Updated August 1st: Missed by most of us the first time around is the passing mention in the first sentence: This will be a joint issue with Israel.

The Virtual Stamp Club obtained a copy of the Israeli stamp design on October 9th, and it is virtually the same. Details and illustrations are here.

Announced by the USPS on July 24th:

The Jewish holiday of Hanukkah is celebrated with a new stamp issued jointly with Israel Post. Hanukkah celebrates the rededication of the Temple in Jerusalem in the second century B.C. after it was reclaimed from armies that desecrated the sanctuary. Tradition relates that during the Temple rededication — Hanukkah is the Hebrew word for “dedication” — the sacramental oil needed to light the lamps was enough to burn for only one day; miraculously, it burned for eight days until new oil could be pressed. To commemorate this story, celebrations include the ritual lighting of the hanukiah, the nine-branched menorah used only during Hanukkah. Eight branches hold candles representing each of the eight nights and days of Hanukkah; the ninth, the shamash or “servant,” is used to light the other candles.

The stamp features a Hanukkah menorah created using Jewish folk art papercutting techniques. Artist Tamar Fishman made a pencil sketch of the design, then cut the two-dimensional image on white paper with a fine blade. She chose blue-purple and green papers for the background to highlight the central design. Behind the menorah is a shape reminiscent of an ancient oil jug that represents the heart of the Hanukkah miracle. Additional design elements include dreidels — spinning tops used to play a children’s game during the holiday — and a pomegranate plant with fruit and flowers.

Hanukkah is a family-centered holiday, with celebrations taking place in people’s homes. Games, songs, gifts and food all contribute to making the holiday festive and fun for family and friends.

Hanukkah begins on the 25th of Kislev in the Hebrew calendar, a date that falls in late November or December. In 2018, Hanukkah begins at sundown Dec 2.

Art director Ethel Kessler was the designer. Tamar Fishman created the original art for the stamp.

Updated July 26th:
This stamp will be issued October 16th in Newport, RI, where the first synagogue in America was founded (and still exists).

Updated September 13th:
On October 16, 2018, in Newport, RI, the U.S. Postal Service will issue the Hanukkah 2018 stamp (Forever® priced at the First-Class Mail rate) in one design, in a pressure-sensitive adhesive pane of 20 stamps (Item 565600). The stamp will go on sale nationwide October 16, 2018, and must not be sold or cancelled before the first-day-of-issue.

The U.S. Postal Service and Israel Post join together to celebrate Hanukkah, a joyous Jewish holiday. The stamp features a papercut design of a 9-branch menorah used during the holiday. Drawing on Jewish papercutting traditions, the artist based her design on Hanukkah themes and references from ancient texts. Behind the menorah, the artist cut a design reminiscent of the shape of an ancient oil jug to represent the heart of the Hanukkah miracle. Meant to last one day, the sacred oil burned for eight. On each side of the design are two broken oil jugs and two dreidels — spinning tops used in the modern Hanukkah game. The plant twining along the sides is a pomegranate; both the flowers and the fruit are seen in the twisting branches. Art director Ethel Kessler designed the stamp with original art by Tamar Fishman.

Availability to Post Offices: Item 565600, Hanukkah 2018 (Forever Priced at the First-Class Mail Rate) Commemorative Pane of 20 Stamps

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

FDOI – Hanukkah 2018 Stamp
USPS Stamp Fulfillment Services
8300 NE Underground Drive, Suite 300
Kansas City, MO 64144-9900

After applying the first-day-of-issue postmark, the Postal Service™ will return the envelopes through the mail. There is no charge for the postmark up to a quantity of 50. There is a 5-cent charge for each additional postmark over 50. All orders must be postmarked by February 16, 2019.

Technical Specifications:

Issue: Hanukkah 2018 Stamp
Item Number: 565600
Denomination & Type of Issue: First-Class Mail Forever
Format: Pane of 20 (1 design)
Series: Holiday Celebrations
Issue Date & City: October 16, 2018, Newport, RI 02840
Art Director: Ethel Kessler, Bethesda, MD
Designer: Ethel Kessler, Bethesda, MD
Typographer: Ethel Kessler, Bethesda, MD
Artist: Tamar Fishman, Bethesda, MD
Modeler: Sandra Lane/Michelle Finn
Manufacturing Process: Offset, Microprint
Printer: Banknote Corporation of America
Press Type: Alprinta 74
Stamps per Pane: 20
Print Quantity: 12,000,000 stamps
Paper Type: Phosphor Tagged Paper Overall
Adhesive Type: Pressure-sensitive
Processed at: Banknote Corporation of America
Colors: Pantone 316, Cyan, Magenta, Yellow, Black
Stamp Orientation: Vertical
Image Area (w x h): 0.77 x 1.05 in/19.558 x 26.67 mm
Overall Size (w x h): 0.91 x 1.19 in/23.114 x 30.226 mm
Full Pane Size (w x h): 5.425 x 5.875 in/137.795 x 149.225 mm
Press Sheet Size (w x h): 16.275 x 11.75 in/413.39 x 298.45 mm
Plate Size: 240 stamps per revolution
Plate Numbers: “B” followed by five (5) digits
Marginal Markings:
Front: Header: HAPPY HANUKKAH • Footer: Issued Jointly with Israel • Plate numbers in bottom corners
Back: ©2018 USPS • USPS logo • Two barcodes (565600) • Plate position diagram • Promotional text

Added September 17th: Here are the first-day postmarks for this issue:The Digital Color Postmark measures 2.58″x1.41″ The B&W pictorial postmark measures 2.03″x1.43″

Updated October 10th:
USPS Cancellation Services will have the Israeli pictorial postmark (shown on the right) available and advises it measures 1.25″x1.27″. It adds, “The USPS will have the Israel postage available for purchase on or before 10/16/18.” More information from Israel Post can be found here.

[press release]
Postal Service and Israel Post to Jointly Dedicate Hanukkah Stamps

What: The U.S. Postal Service will be issuing a new Hanukkah Forever stamp to celebrate the Jewish holiday. The stamp will be dedicated in conjunction with a new stamp being issued by Israel Post. News about the stamp is being shared with the hashtag #HanukkahStamps

Who: Judge Gary Shapiro, Judicial Officer, U.S. Postal Service

When:
Tuesday, Oct. 16, 2018, 11 a.m., Eastern Daylight Time

Where:
Touro Synagogue
85 Touro Street
Newport, RI 02840

Followers of the U.S. Postal Service’s Facebook page can view the ceremony live atfacebook.com/USPS.

RSVP:
Dedication ceremony attendees are encouraged to RSVP at usps.com/hanukkahstamps to gain entrance to the event.

Background: The new Hanukkah stamp artwork features a menorah created using the techniques of the traditional Jewish folk art of papercutting. Artist Tamar Fishman made a pencil sketch of the design and then with a fine blade, cut the two-dimensional image on white paper. She chose blue-purple and green papers for the background to highlight the central design. Behind the menorah is a shape reminiscent of an ancient oil jug that represents the heart of Hanukkah. Additional design elements include dreidels — spinning tops used to play a children’s game during the holiday — and a pomegranate plant with fruit and flowers.

Art director Ethel Kessler designed the stamp. As a Forever stamp, Hanukkah will always be equal in value to the current First-Class Mail 1-ounce price.

Hanukkah begins on the 25th of Kislev in the Hebrew calendar, a date that falls in late November or December. In 2018, Hanukkah begins at sundown Dec. 2.

Updated October 23rd, from the USPS:
The Israel postage is now on sale. The item number is 801217. It is only being sold in a pane of 15 for $35.00. FDC services should note that the Israeli stamp is larger than the U.S. one.

Announced by the USPS July 24th:

With this new stamp, the Postal Service celebrates Kwanzaa with the seventh stamp since 1997 designed for the annual Pan-African holiday. Kwanzaa takes place over seven days from Dec. 26 to Jan. 1, and brings family, community and culture together for many African-Americans.

The stamp depicts a man, woman and child adorned in a mixture of western and traditional clothing, paying tribute to the holiday’s focus on the contemporary African-American experience, while also drawing on African roots. The family is gathered around a kinara (candleholder), the warm light from seven candles (mishumaa saba) illuminating their faces. Several other important Kwanzaa symbols sit on the table — a few ears of corn (muhindi) and various fruits and vegetables (mazao); the kikombe cha umoja (unity cup); and the mkeka, a straw mat on top of which everything is placed.

Created in 1966 during the height of the Black Freedom Movement, Kwanzaa was conceived as a unifying holiday during initiatives to end racial oppression in the United States. It draws on African traditions, deriving its name from the Swahili phrase “matunda ya kwanza,” meaning “first fruits.” With origins in Africa’s ancient and modern first-harvest festivities, Kwanzaa synthesizes and reimagines many of these communal traditions as a contemporary celebration and reaffirmation of African-American culture.

Artist Floyd Cooper worked with art director Derry Noyes, who designed the stamp.

Updated July 26th:
This stamp will be issued in Raleigh, NC, on October 10th. Ceremony details to be announced.

Updated August 30th:

On October 10, 2018, in Raleigh, NC, the U.S. Postal Service will issue the Kwanzaa 2018 stamp (Forever priced at the First-Class Mail rate) in one design, in a pressure-sensitive adhesive pane of 20 stamps (Item 565800). The stamp will go on sale nationwide October 10, 2018, and must not be sold or canceled before the first-day-of-issue.

With this new stamp, the Postal Service continues its tradition of celebrating Kwanzaa. The annual holiday, which takes place over 7 days from December 26 to January 1, brings family, community, and culture together for many African Americans. The stamp depicts a small family adorned in a mixture of western and traditional clothing, paying tribute to the holiday’s focus on the contemporary African-American experience while also drawing on African roots. They are gathered around a kinara (candleholder), the warm light from the seven candles illuminating their faces. Several other important Kwanzaa symbols sit on the table. Artist Floyd Cooper used a method he calls “oil erasure” — covering an illustrated board in oil paint and then erasing layers of paint to reveal his images — to create this design of familial love and connection. Art director Derry Noyes designed the stamp.

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

FDOI – Kwanzaa 2018 Stamp
USPS Stamp Fulfillment Services
8300 NE Underground Drive, Suite 300
Kansas City, MO 64144-9900

After applying the first-day-of-issue postmark, the Postal Service will return the envelopes through the mail. There is no charge for the postmark up to a quantity of 50. There is a 5-cent charge for each additional postmark over 50. All orders must be postmarked by February 10, 2019.

Technical Specifications:

Issue: Kwanzaa 2018 Stamp
Item Number: 565800
Denomination & Type of Issue: First-Class Mail Forever
Format: Pane of 20 (1 design)
Series: N/A
Issue Date & City: October 10, 2018, Raleigh, NC 27676
Art Director: Derry Noyes, Washington, DC
Designer: Derry Noyes, Washington, DC
Typographer: Derry Noyes, Washington, DC
Artist: Floyd Cooper, Easton, PA
Modeler: Sandra Lane/Michelle Finn
Manufacturing Process: Offset, Microprint
Printer: Banknote Corporation of America
Press Type: Alprinta 74
Stamps per Pane: 20
Print Quantity: 15,000,000 stamps
Paper Type: Phosphor Tagged Paper Overall
Adhesive Type: Pressure-sensitive
Processed at: Banknote Corporation of America
Colors: Cyan, Magenta, Yellow, Black
Stamp Orientation: Vertical
Image Area (w x h): 0.77 x 1.05 in/19.558 x 26.67 mm
Overall Size (w x h): 0.91 x 1.19 in/23.114 x 30.226 mm
Full Pane Size (w x h): 5.425 x 5.635 in/137.795 x 143.129 mm
Press Sheet Size (w x h): 16.275 x 11.27 in/413.39 x 286.26 mm
Plate Size: 240 stamps per revolution
Plate Numbers: “B” followed by four (4) digits
Marginal Markings:
Front: Plate numbers in four corners
Back: ©2018 USPS • USPS Logo • Two barcodes (565800) • Plate position diagram • Promotional text

Added September 8th:
Here are the first-day postmarks for this issue:The Digital Color postmark measures 2.92″x1.29″The B&W pictorial measures 2.98″x1.37″

Updated September 20th:

[press release]
Postal Service Dedicating Kwanzaa Forever Stamp

What: The U.S. Postal Service continues its tradition of celebrating Kwanzaa, an annual Pan-African holiday that brings family, community, and culture together for many African Americans. News of the stamp is being shared with the hashtag #KwanzaaStamps.

When: Wednesday, Oct.10, 2018, 11 a.m., Eastern Daylight Time

Where: North Carolina State University
Witherspoon Student Center
African American Cultural Center
2810 Cates Avenue
Raleigh, NC 27606

[According to its website, the Student Center has a 500-seat auditorium. —VSC]

Followers of the U.S. Postal Service’s Facebook page can view the ceremony live at facebook.com/USPS.

Background: With this new stamp design, the U.S. Postal Service continues its tradition of celebrating Kwanzaa, the annual Pan-African holiday, which takes place over seven days from Dec. 26 to Jan. 1 and brings family, community and culture together for many African-Americans.

The stamp art depicts a man, woman and child adorned in a mixture of western and traditional clothing, paying tribute to the holiday’s focus on the contemporary African-American experience while also drawing on African roots. The family is gathered around a kinara (candleholder), the warm light from the seven candles (mishumaa saba) illuminating their faces. Several other important Kwanzaa symbols sit on the table — a few ears of corn (muhindi) and various fruits and vegetables (mazao); the kikombe cha umoja(unity cup); and the mkeka, a straw mat on top of which everything is placed.

Each year, millions of African-Americans gather with friends and family throughout the week of Kwanzaa to honor the holiday’s seven founding principles — unity (Umoja), self-determination (Kujichagulia), collective work and responsibility (Ujima), cooperative economics (Ujamaa), purpose (Nia), creativity (Kuumba) and faith (Imani). Each day of Kwanzaa is dedicated to the focus of one of these seven principles, collectively known as the Nguzo Saba.

Artist Floyd Cooper worked with art director Derry Noyes, who designed the stamp.

This is the seventh stamp design issued by the Postal Service in celebration of Kwanzaa. The first Kwanzaa commemorative stamp was issued in 1997. New designs also were issued in 2004, 2009, 2011, 2013 and 2016.

The Kwanzaa stamp is being issued as a Forever stamp. This Forever stamp will always be equal to the current First-Class Mail 1-ounce price.

Announced by the USPS July 24th:

Five centuries ago, Francesco d’Ubertino Verdi (1494–1557), the Italian Renaissance painter known as Bachiacca, proved himself to be a versatile and popular Florentine artist. Today, his work still vividly evokes the timeless traditions of Christmas.

This stamp features a detail of Bachiacca’s oil-and-gold-on-panel painting “Madonna and Child,” which dates from the early 1520s, showing the Christ child clutching a bouquet of jasmine, a symbol of divine love, alongside the Virgin Mary’s profile, left shoulder and right hand.

This painting is part of the Jack and Belle Linsky Collection at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City. William J. Gicker served as art director for this stamp, and Greg Breeding was the designer.

“Madonna and Child” is being issued as a Forever stamp and will always be equal in value to the current First-Class Mail 1-ounce price.

Updated July 26th:
This stamp will be issued October 13th in Santa Fe, NM. Ceremony location? Photo by Lloyd A. de Vries, taken May 5, 2017.

Updated August 30th:

On October 3, 2018, in Santa Fe, NM, the U.S. Postal Service will issue the “Madonna and Child” by Bachiacca stamp (Forever priced at the First-Class Mail rate) in one design, in a pressure-sensitive adhesive booklet of 20 stamps (Item 682200). The stamp will go on sale nationwide October 3, 2018, and must not be sold or canceled before the first-day-of-issue.

This Christmas stamp features a detail of Madonna and Child, an oil-and-gold-on-panel painting by Italian Renaissance artist Francesco d’Ubertino Verdi (1494–1557), known as Bachiacca. Dating from the early 1520s, the painting is part of the Jack and Belle Linsky Collection at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City. William J. Gicker served as art director for this stamp, and Greg Breeding was the designer.

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

FDOI – “Madonna and Child” by Bachiacca Stamp
USPS Stamp Fulfillment Services
8300 NE Underground Drive, Suite 300
Kansas City, MO 64144-9900

After applying the first-day-of-issue postmark, the Postal Service™ will return the envelopes through the mail. There is no charge for the postmark up to a quantity of 50. There is a 5-cent charge for each additional postmark over 50. All orders must be postmarked by February 3, 2019.

Technical Specifications:

Issue: “Madonna and Child” by Bachiacca Stamp
Item Number: 682200
Denomination & Type of Issue: First-Class Mail Forever
Format: Double-Sided Booklet of 20 (1 design)
Series: N/A
Issue Date & City: October 3, 2018, Santa Fe, NM 87501
Art Director: William J. Gicker, Washington, DC
Designer: Greg Breeding, Charlotesville, VA
Typographer: Greg Breeding, Charlottesville, VA
Existing Art: Bachiacca
Modeler: Sandra Lane/Michelle Finn
Manufacturing Process: Offset, Microprint
Printer: Banknote Corporation of America
Press Type: Alprinta 74
Stamps per Booklet: 20
Print Quantity: 300,000,000 stamps
Paper Type: Phosphor Tagged Paper, Block Tag
Adhesive Type: Pressure-sensitive
Processed at: Banknote Corporation of America
Colors: Pantone 8003, Cyan, Magenta, Yellow, Black
Stamp Orientation: Vertical
Image Area (w x h): 0.77 x 1.05 in./19.558 x 26.67 mm
Stamp Size (w x h): 0.91 x 1.19 in./23.114 x 30.226 mm
Full Booklet Size (w x h): 5.743 x 2.375 in./145.872 x 60.325 mm
Press Sheet Size (w x h): 11.486 x 9.5 in./ 291.74 x 241.3 mm
Plate Size: 800 stamps per revolution
Plate Numbers: “B” followed by five (5) single digits
Marginal Markings:
Front: Header: “Madonna and Child by Bachiacca” Twenty First-Class Forever Stamps • USPS logo • Barcode • Plate number in peel strip area
Back: ©2018 USPS in peel strip area • Promotional text in peel strip area

Added September 8th:
Here are the first-day postmarks for this issue:The Digital Color postmark measures 2.71″x1.46″The B&W pictorial measures 2.36″x1.43″

Announced by the USPS July 24th
The Scott Catalogue number is 5311.

Updated August 2nd, from the Postal Bulletin:
On August 26, 2018, in Kansas City, MO, the U.S. Postal Service® will issue the Global Poinsettia stamp (Global Forever® priced at the First-Class Mail International® rate) in one design, in a pressure-sensitive adhesive (PSA) pane of 10 stamps (565900). The stamp will go on sale nationwide August 26, 2018.

Global Poinsettia is a new Global Forever international rate stamp that can be used to mail a 1-ounce letter to any country to which First-Class Mail International® service is available. A striking photograph of a poinsettia arranged against a white background graces this round holiday stamp. Taken from above, the photo captures the beauty of the green leaves, the red bracts, and the yellow flowers in the center of the plant. Text repeated twice around the circumference of the stamp reads “GLOBAL” in bold red letters and “USA,” “FOREVER,” and “2018” in black. William J. Gicker was the art director and Greg Breeding designed the stamp with an existing photograph by Betsy Pettet.

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

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

After applying the first-day-of-issue postmark, the Postal Service™ will return the envelopes through the mail. There is no charge for the postmark up to a quantity of 50. There is a 5-cent charge for each additional postmark over 50. All orders must be postmarked by December 26, 2018.

Technical Specifications:

Issue: Global Poinsettia Stamp
Item Number: 565900
Denomination & Type of Issue: Global Forever International Rate
Format: Pane of 10 (1 design)
Series: N/A
Issue Date & City: August 26, 2018, Kansas City, MO 64108
Art Director: William J. Gicker
Designer: Greg Breeding
Typographer: Greg Breeding
Existing Photo: Betsy Pettet
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: 10
Print Quantity: 100,000,000 stamps
Paper Type: Phosphor, Block tagged
Adhesive Type: Pressure-sensitive
Processed at: Banknote Corporation of America, Browns Summit, NC
Colors: 186 Red, Cyan, Magenta, Yellow, Black
Stamp Orientation: Round
Image Area (w x h): 1.2 x 1.2 in./30.48 x 30.48 mm
Overall Size (w x h): 1.414 x 1.414 in./35.916 x 35.916 mm
Full Pane Size (w x h): 8.4 x 4.041 in./213.36 x 102.641 mm
Plate Size: 120 stamps per revolution
Plate Numbers: “B” followed by five (5) single digits
Marginal Markings:
Front: Plate number in four corners of pane
Back: ©2018 USPS • USPS logo • Barcode (565900) on each stamp • Plate position diagram • Promotional text

Original July 24th announcement:
Celebrate the holidays with Poinsettia, a new Global Forever stamp. This stamp can be used to mail a 1-ounce letter to any country where First-Class Mail International service is available. As with all Global Forever stamps, this stamp will have a postage value equivalent to the price of the single-piece First-Class Mail International 1-ounce machineable letter in effect at the time of use. These stamps can also be used domestically.

The stamp art features a photo of a poinsettia. Taken from above, the photo captures the beauty of the green leaves, the red bracts, and the yellow flowers in the center of the plant.

Poinsettias are now as much a part of the holidays as evergreens and mistletoe; tens of millions of plants are sold during the season.

The art director for this stamp was William J. Gicker. Greg Breeding designed the stamp with an existing photograph by Betsy Pettet.

The new Global Forever stamps are being issued in self-adhesive panes of 10.

Updated July 26th:
This stamp will be issued August 26th with no ceremony and a Kansas City postmark.

Updated August 18th:
Here’s is the Digital Color Postmark for this issue: It measures 2.47″ x 1.49″. Here is the B&W pictorial postmark:It measures 2.94 x 1.44″.

Announced June 26th; updated July 26th: To be issued October 11th in Pigeon Forge, TN (home of Dollywood). On August 28th, the USPS announced the issue would also include a souvenir sheet and gave details on the first-day ceremony.

[press release]
U.S. Postal Service to Issue Classic Santa Stamps this Christmas
Art Features Images from 1950s Coca-Cola Ads

WASHINGTON — It’s beginning to look like a classic Christmas! This October, the Postal Service will ring in the 2018 holiday season with four Sparkling Holidays stamps featuring character-rich close-ups of Santa Claus.

The Santa images are from Haddon Sundblom paintings created for The Coca-Cola Company holiday advertisements that ran from the1940s through the early 1960s. Sundblom, a famed commercial artist, depicted a rosy-cheeked, smiling, grandfatherly man in a red suit that came to embody the very essence of “Santa.”

The Sparkling Holidays stamps will be issued as Forever stamps. Forever stamps are always equal in value to the current First-Class Mail 1-ounce price.

Additional details will be announced before the stamps’ release.

Added June 28th:

As reported by Foster Miller in The Stamp Collecting Forum, Bill Gicker of the USPS design team says the stamp designs were adapted from the original artwork produced by Sundblom for the soft drink company, not from specific Coca-Cola ads. Gicker was speaking at a Q&A session with Stamp Services staff June 27th at American Philatelic Society headquarters in Bellefonte, Pa.

FDC collector and retired professional artist Dave Bennett found matches for three of the stamp designs in Coca-Cola ads: Dave didn’t find a match for the fourth stamp design, but he did find what may be the inspiration for the official name for this issue: Added June 30th: And from VSC member Mary Kneller, the 4th design:

[USPS advisory August 28th]
USPS Issues “Sparkling Holidays” Stamps and Souvenir Sheet
Offerings Feature Sundblom Santa Paintings from Coca-Cola Ads

WHAT: U.S. Postmaster General and CEO Megan Brennan Dedicates New Sparkling Holidays Forever Stamps

WHEN: Oct. 11, 2018
11:15 a.m. (EDT)

WHERE: The Inn at Christmas Place
119 Christmas Tree Lane
Pigeon Forge, TN 37868

WHY: The Postal Service issues four new stamps and a souvenir sheet [shown on right] showcasing classic images of Santa Claus painted by famed commercial artist Haddon Sundblom. Each stamp portrays a close-up of Santa’s face. The four images featured in the booklet are details from larger paintings created by Sundblom and originally published in ads for The Coca-Cola Company from the 1940s through the early 1960s. Sundblom is the man credited with refining the modern image of Santa Claus.

The souvenir sheet includes a semi-jumbo stamp as part of a wider scene of one of Sundblom’s paintings chosen for the Sparkling Holidays stamp booklet. In it, Santa is depicted standing by a fireplace holding a book that lists good boys and girls. Three Christmas stockings hang along a mantel decorated with greens and ornaments. Peering over his glasses, Santa reads a note among the stockings.

A quatrefoil design element surrounded by a metallic gold background encloses the scene. The use of gold metallic ink, the flow of the type, and the organic shape of the border are intended to harken back to the graphic style of the first half of the 20th century. Art director Greg Breeding designed the souvenir sheet and the stamps.

Santa’s legend is based on customs brought to America by European immigrants. St. Nicholas, the Dutch Sinterklaas, was one of Santa’s forebearers. He delivered gifts on Dec. 5, the eve of his feast day.

Note: Sparkling Holidays Stamps, sold in books of 20, and the Sparkling Holidays Souvenir Sheet, with one stamp, will be available for pre-order online starting Sept. 14 at The Postal Store at usps.com. The souvenir sheet will only be sold through usps.com or by calling 1-800-STAMP24.

Updated August 30th:

On October 11, 2018, in Pigeon Forge, TN, the U.S. Postal Service will issue the Sparkling Holidays stamps (Forever priced at the First-Class Mail rate) in four designs, in a pressure-sensitive adhesive booklet of 20 stamps (Item 682100). The stamps will go on sale nationwide October 11, 2018, and must not be sold or canceled before the first-day-of-issue.

The U.S. Postal Service celebrates Christmas with Sparkling Holidays, four new stamps featuring classic images of Santa Claus painted by famed commercial artist Haddon Sundblom. Each of the four images portraying a close-up of Santa’s face are details from larger paintings created by Sundblom and originally published in ads for The Coca-Cola Company from the 1940s through the early 1960s. Sundblom is the man credited with refining the modern image of Santa Claus. Art director Greg Breeding designed the stamps.

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

FDOI – Sparkling Holidays Stamps
USPS Stamp Fulfillment Services
8300 NE Underground Drive, Suite 300
Kansas City, MO 64144-9900

After applying the first-day-of-issue postmark, the Postal Service will return the envelopes through the mail. There is no charge for the postmark up to a quantity of 50. There is a 5-cent charge for each additional postmark over 50. All orders must be postmarked by February 11, 2019.

Technical Specifications:

Issue: Sparkling Holidays Stamps
Item Number: 682100
Denomination & Type of Issue: First-Class Mail Forever
Format: Double-Sided Booklet of 20 (4 designs)
Series: N/A
Issue Date & City: October 11, 2018, Pigeon Forge, TN 37862
Art Director: Greg Breeding, Charlottesville, VA
Designer: Greg Breeding, Charlottesville, VA
Typographer: Greg Breeding, Charlottesville, VA
Existing Art: Haddon Sundblom
Modeler: Joseph Sheeran
Manufacturing Process: Offset
Printer: Ashton Potter (USA) Ltd. (APU)
Press Type: Muller A76
Stamps per Booklet: 20
Print Quantity: 1,000,000,000 stamps
Paper Type: Nonphosphored Type III, Block Tag
Adhesive Type: Pressure-sensitive
Processed at: Ashton Potter (USA) Ltd. (APU)
Colors: PMS 872 Gold, Cyan, Magenta, Yellow, Black
Stamp Orientation: Vertical
Image Area (w x h): 0.77 x 1.05 in./19.558 x 26.67 mm
Stamp Size (w x h): 0.91 x 1.19 in./23.114 x 30.226 mm
Full Booklet Size (w x h): 5.76 x 2.38 in./146.304 x 60.452 mm
Press Sheet Size (w x h): 23.29 x 4.76 in./ 591.566 x 120.904 mm
Plate Size: 880 stamps per revolution
Plate Numbers: “P” followed by five (5) single digits
Marginal Markings:
Front: Header: “Sparkling Holidays” Twenty First-Class Forever Stamps • Plate number in peel strip area
Back: ©2018 USPS in peel strip area • Barcode • Promotional text in peel strip area

Added September 8th:

Here are the first-day postmarks for this issue:The Digital Color postmark measures 2.86″x1.49″

The B&W pictorial measures 2.97″x1.47″

The “special” postmark for use by local post offices measures 2.66″x1.47″

The Scott catalogue number for this issue is 5299.

First announced by the USPS on June 14, with an issuance of July 14 at the Mall of America in Bloomington, MN. The press release:

Zoinks! Everyone’s Favorite Great Dane, SCOOBY-DOO, is New Addition to the 2018 Forever Stamp Program

WASHINGTON — “Scooby-Doo, Where Are You!” For nearly 50 years, this call has summoned the beloved animated Great Dane wherever help is needed. The U.S. Postal Service, in collaboration with Warner Bros. Consumer Products, is excited to announce a new Forever stamp will be issued July 14 highlighting the popular canine and his new social responsibility initiative, Scooby-Doo DOO GOOD.

The stamp ceremony will be held at the Mall of America in Bloomington, MN.

This new issuance is a 12-stamp sheet featuring Scooby-Doo helping out by watering a blossoming plant in a flowerpot — a simple act symbolizing a component of the “Doo Good” campaign’s effort to provide young people with tools and activities geared toward enriching the environment. The campaign, launching this year in partnership with generationOn, the youth division of Points of Light, also focuses on helping the hungry and acting as animal allies.

The lovable, iconic Great Dane Scooby-Doo has solved mystery after spooky mystery since his 1969 debut. With his teenage friends — Fred, Daphne, Velma, and Shaggy — Scooby is at the heart of one of the most enduring cartoon franchises in television history. The charismatic canine has now fronted more than a dozen TV series, plus direct-to-video animated films, comic books and live-action cinematic releases.

In Scooby-Doo’s comedy–mystery adventures, he and the gang investigate strange plots in eerie locales as they travel in their colorful van, the Mystery Machine. Scooby Snacks are always on hand; the tempting treats empower the cowardly Scooby to sniff out clues. Once the gang musters courage, cooperates, and persists in their dogged investigations, the spooky schemers’ plots are exposed.

Three generations of fans have now embraced Scooby-Doo and the “meddling kids,” as they are often called by the villains unmasked at the conclusion of each Scooby-Doo mystery.

Art director Greg Breeding of Charlottesville, VA, worked closely with Warner Bros. Consumer Products, to design this stamp.

Updated July 4, 2018:
On July 14, 2018, in Bloomington, MN, the U.S. Postal Service will issue the Scooby-Doo! stamp (Forever priced at the First-Class Mail rate) in one design, in a pressure-sensitive adhesive pane of 12 stamps (Item 565500). The stamp will go on sale nationwide July 14, 2018. The Scooby-Doo! pane of 12 stamps may not be split and the stamps may not be sold individually.

This stamp celebrates the beloved animated Scooby- Doo, the iconic Great Dane who met instant success upon his 1969 debut in the series Scooby-Doo, Where Are You! The stamp art features Scooby-Doo watering a blossoming plant — a simple act symbolizing a component of the Scooby-Doo DOO GOOD campaign, which provides young people with tools and activities to enrich the environment. The campaign, launching in partnership with generationOn ( generationon.org/page/partners ), the youth division of Points of Light, also focuses on helping the hungry and acting as animal allies. The selvage, which features a friendly, grinning Scooby-Doo, includes the title Scooby- Doo! and the DOO GOOD logo. Art director Greg Breeding worked closely with Warner Bros. Consumer Products, Inc. to design this stamp.

Availability to Post Offices: Item 565500, Scooby- Doo! (Forever priced at the First-Class Mail rate) Commemorative Pane of 12 Stamps Stamp Fulfillment Services will make an automatic push distribution to Post Offices™ of a quantity to cover approximately 30 days of sales.

Special Dedication Postmarks:
Only the following pictorial postmark is permitted for the Scooby-Doo! stamp. The word “Station” or the abbreviation “STA” is required somewhere in the design, because it will be a temporary station. How to Order the First-Day-of-Issue Postmark:
Customers have 120 days to obtain the first-day-of-issue postmark by mail. They may purchase new stamps at their local Post Office or at The Postal Store website at usps.com/shop . They must affix the stamps to envelopes of their choice, address the envelopes (to themselves or others), and place them in a larger envelope addressed to:

FDOI – Scooby-Doo! Stamp
USPS Stamp Fulfillment Services
8300 NE Underground Drive, Suite 300
Kansas City, MO 64144-9900

After applying the first-day-of-issue postmark, the Postal Service will return the envelopes through the mail. There is no charge for the postmark up to a quantity of 50. There is a 5-cent charge for each additional postmark over 50. All orders must be postmarked by November 14, 2018.

Technical Specifications:

Issue: Scooby-Doo! Stamp
Item Number: 565500
Denomination & Type of Issue: First-Class Mail Forever
Format: Pane of 12 (1 design)
Series: N/A
Issue Date & City: July 14, 2018, Bloomington, MN 55401
Art Director: Greg Breeding, Charlottesville, VA
Designer: Greg Breeding, Charlottesville, VA
Typographer: Greg Breeding, Charlottesville, VA
Modeler: Joseph Sheeran
Manufacturing Process: Offset, Microprint
Printer: Ashton Potter (USA) Ltd. (APU)
Printed at: Williamsville, NY
Press Type: Muller A76
Stamps per Pane: 12
Print Quantity: 252,000,000 stamps
Paper Type: Nonphosphored Type III, Block Tag
Adhesive Type: Pressure-sensitive
Processed at: Ashton Potter (USA) Ltd. (APU)
Colors: Black, Cyan, Magenta, Yellow, PMS 2592 C Purple (modified)
Stamp Orientation: Horizontal
Image Area (w x h): 1.085 x 1.42 in./27.559 x 36.07 mm
Overall Size (w x h): 1.225 x 1.56 in./31.115 x 39.62 mm
Full Pane Size (w x h): 7.525 x 5.925 in./191.135 x 150.495 mm
Press Sheet Size (w x h): 22.575 x 11.85 in./573.405 x 300.99 mm
Plate Size: 144 stamps per revolution
Plate Numbers: “P” followed by five (5) digits
Marginal Markings:
Front: Header: Scooby Doo! DOO GOOD • Plate number in two corners
Back: ©2018 USPS • USPS Logo • Two barcodes (565500) • Plate Position Diagram • Promotional Text • Proprietary Notice

Updated July 19th: Here are the first-day postmarks for this issue: It measures 2.999″ (but it’s no over 3 inches!) x 1.06″.It measures 2.7989″x1.482″.The special cancellations for post offices other than the first-day city measures 2.7597×1.4564″.