Special dedication at 1 pm at the AJ Hermitage in Nashville same day for War of 1812 Battle of New Orleans stamp (January 8).

Wrap-up product for War of 1812 – four panes, plus a card with an exclusive DCP, certificate, numbered and signed by Art Director Greg Breeding, limited to 3,000,  plus book about the stamps and the War. Hope to take preorders starting Jan. 1, but won’t be available until Feb. 1. $59.95 (face value of stamps is $39.20). This DCP will not be available separately to FDC servicers. “The War of 1812 Limited Edition Collector’s Set.”

Also jan. 12, Bank Swallow and Folk Art Eagle envelopes reprints. Cascade Envelope has been bought out by Rolland [corrected]  so new marking on the back of the new stocks. “FSC Mixed Paper.” No event. Indicia won’t change.

Love Forever Hearts – confirmed Jan. 22 in Richmond at the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts, goes with the theme of “Virginia is for Lovers.”

$2 Patriotic Waves – still at Southeastern, first-day city is now confirmed as Norcross  30071.

February 7th, in SF, Year of the Ram.

February TBD and location TBD, Black Heritage, Robert Robinson Taylor.

Vintage Rose/Tulip, still February 14 in Riverside, CA. 1¢ Bobcat still Feb. 21 in Mesa.

Addition: Stars & Stripes presorted standard coil with three designs, in a PSA coils of 3,000 and 10,000, February 27th, at Grapevine Texas, at Texpex   76051

Water Lilies: confirmed for March 20th, Cleveland 44130. @Garfield Perry Stamp Show

From Me To You: probably late March, no date or location confirmed.

Addition: Martin Ramirez, late March, around 30-31st, in NYC. The Gallery tie-in.

No updates on Summer Harvest and Coast Guard.

The “Deep CSAC” list of upcoming U.S. stamp subjects leaked a year ago indicates James Brown will be one of 2015’s Music Icons stamps. Based on a New York Times article Sunday, don’t bet on it. Eight years after his death on Christmas Day 2006, his estate is in dispute: The six children he recognized don’t agree on much if anything, a maybe-ex-wife he maybe-divorced is getting or not getting some of his money, and South Carolina state authorities can’t even agree on what steps to take.

The $2 stamp will be issued at Southeastern Stamp Show in Norcross, Georgia, on January 30th.

It’s the same artist as Color (Michael Dayer), and the stamps will come in panes of ten. The $2 is standard commemorative size,

Since there is a Digital Color Postmark for the $1 Patriotic Waves stamps, which has no first day ceremony, a DCP for this stamp is likely, too.

Digital Color Postmark (added January 20th; we’re having trouble getting good quality cancellation design images this year):

From the Postal Bulletin:

On January 30, 2015, in Norcross, GA, the U.S. Postal Service® will issue a $2 Patriotic Waves mail use stamp, in one design, in a pressure-sensitive adhesive (PSA) pane of 10 stamps (Item 117500).

The stamp will go on sale nationwide January 30, 2015.

In 2015, the U.S. Postal Service offers the $2 Patriotic Waves, a new, high-denomination stamp. This contemporary stamp design was created to lend a patriotic appearance to packages, large envelopes, and other mailings. The $2 Patriotic Waves stamp features red and blue intersecting lines on a white background in an abstract pattern reminiscent of billowing flags. A portion on the lower right side of the stamp provides white space to display the dollar sign and the numeral 2. Designer Michael Dyer worked with art director Antonio Alcalá to create this stamp.

How to Order the First-Day-of-Issue Postmark:
Customers have 60 days to obtain the first-day-of-issue postmark by mail. They may purchase new stamps at their local Post Office, at The Postal Store® website at www.usps.com/shop, or by calling 800-STAMP-24. They should affix the stamps to envelopes of their choice, address the envelopes (to themselves or others), and place them in a larger envelope addressed to:

$2 Patriotic Waves Stamp
Norcross Main Office
265 Mitchell Road
Norcross, GA 30071-9998

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. For more than 50, customers have to pay five cents each. All orders must be postmarked by March 31, 2015.

There are six philatelic products for this stamp issue:

• 117506 Press Sheet with Die cut, $200.00, (print quantity 500).
• 117508 Press Sheet without Die cut, $200.00 (print quantity 1,000).
• 117510 Digital Color Postmark Keepsake, $23.95.
• 117516 First-Day Cover, $2.44.
• 117521 Digital Color Postmark, $3.15.
• 117531 Stamp Deck Card, $0.95.

Technical Specifications:

Issue: $2 Patriotic Waves Stamp
Item Number: 117500
Denomination & Type of Issue: $2.00 Mail Use
Format: Pane of 10 (1 design)
Series: N/A
Issue Date & City: January 30, 2015, Norcross, GA
Designer: Michael Dyer, Brooklyn, NY
Art Director: Antonio Alcalá, Alexandria, VA
Typographer: Michael Dyer, Brooklyn, NY
Artist: Michael Dyer, Brooklyn, NY
Modeler: Joseph Sheeran
Manufacturing Process: Offset, Microprint
Printer: Ashton Potter (USA) Ltd. (APU)
Printed at: Williamsville, NY
Press Type: Muller A76
Stamps per Pane: 10
Print Quantity: 10 Million Stamps
Paper Type: Nonphosphored Type III, Block Tag
Adhesive Type: Pressure-sensitive adhesive
Processed at: Ashton Potter (USA) Ltd. (APU)
Colors: PMS 2174 C Blue, PMS 185 C Red, PMS Cool Gray C #8
Stamp Orientation: Horizontal
Image Area (w x h): 1.42 x 0.84 in./36.09 x 21.34 mm
Overall Size (w x h): 1.56 x 0.98 in./39.62 x 24.89 mm
Full Pane Size (w x h): 4.26 x 6.48 in./108.20 x 164.59 mm
Press Sheet Size (w x h): 21.30 x 12.96 in./541.02 x 329.18 mm
Plate Size: 200 stamps per revolution
Plate Numbers: “P” followed by three (3) single digits
Marginal Markings: Front: Plate Block Numbers in two positions
Back: © 2014 USPS • USPS logo • Plate position diagram • Two barcodes • Promotional text

This version of the stamp will be issued February 21 at the ARIPEX stamp show in Mesa. An earlier version of this design is shown here.

From the January 8th Postal Bulletin:

On February 21, 2015, in Mesa, AZ, the U.S. Postal Service® will issue a 1-cent Bobcat mail-use stamp in one design, in a pressure-sensitive adhesive (PSA) coil of 10,000 stamps (Item 786900).

The stamp will go on sale nationwide February 21, 2015.

In 2012, the U.S. Postal Service first issued the Bobcat 1-cent stamp in coils of 3,000. Bobcats (Lynx rufus) are members of the feline family found across America. The stamp art is a highly stylized digital image of a bobcat with golden eyes, a pink nose, and fur in shades of brown. Nancy Stahl illustrated the stamp, under the direction of Carl T. Herrman.

How to Order the First-Day-of-Issue Postmark:
Customers have 60 days to obtain the first-day-of-issue postmark by mail. They may purchase new stamps at their local Post Office, at The Postal Store® website at http://www.usps.com/shop, or by calling 800-STAMP-24. They should affix the stamps to envelopes of their choice, address the envelopes (to themselves or others), and place them in a larger envelope addressed to:

1¢ Bobcat Stamp
Postmaster
Main Post Office
135 North Center Street
Mesa, AZ 85201-9998

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. For more than 50, customers have to pay five cents each. All orders must be postmarked by April 22, 2015.

There is one philatelic product for this stamp issue:
786916 First-Day Cover, $0.94.

Technical Specifications:
Issue: Bobcat Stamp
Item Number: 786900
Denomination & Type of Issue: 1-cent Mail-Use
Format: Coil of 10,000 (1 design)
Series: N/A
Issue Date & City: February 21, 2015, Mesa, AZ 85201
Art Director: Carl T Herman, Carlsbad, CA
Designer: Carl T Herman, Carlsbad, CA
Typographer: Carl T Herman, Carlsbad, CA
Artist: Nancy Stahl, New York, NY
Modeler: Joseph Sheeran
Manufacturing Process: Offset, Microprint — “USPS”
Printer: Ashton Potter (USA) Ltd. (APU)
Printed at: Williamsville, NY
Press Type: Muller A76
Stamps per Coil: 10,000
Print Quantity: 500 million stamps
Paper Type: Nonphosphored, Type III
Adhesive Type: Pressure-sensitive adhesive
Processed at: Ashton Potter (USA) Ltd. (APU)
Colors: Black, Cyan, Magenta, Yellow
Stamp Orientation: Vertical
Image Area (w x h): 0.73 x 0.84 in./18.54 x 21.34 mm
Stamp Size (w x h): 0.87 x 0.98 in./22.10 x 24.89 mm
Plate Size: 594 stamps per revolution
Plate Numbers: “P” followed by four (4) single digits
Marginal Markings: © 2012 Copyright • Sequential numbering in increments of 10 located behind every 10th stamp throughout the coil • plate number frequency every 27th stamp

The USPS today confirmed some of the dates and locations we already had for 2015, but added some details.

Also…

$1 Patriotic Waves will be issued January 12th with Kansas City as the first day city, but there will not be an event with it. ($2 is still set for Southeastern Stamp Expo in Georgia on the 30th.) Both will be panes of 10.

Forever Hearts will be issued before the end of January, so that the stamps are available for valentines, but no date or city is set yet.

Year of the Ram is confirmed for the first week of February in San Francisco, but the exact date is not yet set.

A 1¢ Bobcat PSA coil of 10,000 version will be issued at Aripex in Mesa, Arizona, on February 21.

There will be one or two more in February when the rights are nailed down, including Black Heritage.

From Me To You will be issued in March now, no exact date or city yet.

Updated May 13th:: Here is the first-day Digital Color Postmark design for this issue: size: 3.0″ x 1.72″. The B&W or “rubber” postmark for this issue is the standard FDOI 4-bar.

Updated May 8th:
[press release]

Special Olympics World Games Commemorated on Forever Stamp
Games to take place in Los Angeles from July 25 to Aug. 2IRVINE, CA — The U.S. Postal Service began celebrating the 2015 Special Olympics World Games by issuing the Special Olympics World Games Forever stamp during the Special Olympics Southern California 2015 Orange County Spring Regional Games in Irvine tomorrow. The stamp will be available nationwide May 9.

As the flagship event of the Special Olympics movement, the Special Olympics World Games will be held in Los Angeles from July 25 – Aug. 2. More than half a million spectators will enjoy nine days of challenging and inspiring international competition as more than 7,000 athletes from 177 countries compete in 25 Olympic-type sports. The athletes will include 344 from the United States. Visit Special Olympics USA for the complete U.S. team listing.

Today, Special Olympics has grown to encompass nearly 5 million athletes worldwide. Every year, with the support of more than 1.3 million coaches and volunteers, Special Olympics organizes more than 81,000 games and competitions. The 2015 Special Olympics World Games will showcase what Special Olympics is accomplishing every day, around the world.

“Today, the Postal Service is pleased to honor Special Olympics, an organization that — for nearly five decades — has changed the world by creating opportunities for children and adults with intellectual disabilities,” said USPS Pacific Area Vice President Dean Granholm. “In doing so, we honor the important work of Special Olympics, which uses sports as the catalyst for societal change in the areas of health, education, and in creating communities of acceptance and inclusion for people with intellectual disabilities everywhere. Using these stamps on your cards, letters and packages is a great way to show your support for these athletes.”

Joining Granholm in dedicating the stamps were Special Olympics Southern California Orange County Athlete of the Year Tony Briones; Special Olympics Southern California Board Chairman Tim Redmond; Special Olympics Southern California President and CEO Bill Shumard; Irvine Police Department Commander Mike Hallinan; and Irvine Mayor Steven Choi.

“Special Olympics changed my life and the lives of many of my friends and their families,” said Briones. “It helps us to learn compassion and leadership skills while bringing fun, accomplishment and pride into our lives. The stamp makes us feel important and we thank the Postal Service for extending Special Olympics this honor.”

The Special Olympics World Games Los Angeles Logo
The Special Olympics World Games Los Angeles logo was donated by the Davis Elen advertising agency. Taking center stage is the celebratory figure that represents the joy the athletes feel when they compete. The multi-colored circle around the celebratory figure represents inclusion for all people with intellectual disabilities. The 19 colors of the logo are made up of the analogous colors derived from the flags of the 177 countries competing, with the shape of the color pieces being a nod to the Hollywood klieg lights that are commonly used in the host city of Los Angeles. Click here to view the video of the making of the logo.

About Special Olympics
Special Olympics is a global movement that unleashes the human spirit through the transformative power and joy of sports, every day around the world. We empower people with intellectual disabilities to become accepted and valued members of their communities, which leads to a more respectful and inclusive society for all. Using sports as the catalyst and programming around health and education, Special Olympics is fighting inactivity, injustice and intolerance. Founded in 1968 by Eunice Kennedy Shriver, the Special Olympics movement has grown to more than 4.4 million athletes in 170 countries. With the support of more than 1.3 million coaches and volunteers, Special Olympics delivers 32 Olympic-type sports and more than 81,000 games and competitions throughout the year. Visit Special Olympics at specialolympics.org. Engage with us on: Twitter @specialolympics; fb.com/specialolympics; youtube.com/specialolympicshq; instagram.com/specialolympics and specialolympicsblog.wordpress.com.

The Stamp Design
The stamp features the 2015 Special Olympics World Games Los Angeles logo, showcasing the colors of flags from participating countries. “The logo’s celebratory figure represents the courage, determination and joy of our athletes,” said President and CEO of the 2015 World Games Patrick McClenahan. “Placing the iconic image inside the circle represents acceptance and inclusion of people with intellectual disabilities.” Art director Greg Breeding of Charlottesville, VA, designed the stamp for the Postal Service.

The Stamp
The Special Olympics World Games stamp is being issued as a Forever stamp. Forever stamps are always equal in value to the current First-Class Mail 1-ounce price.

Fifty million Special Olympics World Games Forever stamps were produced. Customers may purchase the stamps at usps.com/stamps, the Postal Store, at 800-STAMP24 (800-782-6724) and at Post Offices nationwide or visit ebay.com/stamps to shop for a wide variety of postage stamps and collectibles.

Updated April 2nd: From the Postal Bulletin:

On May 9, 2015, in Irvine, CA, the U.S. Postal Service® will issue the Special Olympics World Games First-Class Mail® Forever® stamp, in one design, in a pressure-sensi­tive adhesive (PSA) pane of 20 stamps (Item 472800).

The stamp will go on sale nationwide May 9, 2015.

This year, the U.S. Postal Service celebrates the 2015 Special Olympics World Games, the flagship event of the Special Olympics movement. The Games will be held in Los Angeles from July 25 to August 2. It will be the first time the Special Olympics World Summer Games have been held in the United States since 1999. The stamp features the 2015 Special Olympics World Games Los Angeles logo, showcasing the colors of flags from participating countries. “The logo’s celebratory figure represents the courage, determination, and joy of our athletes,” says Patrick McClenahan, president and chief executive officer of the 2015 Games. “Placing the iconic image inside the circle represents acceptance and inclusion of people with intellectual disabilities.” The words “Special Olympics World Games Los Angeles 2015” and “Forever/USA” appear on the stamp; its colored background begins as a light orange at the top of the stamp then darkens as it moves toward the bottom. The title of the pane “Special Olympics World Games” appears in two shades of orange on a white background. Art director Greg Breeding designed the stamp.

How to Order the First-Day-of-Issue Postmark:
Customers have 60 days to obtain the first-day-of-issue postmark by mail. They may purchase new stamps at their local Post Office, at The Postal Store® website at www.usps.com/shop, or by calling 800-STAMP-24. They should affix the stamps to envelopes of their choice, address the envelopes (to themselves or others), and place them in a larger envelope addressed to:

Special Olympics World Games Stamp
Postmaster
15642 Sand Canyon Avenue
Irvine, CA 92619-9998

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. For more than 50, customers have to pay five cents each. All orders must be postmarked by July 8, 2015.

There are nine philatelic products for this stamp issue:

• 472806 Press Sheet with Die-cut, $39.20 (print quantity 500).
• 472808, Press Sheet without Die-cut, $39.20 (print quantity 1,500).
• 472810 Digital Color Postmark Keepsake, $11.95.
• 472816 First-Day Cover, $0.93.
• 472821 Digital Color Postmark, $1.64.
• 472824 Framed Art, $29.95.
• 472830 Ceremony Program, $6.95.
• 472831 Stamp Deck Card, $0.95.
• 472832 Stamp Deck Card with Digital Color Post­mark, $1.99.

Technical Specifications:

Issue: Special Olympics World Games Stamp
Item Number: 472800
Denomination & Type of Issue: First-Class Mail Forever
Format: Pane of 20 (1 design)
Series: N/A
Issue Date & City: May 9, Irvine, CA 92619
Designer: Greg Breeding, Charlottesville, VA
Art Director: Greg Breeding, Charlottesville, VA
Typographer: Greg Breeding, Charlottesville, VA
Modeler: Donald Woo
Manufacturing Process: Offset, Microprint
Printer: Banknote Corporation of America/SSP
Printed at: Browns Summit, NC
Press Type: Alprinta 74
Stamps per Pane: 20
Print Quantity: 50 million stamps
Paper Type: Phosphor Tagged Paper, Block
Adhesive Type: Pressure-sensitive adhesive
Processed at: Banknote Corporation of America, Browns Summit SC
Colors: Pantone 1495, Pantone 7579, Cyan, Magenta, Yellow, Black
Stamp Orientation: Vertical
Image Area (w x h): 0.84 x 1.42 in./21.34 x 36.07 mm
Overall Size (w x h): 0.98 x 1.56 in./24.89 x 39.62 mm
Full Pane Size (w x h): 6.38 x 9.13 in./231.78 x 161.93 mm
Press Sheets Size (w x h): 26.25 x 9.13 in./ 666.75 x 231.78 mm
Plate Size: 80 stamps per revolution
Plate Numbers: “S” followed by six (6) single digits
Marginal Markings: Front: Plate numbers in two corners of pane
Back: © 2015 USPS • USPS logo • Plate position diagram • Barcode (472800) in upper right and lower left corners of pane • Promotional text • Special Olympics Information

Updated March 24th: From the USPS: “Special Olympics May 9 at 9 a.m. PT, Irvine High School, Irvine, CA as part of the Special Olympics Regional games.”

Updated February 20th: The date is still undetermined, but it is likely for April. From the USPS:

This year, the U.S. Postal Service® celebrates the 2015 Special Olympics World Games, the flagship event of the Special Olympics movement. This is the first time the Special Olympic World Games will be held in the US in 10 years.

The Games will be held in Los Angeles from July 25 to August 2.

More than half a million spectators will enjoy nine days of challenging and inspiring international competition as more than 7,000 athletes from 177 countries compete in 25 Olympic-type sports.

The stamp features the 2015 Special Olympics World Games Los Angeles logo, showcasing the colors of flags from participating countries.

“The logo’s celebratory figure represents the courage, determination and joy of our athletes,” says Patrick McClenahan, president and chief executive officer of the 2015 Games.

“Placing the iconic image inside the circle represents acceptance and inclusion of people with intellectual disabilities.”

Artist and Art Director: Greg Breeding

The New York Post is reporting that the U.S. Postal Service hasn’t given up on the idea of youth fitness stamps. It cites the “Let’s Move” stamps that were vetoed by the White House two years ago, because they showed unsafe practices on several of the stamps. One of those was the Cannonball stamp, shown on the left.

The Post, however, reports the stamps are still sitting in a warehouse, and suggests they might somehow be used anyway. I thought they were going to be destroyed, and surely should have been by now. How do you “fix” 3 designs out of 20? Remove them and sell 17-stamp panes of stamps?

The paper quotes USPS spokesman Mark Saunders only as saying the USPS is still working on issuing fitness-related stamps. The quote doesn’t say these stamps.

Updated August 1st: The first day postmarks: The DCP measures 2.99″x1.07″. The B&W cancel measures 2.07″x1.46″.

Updated July 23rd from the Postal Bulletin:
On August 20, 2015, in Grand Rapids, MI, the U.S. Postal Service® will issue the World Stamp Show–NY 2016, First Class Mail® stamp (Forever® priced at 49 cents), in two designs, in a pressure-sensitive adhesive (PSA) pane of 20 stamps (Item 589900).

The stamps will go on sale nationwide August 20, 2015.

With these elegant stamps reminiscent of classic engraved 19th-century stamps and banknotes, the U.S. Postal Service® announces the coming World Stamp Show-NY 2016 and invites philatelists and amateur stamp enthusiasts alike to attend. The show will be held May 28 to June 4, 2016, at the Jacob Javits Convention Center in New York City. World Stamp Show-NY 2016 continues a 100-year tradition of once-a-decade international philatelic exhibitions held in the United States. Twenty stamps feature intricate patterns of curved, straight, and wavy lines, and are evenly divided in color: ten blue and ten red stamps. The circle in the center of the stamp design displays a five-pointed star. Text surrounding the circle includes the year of the show, “2016,” and the words “World Stamp Show” and “New York City.\u0022 The header on the pane reads: “JOIN US FOR A WONDERFUL WEEK AT WORLD STAMP SHOW-NY 2016.” Verso text provides details about the show. Graphic designer Michael Dyer worked with art director Antonio Alcalá to create the stamp art.

How to Order the First-Day-of-Issue Postmark:
Customers have 60 days to obtain the first-day-of-issue postmark by mail. They may purchase new stamps at their local Post Office, at The Postal Store® website at http://www.usps.com/shop, or by calling 800-STAMP-24. They should affix the stamps to envelopes of their choice, address the envelopes (to themselves or others), and place them in a larger envelope addressed to:

World Stamp Show Stamps
Manager
PO Box 999818
Grand Rapids, MI 49599-9818

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. For more than 50, customers have to pay five cents each. All orders must be postmarked by October 19, 2015.

There are eight philatelic products for this stamp issue:

• 589906, Press Sheet with Die-cut, $58.80 (print quantity 1,000).
• 589908, Press Sheet without Die-cut, $58.80 (print quantity 1,500).
• 589910 Keepsake, $13.95.
• 589916 First-Day Cover, set of 2, $1.86.
• 589921 Digital Color Postmark, set of 2, $3.28.
• 589930 Ceremony Program (random), $6.95.
• 589931 Stamp Deck Card, $.95.
• 589932 Stamp Deck Card/Digital Color Postmark (random), $1.99.

Technical Specifications:

Issue: World Stamp Show–NY 2016 Stamps
Item Number: 589900
Denomination & Type of Issue: First-Class Mail Forever
Format: Pane of 20 (2 designs)
Series: N/A
Issue Date & City: Grand Rapids, MI, 49599
Designer: Michael Dyer, Brooklyn NY
Art Director: Antonio Acalá, Alexandria VA
Typographer: Michael Dyer, Brooklyn NY
Artist: Michael Dyer, Brooklyn NY
Engraver: N/A
Modeler: Joseph Sheeran
Manufacturing Process: Offset
Printer: Ashton Potter (USA) Ltd. (APU)
Printed at: Williamsville, NY
Press Type: Muller A76
Stamps per Pane: 20
Print Quantity: 12 million stamps
Paper Type: Nonphosphored Type III, Block Tag
Adhesive Type: Pressure-sensitive adhesive
Processed at: Ashton Potter (USA) Ltd. (APU)
Colors: PMS 647 C Blue, PMS 7626 C Red
Stamp Orientation: Vertical
Image Area (w x h): 0.84 x 1.42 in./21.34 x 36.07 mm
Overall Size (w x h): 0.98 x 1.56 in./24.89 x 39.62 mm
Full Pane Size (w x h): 5.92 x 7.50 in./150.37 x 190.50 mm
Press Sheet Size (w x h): 11.84 x 22.75 in./300.76 x 577.85 mm
Plate Size: 240 stamps per revolution
Plate Numbers: “P” followed by two (2) single digits
Marginal Markings:
Front: Plate number in bottom corners
Back: ©2015 USPS • USPS logo • Plate block • Two Barcodes (589900) • Promotional text • Verso-text

Low-resolution versions of the first-day postmarks:
Updated April 25th: Better versions of the design, from the USPS: Updated April 20th: Here is the design: Updated April 22nd: Two photos from the unveiling, courtesy VSC member Mark Gereb: left to right, ASDA President Mark Reasoner; NY 2016 President Wade Saadi; possibly Wanda Santos, Marketing Manager, USPS NY District; and New York 2016 Vice President Steven Rod.

And another closeup of the stamps: From the earlier briefing: It probably will be issued at APS StampShow in August. That would make it likely for August 20 or 21 in Grand Rapids, Mich.

The USPS has not yet begun to design this stamp, so no word on what might be shown. “We haven’t even started development of that,” said Tackett.

“It will be designed with the collector in mind,” said Stamp Development Specialist Bill Gicker during the web conference with philatelic reporters November 4th. “We do want it to be special.”

Updated January 22-23: The 70¢ Tulip stamp might have a very short life: Stamp Services of the USPS tells The Virtual Stamp Club that if there is a rate increase, there would be a new version of the Tulip stamp with the new denomination. I would point out that June is a big month for weddings; the rule of thumb is to send out invitations something like six weeks in advance, I believe, and the rate hike was requested for April 26th, making this stamp insufficient for invitations for weddings after June 7th.

First Day Cancels (“scratch” versions):
Updated January 21:
On February 14, 2015, in Riverside, CA, the U.S. Postal Service® will issue the Vintage Rose First-Class Mail® Forever® stamp, in one design, in a pressure-sensitive adhesive (PSA) pane of 20 stamps (Item 587700).

The stamp will go on sale nationwide February 14, 2015.

In 2015, the U.S. Postal Service will issue Vintage Rose, a Forever stamp. This all-occasion stamp can be used for wedding RSVP cards and thank you notes, Mother’s and Father’s Day cards, Valentine’s Day cards, birthday cards, sympathy cards, thinking-of-you cards — for all occasions when a beautiful stamp is fitting. The stamp art features an elaborate floral line drawing of a rose similar to the design of the 2015 two-ounce Vintage Tulip stamp. Jeanne Greco designed these stamps using drawings from engraved plates originally created by naturalist artist Maria Sibylla Merian (1647–1717). A small, deep crimson heart on both stamps adds a dash of color to the designs and makes them a natural pair. These stamps were printed using the intaglio printing technique. Vintage Rose and Vintage Tulip are the latest additions to the Weddings series. Greg Breeding was the art director.

How to Order the First-Day-of-Issue Postmark:
Customers have 60 days to obtain the first-day-of-issue postmark by mail. They may purchase new stamps at their local Post Office, at The Postal Store® website at http://www.usps.com/shop, or by calling 800-STAMP-24. They should affix the stamps to envelopes of their choice, address the envelopes (to themselves or others), and place them in a larger envelope addressed to:

The Vintage Rose Stamp
Postmaster
Riverside Main Post Office
3890 Orange Street
Riverside, CA 92501-3638

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. For more than 50, customers have to pay five cents each. All orders must be postmarked by April 15, 2015.

There are nine philatelic products for this stamp issue:

• 587706, Press Sheet with Die cut, $117.60 (print quantity 500).
• 587708 Press Sheet without Die cut, $117.60 (print quantity 1,000).
• 587710 Digital Color Postmark Keepsake, $11.95.
• 587716 First-Day Cover, $0.93.
• 587721 Digital Color Postmark, $1.64.
• 587723 Notecards, $15.95.
• 587724 Framed Art, $29.95.
• 587731 Stamp Deck Card, $0.95.
• 587732 Stamp Deck Card with Digital Color Postmark, $1.99.

Technical Specifications:

Issue: Vintage Rose Stamp
Item Number: 587700
Denomination & Type of Issue: First-Class Mail Forever
Format: Pane of 20 (1 design)
Series: Weddings
Issue Date & City: February 14, 2015, Riverside, CA 92501
Designer: Jeanne Greco, New York, NY
Art Director: Greg Breeding, Charlottesville, VA
Typographer: Greg Breeding, Charlottesville, VA
Modeler: Donald Woo
Manufacturing Process: Intaglio, Offset
Printer: Banknote Corporation of America/SSP
Printed at: Browns Summit, NC
Press Type: Alprinta 74
Stamps per Pane: 20
Print Quantity: 150 million stamps
Paper Type: Phosphor Tagged Paper, Overall
Adhesive Type: Pressure-sensitive adhesive
Processed at: Banknote Corporation of America, Browns Summit SC
Colors: PMS 433, PMS 207 (Intaglio)
Stamp Orientation: Vertical
Image Area (w x h): 0.77 x 1.05 in./19.56 x 26.67 mm
Overall Size (w x h): 0.91 x 1.19 in./23.11 x 30.22 mm
Full Pane Size (w x h): 5.55 x 5.76 in./140.97 x 146.30 mm
Press Sheets Size (w x h): 16.65 x 23.04 in./422.91 x 585.22 mm
Plate Size: 240 stamps per revolution
Plate Numbers: “S” followed by two (2) single digits
Marginal Markings: Front: Plate numbers in four corners of pane
Back: © 2014 USPS • USPS logo • Plate position diagram • Barcode (587700) in upper right and lower left corners of pane • Promotional text

On February 14, 2015, in Riverside, CA, the U.S. Postal Service® will issue the Vintage Tulip, 70-cent mail-use stamp, in one design, in a pressure-sensitive adhesive (PSA) pane of 20 stamps (Item 587800).

The stamp will go on sale nationwide February 14, 2015.

In 2015, the U.S. Postal Service will issue Vintage Tulip, an all-occasion, two-ounce stamp, available to accommodate the weight of heavy invitations for weddings and other celebrations, greeting cards, and mailings such as small gifts that require extra postage. The stamp art features an elaborate floral line drawing of a tulip similar to the design of the 2015 Vintage Rose Forever® stamp. Jeanne Greco designed these stamps using drawings from engraved plates originally created by naturalist artist Maria Sibylla Merian (1647–1717). A small, deep crimson heart on both stamps adds a dash of color to the designs and makes them a natural pair. These stamps were printed using the intaglio printing technique. Vintage Tulip and Vintage Rose are the latest additions to the popular Weddings series. Greg Breeding was the art director.

How to Order the First-Day-of-Issue Postmark:
Customers have 60 days to obtain the first-day-of-issue postmark by mail. They may purchase new stamps at their local Post Office, at The Postal Store® website at http://www.usps.com/shop, or by calling 800-STAMP-24. They should affix the stamps to envelopes of their choice, address the envelopes (to themselves or others), and place them in a larger envelope addressed to:

The Vintage Tulip Stamp
Postmaster
Riverside Main Post Office
3890 Orange Street
Riverside, CA 92501-3638

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. For more than 50, customers have to pay five cents each. All orders must be postmarked by April 15, 2015.

There are eight philatelic products for this stamp issue:

• 587806, Press Sheet with Die cut, $168.00, (print quantity 500).
• 587808, Press Sheet without Die cut, $168.00, (print quantity 1,000).
• 587810 Digital Color Postmark Keepsake, $15.95.
• 587816 First-Day Cover, $1.14.
• 587821 Digital Color Postmark, $1.85.
• 587824 Framed Art, $29.95.
• 587831 Stamp Deck Card, $0.95.
• 587832 Stamp Deck Card with Digital Color Postmark, $2.20.

Technical Specifications:

Issue: Vintage Tulip Stamp
Item Number: 587800
Denomination & Type of Issue: 70-cent, Mail-Use
Format: Pane of 20 (1 design)
Series: Weddings
Issue Date & City: February 14, 2015, Riverside, CA 92501
Designer: Jeanne Greco, New York, NY
Art Director: Greg Breeding, Charlottesville, VA
Typographer: Greg Breeding, Charlottesville, VA
Modeler: Donald Woo
Manufacturing Process: Intaglio, Offset
Printer: Banknote Corporation of America/SSP
Printed at: Browns Summit, NC
Press Type: Alprinta 74
Stamps per Pane: 20
Print Quantity: 30 million stamps
Paper Type: Phosphor Tagged Paper, Overall
Adhesive Type: Pressure-sensitive adhesive
Processed at: Banknote Corporation of America, Browns Summit SC
Colors: PMS 433, PMS 207 (Intaglio)
Stamp Orientation: Vertical
Image Area (w x h): 0.77 x 1.05 in./19.56 x 26.67 mm
Overall Size (w x h): 0.91 x 1.19 in./23.11 x 30.22 mm
Full Pane Size (w x h): 5.55 x 5.76 in./140.97 x 146.30 mm
Press Sheets Size (w x h): 16.65 x 23.04 in./ 422.91 x 585.22 mm
Plate Size: 240 stamps per revolution
Plate Numbers: “S” followed by two (2) single digits
Marginal Markings: Front: Plate numbers in four corners of pane
Back: © 2014 USPS • USPS logo • Plate position diagram • Barcode (587800) in upper right and lower left corners of pane • Promotional text

Updated November 30th: These stamps will be issued at APS AmeriStamp Expo in Riverside, Calif. The show is February 13-15, making Friday, the 13th the likely first-day date. updated December 4th: on Saturday, February 14. It also means these stamps can do double-duty for Valentine’s (for procrastinators, at least).

The USPS wants to give brides and grooms a choice of different wedding stamps. These are stylized black-and-white drawings of a “Vintage Tulip” (two ounces) and “Vintage Rose” (one ounce). They will be engraved stamps. “The artwork features details from engraved plates dating from the early 1700’s,” says the USPS. The designer is Jeanne Greco of New York, who also did King & Queen of Hearts a few years ago.

Scott Catalog numbers:

5008 (49¢) Coast Guard
a. Imperforate

Updated August 1st: Here’s the Digital Color Postmark for this issue: It measures 1.47″x1.47″.

Updated July 9th from the Postal Bulletin:
On August 4, 2015, in Washington, DC, the U.S. Postal Service® will issue the United States Coast Guard stamp, (Forever® priced at 49 cents) in one design, in a pressure-sensitive adhesive (PSA) pane of 20 stamps (Item 473200).

The stamp will go on sale nationwide August 4, 2015.

This stamp honors the United States Coast Guard for its role in protecting the security of the nation and advancing its vital maritime interests. In an oil painting on masonite, renowned aviation artist William S. Phillips depicts two icons of the Coast Guard: the cutter Eagle, a three-masted sailing ship known as “America’s Tall Ship,” and an MH-65 Dolphin helicopter, the standard rescue aircraft of the Coast Guard. Art director Phil Jordan designed the stamp.

How to Order the First-Day-of-Issue Postmark:
Customers have 60 days to obtain the first-day-of-issue postmark by mail. They may purchase new stamps at their local Post Office, at The Postal Store® website at www.usps.com/shop, or by calling 800-STAMP-24. They should affix the stamps to envelopes of their choice, address the envelopes (to themselves or others), and place them in a larger envelope addressed to:

United States Coast Guard Stamp
Special Events
PO Box 92282
Washington, DC 20090-2282

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 3, 2015.

There are nine philatelic products for this stamp issue:

• 473206, Press Sheet with Die-cut, $58.80 (print quantity 500).
• 473208, Press Sheet without Die-cut, $58.80 (print quantity 1,000).
• 473210 Keepsake (stamp pane with Digital Color Postmark) $11.95.
• 473216 First-Day Cover $0.93.
• 473221 Digital Color Postmark $1.64.
• 473224 Framed Art $39.95.
• 473230 Ceremony Program $6.95.
• 473231 Stamp Deck Card $0.95.
• 473232 Stamp Deck Card with Digital Color Postmark $1.99.

Technical Specifications:

Issue: United States Coast Guard Stamp
Item Number: 473200
Denomination & Type of Issue: First-Class Mail® Forever
Format: Pane of 20 (1 design)
Series: N/A
Issue Date & City: August 4, 2015, Washington, DC 20066
Designer: Phil Jordan, Falls Church, VA
Art Director: Phil Jordan, Falls Church, VA
Typographer: Phil Jordan, Falls Church, VA
Artist: William S Phillips, Ashland OR
Modeler: Donald Woo
Manufacturing Process: Offset, Microprint
Printer: Banknote Corporation of America/SSP
Printed at: Browns Summit, NC
Press Type: Alprinta 74
Stamps per Pane: 20
Print Quantity: 15 million stamps
Paper Type: Phosphor Tagged Paper, Overall
Adhesive Type: Pressure-sensitive adhesive
Processed at: Banknote Corporation of America, Browns Summit SC
Colors: Cyan, Magenta, Yellow, Black
Stamp Orientation: Horizontal
Image Area (w x h): 1.42 x .84 in./36.07 x 21.34 mm
Overall Size (w x h): 1.56 x .98 in./39.62 x 24.89 mm
Full Pane Size (w x h): 7.24 x 5.92 in./183.90 x 150.37 mm
Press Sheets Size (w x h): 21.72 x 11.84 in./551.69 x 300.73 mm
Plate Size: 120 stamps per revolution
Plate Numbers: “S” followed by four (4) single digits
Marginal Markings:
Front: Plate numbers in four corners of pane
Back: © 2014 USPS • USPS logo • Plate position diagram • Barcode (473200) in upper right and lower left corners of pane • Promotional text • Coast Guard Information

Updated June 23rd: From the USPS:

The United States Postal Service cordially invites you to attend the First-Day-of-Issue Stamp Dedication Ceremony for the
United States Coast Guard Commemorative Forever Stamp
TUESDAY, AUGUST 4, 2015 10:00 a.m.
Douglas A. Munro Headquarters Building
2703 Martin Luther King Jr. Ave, SE Washington, DC 20593

RSVP is required philatelic media, members of the stamp collecting community and their friends

To RSVP, please contact us at: nationalevents@usps.gov or call Artis Montgomery at 202-268-3418 before Tuesday July 21, 2015.

The RSVP is only to confirm that you wish to attend. Homeland Security and Coast Guard prescreening is required prior to being admitted on the Campus.

When your RSVP has been received, you will get additional guidance via email for the screening process.

Connect with us using the hashtag #COASTGUARDSTAMP

Updated February 20th: This stamp may be earlier in the summer; the USCG is asking for a reconsideration of the August date.

From earlier: First Day of Issue date and city aren’t announced but August 4 would be a good guess for the former.

This stamp commemorates both the 225th anniversary of the signing of the Revenue Cutter Service bill into law on August 4, 1790, and also the 100th anniversary of the formal establishing of the U.S. Coast Guard. The original oil painting (oil on masonite by William S. Philips) shows the cutter Eagle and a MH-65 Dolphin helicopter, the standard aircraft used for rescues. The Eagle was also featured on a 1978 postcard. “We’re excited by this stamp,” said Tackett.