Pickup Trucks (U.S. 2016)

Updated September 3rd: The Scott Catalogue numbers for these are:

  • 5101 1938 International Harvester D-2
  • 5102 1953 Chevrolet
  • 5103 1948 Ford F-1
  • 5104 1965 Ford F-100

Updated July 8th:
pickups_chevyThe USPS has a very limited number of free tickets to the Pickup Trucks Forever stamps dedication ceremony and that day’s Car Show that takes place July 15 in Syracuse, NY.

The tickets are limited to no more than two individuals per RSVP. Visit www.usps.com/trucks to apply for the tickets. (Note: once you’re in the registration area, you’ll see a notation for 1 to 99 tickets. Note that this limit is to two tickets only per RSVP).

Tickets may be picked up July 15 at the will call center at Gate #1 which is the main entrance.

The event will take place Friday, July 15 at 1 p.m.,

The Syracuse Nationals Car Show
New York State Fairgrounds, Horticultural Center
581 State Fair Blvd.
Syracuse, NY 13209

Here’s the link to the show’s website.

Updated July 3rd: Here are the first-day cancellations for this issue: pickups_dcp_vscThe Digital Color Postmark measures 2.6” x 1.25″ pickups_bw_vscThe B&W pictorial measures 2.52” x 1.13”.

Updated June 23rd: The dedicating official will be USPS Chief Human Resource Officer Jeff Williamson.

Updated June 10, from the USPS:

s_pickupsPickup Trucks Forever Stamps
Friday, July 15, 2016 at 1:00 p.m.
Syracuse Nationals
New York State Fairgrounds
Horticultural Center
581 State Fair Blvd.
Syracuse, NY 13209

Background:
In 2016, the U.S. Postal Service celebrates pickup trucks, the rugged and reliable work vehicles that Americans have driven for nearly a century. The stamps feature four iconic models: the 1938 International Harvester D-2, the 1948 Ford F-1, the 1953 Chevrolet, and the 1965 Ford F-100.

Artist Chris Lyons of Pittsford, NY, used Adobe Illustrator to create stylized renderings of the pickup trucks. Art director Antonio Alcalá of Alexandria, VA, designed the stamps.

The origin of pickup trucks can be traced back to the early 20th century, when automobiles first became popular in the United States. They made personally hauling cargo, which once was the job of horse-drawn wagons, easier than ever. By the early 1900s, several manufacturers first began producing light-duty trucks in limited numbers.

pickups_harvInternational Harvester supplied and maintained trucks on stateside military bases during World War I. In 1917, Ford released the Model TT, which had a one-ton chassis. For 1918, Chevrolet introduced the Model 490 truck. But because drivers had to purchase their own cargo beds and bodies, these vehicles weren’t considered true pickup trucks.

The first fully factory assembled pickup truck didn’t arrive until the middle of the next decade, when the 1925 Ford Model T Runabout with Pick-Up Body made its debut. A fortified version of Ford’s landmark Model T, it had a base price of $281, featured a steel bed, and was powered by a modest 20-horsepower engine. Ford sold nearly 34,000 Model T pickups, helping kick start the popularity of pickup trucks.

Automaker Studebaker used the word “pickup” in an advertisement in 1913, but the exact root of the term “pickup” is unclear. By the Great Depression, it had become part of the American lexicon. U.S. Federal Regulations currently classify the pickup truck as “a non-passenger automobile which has a passenger compartment and an open cargo area (bed).”

Known for its production of agricultural equipment, International Harvester also made acclaimed light-duty trucks. In the 1930s, the company introduced its D line of pickups. With its six-cylinder engine and half-ton payload capacity, the 1938 International Harvester D-2 was a strong, sturdy pickup. The model was also visually striking. It had a distinct barrel-shaped grille and its elegant styling mirrored the look of luxury automobiles of the era.

By the end of World War II, pickups had become ubiquitous, especially in rural America. The nation’s major manufacturers soon began designing well-equipped trucks that no longer resembled the bare-bones models they once offered.

pickups_chevyIn 1947, Chevrolet rolled out the Advance-Design Series, the first all-new post-World War II pickup truck line. The new Chevys were roomier and more powerful than ever before. Advance-Design pickups, such as the 1953 Chevrolet, featured large windshields that provided drivers with excellent visibility, a distinctive curvy grille that bulged in the middle, and a six-cylinder engine. Advance-Design trucks were America’s top-selling pickups for nearly a decade.

The same year Chevy debuted its new line, International Harvester introduced its KB-Series of trucks. During World War II thousands of soldiers drove IH trucks, and once back home, welcomed the chance to own a stylish KB-1, -2 or -3 pickup.

pickups_Ford1Ford’s F-Series also differed greatly from relatively sparse models previously available. Also known as the “Bonus Built” line, F-Series trucks were, in the words of Ford’s famous advertising campaign, “built stronger to last longer.” Ford launched the new line with the 1948 Ford F-1. It included features like the roomy “Million Dollar Cab,” a sharp horizontal five-bar grille, and a six- or eight-cylinder engine. Ford sold more than 300,000 trucks in the first model year of the F-Series.

In the 1960s and 1970s, International Harvester’s line of light trucks flourished. In addition to the pickup version of the popular Scout, the company offered the C-Series, including the C-110. Most IH pickups of the era were available in a number of different wheelbases, a variety of engines, and with a larger, “Bonus-Load” bed. These models also offered a crew cab option, a popular concept introduced by IH in 1957.

pickups_ford2For the 1965 model year, the F-Series pickup got a facelift. The 1965 Ford F-100 had a new grille that featured 18 small rectangular openings. It also featured what Ford dubbed “Twin-I-Beam” independent front suspension, which improved the quality of the ride, and a powerful six- or eight-cylinder engine. The F-Series is still in production today and remains the country’s top-selling truck line. As of 2015, there have been 13 generations of F-Series pickups.

From the Postal Bulletin:

On July 15, 2016, in Syracuse, NY, the U.S. Postal Service will issue the Pickup Trucks First-Class Mail stamps (Forever priced at 47 cents), in four designs, in a pressure-sensitive adhesive (PSA) double-sided booklet of 20 stamps (Item 680900).

These stamps will go on sale nationwide July 15, 2016.

In 2016, the U.S. Postal Service celebrates pickup trucks, the rugged and reliable work vehicles that Americans have driven for nearly a century. Each of four new stamps features one of the following iconic models: the 1938 International Harvester D-2, the 1948 Ford F-1, the 1953 Chevrolet, and the 1965 Ford F-100. The strong, sturdy 1938 International Harvester D-2 had a distinct barrel-shaped grille and its elegant styling mirrored the look of luxury automobiles of the era. The 1953 Chevrolet, featured large windshields that provided drivers with excellent visibility, a distinctive curvy grille that bulged in the middle, and a six-cylinder engine. The 1948 Ford F-1 included features like the roomy “Million Dollar Cab,” a sharp horizontal five-bar grille, and a six- or eight-cylinder engine. The 1965 Ford F-100 had a new grille that featured 18 small rectangular openings. It also featured what Ford dubbed “Twin-I-Beam” independent front suspension. Art director Antonio Alcal· designed the stamps with original artwork by Chris Lyons.

Stamp Fulfillment Services will make an automatic push distribution to Post Offices of a quantity to cover approximately 30 days of sales.

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 800-782-6724. 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:

Pickup Trucks Stamps
Postmaster
5640 East Taft Road
Syracuse, NY 13220-9810

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 September 15, 2016.

There are six philatelic products for this stamp issue:

  • 680906 Press Sheet with Die-cut, $75.20 (print quantity 2,000).
  • 680910 Digital Color Postmark Keepsake, $15.95.
  • 680916 First-Day Cover (set of 4), $3.64.
  • 680921 Digital Color Postmark (set of 4), $6.48.
  • 680924 Framed Art, $39.95.
  • 680930 Ceremony Program (random single), $6.95.

Technical Specifications:

Issue: Pickup Trucks Stamps
Item Number: 680900
Denomination & Type of Issue: First-Class Mail Forever
Format: Double-sided Booklet of 20 (4 designs)
Series: N?A
Issue Date & City: July 15, 2016, Syracuse, NY 13220
Art Director: Antonio Alcal·, Alexandria, VA
Designer: Antonio Alcal·, Alexandria, VA
Typographer: Antonio Alcal·, Alexandria, VA
Artist: Chris Lyons, Pittsford, NY
Modeler: Sandra Lane?Michelle Finn
Manufacturing Process: Offset, Microprint
Printer: Banknote Corporation of America
Printed at: Browns Summit, NC
Press Type: Alprinta 74
Stamps per Booklet: 20
Print Quantity: 250 million stamps
Paper Type: Phosphor Tagged, Block
Adhesive Type: Pressure-sensitive
Processed at: Banknote Corporation of America, Browns Summit, NC
Colors: Cyan, Magenta, Yellow, Black, PMS Cool Gray 7
Stamp Orientation: Horizontal
Image Area (w x h): 1.05 x .77 in.?26.67 x 19.56 mm
Stamp Size (w x h): 1.19 x .91 in.?30.22 x 23.11 mm
Full Pane Size (w x h): 2.375 x 5.743 in.?60.33 x 145.88 mm
Press Sheet Size (w x h): 11.486 x 9.5 in.?291.74 x 241.30 mm
Plate Size: 800 stamps per revolution
Plate Numbers: “B” followed by five (5) single digits
Marginal Markings: ï Plate numbers in peel strip area ï © 2015 ï USPS in peel strip area

From the USPS:

4 designs
FDOI: Information to come. (3rd Quarter)
Format: Booklet of 20

s_pickupsCelebrating the rugged and reliable work vehicles that Americans have driven for nearly a century, each of the four new stamps features one of the following iconic models:

  • the 1938 International Harvester D-2,
  • the 1948 Ford F-1,
  • the 1953 Chevrolet, and
  • the 1965 Ford F-100.

The strong, sturdy 1938 International Harvester D-2 had a distinct barrel-shaped grille and its elegant styling mirrored the look of luxury automobiles of the era.

The 1953 Chevrolet, featured large windshields that provided drivers with excellent visibility, a distinctive curvy grille that bulged in the middle, and a six-cylinder engine.

The 1948 Ford F-1 included features like the roomy “Million Dollar Cab,” a sharp horizontal five-bar grille, and a six- or eight-cylinder engine.

The 1965 Ford F-100 had a new grille that featured 18 small rectangular openings. It also featured what Ford dubbed “Twin-I-Beam” independent front suspension.

Art Director: Antonio Alcalá
Illustrator: Chris Lyons

Donahoe interview[This issue was rumored in 2014. See this story And also in June 2014, I asked then-Postmaster General Patrick Donahoe about future automotive series, ““Yeah, I need to— we need to get rolling. I’ve got to try to talk to the Citizens Stamp Advisory Committee to come up with… maybe pickup trucks. That would be a good one. We’ve done a number of car series, including the Hot Rods, so trucks might be good next.”.  —LdeV]

Jack O’Lanterns (U.S. 2016)

Scott Catalogue Numbers:
5137 (47¢) Jack-o’-lantern with four teeth booklet stamp
5138 (47¢) Jack-o’-lantern with five teeth booklet stamp
5139 (47¢) Jack-o’-lantern with three teeth booklet stamp
5140 (47¢) Jack-o’-lantern with nine teeth booklet stamp
a. Block of 4, #5137-5140
b. Convertible booklet pane of 20, 5 each #5137-5140

Updated September 30th: Photos from the first day ceremony are here.

Updated September 28th: There is a defect in the new stamps. The USPS issued the following statement:

Banknote Corporation of America (BCA) has been a stamp supplier to the U.S. Postal Service since 1995. BCA employs advanced manufacturing methodology utilizing inline inspection systems in conjunction with a skilled workforce to deliver billions of stamps annually to the Postal Service.

In August 2016, BCA produced 50 million stamps of the Jack-o’-lanterns double sided books.

A manufacturing defect in the die cuts was recently discovered after initial distribution of these stamps. BCA was contacted, and Sandra Lane, BCA’s vice president prepared the following statement, “Stamps with out of register die cuts have been identified as being shipped to the USPS. Out of register die cut is part of the normal process variation and requires segregation. Unfortunately, not all the material was segregated correctly. We estimate approximately 5% of the 50 million Jack-o’-lantern stamps delivered to the USPS may be affected by the out of register die cut.

Everything we do at Banknote Corporation of America is focused on making products with the highest standards. We apologize for this oversight in our quality control process. We remain committed to provide the highest level of quality and service and look forward to our continued partnership for product innovation.”

First Day of Issuance for these stamps is scheduled on Thursday, Sept. 29, 2016. The Postal Service acknowledges this occurrence, ample supply has been distributed nationwide and will meet customer needs — no special orders will be taken. The Postal Service will continue with our original plan to distribute and sell these stamps. These stamps are valid for paying postage on letters and packages. We apologize for any inconvenience.

Updated September 17th: Here is the DCP for this issue: jacko-dcp-vscIt measures 3.0” x 1.5”. The B&W postmark for this issue is the standard 4-bar First Day of Issue postmark.

Updated September 1st, from the USPS:
s_jackoOn September 29, 2016, in Anoka, MN, the U.S. Postal Service will issue the Jack-O’-Lanterns stamps (Forever® priced at 47 cents), in four designs, in a pressure-sensitive adhesive (PSA) booklet of 20 stamps (Item 681400).

The stamps will go on sale nationwide September 29, 2016.

In the spirit of Halloween, the U.S. Postal Service issues these delightfully eerie stamps featuring photographs of four different jack-o’-lanterns. These creatively carved pumpkins have been symbols of Halloween in the United States since the late 19th century, not long after celebrations of the holiday began here. These stamps are the first Halloween-themed stamps to be issued by the U.S. Postal Service. The jack-o’-lanterns were carved by Paul Montanari and photographed by Sally Andersen-Bruce. The stamps were designed by art director Derry Noyes.

Stamp Fulfillment Services will make an automatic push distribution to Post Offices™ of a quantity to cover approximately 30 days of sales.

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 800-782-6724. 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:

Jack-O’-Lanterns Stamps
Stamp Fulfillment Services
Cancellation Services
8300 NE Underground Drive, Pillar 210
Kansas City, MO 64144-9998

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. There is a 5-cent charge for each additional postmark over 50. All orders must be postmarked by November 29, 2016.

There are six philatelic products for this stamp issue:

  • 681406, Press Sheet with Die-cut, $56.40.
  • 681410*, Digital Color Postmark Keepsake (Set of 4), $15.95.
  • 681416*, First-Day Cover (Set of 4), $3.64.
  • 681421*, Digital Color Postmark (Set of 4), $6.48.
  • 681424*, Framed Art, $29.95.
  • 681430*, Ceremony Program (Random single), $6.95.

Technical Specifications:

s_jackoIssue: Jack-O‘-Lanterns Stamps
Item Number: 681400
Denomination & Type of Issue: First-Class Mail, Forever
Format: Double-Sided Booklet of 20 (4 designs)
Series: N⁄A
Issue Date & City: September 29, 2016, Anoka, MN 55303
Art Director: Derry Noyes, Washington, DC
Designer: Derry Noyes, Washington, DC
Photographer: Sally Andersen-Bruce, New Milford, CT
Modeler: Sandra Lane⁄Michelle Finn
Manufacturing Process: Offset, Microprint
Printer: Banknote Corporation of America
Printed at: Browns Summit, NC
Press Type: Alprinta 74
Stamps per Booklet: 20
Print Quantity: 50,000,000 stamps
Paper Type: Phosphor Tagged Paper, Block
Adhesive Type: Pressure-sensitive
Processed at: Banknote Corporation of America, Browns Summit, NC
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
Full Pane Size (w x h): 5.52 x 1.96 in.⁄140.21 x 49.78 mm
Press Sheet Size (w x h): 11.04 x 5.88 in.⁄280.42 x 149.35 mm
Colors: Cyan, Magenta, Yellow, Black, PMS Cool Gray 8
Plate Size: 960 stamps per revolution
Plate Numbers: “B” followed by five (5) single digits
Marginal Markings: • Plate numbers in peel strip area • © 2015 • USPS in peel strip area

Updated March 24th, from the USPS: These will now be issued as booklets of 20.

Updated March 24th, from the USPS:

s_jackoThe Jack-O’-Lanterns Forever stamps will be issued at 11 a.m., Sept. 29 at the Anoka City Hall Plaza in Anoka, MN. [Anoka is about 20 miles north of Minneapolis. —VSC]

In the spirit of Halloween, the U.S. Postal Service issues these delightfully eerie stamps featuring photographs of four different jack-o’-lanterns.

This booklet of 20 stamps features four different photographs of jack-o’-lanterns. The jack-o’-lanterns were carved by Paul Montanari and photographed by Sally Andersen-Bruce of New Milford, CT.

Jack-o’-lanterns have been symbols of Halloween in the United States since the late 19th century, not long after celebrations of the holiday began here. Folklorists trace their name to a tale about a scoundrel named Jack who meets up with the Devil. Perhaps best known as an Irish legend, the story exists in myriad versions in Europe and North America: Jack tricks the Devil in unscrupulous ways that prevent him from going to Heaven but which also infuriate the Devil, who refuses to carry Jack’s soul to hell. With nowhere to go after he dies, Jack forever wanders the earth with a lantern made from a hollowed-out turnip lit by an ember from the fires of hell, a fate that earns him the name Jack of the Lantern.

In North America, native pumpkins proved to be an even more fitting medium for carving than turnips, and jack-o’-lanterns have become emblematic sights at autumn festivals and Halloween events.

Although Halloween itself is now largely a non-religious celebration, it grew out of All Hallows’ Eve, which is the night before All Saints’ Day, an early Christian observance still widely celebrated today. The Middle English word “halwe,” the source of our modern “hallow,” was a word meaning a saint or holy person, which is why this celebration was popularly known in England as All Hallows’ Day. Probably rooted in solemn observances mentioned in historical sources as early as the fourth century, All Saints’ Day was set as November 1 in Rome in the middle of the eighth century and was extended to the entire church in the middle of the ninth century. Later in the Middle Ages, it was followed on November 2 by All Souls’ Day, a time for the living to pray for the souls of the dead, especially those in purgatory. Many historians believe that All Saints’ Day was timed to coincide with Samhain (pronounced “sow-an”), the pre-Christian Celtic harvest celebration that marked the beginning of winter. By the 1500s, All Hallows’ Eve—a name eventually shortened to Halloween—was celebrated in the British Isles on October 31 amid bonfires, costumes, and revelry.

After the Middle Ages, Protestant reformers in England frowned on the Catholic celebration of All Saints’ Day, but Halloween never disappeared as a popular custom, and a dizzying array of related festivals and practices took hold throughout the British Isles. Halloween bonfires were common, but adults and children in Ireland also used the occasion to beg door-to-door for firewood or food, while young people in 18th-century Ireland and Scotland played fortune-telling games to reveal the names of their future spouses.

s_jackoBrought to North America by immigrants from Ireland and Scotland, Halloween soon became a distinctively American celebration that transcended social boundaries and ethnic origin. In the early 20th century, the holiday was often a time for pranks and rowdiness, but communities and civic organizations worked to rein in those tendencies. After World War II, widespread enthusiasm for trick-or-treating gave the holiday a youthful emphasis, but since the 1970s adults have increasingly joined the festivities once again: a 2014 survey showed that nearly 67 percent of the American population celebrates Halloween in some way.

With customs and traditions that vary widely by community, Halloween now inspires parades and revelry, corn mazes and haunted houses, neighborhood and school parties, jack-o’-lantern and pumpkin festivals, and even pumpkin-catapulting. No matter how or where people observe this ever-changing holiday in the early 21st century, Halloween remains a much-anticipated celebration of the macabre in the face of approaching winter.

These stamps are the first Halloween-themed stamps to be issued by the U.S. Postal Service.

The Jack-O’-Lanterns stamps are being issued as Forever stamps. These Forever stamps will always be equal in value to the current First-Class Mail one-ounce price.

From the USPS:

4 designs
FDOI: Information to come.
Format: Pane of 20

s_jackoIn the spirit of Halloween, the U.S. Postal Service® issues these delightfully eerie stamps featuring photographs of four different jack-o’-lanterns.

These creatively carved pumpkins have been symbols of Halloween in the United States since the late 19th century, not long after celebrations of the holiday began here.

Art Director: Derry Noyes
Jack-O’-Lantern design and carving: Paul Montanari
Photographer: Sally Andersen-Bruce

[Reporters were told by Stamp Services chief Mary-Anne Penner that these stamps are the first Halloween-themed stamps to be issued by the U.S. Postal Service. What about the Legend of Sleepy Hollow stamp, issues October 10, 1974? —LdeV]

Star Trek (U.S. 2016)

Updated October 4th: Here are the Scott Catalogue numbers:

5132 Starship Enterprise and Starfleet insignia
5133 Crewman in transporter
5134 Starship Enterprise and planet
5135 Starship Enterprise, planet and Vulcan hand salute
a. Block or vert. strip of 4

Updated August 25th, from the USPS:

Nearly 50 years to the day of the original airing of “Star Trek,” the U.S. Postal Service will dedicate the Star Trek Forever stamps at New York City’s Jacob Ks_startrek. Javits Convention Center. The first-day-of-issue ceremony launches Star Trek:  Mission New York, a three-day celebration that is expected to draw thousands of Star Trek fans.

Star Trek Forever Stamps
First Day of Issue Ceremony
Friday Sept. 2 at noon
Star Trek: Mission New York
Javits Convention Center
655 West 34th Street
New York, NY 10001

There are a limited number of free tickets available for the ceremony that will take place at noon. The tickets are available on a first-come, first-served basis. Please RSVP to: www.usps.com/startrek Ticket requests are limited to two per individual.

The tickets also provide you with free admission to Star Trek:  Mission New York for Sept. 2 only.

Updated August 4th:
There will be three postmarks for this issue: DCP, pictorial, local pictorial. Illustrations below.

From the USPS:
s_startrekOn September 2, 2016, in New York, NY, the U.S. Postal Service® will issue the Star Trek stamps (Forever® priced at 47 cents) in four designs, in a pressure-sensitive adhesive (PSA) pane of 20 stamps (Item 474000). The Star Trek pane of 20 stamps ($9.40) may not be split and the stamps may not be sold individually.

The stamps will go on sale nationwide September 2, 2016.

In 2016, the Postal Service™ celebrates the television show Star Trek on the 50th anniversary of its premiere. Four new stamps showcase four digital illustrations inspired by elements of the classic program: the Starship Enterprise inside the outline of a Starfleet insignia against a gold background, the silhouette of a crewman in a transporter against a red background, the silhouette of the Enterprise from above against a green background, and the Enterprise inside the outline of the Vulcan salute (Spock’s iconic hand gesture) against a blue background. The words “SPACE…THE FINAL FRONTIER,” from Captain Kirk’s famous voice-over, appear beneath the stamps against a background of stars. The Heads of State designed the stamps and created the artwork. Antonio Alcalá was the project’s art director.

Stamp Fulfillment Services will make an automatic push distribution to Post Offices™ of a quantity to cover approximately 30 days of sales.

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 800-782-6724. 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:

Star Trek Stamps
Special Events Coordinator
380 West 33rd Street
New York, NY 10199-9998

s_startrekAfter applying the first-day-of-issue postmark, the Postal Service will return the envelopes through the mail. There is no charge for the postmark up to a quantity of 50. There is a 5-cent charge for each additional postmark over 50. All orders must be postmarked by November 2, 2016.

There are seven philatelic products for this stamp issue:

  • 474006, Press Sheet with Die-cut, $56.40.
  • 474010 Digital Color Postmark Keepsake
    (Set of 4), $15.95.
  • 474016 First-Day Cover (Set of 4), $3.64.
  • 474021 Digital Color Postmark (Set of 4), $6.48.
  • 474024 Framed Art, $39.95.
  • 474030 Ceremony Program, $6.95.
  • 474033 Panel, $10.95.

 Technical Specifications:

Issue: Star Trek Stamps
Item Number: 474000
Denomination & Type of Issue: First-Class Mail®, Forever
Format: Pane of 20
Series: N⁄A
Issue Date & City: September 2, 2016, New York, NY 10199
Designer: The Heads of State, Philadelphia, PA
Art Director: Antonio Alcalá, Alexandria, VA
Typographer: The Heads of State, Philadelphia, PA
Artist: The Heads of State, Philadelphia, PA
s_startrekModeler: 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: 80 million stamps
Paper Type: Nonphosphored Type III, Block Tag
Adhesive Type: Pressure-sensitive
Processed at: Ashton Potter (USA) Ltd. (APU)
Colors: Cyan, Magenta, Yellow, Black, PMS 7577C Orange, PMS 124C Orange, PMS 1565C Yellow, PMS 7499C Yellow
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): 6.00 x 8.00 in⁄152.40 x 203.20 mm
Press Sheet Size (w x h): 12.13 x 24.25 in⁄307.98 x 615.95 mm
Plate Size: 240 stamps per revolution
Plate Numbers: “P” followed by eight (8) digits
Marginal Markings:
Front: Header: Star Trek • Other: Space…The Final Frontier
Back: ©USPS 2015 • Barcode (474000)
• Header: “Star Trek” • Verso-text • USPS Logo • Plate Block • Proprietary Information • Promotional Text

The first-day postmarks for this issue: startrek_dcp_vscThe Digital Color Postmark measures 3.0” x 1.39”
startrek_bw_vscThe B&W pictorial measures 2.78” 1.33”
startrek_local_vscThe “special” postmark that local post offices may use measures 3.0” x 1.12”.

Updated July 27th: The first day ceremony will be held at 12 noon:

Star Trek Mission: New York
Jacob K. Javitz
Convention Center
Room 1A06
655 West 34th Street
New York, NY 10001

Updated June 22nd:
Star Trek Forever Stamps to be Dedicated Sept. 2

Dedication Ceremony Launches Star Trek: Mission New York

s_startrekWASHINGTON — Nearly 50 years to the day of its original airing, the U.S. Postal Service will celebrate the iconic 1960s television show Star Trek by dedicating the Star Trek Forever stamps in New York City’s Jacob K. Javits Convention Center.

The first-day-of-issue ceremony will take place at noon on Friday Sept. 2, and will officially launch Star Trek: Mission New York, a three-day celebration that is expected to draw thousands of Star Trek fans. For tickets to Star Trek: Mission New York go to startrekmissions.com.

The stamps will be available for pre-order the first week of August at usps.com/shop for delivery shortly after Sept. 2. Fans are encouraged to share the news on social media using #StarTrekForever. Visit this link for information on other upcoming stamp dedication ceremonies.

The stamps, under license by CBS Consumer Products, showcase four digital illustrations inspired by classic elements of the television program that premiered Sept. 8, 1966:

  • The Starship Enterprise inside the outline of a Starfleet insignia against a gold background
  • The silhouette of a crewman in a transporter against a red background
  • The silhouette of the Enterprise from above against a green background
  • The Enterprise inside the outline of the Vulcan salute (Spock’s iconic hand gesture) against a blue background

The stamps were designed by Heads of State of Philadelphia, under the art direction of Antonio Alcalá of Alexandria, VA.

The Postal Service is participating in Star Trek: Mission New York through an agreement with Reed Exhibitions and its ReedPOP group, a global producer of fan experiences such as New York Comic Con (NYCC), Chicago Comic & Entertainment Expo (C2E2) and others.

From the USPS:

FDOI: Information to come.
Format: Pane of 20

s_startrekCelebrating the television show Star Trek on the 50th anniversary of its premiere, these four new stamps showcase four digital illustrations inspired by elements of the classic program:

  • the Starship Enterprise inside the outline of a Starfleet insignia against a gold background,
  • the silhouette of a crewman in a transporter against a red background,
  • the silhouette of the Enterprise from above against a green background, and
  • the Enterprise inside the outline of the Vulcan salute (Spock’s iconic hand gesture) against a blue background.

The words “SPACE…THE FINAL FRONTIER,” from Captain Kirk’s famous voice-over, appear beneath the stamps against a background of stars.
The designer of the stamps and the artist who created the artwork. was the project’s art director.

Art Director: Antonio Alcalá
Design Firm: Heads of State

[Comic-Con International in San Diego is July 21-24, with a “preview night” on the 20th. Past SF- and Fantasy-related stamps have been issued at Comic-Con. -LdeV]

-0-

At the Internet press briefing, Wayne Youngblood why the Star Trek issue never mentions the name. Is it a licensing issue? he asked. No, replied stamps chief Mary-Anne Penner. “Space The Final Frontier” will be on the full pane’s selvage. Bill Gicher in Stamp Development said the images are well-known enough that the name didn’t need to be stated in the designs.

I asked if there was any news about the long-rumored Science Fiction author stamps: No, no news, was the answer. -LdeV

Soda Fountain Favorites (U.S. 2016)

Updated July 31st:“Long sloping die cut” in the Scott listing — as Rushmeister said, it’s at the intersection of three stamps’ “perforations.” I hope this Q&D illustration helps. Talk about “fly specs!”soda-diecutsUpdated July 3rd:

[press release]
Postal Service Celebrates Soda Fountain Favorites
New Forever Stamp Booklet On Sale Today Nationwide

soda_locationNASHVILLE — The U.S. Postal Service Thursday June 30 dedicated the Soda Fountain Favorites Forever Stamp booklet featuring the cold, sweet treats beloved by people of all ages. The ceremony was held at the Elliston Place Soda Shop in Nashville.

The First-Class Mail Forever booklet of 20 stamps features five different illustrations: a double-scoop ice cream cone, an egg cream, a banana split, a root beer float and a hot fudge sundae.

sodaftnlayoutThis booklet includes four of each design. The words “FOREVER*USA” are featured along the right edge of each stamp. The geometric silver-toned patterns in the selvage and on the booklet cover evoke a classic chrome-accented soda fountain. The words “Soda Fountain Favorites” appear across the top of the booklet cover. Art director Ethel Kessler designed the stamps, with illustrations by Nancy Stahl.

“It is our hope at the United States Postal Service that the stamps we are issuing today will spur nostalgia in everyone mailing or receiving postcards, letters and packages,” said Nancy Rettinhouse, vice president, Employee Resource Management, who dedicated the stamp.

soda_unveiling“The Postal Service issues a few dozen stamps each year. And each year, there are usually one or two edibles on the list,” said Rettinhouse. “In the past few years, grapes, pears and even wedding cakes have been immortalized with postage stamps. But I venture to say that we have tapped into something special with Soda Fountain Favorites.”

Other participants in the ceremony included Lelan Statom, Emmy Award-winning meteorologist; Tommy Cole, lifelong soda shop customer; Rob Hatchett, Postal Service employee; and Girl Scout Troop 53, whose members read soda fountain essays.

soda_cancellingThe ice cream soda’s precise origin is not clear, but by the turn of the 20th century, it had become a fountain staple. Adding a creamy scoop or two of chocolate or strawberry to a soft drink only added to its already considerable allure. The rise of refrigeration helped establishments produce, serve and store frozen confections, whose popularity surged. After all, it was difficult to resist thick milkshakes, malts, and sundaes topped with syrups, sauces, whipped cream and cherries.

soda_canceledIn cities and towns across the United States, the soda fountain was an important gathering place. When Prohibition banned alcohol sales, people flocked to soda fountains. During World War II, soda fountains popped up at military bases in the United States and abroad, because drinking a soda or indulging in a sundae reminded soldiers of simple pleasures at home.

After World War II, the country’s collective attitude toward dining out began to change. Speed and convenience were prized over service, and by the 1960s, the number of soda fountains had dramatically decreased. Soda fountain culture, however, still lives on in homes, restaurants and ice cream parlors. The joy of sharing a soda or a sundae is an indelible American tradition.

soda_busySoda Fountain Favorites is being issued as a First-Class Mail Forever booklet of 20. These Forever stamps will always be equal in value to the current First-Class Mail one-ounce price.

Customers may purchase the Soda Fountain Favorites stamp booklet at usps.com/stamps, at the Postal Store usps.com/shop, by calling 800-STAMP24 (800-782-6724) and at Post Offices nationwide. A variety of stamps and collectibles also is available at ebay.com/stamps.

Updated June 23rd: This ceremony will be held Thursday, June 30, 2016 3:00 p.m at the Elliston Place Soda Shop (2111 Elliston Place in Nashville). The dedicating official will be Employee Resource Management VP Nancy L. Rettinhouse.

Updated May 26th: From the Postal Bulletin:

sodaftnlayoutOn June 30, 2016, in Nashville, TN, the U.S. Postal Service® will issue Soda Fountain Favorites stamps (Forever® priced at 47 cents) in five designs, in a pressure-sensitive adhesive (PSA) convertible booklet of 20 stamps (Item 680800).

The stamps will go on sale nationwide June 30, 2016.

In 2016, the U.S. Postal Service celebrates soda fountain favorites — the cold, sweet treats beloved by people of all ages. This First-Class Mail® Forever booklet of 20 stamps features five different illustrations: a double-scoop ice cream cone, an egg cream, a banana split, a root beer float, and a hot fudge sundae. The geometric silver-toned patterns in the selvage and on the booklet cover evoke a classic chrome-accented soda fountain. The words “Soda Fountain Favorites” appear across the top of the booklet cover. Art director Ethel Kessler designed the stamps, with illustrations by Nancy Stahl.

Stamp Fulfillment Services will not make an automatic push distribution to Post Offices™.

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 800-782-6724. 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:

Soda Fountain Favorites Stamps
Metro Station Post Office
2245 Rosa L. Parks Boulevard
Nashville, TN 37228-9998

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. There is a 5-cent charge for each additional postmark over 50. All orders must be postmarked by August 30, 2016.

There are six philatelic products for this stamp issue:

  • 680806 Press Sheet with Die-cut, $75.20 (print quantity 800).
  • 680810 Digital Color Postmark Keepsake, $17.95.
  • 680816 First-Day Cover (set of 5), $4.55.
  • 680821 Digital Color Postmark (set of 5), $8.10.
  • 680824 Framed Art, $39.95.
  • 680830 Ceremony Program (random stamp), $6.95.

Technical Specifications:

Issue: Soda Fountain Favorites Stamps
Item Number: 680800
Denomination & Type of Issue: First-Class Mail Forever
Format: Convertible Booklet of 20 (5 designs)
Series: N⁄A
Issue Date & City: June 30, 2016, Nashville, TN 37228
Art Director: Ethel Kessler, Bethesda, MD
Designer: Ethel Kessler, Bethesda, MD
Typographer: Nancy Stahl, New York, NY
Artist: Nancy Stahl, New York, NY
Modeler: Sandra Lane⁄Michelle Finn
Manufacturing Process: Offset, Microprint
Printer: Banknote Corporation of America
Printed at: Browns Summit, NC
Press Type: Alprinta 74
Stamps per Booklet: 20
Print Quantity: 50 million stamps
Paper Type: Phosphor Tagged Paper, Overall
Adhesive Type: Pressure-sensitive
Processed at: Banknote Corporation of America, Browns Summit, NC
Stamp Orientation: Horizontal, Vertical
Image Area (w x h): 1.68 x 1.05 in.⁄42.67 x 26.67 mm
0.77 x 1.05 in⁄19.56 x 26.67 mm
Stamp Size (w x h): 1.82 x 1.19 in.⁄46.23 x 30.23 mm
0.91 x 1.19 in⁄23.11 x 30.23
Booklet Size (w x h): 5.88 x 5.43 in.⁄149.35 x 137.92 mm
Press Sheet Size (w x h): 11.11 x 23.52 in.⁄282.19 x 597.41 mm
Colors: Cyan, Magenta, Yellow, Black, PMS 7510⁄Gold
Plate Size: 320 stamps per revolution
Plate Numbers: “B” followed by five (5) single digits
Marginal Markings: • Plate numbers in peel strip area • © 2015 USPS • USPS logo in peel strip area • Promotional text • Barcode

The Digital Color Postmark for this issue:sodafountaindcp_vscThis postmark measures 3.0″ x 0.9″

Updated February 25th, from the USPS:
These stamps will be issued June 30th in Nashville at the Elliston Place Soda Shop.

From the USPS:s_sodafountain5 designs
FDOI: Information to come. (3rd Quarter)
Format: Booklet of 20

This issue celebrates soda fountain favorites—the cold, sweet treats beloved by people of all ages.

This First-Class Mail® Forever® booklet of 20 features five different illustrations: a double-scoop ice cream cone, an egg cream, a banana split, a root beer float, and a hot fudge sundae. The geometric silver-toned patterns in the selvage and on the booklet cover evoke a classic chrome-accented soda fountain.

[Note that the middle stamp is wider than the other 4. -LdeV]

Art Director: Ethel Kessler
Illustrator: Nancy Stahl

World Stamp Show-NY 2016 Folio (U.S. 2016)

Updated October 13th: According to the October 13th Postal Bulletin, local post offices may now order this folio for sale, although they may not sell less than the entire product.

Unveiling the stamps at the first-day ceremony:wssstamps_unveilFrom left to right: CSAC member Cheryl Ganz; Randy L. Neil, editor, American Stamp Dealer and Collector Magazine; David McKinney, American Philatelic Society Young Philatelic Leaders Fellowship (2012); Ambassador Robert E. Lamb, American Topical Association Board of Directors; James Cochrane, Chief Marketing and Sales Officer and Executive VP, U.S. Postal Service; Laurie Timmons, Northeast Area Marketing Manager, USPS; Janet Klug, Chair, CSAC;Antonio Alcala, USPS art director for this issue; Michael Dyer, stamp design artist. Ceremony photographs courtesy USPS.

[press release]
U.S. Postal Service Dedicates World Stamp Show-NY 2016 Forever Stamp Folio

NEW YORK CITY — The U.S. Postal Service dedicated a Forever Stamp Folio celebrating World Stamp Show-NY 2016, which opened today at the Jacob Javits Convention Center in New York City and continues through June 4. The United States plays host to the sanctioned international stamp show only once every 10 years, the first since being held in Washington in 2006.

wssstamps_cochrane“Whether you’re a seasoned collector or you’re new to the hobby, these stamps will serve as a wonderful souvenir of the show,” said U.S. Postal Service Chief Marketing and Sales Officer Jim Cochrane while dedicating the new stamps. “The show gives visitors the unique opportunity to meet with thousands of fellow philatelists, expand their own collections and gain a greater appreciation of the many stamps and collections on display from around the world,” added Cochrane.

wssstamps_neilTo add to the excitement and appeal for stamp collectors, these new stamps have been printed in intaglio – line engraving reminiscent of fine 19th-century stamps and banknotes. These stamps will be sold only at the stamp show in New York, and through mail, telephone and online ordering channels for those unable to attend the show. The stamps will not be available through local Post Offices. They will be sold only as a complete set / Folio of 24 stamps, and the price is $11.28 (24 X $0.47). (Photo left: Randy Neil, editor, American Stamp Dealer & Collector, who as a boy wssstamps_lambattended the last “international” held in New York, FIPEX, in 1956. Photo right: Bob Lamb, former executive director, American Philatelic Society.)

The stamps are produced as an elegant folio presenting two panes of stamps, similar in design to the stamps issued in 2015 to announce World Stamp Show-NY 2016. The intaglio printing reverses the colors on the earlier stamps. The 2016 stamps have a white background and the intricate lines and ornamentation appear in blue or red. One pane features red stamps with a blue selvage, while the other pane has blue stamps and a red selvage. Verso text provides details about the show. Antonio Alcalá served as art director and Michael Dyer was both designer and typographer for the stamp pane.

Updated May 26th from the Postal Bulletin:

Technical Specifications:

s_wss_sheetIssue: World Stamp Show-NY 2016 Folio
Item Number: 586900
Denomination & Type of Issue: First-Class Mail Forever®
Format: Folio of 24 (2 designs)
Series: N⁄A
Issue Date & City: May 28, 2016, New York, NY 10199
Designer: Michael Dyer, Brooklyn, NY
Art Director: Antonio Alcalá, Alexandria, VA
Typographer: Michael Dyer, Brooklyn, NY
Modeler: Sandra Lane⁄Michelle Finn
Manufacturing Process: Intaglio, Offset
Printer: Banknote Corporation of America
Printed at: Browns Summit, NC
Press Type: Alprinta 74, Phoenix
Stamps per Folio: 24
Print Quantity: 9,600,000 stamps
Paper Type: Phosphor Tagged Paper, Overall
Adhesive Type: Pressure-sensitive
Processed at: Banknote Corporation of America, Browns Summit SC
Colors: PMS 7626⁄Red, 647⁄Blue
Stamp Orientation: Vertical
Image Area (w x h): 0.84 x 1.42 in.⁄21.33 x 36.06 mm
Overall Size (w x h): 0.98 x 1.56 in.⁄24.89 x 39.62 mm
Full Pane Size (w x h): 10.5 x 6.5 in.⁄266.7 x 165.10 mm
Press Sheets Size (w x h): 21.25 x 13.25 in.⁄ 539.75 x 336.55 mm
Plate Size: 96 stamps per revolution
Plate Numbers: N⁄A
Marginal Markings: Back:
© 2015 USPS • USPS logo • Verso: World Stamp Show logo • Barcode (586900) • Promotional text • Summary for “World Stamp Show-NY 2016” • Two World Stamp Show Seals

Updated May 11th, from the Postal Bulletin: The World Stamp Show NY-2016 folio will be available for purchase at the World Stamp Show on May 28. The folio can also be purchased through The Postal Store® website at http:⁄⁄www.usps.com⁄shop or by calling our toll-free number, 800-782-6724. These stamps will not be available for purchase at Postal Retail Units.

Note: Images and technical details for the World Stamp Show-NY 2016 folio will be provided when they become available.

Updated April 29th, with the official illustration of this product: s_wss_sheet

s_wss_sheetrev

Updated April 29th, from the Postal Bulletin:
On May 28, 2016, in New York, NY, the U.S. Postal Service® will issue the World Stamp Show NY-2016 folio (Forever® priced at 47 cents) in two designs, in a pressure-sensitive adhesive (PSA) pane of 24 stamps (Item 586900). The World Stamp Show NY-2016 folio may not be split, and the stamps may not be sold individually.

s_wss_sheetThe folio, which will appear in the May 12, 2016 edition of the Postal Bulletin (PB 22441), will go on sale nationwide May 28, 2016.

In 2016, the U.S. Postal Service continues a nearly century-long tradition of commemorating international philatelic exhibitions held every decade in the United States with specially designed issuances: stamps, souvenir sheets, and even covers. This year, the Postal Service™ celebrates World Stamp Show-NY 2016, an eight-day philatelic extravaganza that runs from May 28–June 4, 2016, in New York City, with the issuance of an elegant folio presenting two panes of stamps reminiscent of classic engraved 19th century newspaper periodical stamps and banknotes. Similar in design to the stamps issued in 2015 to announce World Stamp Show-NY 2016, these stamps are printed in intaglio, a process that reverses the colors on the stamps. The 2016 stamps have a white background and the intricate lines and ornamentation appear in blue or red. One pane features red stamps with a blue selvage, while the other pane has blue stamps and a red selvage. Verso text provides details about the show. Antonio Alcalá served as art director and Michael Dyer was both designer and typographer for the stamp pane.

Initial Supply to Post Offices: Item 586900, $11.28, World Stamp Show NY-2016 Folio (Forever priced at 47 cents) Commemorative PSA Pane of 24 Stamps:

There will be no initial supply to Post Offices™ as these stamps will only be available through The Postal Store® website at http:⁄⁄www.usps.com⁄shop or by calling 800-782-6724.

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 through The Postal Store website at http:⁄⁄www.usps.com⁄shop or by calling 800-782-6724. 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 Events Coordinator
380 West 33rd Street
New York, NY 10199-9998

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. There is a 5-cent charge for each additional postmark over 50. All orders must be postmarked by July 28, 2016.

There are eight philatelic products for this stamp issue:

  • 586906, Press Sheet with Die-cut, $45.12 (print quantity 3,000)
  • 586910 Keepsake, $14.95
  • 586916 First-Day Cover (set of 2), $1.82
  • 586921 Digital Color Postmark (set of 2), $3.24
  • 586924 Framed Art, $49.95
  • 586929 2015 and 2016 Show Collector Keepsake, $28.95
  • 586930 Ceremony Program (random single), $6.95
  • 586933 Panel, $17.95

Technical details for the World Stamp Show NY-2016 folio will appear in the May 12, 2016 edition of the Postal Bulletin (PB 22441).

From the USPS:

2 designs on 2 panes
FDOI: May at the World Stamp Show – NYC 2016, Jacob Javits Center
Format: Two Panes of 12

s_wss_sheetThis souvenir sheet commemorates the decennial World Stamp Show that will be held from May 28 to June 4, 2016, at the Jacob Javits Convention Center in New York City. The design will be based on the two stamps issued in 2015 to announce the upcoming World Stamp Show-NY 2016 and inviting philatelists and amateur stamp enthusiasts to attend. Printed in Intaglio.

Note: Stamp Services chief Mary-Anne Penner told reporters that customers will have to buy both sheets. They will not be sold individually. -LdeV

Designer: Michael Dyer and Antonio Alcalá
Art Director: Antonio Alcalá

Pluto Explored! (U.S. 2016)

From the first day ceremony May 31: planets_unveilLeft to right, Dr. Dan Durda; Dr. Constantine Tsang; Cindy Conrad; Alice Bowman; Dr. Alan Stern, New Horizons Principal Investigator, Southwest Research Institute; David Williams, COO and Executive VP, USPS; Dr. Ellen Stofan, NASA Chief Scientist; Dr. Jim Green, NASA Director of Planetary Science; Delontae Jenkins, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration; Norman Kuring, Oceanographer, NASA Goddard Space Flight Center, Greenbelt MD. (Ceremony photographs courtesy USPS/Daniel Afzal.)

[USPS press release; NASA press release below]
NASA’s Breathtaking Planet Images Get Stamps of Approval
Pluto—Explored! and Views of Our Planets Forever Stamps Issued

NEW YORK CITY — Less than a year following NASA’s nine-year, three-billion plus mile New Horizons mission to explore Pluto, the U.S. Postal Service dedicated Forever stamps to commemorate the historic event, while dedicating a second set of stamps depicting NASA’s stunning images of our planets.

The first-day-of-issue dedication ceremony for the Pluto—Explored! and Views of Our Planets Forever stamps took place before a crowd of 500 at the world’s largest stamp show that only occurs in the United States once a decade, World Stamp Show-NY 2016. The show runs through Saturday. The public is asked to share the news on social media using the hashtags #PlutoExplored and #PlanetStamps. Visit Our Planets Forever Stamps to view images of the stamps and background on the planets.

planets_williams“In 1991, the Postal Service issued a Pluto: Not Yet Explored stamp that served as a rallying cry for those who very much wanted to explore it,” said U.S. Postal Service Chief Operating Officer and Executive Vice President David Williams in dedicating the stamps. “At the time, Pluto was still considered a planet, and it was the only one in our solar system that hadn’t been visited by a spacecraft.”

Pluto is now officially designated as a dwarf planet. The Postal Service is issuing the Pluto—Explored! Souvenir sheet as a companion to the Views of Our Planets stamp pane.

“In 2006,” Williams continued. “NASA placed a 29-cent Pluto: Not Yet Explored stamp on board the New Horizons spacecraft, which is safe to say, makes it the most widely-traveled stamp in the universe.”

The New Horizons spacecraft, launched into space on the fastest rocket ever built, traveled 3.26 billion miles at a speed exceeding 34,000 m.p.h. to reach Pluto on July 14, 2015. Placing that in perspective, it took three days for Apollo 11 to reach the moon. New Horizons passed the moon in nine hours.

The Postal Service learned of the 29-cent stamp’s journey aboard New Horizons on the eve of last July’s flyover and quickly put plans into place to set the record straight as noted in NASA’s celebratory photo.

“Now, the Views of Our Planets and Pluto—Explored! stamps will begin their own journeys today — on letters and packages to millions of homes and businesses throughout planets_stofanAmerica,” added Williams. “We trust they’ll find a home in your own collections too.”

Joining Williams in the dedication were NASA Chief Scientist Dr. Ellen Stofan (right); NASA Director of Planetary Science Dr. Jim Green; Oceanographer, NASA Goddard Space Flight Center, Greenbelt, MD, Norman Kuring, who created the Earth stamp image; and, New Horizons Principal Investigator, Southwest Research Institute, Dr. Alan Stern. Honored guests included Astronaut Dr. John Grunsfeld, a veteran of five space shuttle flights who logged 58 days in space, including more than 58 hours of spacewalk time, and Alice Bowman, New Horizons first female Mission Operations Manager.

planets_green“These breathtaking new images of Pluto and our planets make for an exciting day for NASA and for all who love space exploration,” said Green (left). “With the 2015 Pluto flyby, we’ve completed the initial reconnaissance of the solar system, and we’re grateful to the U.S. Postal Service for commemorating this historic achievement.”

planets_stern2“The 1991 stamp that showed Pluto ‘not yet explored’ highlighted some important, unfinished business for NASA’s first exploration of the planets of our solar system,” said Dr. Alan Stern, principal investigator for the New Horizons mission. “I’m thrilled that 25 years later, these new stamps recognize that Pluto has indeed been explored by the New Horizons spacecraft and revealed to be a complex and fascinating world.”

Forever stamps will always be equal in value to the current First-Class Mail one-ounce price. Art director Antonio Alcalá of Alexandria, VA, designed the stamps.

The Pluto—Explored! Forever stamps will only be available online at usps.com/shop or by calling 800-782-6724.

[NASA press release]
New Pluto and Planetary Stamps Wow at World Stamp Show

Breathtaking images of Pluto and the planets are getting a stamp of approval from the U.S. Postal Service, which unveiled striking new Forever stamps at the World Stamp Show NY-2016 on Tuesday.

planets_stofan2“The issuing of these ‘Views of our Planets’ and ‘Pluto Explored’ stamps has special significance for NASA, since this represents the culmination of a half-century of space exploration,” said NASA Chief Scientist Ellen Stofan. “With the July 14, 2015 flyby of Pluto, we’ve completed the checklist of all the classical planets and can now declare—‘mission accomplished.’”

Joining Stofan in delivering remarks were NASA’s Director of Planetary Science Jim Green, New Horizons’ Principal Investigator Alan Stern of the Southwest Research Institute in Boulder, Colorado, and Norman Kuring, oceanographer at the Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Maryland—creator of the iconic “Blplanets_autosue Marble” image of Earth.

The crowd of about 500 philatelists cheered as Stofan quipped, “I may have to stop emailing and start writing letters again.”

In dedicating the stamps, U.S. Postal Service Chief Operating Officer and Executive Vice President David Williams noted, “In 2006, NASA placed a 29-cent ‘Pluto: Not Yet Explored’ stamp on board the New Horizons spacecraft, which – it is safe to say – makes it the most widely-traveled stamp in the universe.”

planets_autos_nasa2The 45-minute ceremony was followed by an autograph session, in which speakers and VIPs signed first day of issue programs for hundreds of stamp enthusiasts—the line snaking through the hallways of the Javits Center in New York City (Photos above (USPS), left, and below (NASA)). planets_autos_nasaThe planetary stamps are now being sold at most U.S. post offices. The Pluto—Explored! Forever stamps are available online or by calling 800-782-6724.

planets_green“These breathtaking new images of Pluto and our planets make for an exciting day for NASA and for all who love space exploration,” said Green (left). “We’re grateful to the U.S. Postal Service for commemorating this historic achievement.”

 

Updated April 29th: The first day postmarks: pluto_dcp_vscThe DCP measures 2.51” x 1.38” pluto_bw_vscThe pictorial measures 2.19 x 1.17”

Updated April 29th, from the Postal Bulletin:
s_plutoOn May 31, 2016, in New York, NY, the U.S. Postal Service® will issue the Pluto – Explored! stamps (Forever® priced at 47 cents) in two designs, in a pressure-sensitive adhesive (PSA) pane of four stamps (Item 586600). The Pluto – Explored! pane of stamps may not be split, and the stamps may not be sold individually.

The stamps will go on sale nationwide May 31, 2016.

With this issuance, the U.S. Postal Service recognizes the history-making first reconnaissance of Pluto in 2015 by NASA’s New Horizons mission. The Pluto—Explored! souvenir sheet contains two new stamps (each appear twice on the sheet). The first stamp shows an artist’s rendering of the New Horizons spacecraft. The second shows the spacecraft’s striking image of Pluto taken near closest approach. The view — which is color-enhanced to highlight surface texture and composition — is a composite of four images from New Horizons’ Long Range Reconnaissance Imager, combined with color data from the imaging instrument, Ralph. It clearly reveals the now-famous heart-shaped feature (informally called Tombaugh Regio) that measures about 1,000 miles across at its widest point. The stamp issuance includes verso text. Art director Antonio Alcalá designed the souvenir sheet.

Initial Supply to Post Offices: Item 586600, $1.88, Pluto – Explored! (Forever priced at 47 cents) Commemorative PSA Pane of Four Stamps
Stamp Fulfillment Services will not make an automatic push distribution to Post Offices™. Post Offices may begin ordering stamps prior to the FDOI through SFS Web.

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 800-782-6724. They should affix the stamps to s_plutoenvelopes of their choice, address the envelopes (to themselves or others), and place them in a larger envelope addressed to:

Pluto – Explored! Stamps
Special Events Coordinator
380 West 33rd Street
New York, NY 10199-9998

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. There is a 5-cent charge for each additional postmark over 50. All orders must be postmarked by July 31, 2016.

There are nine philatelic products for this stamp issue:

  • 586606, Press Sheet with Die-cut, $26.32 (print quantity 3,000)
  • 586610 Keepsake, (2 panes w⁄Digital Color Postmark, set of 2), $7.95
  • 586616 First-Day Cover (set of 2), $1.82
  • 586618 First-Day Cover, Full Pane, $4.38
  • 586619 Cancelled Full Pane, $4.38
  • 586621 Digital Color Postmark (set of 2), $3.24
  • 586624 Framed Art, $39.95
  • 586630 Ceremony Program (random single), $6.95
  • 586633 Panel, $17.95

Technical Specifications:

s_plutoIssue: Pluto – Explored! Stamp
Item Number: 586600
Denomination & Type of Issue: First-Class Mail Forever
Format: Souvenir Sheet of 4 (2 designs)
Series: N⁄A
Issue Date & City: May 31, 2016, New York, NY 10199
Designer: Antonio Alcalá, Alexandria, VA
Art Director: Antonio Alcalá, Alexandria, VA
Typographer: Antonio Alcalá, Alexandria, VA
Modeler: Joseph Sheeran
Manufacturing Process: Offset
Printer: Ashton Potter (USA) Ltd. (APU)
Printed at: Williamsville, NY
Press Type: Muller A76
Stamps per Pane: 4
Print Quantity: 15 million stamps
Paper Type: Nonphosphored Type III, Spot Tag
Adhesive Type: Pressure-sensitive
Processed at: Ashton Potter (USA) Ltd. (APU)
Colors: Cyan, Magenta, Yellow, Black, PMS 422 C Grey
Stamp Orientation: Square
Image Area (w x h): 1.09 x 1.09 in.⁄27.56 x 27.56 mm
Overall Size (w x h): 1.23 x 1.23 in.⁄31.12 x 31.12 mm
Full Pane Size (w x h): 3.50 x 3.50 in.⁄88.90 x 88.90 mm
Press Sheet Size (w x h): 24.50 x 7.00 in.⁄622.30 x 177.80 mm
Plate Size: 196 stamps per revolution
Plate Numbers: N⁄A
Marginal Markings:
Front: Header: Pluto – Explored!
Back: © 2015 USPS • USPS logo • Barcode (586600) • Promotional text • Verso text

From the USPS:

2 designs
FDOI: May at the World Stamp Show – NYC 2016, Jacob Javitz Center
Format: Souvenir Sheet of 4

s_plutoWith this issuance, the U.S. Postal Service® recognizes the history-making first reconnaissance of Pluto in 2015 by NASA’s New Horizons mission.

This souvenir sheet contains two new stamps (each appear twice on the sheet). The first stamp shows an artist’s rendering of the New Horizons spacecraft. The second shows the spacecraft’s striking image of Pluto taken near closest approach.

The view—which is color-enhanced to highlight surface texture and composition—is a composite of four images from New Horizons’ Long Range Reconnaissance Imager (LORRI), combined with color data from the imaging instrument Ralph. It clearly reveals the now-famous heart-shaped feature.

Designer and Art Director: Antonio Alcalá


Views of Our Planets (U.S. 2016)

From the first day ceremony May 31st: planets_unveilLeft to right, Dr. Dan Durda; Dr. Constantine Tsang; Cindy Conrad; Alice Bowman; Dr. Alan Stern, New Horizons Principal Investigator, Southwest Research Institute; David Williams, COO and Executive VP, USPS; Dr. Ellen Stofan, NASA Chief Scientist; Dr. Jim Green, NASA Director of Planetary Science; Delontae Jenkins, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration; Norman Kuring, Oceanographer, NASA Goddard Space Flight Center, Greenbelt MD. (Ceremony photographs courtesy USPS/Daniel Afzal.)

[press release; NASA press release below]
NASA’s Breathtaking Planet Images Get Stamps of Approval
Pluto—Explored! and Views of Our Planets Forever Stamps Issued

NEW YORK CITY — Less than a year following NASA’s nine-year, three-billion plus mile New Horizons mission to explore Pluto, the U.S. Postal Service dedicated Forever stamps to commemorate the historic event, while dedicating a second set of stamps depicting NASA’s stunning images of our planets.

The first-day-of-issue dedication ceremony for the Pluto—Explored! and Views of Our Planets Forever stamps took place before a crowd of 500 at the world’s largest stamp show that only occurs in the United States once a decade, World Stamp Show-NY 2016. The show runs through Saturday. The public is asked to share the news on social media using the hashtags #PlutoExplored and #PlanetStamps. Visit Our Planets Forever Stamps to view images of the stamps and background on the planets.

planets_williams“In 1991, the Postal Service issued a Pluto: Not Yet Explored stamp that served as a rallying cry for those who very much wanted to explore it,” said U.S. Postal Service Chief Operating Officer and Executive Vice President David Williams (right) in dedicating the stamps. “At the time, Pluto was still considered a planet, and it was the only one in our solar system that hadn’t been visited by a spacecraft.”

Pluto is now officially designated as a dwarf planet. The Postal Service is issuing the Pluto—Explored! Souvenir sheet as a companion to the Views of Our Planets stamp pane.

“In 2006,” Williams continued. “NASA placed a 29-cent Pluto: Not Yet Explored stamp on board the New Horizons spacecraft, which is safe to say, makes it the most widely-traveled stamp in the universe.”

The New Horizons spacecraft, launched into space on the fastest rocket ever built, traveled 3.26 billion miles at a speed exceeding 34,000 m.p.h. to reach Pluto on July 14, 2015. Placing that in perspective, it took three days for Apollo 11 to reach the moon. New Horizons passed the moon in nine hours.

The Postal Service learned of the 29-cent stamp’s journey aboard New Horizons on the eve of last July’s flyover and quickly put plans into place to set the record straight as noted in NASA’s celebratory photo.

planets_stofan“Now, the Views of Our Planets and Pluto—Explored! stamps will begin their own journeys today — on letters and packages to millions of homes and businesses throughout America,” added Williams. “We trust they’ll find a home in your own collections too.”

Joining Williams in the dedication were NASA Chief Scientist Dr. Ellen Stofan (right); NASA Director of Planetary Science Dr. Jim Green; Oceanographer, NASA Goddard Space Flight Center, Greenbelt, MD, Norman Kuring, who created the Earth stamp image; and, New Horizons Principal Investigator, Southwest Research Institute, Dr. Alan Stern. Honored guests included Astronaut Dr. John Grunsfeld, a veteran of five space shuttle flights who logged 58 days in space, including more than 58 hours of spacewalk time, and Alice Bowman, New Horizons first female Mission Operations Manager.

planets_green“These breathtaking new images of Pluto and our planets make for an exciting day for NASA and for all who love space exploration,” said Green (left). “With the 2015 Pluto flyby, we’ve completed the initial reconnaissance of the solar system, and we’re grateful to the U.S. Postal Service for commemorating this historic achievement.”

planets_stern1“The 1991 stamp that showed Pluto ‘not yet explored’ highlighted some important, unfinished business for NASA’s first exploration of the planets of our solar system,” said Dr. Alan Stern, principal investigator for the New Horizons mission. “I’m thrilled that 25 years later, these new stamps recognize that Pluto has indeed been explored by the New Horizons spacecraft and revealed to be a complex and fascinating world.”

Forever stamps will always be equal in value to the current First-Class Mail one-ounce price. Art director Antonio Alcalá of Alexandria, VA, designed the stamps.

The Pluto—Explored! Forever stamps will only be available online at usps.com/shop or by calling 800-782-6724.

[NASA press release]
New Pluto and Planetary Stamps Wow at World Stamp Show

Breathtaking images of Pluto and the planets are getting a stamp of approval from the U.S. Postal Service, which unveiled striking new Forever stamps at the World Stamp Show NY-2016 on Tuesday.

planets_stofan2“The issuing of these ‘Views of our Planets’ and ‘Pluto Explored’ stamps has special significance for NASA, since this represents the culmination of a half-century of space exploration,” said NASA Chief Scientist Ellen Stofan. “With the July 14, 2015 flyby of Pluto, we’ve completed the checklist of all the classical planets and can now declare—‘mission accomplished.’”

Joining Stofan in delivering remarks were NASA’s Director of Planetary Science Jim Green, New Horizons’ Principal Investigator Alan Stern of the Southwest Research Institute in Boulder, Colorado, and Norman Kuring, oceanographer at the Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Maryland—creator of the iconic “Blue Marble” image of Earth.

planets_autosThe crowd of about 500 philatelists cheered as Stofan quipped, “I may have to stop emailing and start writing letters again.”

In dedicating the stamps, U.S. Postal Service Chief Operating Officer and Executive Vice President David Williams noted, “In 2006, NASA placed a 29-cent ‘Pluto: Not Yet Explored’ stamp on board the New Horizons spacecraft, which – it is safe to say – makes it the most widely-traveled stamp in the universe.”

planets_autos_nasa2The 45-minute ceremony was followed by an autograph session, in which speakers and VIPs signed first day of issue programs for hundreds of stamp enthusiasts—the line snaking through the hallways of the Javits Center in New York City. (Photos above (USPS), left, and below (NASA)). planets_autos_nasaThe planetary stamps are now being sold at most U.S. post offices. The Pluto—Explored! Forever stamps are available online or by calling 800-782-6724.

planets_green“These breathtaking new images of Pluto and our planets make for an exciting day for NASA and for all who love space exploration,” said Green. “We’re grateful to the U.S. Postal Service for commemorating this historic achievement.”

Updated April 29th: The first day postmarks: planets_dcp_vscThe DCP measures 2.76” x 1.57” planets_bw_vscThe pictorial postmark measures 2.42 x 1.45”

Updated April 29th, from the Postal Bulletin:
s_planetsOn May 31, 2016, in New York, NY, the U.S. Postal Service® will issue the Views of Our Planets stamps (Forever® priced at 47 cents) in eight designs, in a pressure-sensitive adhesive (PSA) pane of 16 stamps (Item 473600). The Views of Our Planets pane of 16 stamps may not be split, and the stamps may not be sold individually.

The stamps will go on sale nationwide May 31, 2016.

With this pane of 16 stamps, the U.S. Postal Service showcases some of the more visually compelling full-disk images of the planets obtained during this era. Eight new colorful Forever stamps, each shown twice, feature Mercury, Venus, Earth, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, and Neptune. Some show the planet’s “true” color — what we might see with our own eyes if traveling through space. Others use colors to represent and visualize certain features of a planet based on imaging data. Still others use the near-infrared spectrum to show things that cannot be seen by the human eye in visible light. Verso text explains what these images reveal and identifies the spacecrafts and powerful telescopes that helped obtain them. Art director Antonio Alcalá designed the stamps.

Initial Supply to Post Offices: Item 473600, $7.52, Views of Our Planets (Forever priced at 47 cents) Commemorative PSA Pane of 16 Stamps
Stamp Fulfillment Services will make an automatic push distribution to Post Offices™ of a quantity to cover approximately 30 days of sales. Distribution quantities for the automatic push distribution will be available by logging on to SFS Web at https:⁄⁄sfsweb.usps.gov. Post Offices may begin ordering stamps prior to the FDOI through SFS Web. However, offices should check the website noted above to determine the amount they will receive on their automatic push distribution.

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:⁄⁄s_planetswww.usps.com⁄shop, or by calling 800-782-6724. 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:

Views of Our Planets Stamps
Special Events Coordinator
380 West 33rd Street
New York, NY 10199-9998

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. There is a 5-cent charge for each additional postmark over 50. All orders must be postmarked by July 31, 2016.

There are nine philatelic products for this stamp issue:

  • 473606, Press Sheet with Die-cut, $60.16 (print quantity 3,000)
  • 473610 Keepsake, $9.95
  • 473616 First-Day Cover (set of 8), $7.28
  • 473618 First-Day Cover, Full Pane, $10.02
  • 473619 Cancelled Full Pane, $10.02
  • 473621 Digital Color Postmark (set of 8), $12.96
  • 473624 Framed Art, $39.95
  • 473630 Ceremony Program (random single), $6.95
  • 473633 Panel, $10.95

Technical Specifications:

s_planetsIssue: Views of Our Planets Stamp
Item Number: 473600
Denomination & Type of Issue: First-Class Mail Forever
Format: Pane of 16
Series: N⁄A
Issue Date & City: May 31, 2016, New York, NY 10199
Designer: Antonio Alcalá, Alexandria, VA
Art Director: Antonio Alcalá, Alexandria, VA
Typographer: Antonio Alcalá, Alexandria, VA
Modeler: Joseph Sheeran
Manufacturing Process: Offset
Printer: Ashton Potter (USA) Ltd. (APU)
Printed at: Williamsville, NY
Press Type: Muller A76
Stamps per Pane: 16
Print Quantity: 40 million stamps
Paper Type: Nonphosphored Type III, Spot Tag
Adhesive Type: Pressure-sensitive
Processed at: Ashton Potter (USA) Ltd. (APU)
Colors: PMS422C Grey, Cyan, Magenta, Yellow, Black
Stamp Orientation: Square
Image Area (w x h): 1.085 x 1.085 in.⁄27.56 x 27.56 mm
Overall Size (w x h): 1.225 x 1.225 in.⁄31.12 x 31.12 mm
Full Pane Size (w x h): 6.00 x 6.00 in.⁄152.40 x 152.40 mm
Press Sheet Size (w x h): 12.125 x 24.00 in.⁄307.98 x 609.60 mm
Plate Size: 256 stamps per revolution
Plate Numbers: N⁄A
Marginal Markings:
Front: Header: Views of Our Planets
Back: © 2015 USPS • USPS logo • Barcode (473600) • Promotional text • Verso text • Plate Block

From the USPS:

This issue will be released at World Stamp Show-New York 2016 in May.
8 designs
Format: Pane of 16

s_planetsWith this pane of 16 stamps, the U.S. Postal Service® showcases some of the more visually compelling full-disk images of the planets obtained during this era. Eight new colorful Forever® stamps, each shown twice, feature Mercury, Venus, Earth, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, and Neptune.

Some show the planet’s “true” color—what we might see with our own eyes if traveling through space. Others use colors to represent and visualize certain features of a planet based on imaging data.
Still others use the near-infrared spectrum to show things that cannot be seen by the human eye in visible light.

The verso text explains what these images reveal and identifies the spacecrafts and powerful telescopes that helped obtain them.
Designer and Art Director: Antonio Alcalá


Eid Greetings (U.S. 2016)

Updated June 7th: The blue background is correct. Following this new illustration are two advisories regarding ceremonies for this stamp: s_eid[press release]
U.S. Postal Service Commemorating the Two Most Important Muslim Festivals With Issuance of New Eid Stamp

What:
The Postal Service observes the two most important festivals – or eids—in the Islamic calendar: Eid al-Fitr and Eid al-Adha at the First-Day-of-Issue ceremony for the new Eid stamp.

Like other stamps in the Postal Service’s Holiday Celebrations series, the Eid stamp is being issued as a Forever stamp. Forever stamps are always equal in value to the current First-Class Mail one-ounce price.

Who:

  • Derron Bray, USPS Executive Postmaster, Detroit, Michigan
  • Samie U. Rehman, USPS Manager, Revenue and Volume Forecasting
  • Fouad Khalil, USPS Communication Specialist, Information Technology
  • Barbara L. McQuade, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Michigan
  • Sam Salamey, Chief Judge, Dearborn’s 19th District Court, Michigan
  • Dr. Albert Harp, Retired Educator and Emeritus Trustee Islamic Center of America
  • Zena Elayan, Student, Chamberlain College
  • Muslim American Youth Academy (MAYA) Students, Islamic Center of America
  • Boy Scouts of America, Troop 1139

Where:
Islamic Center of America
19500 Ford Road
Dearborn, MI 48128
(Note: The public should feel free to RSVP at usps.com/eid .)

When: Friday, June 10, 2016; Noon EST

Background:
s_eidThe U.S. Postal Service® has issued stamps to commemorate these two Islamic holidays since 2001. The first Eid stamp, featuring gold calligraphy on a blue background, was issued on September 1, 2001. A new Eid stamp with gold calligraphy against a reddish background debuted in 2011 and was reissued with a green background in 2013. All Eid issuances to date have featured the work of world-renowned calligrapher Mohamed Zakariya of Arlington, Virginia.

Zakariya created the gold-colored calligraphy on this stamp. The script reads Eidukum mubarak, “May your Eid be bountiful (or blessed).” The calligraphy on previous Eid stamps issued by the U.S. Postal Service has read Eid mubarak, “may the religious holiday be blessed,” with the “your” implied, but Zakariya added the word to this new stamp to give the text more body within a horizontal frame.

In 2016, Eid al-Fitr will be celebrated in North America on July 6 and Eid al-Adha will be celebrated on Sept. 12. In 2017, Eid al-Fitr will be celebrated in North America on June 25 and Eid al-Adha will be celebrated on Sept 1. (These dates, which are based on geographical location and predicted sightings of the moon, are preliminary and may vary slightly as each festival approaches.)

Find more information about the new stamp at usps.com/stamps, facebook.com/uspsstamps or uspsstamps.com

The Postal Service receives no tax dollars for operating expenses and relies on the sale of postage, products and services to fund its operations.

[press release]
U.S. Postal Service Commemorating the Two Most Important Muslim Festivals With Issuance of New Eid Stamp

What:
s_eidThe Postal Service observes the two most important festivals – or eids—in the Islamic calendar: Eid al-Fitr and Eid al-Adha with a special dedication ceremony for the new Eid stamp.

Like other stamps in the Postal Service’s Holiday Celebrations series, the Eid stamp is being issued as a Forever stamp. Forever stamps are always equal in value to the current First-Class Mail one-ounce price.

Who:

  • Joseph W. Meimann, USPS Louisville, KY, Postmaster
  • Donald Lassere, President and Chief Executive Officer, Muhammad Ali Center
  • Ambassador Shabazz; Eldest daughter; Malcolm X Shabazz and Dr. Betty Shabazz
  • Greg Fischer, Mayor of Louisville
  • Attica Scott, State Representative
  • Bryan Warren, Director of Globalization, Louisville Metro Government
  • Iman Abass, 4th Grade Student, Blue Lick Elementary
  • Cozad Terry Taylor, Former Executive Director, Interfaith Paths to Peace
  • Montford Point Marine Association
  • Humanity Passport Project Greater Community Choir

Where:
Muhammad Ali Center
144 North Sixth Street
Louisville, KY 40202

When: Monday, June 13, 2016; 11:00 a.m. EST

Background:
s_eidThe U.S. Postal Service® has issued stamps to commemorate these two Islamic holidays since 2001. The first Eid stamp, featuring gold calligraphy on a blue background, was issued on September 1, 2001. A new Eid stamp with gold calligraphy against a reddish background debuted in 2011 and was reissued with a green background in 2013. All Eid issuances to date have featured the work of world-renowned calligrapher Mohamed Zakariya of Arlington, Virginia.

Zakariya created the gold-colored calligraphy on this stamp. The script reads Eidukum mubarak, “May your Eid be bountiful (or blessed).” The calligraphy on previous Eid stamps issued by the U.S. Postal Service has read Eid mubarak, “may the religious holiday be blessed,” with the “your” implied, but Zakariya added the word to this new stamp to give the text more body within a horizontal frame.

In 2016, Eid al-Fitr will be celebrated in North America on July 6 and Eid al-Adha will be celebrated on Sept. 12. In 2017, Eid al-Fitr will be celebrated in North America on June 25 and Eid al-Adha will be celebrated on Sept 1. (These dates, which are based on geographical location and predicted sightings of the moon, are preliminary and may vary slightly as each festival approaches.)

Find more information about the new stamp at usps.com/stamps, facebook.com/uspsstamps or uspsstamps.com

The Postal Service receives no tax dollars for operating expenses and relies on the sale of postage, products and services to fund its operations.

Updated May 14th: Here is the Digital Color Postmark first-day cancel for this issue: eid_dcp

This measures 2.6″x1.3″. However, I wouldn’t trust the colors in the postmark, because the illustration shows the stamp background as blue, and other illustrations of the stamp design, as well as the Technical Specifications (below) indicate the color is purple. There is no B&W pictorial first-day postmark for this issue.

Updated May 11th, from the Postal Bulletin:
s_eidOn June 10, 2016, in Dearborn, MI, the U.S. Postal Service® will issue the EID Greetings stamp (Forever® priced at 47 cents) in one design, in a pressure-sensitive adhesive (PSA) pane of 20 stamps (Item 556200).

The stamp will go on sale nationwide June 10, 2016.

With a design that evokes centuries of tradition, this stamp featuring gold calligraphy and an olive branch against a brilliant blue background commemorates the two most important festivals — or eids — in the Islamic calendar: Eid al-Fitr and Eid al-Adha. On these days, Muslims wish each other Eidukum mubarak, the phrase shown in Islamic calligraphy on the stamp. Eidukum mubarak translates literally as “May your Eid be bountiful (or blessed),” a phrase that can be applied to both Eid al-Fitr and Eid al-Adha. Artist and calligrapher Mohamed Zakariya worked with art director Ethel Kessler to create this design.

Initial Supply to Post Offices: Post Offices™ will need to order the EID Greetings stamp through SFS Web. They will be available for ordering prior to the first-day-of-issue.

How to Order the First-Day-of-Issue Postmark:
s_eidCustomers 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 800-782-6724. 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:

EID Greetings Stamp
3800 Greenfield Road
Dearborn, MI 48120-9998

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. There is a 5-cent charge for each additional postmark over 50. All orders must be postmarked by August 10, 2016.

There are five philatelic products for this stamp issue:

  • 556206 Press Sheet with Die-cut, $75.20 (print quantity 1,000).
  • 556210 Digital Color Postmark Keepsake, $11.95.
  • 556216 First-Day Cover, $0.91.
  • 556221 Digital Color Postmark, $1.62.
  • 556230 Ceremony Program, $6.95.

Technical Specifications:

s_eidIssue: EID Greetings
Item Number: 556200
Denomination & Type of Issue: First-Class Mail Forever
Format: Pane of 20 (1 design)
Series: N⁄A
Issue Date & City: June 10, 2016, Dearborn, MI 48120
Designer: Mohamed Zakariya, Arlington, VA
Art Director: Ethel Kessler, Bethesda, MD
Typographer: Mohamed Zakariya, Arlington, VA
Calligrapher: Mohamed Zakariya, Arlington, VA
Modeler: Sandra Lane⁄Michelle Finn
Manufacturing Process: Offset, Microprint
Printer: Banknote Corporation of America
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
Processed at: Banknote Corporation of America, Browns Summit SC
Colors: PMS 7535 Gray, PMS 871 Gold, PMS 2726 Purple
Stamp Orientation: Horizontal
Image Area (w x h): 1.05 x 0.77 in.⁄26.67 x 19.56 mm
Overall Size (w x h): 1.19 x 0.91 in.⁄30.23 x 23.11 mm
Full Pane Size (w x h): 5.635 x 5.425 in.⁄143.13 x 137.80 mm
Press Sheets Size (w x h): 22.54 x 10.85 in.⁄ 572.52 x 275.59 mm
Plate Size: 320 stamps per revolution
Plate Numbers: “B” followed by three (3) single digits
Marginal Markings:
Front: Plate numbers in four corners of pane
Back: © 2015 USPS • USPS logo • Plate position diagram • Barcode (556200) in upper right and lower left corners of pane • Promotional text

From the USPS:

FDOI: Information to come. (2nd Quarter)
Format: Pane of 20

s_eidFeaturing a design that evokes centuries of tradition, this stamp commemorates the two most important festivals—or eids—in the Islamic calendar: Eid al-Fitr and Eid al-Adha. The gold-colored calligraphy on this stamp was created by world-renowned calligrapher Mohamed Zakariya of Arlington, Virginia.

The script reads Eidukum mubarak, “May your Eid be bountiful (or blessed).” The calligraphy on previous Eid stamps issued by the U.S. Postal Service® has read Eid mubarak, “may the religious holiday be blessed,” with the “your” implied, but Zakariya added the word to this new stamp to give the text more body within a horizontal frame.

“The script is the same as on the previous stamps, but elongated and simplified,” says Zakariya, who explains that he used a script known in Arabic as thuluth and in Turkish as sulus, “the choice script for a complex composition due to its open proportions and sense of balance.”

To the right of the script, a stylized olive branch rendered in gold carries connotations of abundance, family, hospitality, and peace. The background color is a rich purple.

As he has with all previous Eid stamps, Zakariya employed traditional methods and instruments to create this design. He used homemade black ink, and his pens were crafted from seasoned reeds from the Near East and Japanese bamboo from Hawaii. The paper was specially prepared with a coating of starch and three coats of alum and egg-white varnish, then burnished with an agate stone and aged for more than a year. The black-and-white design was then colorized by computer.

Art Director: Ethel Kessler

[Eid al-Adha will be celebrated in September; previous Eid stamps have been around that time. But Eid al-Fitr will be celebrated on July 6th — just after the end of the second quarter. —LdeV]

Shirley Temple (U.S. 2016)

Updated April 18th: The unveiling of the stamp design at the first-day ceremony. Photo courtesy Chris Lazaroff. claz_shirleyUpdated April 4th: Here are the first day postmarks for this issue. shirley)dcp_vscThe Digital Color Postmark measures 3″x1.3″ shirley_bw_vscThe B&W “hand cancel” measures 2.6″x1.5″

Updated March 31st: From the Postal Bulletin:

s_shirleyOn April 18, 2016, in Los Angeles, CA, the U.S. Postal Service® will issue the Shirley Temple stamp (Forever® priced at the First-Class Mail® rate) in one design, in a pressure-sensitive adhesive (PSA) pane of 20 stamps (Item 473900).

The stamp will go on sale nationwide April 18, 2016.

With the 20th stamp in the Legends of Hollywood series, the U.S. Postal Service honors actress and diplomat Shirley Temple Black (1928–2014). As a child, Temple was the most famous film star in the world; as an adult, Black had a distinguished career in diplomacy, serving as a delegate to the United Nations, U.S. ambassador to Ghana and Czechoslovakia, and U.S. Chief of Protocol. She received the Kennedy Center Honors in 1998 and a lifetime achievement award from the Screen Actors Guild in 2006. The stamp art features a painting by Tim O\u0027Brien based on a 1935 still image from Curly Top, one of her iconic movie roles. The selvage features a publicity photo from the 1933 short film, Managed Money. The Shirley Temple artwork is based on photos courtesy of © Twentieth Century Fox Film Corporation. The stamp pane includes selvage and verso text. Art director Ethel Kessler designed the stamp and pane.

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 800-782-6724. 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:

s_shirleyShirley Temple Stamp
U.S. Postal Service
Attn: Marketing
7001 South Central Avenue, Room 307
Los Angeles, CA 90052-4200

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 18, 2016.

There are eight philatelic products for this stamp issue:

  • 473906 Press Sheet with Die-cut, (print quantity 2,000), $84.60
  • 473910 Keepsake, $11.95
  • 473916 First-Day Cover, $0.91
  • 473918 First-Day Cover Full Pane, $11.90
  • 473919 Cancelled Full Pane, $11.90
  • 473921 Digital Color Postmark, $1.62
  • 473924 Framed Art, $19.95
  • 473930 Ceremony Program, $6.95

[Note that there is no no-die-cut press sheet for this issue. —VSC]

Technical Specifications:

s_shirleyIssue: Shirley Temple
Item Number: 473900
Denomination & Type of Issue: First-Class Mail Forever
Format: Pane of 20 (1 design)
Series: Legends of Hollywood
Issue Date & City: April 18, 2016, Los Angeles, CA 90052
Designer: Ethel Kessler, Bethesda, MD
Art Director: Ethel Kessler, Bethesda, MD
Typographer: Ethel Kessler, Bethesda, MD
Artist: Tim O’Brien, Brooklyn, 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 Pane: 20
Print Quantity: 22 million stamps
Paper Type: Nonphosphored Type III, Block Tag Applied
Adhesive Type: Pressure-sensitive
Processed at: Ashton Potter (USA) Ltd. (APU)
Colors: Black, Cyan, Magenta, Yellow, PMS 2627C Purple
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): 8.474 x 7.169 in.⁄215.24 x 182.10 mm
Press Sheet Size (w x h): 25.922 x 22.007 in.⁄658.42 x 558.98 mm
Plate Size: 180 stamps per revolution
Plate Numbers: “P” followed by five (5) single digits
Marginal Markings:
Front: Plate numbers in two corners of pane
• Verso-text • Header “Legends of Hollywood – 20th in a series”
Back: © 2015 USPS • USPS logo • Plate position diagram • Barcode (473900) in upper right and lower left corners of pane • Promotional text • Proprietary Information • Verso-text

megan_brennan_scratchUpdated March 16th: Postmaster General Megan Brennan will be the “dedicating official” at this ceremony.

Updated March 10th: From the USPS: The Legends of Hollywood: Shirley Temple Forever Stamp will be issued Mon. Apr. 18 at 1:30 p.m. in Los Angeles at the Geffen Playhouse, 10886 Le Conte Ave., Los Angeles, CA 90024.

press release:

With this 20th stamp in the Legends of Hollywood series, the U.S. Postal Service honors actress and diplomat Shirley Temple Black. The world’s most famous film star as a child, she went on to a distinguished career in public service and international affairs.

scratch_shirleytempleThe stamp art is a painting by artist Tim O’Brien; it is based on a 1935 image from Curly Top, one of the child star’s iconic movie roles. The stamp has the words “Shirley Temple” along the top, with “Forever” and “USA” on the bottom. The selvage features a publicity photo from the 1933 short film Managed Money. The Shirley Temple artwork is based on photos © Twentieth Century Fox Film Corporation. The pane’s selvage and verso include biographical text about her acting and diplomatic careers. Art director Ethel Kessler designed the stamp and pane.

Shirley Temple was born on April 23, 1928, in Santa Monica, California. She began dance lessons when she was just three years old, and that early start paid off when she was cast in Baby Burlesks, a series of one-reel film shorts that parodied actual movies, with small children cast in the roles usually played by adults. At age five, she signed a contract with Fox Film Corporation. Her brief appearance in the feature film Stand Up and Cheer, released in 1934, started her on the road to stardom. Singing “Baby, Take a Bow,” the diminutive actress stole the show.

Seven more full-length movies followed in 1934, among them Little Miss Marker, which featured her first starring role, and Bright Eyes, which included what became one of her signature songs, “On the Good Ship Lollipop.” That same year, a toy company produced and sold the Shirley Temple doll, which remains one of the most collectible dolls ever made. Coloring books, paper dolls, dresses, and recordings of songs from her movie roles were just a few of the other products inspired by America’s favorite star.

Shirley Temple tap-danced with some of the film greats, including Buddy Ebsen and Jack Haley, but her most famous—and possibly favorite—dance partner was Bill “Bojangles” Robinson, with whom she starred in four movies. She called him “Uncle Billy,” and he called her “Darlin’,” and they remained friends for the rest of his life.

shirleypaneMired in the economic tribulations of the Great Depression, moviegoers found joy and escape from everyday cares in the child star’s bright smile, deep dimples, and irrepressible spirit. Her hairstyle, made up of 56 perfect corkscrew curls, was the envy of little girls everywhere. However, her adorable looks were not her only asset; Shirley Temple was also a talented performer. She took the roles written for her—usually involving a motherless or orphan child who melts the hearts and fixes the problems of the adults around her—and raised them to a level beyond cliché.

Simply put, Shirley Temple was the biggest star in Hollywood in the mid- to late 1930s. She was photographed wherever she went, her every move followed by adoring fans and reporters. The studio received more fan mail addressed to her than to adult stars like Greta Garbo. She was America’s bright light during the Depression, offering cheer and hope with each smile. President Franklin D. Roosevelt himself praised her for helping to lift the spirits of a nation facing one of its greatest challenges.

The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences recognized Shirley Temple’s contribution not only to Hollywood but also to the culture in general. She was awarded the first-ever juvenile Oscar at the 1935 Academy Awards ceremony in recognition of her outstanding contribution to screen entertainment during the previous year. She went on to be the number one box-office draw for four years in a row.

Girls grow up, even movie stars, and by age 12, Shirley Temple’s film career had reached its peak. Fans who had worshipped the adorable little girl did not embrace the adolescent actress. Her parents decided that she should go to school rather than be tutored at the studio, and she made movies during her summer vacations. Although she was still cast in good roles, such as her part in Since You Went Away (1944), performances did not capture a new audience. She retired from movies at age 21.

In 1950, Shirley Temple married Charles Black. With him, her daughter Linda Susan from her earlier marriage to John Agar, and her two children, Charles and Lori, from this second marriage, she enjoyed a happy, everyday family life. Black also spent a brief but memorable time working in television, starring in two series for children that involved the retelling of fairy tales and other stories. Along with Black, some of Hollywood’s biggest stars played roles in these television shows.

s_shirleyDuring her years in Hollywood, Black had involved herself in public service, and that commitment never wavered. During the 1960s, she served as president of the National Multiple Sclerosis Society, raising funds and awareness. This was a very personal cause for her because her brother George suffered from the debilitating disease. In 1961, she co-founded the International Federation of Multiple Sclerosis Societies. It was also during the 1960s that she became active in politics.

A successful fund-raiser for various Republican candidates, Black herself ran for Congress in 1967. Though her bid was unsuccessful, her candidacy raised her profile in the party. President Richard Nixon appointed her a delegate to the United Nations in 1969, the beginning of her distinguished career in diplomacy.

Although Black’s appointment to the U.N. delegation was at first considered only a political reward for her support, her dedication and work ethic proved to doubters that she was a serious and knowledgeable delegate. Her name, she recognized, might open doors to opportunities, but only by doing her job well could she continue to qualify for such appointments.

In 1972, Black, who had already proven her resilience, once more pioneered the way for other women when she became one of the first public figures to candidly acknowledge her breast cancer and mastectomy. Her courage in talking publicly—she held a news conference from her hospital bed—is widely credited with helping to make the discussion about breast cancer, alternatives to radical mastectomies, and a woman’s right to be part of the decision regarding her treatment acceptable in the public forum. In response, she received more than 50,000 cards and letters of appreciation and admiration.

Black was appointed U.S. ambassador to Ghana in 1974. She had experience working on African issues from her days at the U.N., but this was her first ambassadorial assignment, and career diplomats were skeptical. The Ghanaians accepted her wholeheartedly, and as Black proudly told President Gerald Ford later, she was made an honorary tribal chief.

President Ford appointed Black the U.S. Chief of Protocol in 1976. The protocol office plans the visits of foreign dignitaries to the U.S.; manages Blair House, the presidential guesthouse; and oversees all the ceremonial and official functions of the president, among numerous other duties. The first woman to hold the office, Black was an ideal choice, combining her experience in diplomacy with her natural charisma, charm, and organizational skills. Among her tasks was planning key elements of the inaugural celebrations for President-elect Jimmy Carter, Ford’s successor. Her mother was ill at the time, but Black carried out her duties perfectly. After her mother passed away, Black resigned and returned to private life.

Between diplomatic posts, Black wrote her autobiography, Child Star, and in 1983 she became a charter member of the newly formed American Academy of Diplomacy. A few years later she was appointed Honorary Foreign Service Officer of the United States, the first person to be awarded this honor.

President George H. W. Bush appointed Black U.S. ambassador to Czechoslovakia in 1989. Twenty-one years prior to her arrival in Prague as ambassador, Black had visited the city to organize Czechoslovakia’s entry into the International Federation of Multiple Sclerosis Societies. During her stay, Warsaw Pact forces invaded the country to crush reform efforts, and she witnessed firsthand the violence that accompanied the invasion. It was fitting, then, that during her tenure as ambassador, the country overthrew its Communist government and began its peaceful division into two countries, the Czech Republic and Slovakia, which became official after she had returned to the U.S.

Black’s career as a diplomat was eventful, but her earlier career as a movie star was not forgotten. In 1998, she was a Kennedy Center Honors recipient, and a year later the American Film Institute included her as one of the 50 greatest screen legends. The Screen Actors Guild presented her with their Life Achievement Award in 2006.

Shirley Temple Black died on February 10, 2014. She had been a diplomat longer than she had been an actress, and her contributions were great in both of those careers. She brought joy to moviegoers at a dark time in American history and earned the respect and admiration of the American people for her role in diplomacy.
From the USPS:

Legends of Hollywood series
FDOI: Information to come. (Second Quarter) (Her birthday was April 23rd)
Format: Pane of 20

s_shirleyWith the 20th stamp in the Legends of Hollywood series, the U.S. Postal Service® honors actress and diplomat Shirley Temple Black (1928–2014).

As a child, Temple was the most famous film star in the world.

As an adult, Black had a distinguished career in diplomacy, serving as a delegate to the United Nations, U.S. ambassador to Ghana and Czechoslovakia, and U.S. Chief of Protocol.

She received the Kennedy Center Honors in 1998 and a lifetime achievement award from the Screen Actors Guild in 2006.

The stamp art features a painting by Tim O’Brien based on a 1935 still image from Curly Top, one of her iconic movie roles. The selvage feature a publicity photo from the 1933 short film Managed Money.

Shirley Temple was Hollywood’s top box office draw for four consecutive years: 1935, 1936, 1937 and 1938. She was, and still is, the most famous (and successful) child star of all time. Read more about her at Internet Movie Data Base and Wikipedia. shirleypane


Holiday Window Views (Christmas Contemporary) (U.S. 2016)

Updated December 3rd: The following Scott catalogue numbers have been assigned:

s_holiwindow5145-5148 (47¢) Holiday Window Views
5145 (47¢) Candle in Window
5146 (47¢) Wreath in Window
5147 (47¢) Star in Window
5148 (47¢) Christmas Tree in Window
5148a Block of 4
5148b Holiday Window Views #5145-5148 CB/20

Updated September 17th: Here is the DCP for this issue: window-dcp-vscIt measures 2.94” x 1.48”. The B&W postmark for this issue is the standard 4-bar First Day of Issue postmark.

Updated September 1st:
s_holiwindowOn October 6, 2016, in New York, NY, the U.S. Postal Service® will issue the Holiday Windows stamps (Forever® priced at 47 cents), in four designs, in a pressure-sensitive adhesive (PSA) booklet of 20 stamps (Item 681500).

The stamps will go on sale nationwide October 6, 2016.

With four warm, inviting illustrations of winter scenes featuring windows, the Holiday Windows stamps rejoice in the simple pleasures of the season. Two stamp designs show views from the inside looking out: a single burning candle sits on a sill and a simple star ornament hangs from a hook attached to the window sash, out of sight. Two other stamp designs show views from the outside looking in: a brightly lit Christmas tree contrasts with the snowy shrubs on the other side of the glass and a snow-covered wreath hangs in front of frosted windowpanes. Art director Ethel Kessler designed the stamps with original artwork by William Low.

Stamp Fulfillment Services will make an automatic push distribution to Post Offices™ of a quantity to cover approximately 30 days of sales.

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 800-782-6724. 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:

Holiday Windows Stamps
Stamp Fulfillment Services
Cancellation Services
8300 NE Underground Drive, Pillar 210
Kansas City, MO 64144-9998

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. There is a 5-cent charge for each additional postmark over 50. All orders must be postmarked by December 6, 2016.

There are six philatelic products for this stamp issue:

  • 681506 Press Sheet with Die-cut, $75.20.
  • 681510 Digital Color Postmark Keepsake, $15.95.
  • 681516 First-Day Cover (Set of 4), $3.64.
  • 681521 Digital Color Postmark (Set of 4), $6.48.
  • 681524 Framed Art, $19.95.
  • 681530 Ceremony Program (Random single), $6.95

Technical Specifications:

Issue: Holiday Windows Stamps
Item Number: 681500
Denomination & Type of Issue: First-Class Mail, Forever
Format: Double-Sided Booklet of 20
(4 designs)
Series: Holiday Celebrations
Issue Date & City: October 6, 2016, New York, NY 10199
Art Director: Ethel Kessler, Bethesda, MD
Designer: Ethel Kessler, Bethesda, MD
Typographer: Ethel Kessler, Bethesda, MD
Artist: William Low, Huntington, NY
Modeler: Sandra Lane⁄Michelle Finn
Manufacturing Process: Offset, Microprint
Printer: Banknote Corporation of America
Printed at: Browns Summit, NC
Press Type: Alprinta 74
Stamps per Booklet: 20
Print Quantity: 500 million stamps
Paper Type: Phosphor Tagged Paper, Block
Adhesive Type: Pressure-sensitive
Processed at: Banknote Corporation of America, Browns Summit, NC
Stamp Orientation: Vertical
Image Area (w x h): 0.77 x 1.05 in.⁄19.56 x 26.67 mm
Stamp Size (w x h): 0.91 x 1.19 in.⁄23.11 x 30.23 mm
Full Pane Size (w x h): 5.74 x 2.38 in.⁄145.87 x 60.33 mm
Press Sheet Size (w x h): 11.49 x 9.50 in.⁄291.74 x 241.30 mm
Colors: Cyan, Magenta, Yellow, Black
Plate Size: 800 stamps per revolution
Plate Numbers: “B” followed by four (4) single digits
Marginal Markings: • Plate numbers in peel strip area
• © 2016 • USPS in peel strip area

Updated July 29th: These stamps will be issued at the American Stamp Dealers (“ASDA”) Fall stamp show, October 6th, at the Hilton in midtown Manhattan, New York City. The Hanukkah and Nativity stamps are also set for that date and location, and all three issues will likely share a single first-day ceremony.

[USPS press release]
Holiday Window Views Featured on Forever Stamps

s_holiwindowWASHINGTON — The U.S. Postal Service announced today [July 25, 2016] that this year’s contemporary holiday stamps will highlight the role windows play during the holidays. The Holiday Windows Forever stamps will be issued in October, providing plenty of time for mailing greeting cards. Details will be announced soon. This is one of a number of holiday-themed stamps that will be issued this year.

Portraying winter nights, these elegant stamps showcase ways we observe traditions and spread cheer, letting us delight in the snow when we’re inside while also sharing our warmth and merriment with the outside world. Available in booklets of 20 with each design repeated five times, the stamps feature a candle, a wreath, a star and a lighted tree. The stamps are sure to add a dash of winter bliss to letters and cards during the year’s coldest months.

Two of the designs show views from the inside looking out:  a single burning candle sits on a sill and a simple star ornament hangs from a hook attached to the window sash, out of sight.

Two other designs show views from the outside looking in:  a brightly lit Christmas tree contrasts with the snowy shrubs on the other side of the glass and a snow-covered wreath hangs in front of frosted windowpanes.

Art director Ethel Kessler of Bethesda, MD, designed the stamps with original artwork by William Low of Huntington, NY.

The Holiday Windows stamps are being issued as Forever stamps. These Forever stamps will always be equal in value to the current First-Class Mail 1-ounce price.window_booklet