Convertible booklet pane of 20, 5 each #5845-5848

Updated February 8^th:
Here are the first-day postmarks for this issue:The Digital Color Postmark measures 2.87″ x 1.38″ There is no Pictorial Postmark for this issue.

From the Postal Bulletin:

On March 16, 2024, in Strongsville, OH, the United States Postal Service® will issue the Garden Delights stamps (Forever® priced at the First-Class Mail® rate) in four designs, in a pressure-sensitive adhesive (PSA) double-sided booklet of 20 stamps (Item 684700). These stamps will go on sale March 16, 2024, and must not be sold or canceled before the first-day-of-issue.

Garden Delights celebrates the flora and fauna of America’s spring and summer gardens with four colorful stamps in a booklet of 20. Each stamp showcases a single, female ruby-throated hummingbird hovering next to either a zinnia, cigar flower, spotted touch-me-not, or sunflower. Greg Breeding designed the stamps using existing photographs by wildlife photographer Ben King.

Availability to Post Offices: Item 684700, Garden Delights (Forever Priced at the First-Class Mail Rate) Double-sided Booklet of 20 Stamps: No 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 – Garden Delights Stamps
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 July 16, 2024.

Technical Specifications:

Issue: Garden Delights Stamps
Item Number: 684700
Denomination & Type of Issue: First-Class Mail Forever
Format: Double-sided Booklet of 20 (4 designs)
Series: N/A
Issue Date & City: March 16, 2024, Strongsville, OH 44136
Designer: Greg Breeding, Charlottesville, VA
Art Director: Greg Breeding, Charlottesville, VA
Existing Photos: Ben King, Charlottesville, VA
Modeler: Joseph Sheeran
Manufacturing Process: Offset
Printer: Ashton Potter
Press Type: Muller A76
Stamps per Booklet: 20
Print Quantity: 525,000,000
Paper Type: Nonphosphored Type III, Block Tag Applied
Adhesive Type: Pressure-sensitive
Colors: Black, Cyan, Magenta, Yellow
Stamp Orientation: Horizontal
Image Area (w x h): 1.0500 x 0.7700 in. / 26.6700 x
19.5580 mm
Stamp Size (w x h): 1.1900 x 0.9100 in. / 30.2260 x
23.1140 mm
Booklet Size (w x h): 5.7600 x 2.3800 in. / 146.3040 x
60.4520 mm
Plate Size: 880 stamps per revolution
Plate Numbers: “P” followed by four (4) single digits
Marginal Markings: Header: “Garden Delights” Twenty First-Class Forever Stamps • © 2023 USPS in peel strip area • Barcode • USPS logo • Promotional text • Plate number in peel strip area

Updated January 27^th:
The Garfield-Perry Stamp Club will host a local first day ceremony for this issue at its March Party stamp show.

Updated November 30^th:
These stamps will be issued Saturday, March 16, in Strongsville, Ohio, without a “headquarters” first-day ceremony.

Announced October 23, 2023:

Similar in design to the 2-ounce Wedding Blooms stamp, this floral Forever stamp can be used on the RSVP envelopes often enclosed with wedding invitations. A beautiful addition to regular correspondence, it is also ideal for party invitations, thank-you notes and important announcements. The stamp features a horizontal graphic illustration of brilliantly colored flowers rendered in ink and gouache paint. Derry Noyes, an art director for USPS, designed the stamp using an existing illustration by artist Kim Parker.

Further information will be posted below the line, with the newest information at the top.

Updated May 7^th:
The Scott catalogue number for this issue is 5849.

Updated February 8^th:
Here are the first-day postmarks for this issue:The Digital Color Postmark for this issue measures 2.97″ x 1.42″There is no Pictorial Postmark for this issue.

From the Postal Bulletin:

On March 22, 2024, in St. Louis, MO, the United States Postal Service® will issue the Celebration Blooms stamp (Forever® priced at the First-Class Mail® rate) in one design, in a pressure-sensitive adhesive (PSA) pane of 20 stamps (Item 581200). This stamp will go on sale nationwide March 22, 2024, and must not be sold or canceled before the first-day-of-issue.

Introducing Celebration Blooms, a new Forever® stamp for all of life’s special moments. The stamp design is a brilliantly-colored illustration of abstract flowers rendered in ink and gouache paint. Similar in design to the Two Ounce Wedding Blooms stamp, this stamp can be used for wedding RSVP cards. It is also perfect for party invitations, thank-you notes, announcements, birthday cards, and any occasion when a beautiful stamp is fitting. Art director Derry Noyes designed the stamp using an existing illustration by artist Kim Parker.

Availability to Post Offices: Item 581200, Celebration Blooms (Forever Priced at the First-Class Mail Rate) Pane of 20 Stamps: No 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 – Celebration Blooms 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 July 22, 2024.

Technical Specifications:

Issue: Celebration Blooms Stamp
Item Number: 581200
Denomination & Type of Issue: First-Class Mail Forever
Format: Pane of 20 (1 design)
Series: N/A
Issue Date & City: March 22, 2024, St. Louis, MO 63155
Art Director: Derry Noyes, Washington, DC
Designer: Derry Noyes, Washington, DC
Existing Art: Kim Parker, Brooklyn, NY
Modeler: Sandra Lane / Michelle Finn
Manufacturing Process: Offset, Microprint
Printer: Banknote Corporation of America
Press Type: Alprinta 74
Stamps per Pane: 20
Print Quantity: 225,000,000
Paper Type: Phosphor, Block Tag
Adhesive Type: Pressure-sensitive
Colors: PMS 2076C, Cyan, Magenta, Yellow, Black
Stamp Orientation: Horizontal
Image Area (w x h): 1.0500 x 0.7700 in. / 26.6700 x
19.5580 mm
Overall Size (w x h): 1.1900 x 0.9100 in. / 30.2260 x
23.1140 mm
Full Pane Size (w x h): 5.7600 x 5.5500 in. / 146.3040 x 140.9700 mm
Plate Size: 320 stamps per revolution
Plate Number: “B” followed by five (5) single digits in four corners
Marginal Markings:
Front: Plate number in four corners
Back: © 2023 USPS • USPS logo • Two barcodes (581200) • Plate position diagram (8) • Promotional text

Updated November 30^th:
Confirmed: This stamp will be issued Friday, March 22, in St. Louis, without a “headquarters” first-day ceremony (but something is likely at the show).

Updated November 15^th:
We believe this stamp and Wedding Blooms will be issued March 22nd at St. Louis Stamp Expo. This has not been confirmed by the USPS.

Announced October 23, 2023:

This 2-ounce floral stamp can be used to accommodate the weight of heavy invitations for birthdays, weddings, anniversaries and other celebrations; oversized greeting cards; and small gifts that require extra postage. This stamp is similar in design to the Celebration Blooms Forever stamp, also to be issued in 2024. The two will form a natural pair. This stamp features a vertical graphic illustration of brilliantly colored flowers rendered in ink and gouache paint. Derry Noyes, an art director for USPS, designed the stamp using an existing illustration by artist Kim Parker.

Further information will be posted below the line, with the newest information at the top.

Updated May 7^th:
The Scott catalogue number for this issue is 5850

Updated February 8^th:
Here are the first-day postmarks for this issue:The Digital Color Postmark measures 2.26″ x 1.48″There is no Pictorial Postmark for this issue.

From the Postal Bulletin:
On March 22, 2024, in St. Louis, MO, the United States Postal Service® will issue the Wedding Blooms stamp (priced at the Non-denominated, Two Ounce mail rate) in one design, in a pressure-sensitive adhesive (PSA) pane of 20 stamps (Item 585800). This stamp will go on sale nationwide March 22, 2024, and must not be sold or canceled before the first-day-of-issue.

Wedding Blooms is a beautiful and vibrant Two Ounce stamp now available for correspondence celebrating many of life’s special moments. The stamp can accommodate the weight of heavy invitations for birthdays, weddings, anniversaries, and other celebrations, greeting cards for all occasions, and mailings such as small gifts that require extra postage. The stamp design is a tableau of brilliantly-colored, abstract flowers rendered in ink and gouache paint. The Wedding Blooms Two Ounce stamp is similar in design to the Celebration Blooms Forever® stamp, and the two form a natural pair. Art director Derry Noyes designed this stamp with an existing illustration by artist Kim Parker.

Availability to Post Offices: Item 585800, Wedding Blooms (Non-denominated, Two Ounce Mail Rate) Pane of 20 Stamps: No 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 – Wedding Blooms 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 July 22, 2024.

Technical Specifications:

Issue: Wedding Blooms Stamp
Item Number: 585800
Denomination & Type of Issue: Two Ounce Rate, Non-denominated, Mail Use
Format: Pane of 20 (1 design)
Series: N/A
Issue Date & City: March 22, 2024, St. Louis, MO 63155
Art Director: Derry Noyes, Washington, DC
Designer: Derry Noyes, Washington, DC
Existing Art: Kim Parker, Brooklyn, NY
Modeler: Sandra Lane / Michelle Finn
Manufacturing Process: Offset, Microprint
Printer: Banknote Corporation of America
Press Type: Alprinta 74
Stamps per Pane: 20
Print Quantity: 55,000,000
Paper Type: Phosphor, Block Tag
Adhesive Type: Pressure-sensitive
Colors: Cyan, Magenta, Yellow, Black, PMS 2076C
Stamp Orientation: Vertical
Image Area (w x h): 0.7700 x 1.0500 in. / 19.5580 x
26.6700 mm
Overall Size (w x h): 0.9100 x 1.1900 in. / 23.1140 x
30.2260 mm
Full Pane Size (w x h): 5.5500 x 5.7600 in. / 140.9700 x
146.3040 mm
Plate Size: 320 stamps per revolution
Plate Number: “B” followed by five (5) single digits in four corners
Marginal Markings:
Front: Plate number in four corners
Back: © 2023 USPS • USPS logo • Two barcodes (585800) • Plate position diagram (8) • Promotional text

Updated November 30^th:
Confirmed: This stamp will be issued Friday, March 22, in St. Louis, without a “headquarters” first-day ceremony (but something is likely at the show).

Updated November 15^th:
We believe this stamp and Celebration Blooms will be issued March 22nd at St. Louis Stamp Expo. This has not been confirmed by the USPS.

Announced October 23, 2023:

Radiant Star will be a new presorted standard stamp intended for bulk mailers and will be sold in self-adhesive coils of 3,000 and 10,000. In this vibrant graphic design, red and white stripes radiate from a blue star. The star is in two shades of blue to give it a three-dimensional look. Antonio Alcalá was the art director for USPS on the project. The stamp was designed by Carol Beehler. (U.S. 2024)

Further information will be posted below the line, with the newest information at the top.

Updated April 1^st:
The Scott catalogue number for this issue is 5832.

Updated January 11^th:
The only first-day postmark for this issue is the First Day of Issue or “killer-bar” postmark:TThe order number for coils of 3,000 is 751700; for 10,000, 761900.

On February 19, 2024, in Star, ID, the United States Postal Service® will issue the Radiant Star stamp (Non-denominated priced at the Presorted Standard Rate of 10 cents) in one design, in a pressure-sensitive adhesive (PSA) coil of 3,000 stamps (Item 751700) and coil of 10,000 stamps (Item 761900). The stamp will go on sale nationwide February 19, 2024, and must not be sold or canceled before the first-day-of-issue.

Radiant Star is a new Presorted Standard stamp available for bulk mail users. Showcasing easily recognizable design elements from the American flag, this graphic design creates an eye-catching image that conjures the Stars and Stripes and feelings of patriotism. The stamp, sold in self-adhesive coils of 3,000 and 10,000, was designed by Carol Beehler. Antonio Alcalá was the art director for this project.

No 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. Each cover must have sufficient postage to meet First-Class Mail® requirements. 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 – Radiant Star 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 June 19, 2024.

Technical Specifications:

Issue: Radiant Star Stamp
Item Number: 751700
Denomination & Type of Issue: 10-cent Presorted Standard, Mail-use
Format: Coil of 3,000 (1 design)
Series: N/A
Issue Date & City: February 19, 2024, Star, ID 83669
Art Director: Antonio Alcalá, Alexandria, VA
Designer: Carol Beehler, Bethesda, MD
Modeler: Sandra Lane / Michelle Finn
Manufacturing Process: Offset
Printer: Banknote Corporation of America
Press Type: Alprinta RCS
Stamps per Coil: 3,000
Print Quantity: 24,900,000 stamps
Paper Type: Phosphor Tagged / Overall
Adhesive Type: Pressure-sensitive
Colors: PMS 7687C, PMS 3546C, PMS 2195C
Stamp Orientation: Vertical
Image Area (w x h): 0.7300 x 0.8400 in. / 18.5420 x 21.3360 mm
Stamp Size (w x h): 0.8700 x 0.9800 in. / 22.0980 x 24.8920 mm
Plate Size: 540 stamps per revolution
Plate Number: “B” followed by three (3) single digits
Coil Number Frequency: Plate number every 27th stamp below stamp image

Issue: Radiant Star Stamp
Item Number: 761900
Denomination & Type of Issue: 10-cent Presorted Standard, Mail-use
Format: Coil of 10,000 (1 design)
Series: N/A
Issue Date & City: February 19, 2024, Star, ID 83669
Art Director: Antonio Alcalá, Alexandria, VA
Designer: Carol Beehler, Bethesda, MD
Modeler: Sandra Lane / Michelle Finn
Manufacturing Process: Offset
Printer: Banknote Corporation of America
Press Type: Alprinta RCS
Stamps per Coil: 10,000
Print Quantity: 1,500,000,000 stamps
Paper Type: Phosphor Tagged / Overall
Adhesive Type: Pressure-sensitive
Colors: PMS 7687C, PMS 3546C, PMS 2195C
Stamp Orientation: Vertical
Image Area (w x h): 0.7300 x 0.8400 in. / 18.5420 x 21.3360 mm
Stamp Size (w x h): 0.8700 x 0.9800 in. / 22.0980 x 24.8920 mm
Plate Size: 540 stamps per revolution
Plate Number: “B” followed by three (3) single digits
Coil Number Frequency: Plate number every 27th stamp below stamp image

Updated November 30^th:
This stamp will be issued Monday, February 19, without a “headquarters” first-day ceremony.

Announced October 23, 2023:

From the time slavery was introduced to the Colonies until it was abolished in 1865, enslaved people tried to escape. This stamp issuance commemorates the Underground Railroad, as their resistance efforts became known. The pane of 20 stamps features 10 sepia-toned portraits of men and women who escaped slavery and/or helped others escape: Catharine Coffin, Frederick Douglass, Thomas Garrett, Laura Haviland, Lewis Hayden, Harriet Jacobs, William Lambert, Jermain Loguen, William Still and Harriet Tubman. Below each portrait are eight lines of text: BLACK/WHITE; COOPERATION; TRUST/DANGER; FLIGHT/FAITH; COURAGE/RISK; DEFIANCE/HOPE; UNDERGROUND; RAILROAD/USA. On the pane’s verso is a map showing the general routes freedom seekers followed and a list of individuals pictured on the stamps with a few words of biographical information about each. Antonio Alcalá, an art director for USPS, designed the stamps using existing images.

Further information will be posted below the line, with the newest information at the top.

Updated May 7^th:
The Scott catalogue numbers for this issue are
5834 Harriet Tubman
5835 Thomas Garrett
5836 William Still
5837 Harriet Jacobs
5838 Jermain Loguen
5839 Catherine Coffin
5840 Lewis Hayden
5841 Frederick Douglass
5842 William Lambert
5843 Laura Haviland
b. Block of 10, #5834-5843
(add “a” for imperforate versions)

Updated April 16^th:
The USPS has added a philatelic product: 484633 Commemorative Panel, $12.95

Updated March 7^th:
[ceremony information] [click on any of the pictures for larger versions]
U.S. Postal Service Remembers Shining Beacons of the Underground Railroad on New Forever Stamps

What: The U.S. Postal Service is honoring 10 courageous men and women who helped guide enslaved people to freedom via the Underground Railroad, network of secret routes and safehouses in use before the Civil War.

The first-day-of-issue event for the Underground Railroad stamps is free and open to the public. News of the Forever stamps is being shared with the hashtag #UndergroundRailroadStamps.

Who: The Honorable Ronald A. Stroman, member of the USPS Board of Governors and dedicating official

When: Saturday, March 9, 2024, at 11 a.m. EST

Where: Harriet Tubman Underground Railroad Visitor Center
4068 Golden Hill Road
Church Creek, MD 21622

RSVP: Attendees are encouraged to register at usps.com/undergroundrailroad.

Background: From the time slavery was introduced to the Colonies until it was abolished in 1865, enslaved people made ceaseless efforts to escape its reach. The flight to freedom, whether by foot, horseback, carriage, wagon or boat, was difficult and exceedingly dangerous.

In name only, The Underground Railroad started as a loosely organized secret network of courageous and imaginative freedom seekers, and the brave operatives who assisted them. Over time the network coalesced into a well-organized system as it responded to the increasing numbers of freedom seekers and a corresponding rise in attempts to thwart escapes.

Most remained anonymous, but some left their mark on history, including the 10 men and women honored on these Forever stamps: Catharine Coffin, Frederick Douglass, Thomas Garrett, Laura Haviland, Lewis Hayden, Harriet Jacobs, William Lambert, the Rev. Jermain Loguen, William Still, and Harriet Tubman.

Updated February 22^nd:
The USPS made corrections to the technical details (press type and number of stamps per pane). They have been changed below.

Updated February 9^th:
Here is what the reverse of the pane looks like:And this is what a full pane looks like: Updated February 8^th:

Here are the first-day postmarks for this issue:The Digital Color Postmark measures 2.97″ x 1.49″The Pictorial Postmark measures 2.50″ x 1.12″

From the Postal Bulletin:
On March 9, 2024, in Church Creek, MD, the United States Postal Service® will issue The Underground Railroad stamps (Forever® priced at the First-Class Mail® rate) in 10 designs, in a pressure-sensitive adhesive (PSA) pane of 20 stamps (Item 484600). These stamps will go on sale nationwide March 9, 2024, and must not be sold or canceled before the first-day-of-issue. The Underground Railroad commemorative pane of 20 stamps must not be split and the stamps must not be sold individually.

From the time slavery was introduced to the Colonies until it was abolished in 1865, enslaved people tried to escape it. This stamp issuance commemorates the Underground Railroad, as their resistance efforts became known. The pane of 20 stamps depicts 10 men and women who escaped slavery or helped others escape. The top third of each stamp features a sepia-toned portrait of one individual:

• Catharine Coffin,
• Frederick Douglass,
• Thomas Garrett,
• Laura Haviland,
• Lewis Hayden,
• Harriet Jacobs,
• William Lambert,
• Rev. Jermain Loguen,
• William Still, and
• Harriet Tubman.

Below each portrait are eight lines of text: BLACK/WHITE; COOPERATION; TRUST/DANGER; FLIGHT/FAITH; COURAGE/RISK; DEFIANCE/HOPE; UNDERGROUND; RAILROAD/USA. Art director Antonio Alcalá designed the stamps using existing photographs.

Availability to Post Offices: Item 484600, The Underground Railroad (Forever Priced at the First-Class Mail Rate) Pane of 20 Stamps: 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 – The Underground Railroad Stamps
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 July 9, 2024.

Technical Specifications:

Issue: The Underground Railroad Stamps
Item Number: 484600
Denomination & Type of Issue: First-Class Mail Forever
Format: Pane of 20 (10 designs)
Series: N/A
Issue Date & City: March 9, 2024, Church Creek, MD 21622
Art Director: Antonio Alcalá, Alexandria, VA
Designer: Antonio Alcalá, Alexandria, VA
Typographer: Antonio Alcalá, Alexandria, VA
Modeler: Joseph Sheeran
Manufacturing Process: Offset
Printer: Ashton Potter
Press Type: Muller A76
Stamps per Pane: 20
Print Quantity: 20,000,000
Paper Type: Nonphosphored Type III, Block Tag Applied
Adhesive Type: Pressure-sensitive
Colors: Black, Cyan, Magenta, Yellow
Stamp Orientation: Vertical
Image Area (w x h): 0.8400 x 1.4200 in. / 21.3360 x 36.0680 mm
Overall Size (w x h): 0.9800 x 1.5600 in. / 24.8920 x 39.6240 mm
Full Pane Size (w x h): 5.9200 x 7.6250 in. / 150.3680 x 193.6750 mm
Press Sheets Size (w x h): 11.8400 x 22.8750 in. / 300.7360 x 581.0250 mm
Plate Size: 240 stamps per revolution
Plate Number: “P” followed by four (4) single digits in bottom two corners
Marginal Markings:
Front: Header: THE UNDERGROUND RAILROAD • Plate number in bottom two corners
Back: Header: NETWORK TO FREEDOM • Routes of the Underground Railroad • Descriptive text for each stamp honoree • © 2023 USPS • USPS logo • One barcode (484600) • Plate position diagram (6) • Promotional text

Updated January 7^th:
Not mentioned in the Wikipedia entry for Church Creek, for some reason, is that it has the Harriet Tubman Underground Railroad National Historical Park! However, the stamps’ issuance is not on the site’s calendar. Wikipedia does have a listing for the park itself.

Updated November 30^th:
These stamps will be issued Saturday, March 9, in Church Creek, MD [Wikipedia], on Maryland’s Eastern Shore.

Announced October 23, 2023:

The Save Manatees stamp will be issued to create awareness about the threats posed to this beloved marine mammal. Human vigilance is crucial for its protection — both to minimize motorboat strikes and to maintain the aquatic plants on which the manatee feeds in the warm coastal waters in and around Florida. The stamp art is a digital rendering of a manatee placidly lolling near the surface of the water. Derry Noyes, an art director for USPS, designed the stamp and booklet cover using illustrator Nancy Stahl’s original graphic design.

Further information will be posted below the line, with the newest information at the top.

Updated May 7^th:
The Scott catalogue number for this issue is 5851. The booklet pane of 20 is 5851a.

Updated March 2^nd:

Photos from the first-day ceremony, courtesy Joe Brockert, a retired U.S. Postal Service Stamp Services staffer and editor at Linn’s Stamp News/Scott Publishing, and John Mascaro. In fact, let’s start with a photo of Joe:A sign at the site: and the first day ceremony program:We received nearly identical first-day postmarked postcards from two others who attended the ceremony, Chris Lazaroff and Linn’s editor-in-chief Jay Bigalke:
Also at the ceremony was VSC member John Mascaro, who lives just nine miles from Silver Springs State Park. A former volunteer at the Park, John tells us there was a big blowup there on the first-day: Postal workers canceling FDCs and other souvenirs:The blue FDCs you see on the table were designed by a local artist and sold by the Francis Marion County Stamp Club of Ocala. We have asked for information on how to buy them.

As is becoming a trend, John reports he was told the Manatee Research Station Visitors Center in Crystal River “does not have or no longer carries postcards.” Luckily, he had two from 1996.Updated February 29^th:

[press release] [click on any of the pictures for larger versions]
New Save Manatees Postage Stamp to be Issued on Manatee Appreciation Day

What: The U.S. Postal Service will commemorate the new Save Manatees postage stamp on Manatee Appreciation Day.

News of the stamp is being shared with the hashtag #SaveManateesStamp.

Who: Michelle Krysiak, postmaster, Silver Springs, FL, Post Office
Patrick Rose, executive director, Save the Manatee Club

When: Wednesday, March 27, 2024, at 9 a.m.

Where: Silver Springs State Park
5656 E. Silver Springs Blvd.
Silver Springs, FL 34488

RSVP: Those interested in attending should RSVP at usps.com/savemanateesstamp.

Background: The gentle West Indian manatee is a vulnerable marine mammal. Manatees inhabit Florida’s inland waterways and warm areas of the coastal Atlantic, Caribbean and Gulf of Mexico.

Every day, a West Indian manatee eats up to 10 percent of its weight in aquatic plants. Adults can reach 11 feet long and 1,500 pounds. Manatees are slow swimmers and slow to reproduce — a female has one calf at a time and may tend to it for two years.

Media Webinar: Additionally, the Postal Service will be hosting a media webinar on March 26, 2024, at 10 a.m. EDT. Speakers from the Postal Service and the conservation community will discuss the new postage stamp and manatee conservation efforts. If you are interested in participating, email sue.brennan@usps.gov to RSVP and additional information will be provided.

Updated February 22^nd:
Here are the first-day postmarks for this issue:The Digital Color Postmark measures 2.53″ x 1.24″This is the standard “killer bar.”

On March 27, 2024, in Silver Springs, FL, the United States Postal Service® will issue the Save Manatees stamp (Forever® priced at the First-Class Mail® rate) in one design, in a pressure-sensitive adhesive (PSA) double-sided booklet of 20 stamps (Item 684800). This stamp will go on sale March 27, 2024, and must not be sold or canceled before the first-day-of-issue.

The Save Manatees stamp is being issued to create awareness about the threats posed to this beloved marine mammal. Human vigilance is crucial for the protection of the threatened West Indian manatee — both to minimize motorboat strikes and to maintain the aquatic plants on which the manatee feeds in Florida and nearby warm-water coastal areas. The stamp art is a digital rendering of a manatee placidly lolling near the surface of the water. Art director Derry Noyes designed this booklet of 20 stamps, illustrated by Nancy Stahl.

Item 684800, Save Manatees (Forever Priced at the First-Class Mail Rate) Double-sided Booklet of 20 Stamps: No 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 – Save Manatees 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 July 27, 2024.

Technical Specifications:

Issue: Save Manatees Stamp
Item Number: 684800
Denomination & Type of Issue: First-Class Mail Forever
Format: Double-sided Booklet of 20 (1 design)
Series: N/A
Issue Date & City: March 27, 2024, Silver Springs, FL 34488
Designer: Derry Noyes, Washington, DC
Art Director: Derry Noyes, Washington, DC
Illustrator: Nancy Stahl, New York, NY
Modeler: Sandra Lane / Michelle Finn
Manufacturing Process: Offset, Microprint
Printer: Banknote Corporation of America
Press Type: Alprinta 74
Stamps per Booklet: 20
Print Quantity: 175,000,000
Paper Type: Phosphor, Block Tag
Adhesive Type: Pressure-sensitive
Colors: Cyan, Magenta, Yellow, Black
Stamp Orientation: Vertical
Image Area (w x h): 0.7700 x 1.0500 in. / 19.5580 x
26.6700 mm
Stamp Size (w x h): 0.9100 x 1.1900 in. / 23.1140 x
30.2260 mm
Booklet Size (w x h): 5.7430 x 2.3750 in. / 145.8720 x
60.3250 mm
Plate Size: 800 stamps per revolution
Plate Numbers: “B” followed by four (4) single digits
Marginal Markings: Header: “SAVE MANATEES” Twenty First-Class Forever Stamps • © 2023 USPS in peel strip area • Barcode • USPS logo • Promotional text • Plate number in peel strip area

Updated November 30^th:
This stamp will be issued Wednesday, March 27, in Silver Springs, FL.