Joshua Tree Priority Mail (U.S. 2019)

Announced November 20, 2018. The most recent information will appear after the large illustration and the introductory description from the USPS. The Scott catalogue number is 5347. Celebrating the desolate beauty of the Joshua tree (Yucca brevifolia) and its distinct desert environment, this Priority Mail stamp depicts a common scene throughout much of the Mojave and Sonoran Deserts. Using the bold colors of the sun’s reflection off the trees, rocks, and other shrubby vegetation, artist Dan Cosgrove illuminates the desert scene in warm, golden hues. Art director Greg Breeding designed the stamp.

December 19th: This stamp will be issued Sunday, January 27th, with a Kansas City MO postmark but no first-day ceremony.

December 21st:

On January 27, 2019, in Kansas City, MO, the U.S. Postal Service will issue the $7.35 Joshua Tree Priority Mail stamp in one design, in a pressure-sensitive adhesive (PSA) pane of four stamps (Item 120000). The stamp will go on sale nationwide January 27, 2019, and must not be sold or cancelled before the first-day-of-issue.

Celebrating the desolate beauty of the Joshua tree (Yucca brevifolia) and its distinct desert environment, this Priority Mail stamp depicts a common scene throughout much of the Mojave and Sonoran Deserts. Using the bold colors of the sun’s reflection off of the trees, rocks, and other shrubby vegetation, artist Dan Cosgrove illuminates the desert scene in warm, golden hues. Art director Greg Breeding designed the stamp.

Availability to Post Offices: Item 120000, $7.35 Joshua Tree Priority Mail PSA Pane of 4 Stamps: Stamp Fulfillment Services will not make an automatic push distribution to Post Offices.

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 — Joshua Tree 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 May 27, 2019.

Updated January 9th:

Technical Specifications:

Issue: Joshua Tree Stamp
Item Number: 120000
Denomination & Type of Issue: $7.35 Priority Mail Rate
Format: Pane of 4 (1 design)
Series: N/A
Issue Date & City: January 27, 2019, Kansas City, MO 64108
Art Director: Greg Breeding, Charlottesville, VA
Designer: Greg Breeding, Charlottesville, VA
Typographer: Dan Cosgrove, Chicago, IL
Artist: Dan Cosgrove, Chicago, IL
Modeler: Joseph Sheeran
Manufacturing Process: Offset, Microprint
Printer: Ashton Potter (USA) Ltd. (APU)
Press Type: Muller A76
Stamps per Pane: 4
Print Quantity: 7,000,000 stamps
Paper Type: Nonphosphored Type III, Block Tag
Adhesive Type: Pressure-sensitive
Processed at: Ashton Potter (USA) Ltd. (APU)
Colors: Black, Cyan, Magenta, Yellow
Stamp Orientation: Horizontal
Image Area (w x h): 1.42 x 1.085 in/36.068 x 27.559 mm
Overall Size (w x h): 1.56 x 1.225 in/39.624 x 31.115 mm
Full Pane Size (w x h): 4.12 x 3.45 in/104.648 x 87.63 mm
Plate Size: 144 stamps per revolution
Plate Numbers: “P” followed by four (4) single digits
Marginal Markings:
Front: Plate number in two corners of pane
Back: ©2018 USPS • USPS Logo • Four barcodes (120000) • Plate position diagram • Promotional text

Here are the first-day postmarks for this issue: The Digital Color Postmark measures 1.44″x1.48″. The B&W Pictorial measures 2.98″x1.21″.

Winter Berries (U.S. 2019)

Announced November 20, 2018. The most recent information will appear after the large illustration and the introductory description from the USPS. The Winter Berries booklet of 20 stamps celebrates four of winter’s small yet vibrant offerings: the winterberry (Ilex verticillate), the juniper berry (Juniperus communis), the beautyberry (Callicarpa Americana) and the soapberry (Sapindus Saponaria). The stamp art features highly detailed botanical portraits of each plant that highlight the bold colors and rich textures of their berries. Artist Steve Buchanan worked with art director Antonio Alcalá to create these four new stamps.


Updated August 15th:

On September 17, 2019, in Tulsa, OK, the United States Postal Service® will issue the Winter Berries stamps (Forever® priced at the First-Class Mail® rate) in four designs, in a pressure-sensitive adhesive booklet of 20 stamps (Item 681600). The stamps will go on sale nationwide September 17, 2019, and must not be sold or canceled before the first-day-of-issue.

The Winter Berries booklet of 20 stamps celebrates four of winter’s small, yet vibrant offerings:

  • The winterberry (Ilex verticillata),
  • The juniper berry (Juniperus communis),
  • The beautyberry (Callicarpa americana), and
  • The soapberry (Sapindus saponaria).

The stamp art features highly detailed botanical portraits of each plant that highlight the bold colors and rich textures of their berries. Artist Steve Buchanan worked with art director Antonio Alcalá to create these four new stamps.

Availability to Post Offices: Item 681600, Winter Berries (Forever Priced at the First-Class Mail Rate) PSA Double-sided Booklet of 20 Stamps: Stamp Fulfillment Services will not make an automatic push distribution to Post Offices.

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 – Winter Berries 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 January 17, 2020.

Technical Specifications:

Issue: Winter Berries Stamps
Item Number: 681600
Denomination & Type of Issue: First-Class Mail Forever
Format: Double-sided Booklet of 20 (4 designs)
Series: N/A
Issue Date & City: September 17, 2019, Tulsa, OK 74103
Art Director: Antonio Alcalá, Alexandria, VA
Designer: Antonio Alcalá, Alexandria, VA
Typographer: Antonio Alcalá, Alexandria, VA
Artist: Steve Buchanan, Winsted, CT
Modeler: Joseph Sheeran
Manufacturing Process: Offset
Printer: Ashton Potter (USA) Ltd. (APU)
Press Type: Muller A76
Stamps per Booklet: 20
Print Quantity: 300,000,000 stamps
Paper Type: Nonphosphored Type III, Block Tag
Adhesive Type: Pressure-sensitive
Processed at: Ashton Potter (USA) Ltd. (APU)
Stamp Orientation: Vertical
Image Area (w x h): 0.84 x 0.73 in./21.336 x 18.542 mm
Stamp Size (w x h): 0.98 x 0.87 in./24.892 x 22.098 mm
Full Booklet Size (w x h): 1.96 x 5.52 in./49.784 x 140.208 mm
Colors: Black, Cyan, Magenta, Yellow
Plate Size: 1040 stamps per revolution
Plate Numbers: “P” followed by four (4) single digits
Marginal Markings: Header: “Winter Berries” Twenty First-Class Forever Stamps • Plate number in peel strip area • ©2018 USPS in peel strip area • Barcode • Promotional text in peel strip area

Updated August 21st:
Here are the first-day postmarks for this issue:The Digital Color Postmark measures 2.53″ x 1.30″ The B&W Pictorial Postmark measures 2.02″ x 0.89″

Updated August 22nd:
[press release]
New Forever Stamps Feature Winter Berries

What: With the release of the Winter Berries Forever stamps, the U.S. Postal Service celebrates four of winter’s small yet vibrant offerings: the winterberry (Ilex verticillata), the juniper berry (Juniperus communis), the beautyberry (Callicarpa americana), and the soapberry (Sapindus saponaria). News of the stamps is being shared with the hashtag #WinterBerriesStamps.

Who: Steven R. Phelps, Acting Vice President of Pricing and Costing, U.S. Postal Service

When: Tuesday, Sept. 17, at 11 a.m. CDT

Where: Tulsa Botanic Garden
A.R. and Marylouise Tandy Floral Terraces
3900 Tulsa Botanic Drive
Tulsa, OK 74127

RSVP: Dedication ceremony attendees are encouraged to RSVP at usps.com/winterberries.

Background:
The stamp art features highly detailed botanical portraits of each plant that highlight the bold colors and rich textures of their berries.
The winter months may seem like a time when nature’s bold imagery gets muted by cold temperatures and snowfall — but if you take a closer look you may just find some of the most beautiful plant growth of any season. Coming in an array of shapes, sizes and colors, winter berries provide bursts of life during the year’s coldest months.
Artist Steve Buchanan worked with art director Antonio Alcalá to create these stamps.

Woodstock (U.S. 2019)

Announced November 20, 2018. The most recent information will appear after the large illustration and the introductory description from the USPS. This stamp issuance celebrates the 50th anniversary of the Woodstock Music and Art Fair, held in the small farming community of Bethel, New York, in August 1969. It was the most famous rock fair in history and an expression of the youth counterculture of the 1960s. The stamp art, designed by art director Antonio Alcalá¡, features the image of the dove from graphic artist Arnold Skolnick’s promotional 1969 poster for the fair along with some of the poster’s words: “3 Days of Peace and Music.” In the stamp art the words are stacked in the background in brilliant colors along with the year 1969, USA, and Forever (the value of the stamp). The white dove stands in the foreground.

The stamp will be issued August 8th in New York City. See the July 8th entry below.

The Scott catalogue number for this issue is 5409.


The Woodstock festival was held August 15-18, 1969, in Bethel, New York, after the town of Woodstock, NY, more than 40 miles away, refused permission. It will be interesting to see if the USPS issues the stamp in Bethel or Woodstock. Or perhaps the stamp will be issued somewhere else entirely, such as the site of a 2019 rock festival (Lollapalooza in Chicago, August 1-4?).

Updated September 9th:
A 50th anniversary reunion festival is planned for August 15-18, 2019, in Watkins Glen, NY (about 115 miles WNW or 150 miles driving).

Updated June 11th:
The reunion festival is now in doubt. Watkins Glenn International has terminated its agreement to host the 50th anniversary event. However, a principal organizer says there are talks with another venue. Financial backers pulled out earlier this year.

Updated July 4th:
The USPS now says this stamp will be issued “in August,” but does not have a date. The current first-day city is New York.

From the Postal Bulletin:

In August 2019, in New York, NY, the United States Postal Service® will issue the Woodstock stamp (Forever® priced at the First-Class Mail® rate) in one design, in a pressure-sensitive adhesive pane of 20 stamps (Item 479400). The stamp will go on sale nationwide August 2019, and must not be sold or canceled before the first-day-of-issue, which will be announced in a future Postal Bulletin.

This stamp celebrates the 50th anniversary of The Woodstock Music and Art Fair, held in the small farming community of Bethel, New York, in August 1969. It was the most famous rock festival in history and an expression of the youth counterculture of the 1960s. The stamp art, designed by art director Antonio Alcalá, features the image of the dove from graphic artist Arnold Skolnick‘s promotional 1969 poster for the concert along with some of the poster‘s words: “3 Days of Peace and Music.” In the stamp art, the words are stacked in the background in brilliant colors along with the year 1969, USA, and Forever (the value of the stamp). The white dove stands in the foreground.

Availability to Post Offices: Item 479400, Woodstock (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 – Woodstock 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. The postmark date will be announced in a future Postal Bulletin.

Technical Specifications:

Issue: Woodstock Stamp
Item Number: 479400
Denomination & Type of Issue: First-Class Mail Forever
Format: Pane of 20 (1 design)
Series: N/A
Issue Date & City: August 2019, New York, NY 10199
Art Director: Antonio Alcalá, Alexandria, VA
Designer: Antonio Alcalá, Alexandria, VA
Typographer: Antonio Alcalá, Alexandria, VA
Modeler: Sandra Lane/Michelle Finn
Manufacturing Process: Flexo, Microprint
Printer: Banknote Corporation of America
Press Type: Gallus RCS
Stamps per Pane: 20
Print Quantity: 30,000,000 stamps
Paper Type: Phosphor, Block Tagged
Adhesive Type: Pressure-sensitive
Processed at: Banknote Corporation of America
Colors: Cyan, Magenta, Yellow
Stamp Orientation: Vertical
Image Area (w x h): 0.84 x 1.42 in/21.336 x 36.068 mm
Overall Size (w x h): 0.98 x 1.56 in/24.892 x 39.624 mm
Full Pane Size (w x h): 5.92 x 7.5 in/150.368 x 190.5 mm
Press Sheet Size (w x h): 11.84 x 22.5 in/300.736 x 571.5 mm
Plate Size: 120 stamps per revolution
Plate Numbers: “B” followed by three (3) single digits
Marginal Markings:
Front: Header: WOODSTOCK 50TH ANNIVERSARY • Plate numbers in bottom 2 corners
Back: ©2018 USPS • USPS Logo • Two barcodes (479400) • Plate position diagram • Promotional text

Updated July 8th:
[ceremony advisory]
Woodstock Forever Stamps
Commemorating 50th Anniversary of Woodstock Music and Art Fair

What: The U.S. Postal Service is issuing Woodstock Forever stamps in observance of the 50th anniversary of the most famous rock festival in history.

News of the stamp is being shared on social media using the hashtags #WoodstockStamps and #PeaceForeverStamps.

When: Thursday, Aug. 8 at 11 a.m. EDT

Where:
“Play it Loud: Instruments of Rock & Roll”
Metropolitan Museum of Art
1000 5th Ave.
New York, NY 10028

Background: The Woodstock Music and Art Fair was held in the small farming community of Bethel, NY, in August 1969. Approximately 500,000 members of the “Woodstock Generation,” a term later used in reference to young people of the time, convened to promote peace and love through music.

Art director Antonio Alcalá designed the stamp artwork which features an image of a dove along with the words “3 Days of Peace and Music,” evocative of the original 1969 promotional poster for the festival. In the stamp art, the words are stacked in the background in brilliant colors along with the year 1969, USA and Forever (the value of the stamp). The white dove stands in the foreground.

The stamps will be available for purchase Aug. 8. Pre-orders for the Woodstock Forever stamps can be reserved through The Postal Store at usps.com/shop[but not as of July 8th -VSC]

Updated July 12th:
Here are the first-day postmarks for this issue:The Digital Color Postmark measures 2.93″x1.43″The B&W pictorial measures 2.96″x1.37″The “special” postmark, for local offices to use, measures 2.814″x1.37″

State and County Fairs (U.S. 2019)

Announced November 20, 2018. The most recent information will appear after the large illustration and the introductory description from the USPS. Four whimsical se-tenant stamps celebrate the fun of America’s state and county fairs. The stamps were designed to work together as a panorama of fair activities, while each stamp also works as an individual picture. The stamp on the far left shows farmers unloading produce behind a white fence. In the second stamp, a child holding a chicken sits atop the same fence, with carnival rides — a Ferris wheel and merry-go-round — in the background. Those rides can be seen in the third stamp, where some fairgoers admire the livestock behind the fence while others walk, balloons in hand, toward a sweets stand. The last stamp shows children at the stand buying treats from the vendor. The art director was Greg Breeding. Mike Ryan designed the stamps with original art by Mick Wiggins.


Updated March 29th:
These stamps will be issued Thursday, July 25th, in Minot, ND. The North Dakota State Fair runs July 19-26 in Minot.

From the June 20th Postal Bulletin:

On July 25, 2019, in Minot, ND, the United States Postal Service® will issue the State and County Fairs stamps (Forever® priced at the First-Class Mail® rate) in four designs, in a pressure-sensitive adhesive pane of 20 stamps (Item 479300). The stamps will go on sale nationwide July 25, 2019, and must not be sold or canceled before the first-day-of-issue. The State and County Fairs pane of 20 stamps may not be split and the stamps may not be sold individually.

Four whimsical, se-tenant stamps celebrate the fun of America‘s state and county fairs. The stamps were designed to work together as a panorama of fair activities, while each stamp also works as an individual picture:

  • Farmers unloading produce behind a white fence.
  • A child holding a chicken sits atop the same fence, with carnival rides — a Ferris wheel and merry-go-round — in the background.
  • Fairgoers admiring the livestock behind the fence while others walk, balloons in hand, toward a sweets stand, with carnival rides in the background.
  • Children at the sweets stand buying treats from the vendor.

The art director was Greg Breeding, and Mike Ryan designed the stamps with original art by Mick Wiggins.

Availability to Post Offices: Item 479300, State and County Fairs (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 – State and County Fairs 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 November 25, 2019.

Technical Specifications:

Issue: State and County Fairs Stamps
Item Number: 479300
Denomination & Type of Issue: First-Class Mail Forever
Format: Pane of 20 (4 designs)
Series: N/A  [corrected]
Issue Date & City: July 25, 2019, Minot, ND 58701
Art Director: Greg Breeding, Charlottesville, VA
Designer: Mike Ryan, Charlottesville, VA
Typographer: Mike Ryan, Charlottesville, VA
Artist: Mick Wiggins, Little Rock, AR
Modeler: Joseph Sheeran
Manufacturing Process: Offset
Printer: Ashton Potter (USA) Ltd. (APU)
Press Type: Muller A76
Stamps per Pane: 20
Print Quantity: 40,000,000 stamps
Paper Type: Nonphosphored Type III, Block Tag
Adhesive Type: Pressure-sensitive
Processed at: Ashton Potter (USA) Ltd. (APU)
Stamp Orientation: Vertical
Image Area (w x h): 0.73 x 1.05 in./18.542 x 26.67 mm
Stamp Size (w x h): 0.91 x 1.19 in./23.114 x 30.226 mm
Full Pane Size (w x h): 4.875 x 8.5 in./123.825 x 215.9 mm
Press Sheet Size (w x h): 14.875 x 25.75 in./ 377.825 x 654.05 mm
Colors: Black, Cyan, Magenta, Yellow
Plate Size: 300 stamps per revolution
Plate Number: “P” followed by four (4) single digits
Marginal Markings:
Front: Header: State and County Fairs • Plate number bottom two corners
Back: ©2018 USPS • USPS logo • two barcodes (479300) • Promotional text
• Plate position diagram

Updated July 4th:
Here are the first-day postmarks for this issue:The Digital Color Postmark for this issue measures 2.24″x1.49″ The B&W pictorial measures 2.29″x1.49″

Updated July 5th:
[ceremony advisory]
Stamps Showcase State and County FairsWhat: The U.S. Postal Service celebrates the fun of America’s state and county fairs with four stamps. The whimsical artwork of the stamps is meant to evoke a nostalgic feeling for America’s fairs past and present. The stamps show a traditional fair theme where communities gather to socialize and have fun.

News of the stamps is being shared with the hashtags #StateFairsStamps,
#StateCountyFairsStamps, and #CountyFairsStamps. Also, a video of the stamps unveiling ceremony will be shown live on Facebook.com/usps

Who: U.S. Postal Service Chief Operating Officer and Executive Vice President David E. Williams

When: Thursday, July 25, at 11 a.m. CDT

Where:
North Dakota State Fair- Stage 2
2005 Burdick Expressway East
Minot, ND 58701

[The reservation link is usps.com/statecountyfairs —LdeV]

Background: The colorful se-tenant stamps — one scene across four stamps —celebrate the fun of America’s state and county fairs. The stamp on the far left shows farmers unloading produce behind a white fence. In the second stamp, a child holding a chicken sits atop the same fence, with carnival rides—a Ferris wheel and merry-go-round—in the background. Those rides can be seen in the third stamp, where some fairgoers admire the livestock behind the fence while others walk, balloons in hand, toward a sweets stand. The last stamp shows children at the stand buying treats from the vendor.

The art director was Greg Breeding. Mike Ryan designed the stamps with original art by Mick Wiggins.

The State and County Fairs stamps are being issued as Forever stamps and will always be equal in value to the current First-Class Mail 1-ounce price.

The stamps will be available for purchase July 25. Pre-orders for the State and County Fairs stamps can be reserved through The Postal Store at usps.com/shop.

Updated July 18th:
As VSC member Mary points out below, he Postal Bulletin states, “the stamp series in the technical details table was incorrectly listed as ‘Americana.’ The correct entry for the stamp series is ‘N/A.'”

Frogs (U.S. 2019)

Announced November 20, 2018. The most recent information will appear after the large illustration and the introductory description from the USPS. In 2019, the Postal Service issues Frogs, four new stamps in a booklet of 20, featuring digital illustrations of four North American frogs: the Pacific tree frog, the northern leopard frog, the American green tree frog and the squirrel tree frog. Working with a primarily green color palette and touches of brown, artist Nancy Stahl captured the essence of each animal with enough important defining features to make each recognizable. Art director William J. Gicker designed the stamps.


Updated March 29th:
These stamps will be issued July 9th in Boise, Idaho.

From the June 6th Postal Bulletin:

On July 9, 2019, in Boise, ID, the United States Postal Service® will issue the Frogs stamps (Forever® priced at the First-Class Mail® rate) in four designs, in a pressure-sensitive adhesive (PSA) booklet of 20 stamps (Item 680100). The stamps will go on sale nationwide July 9, 2019, and must not be sold or canceled before the first-day-of-issue.

In 2019, the Postal Service™ issues Frogs stamps in a booklet of 20, featuring digital illustrations of four North American frogs:

  • The Pacific tree frog,
  • The northern leopard frog,
  • The American green tree frog, and
  • The squirrel tree frog.

Working with a primarily green color palette and touches of brown, artist Nancy Stahl captured the essence of each animal with enough important defining features to make each recognizable. Art director William J. Gicker designed the stamps.

Availability to Post Offices: Item 680100, Frogs (Forever Priced at the First-Class Mail Rate) PSA Double-Sided Booklet of 20 Stamps: Stamp Fulfillment Services will not make an automatic push distribution to Post Offices.

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 – Frogs 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 November 9, 2019.

Technical Specifications:

Issue: Frogs Stamps
Item Number: 680100
Denomination & Type of Issue: First-Class Mail Forever
Format: Double-sided Booklet of 20, (4 designs)
Series: N/A
Issue Date & City: July 9, 2019, Boise, ID 83708
Art Director: William J. Gicker, Washington, DC
Designer: William J. Gicker, Washington, DC
Typographer: Greg Breeding, Charlottesville, VA
Artist: Nancy Stahl, New York, NY
Modeler: Sandra Lane/Michelle Finn
Manufacturing Process: Offset
Printer: Banknote Corporation of America
Press Type: Alprinta 74
Stamps per Booklet: 20
Print Quantity: 200,000,000
Paper Type: Phosphor Tagged Paper, Block Tagged
Adhesive Type: Pressure-sensitive
Processed at: Banknote Corporation of America
Stamp Orientation: Vertical
Image Area (w x h): 1.05 x 0.77 in./26.67 x 19.558 mm
Stamp Size (w x h): 1.19 x 0.91 in./30.226 x 23.114 mm
Full Booklet Size (w x h): 2.375 x 5.743 in./60.325 x 145.872 mm
Colors: Cyan, Magenta, Yellow, Black
Plate Size: 800 stamps per revolution
Plate Numbers: “B” followed by four (4) single digits
Marginal Markings: Header. “FROGS Twenty First-Class Forever Stamps” • ©2018 USPS in peel strip area • Barcode • Promotional text in peel strip area • Plate number in peel strip area

Here are the first-day postmarks for this issue:The DCP cancel measures 2.78″x1.40″ The B&W Pictorial measures 2.58″x1.07″

Updated June 13th:

[press release]
Frogs Are Forever
U.S. Postal Service Celebrates Four Species with New Forever Stamps

What: The U.S. Postal Service issues Frogs, four stamps in a booklet of 20 that feature digital illustrations of four North American frogs: the Pacific tree frog, the northern leopard frog, the American green tree frog and the squirrel tree frog. The First Day of Issue event is free and open to the public. News of the stamp is being shared with the hashtag #FrogStamps.

Who: Tom Samra, Vice President, Facilities, U.S. Postal Service

When: Tuesday, July 9, at 11 a.m. MT

Where: Morrison Knudsen Nature Center
600 S. Walnut Street
Boise, ID 83712

RSVP: Dedication ceremony attendees are encouraged to RSVP at usps.com/frogs

Updated June 13th:

Background:
Frogs live on every continent except Antarctica; more than 90 species live in the United States, including the four on these stamps.

Found throughout the western United States, the tiny Pacific tree frog (Pseudacris regilla) is nicknamed the “Hollywood frog.” Countless television shows and movies have used its rib-bit, rib-bit call in nighttime scenes.

The northern leopard frog (Rana pipiens) is commonly identified by its highly distinctive call, a rattle-like snoring noise, followed by several notes described as “chuckling” or “clucking.”

Sometimes called the rain frog for its noisy choruses after a warm rain, the American green tree frog (Hyla cinerea) is also dubbed the cowbell frog for the sound of its short call when heard from a distance.

A raspy, quack-like call much like the scolding noise of a gray squirrel identifies the squirrel tree frog (Hyla squirella), found from southeastern Virginia through Florida and along the Gulf Coast to Texas.

Working with a green color palette and touches of brown, artist Nancy Stahl captured the defining features of each frog making them recognizable. Art director William J. Gicker designed the stamps. The Frogs stamps are being issued as Forever stamps and will always be equal in value to the current First-Class Mail 1-ounce price.

Updated August 7th:
Here are the Scott catalogue numbers for this issue:
5395 Pacific Tree Frog
5396 Northern Leopard Frog
5397 American Green Tree Frog
5398 Squirrel Tree Frog
a. Convertible booklet pane of 20, 5 each #5395-5398

Walt Whitman (U.S. 2019)

Announced November 20, 2018. The most recent information will appear after the large illustration and the introductory description from the USPS. With this stamp, the 32nd in the Literary Arts series, the Postal Service honors poet Walt Whitman (1819—1892) on the bicentennial of his birth. The stamp features a portrait of Whitman based on a photograph taken by Frank Pearsall in 1869. In the background, a hermit thrush sitting on the branch of a lilac bush recalls “When Lilacs Last in the Door-yard Bloom’d,” an elegy for President Abraham Lincoln written by Whitman soon after Lincoln’s assassination on April 14, 1865. Considered by many to be the father of modern American poetry, Whitman broke away from dominant European poetic forms and experimented with free verse and colloquial expressions, writing powerfully about nearly every aspect of 19th-century America. The artist for the stamp was Sam Weber. Art director Greg Breeding designed the stamp. The words “THREE OUNCE” on this stamp indicate its usage value. Like a Forever stamp, this stamp will always be valid for the rate printed on it.


Updated November 3rd:: The Scott catalogue number for this stamp is 5414.

Updated July 28th:
VSC member Ed Centeno says this stamp will be issued September 14th in Huntington, NY (Long Island). See his post below. His news was confirmed by the USPS the next day.

From the Postal Bulletin:

On September 12, 2019, in Huntington Station, NY, the United States Postal Service® will issue the Walt Whitman stamp (Non-denominated priced at the 3-ounce rate) in one design, in a pressure-sensitive adhesive pane of 20 stamps (Item 120300). The stamp will go on sale nationwide September 12, 2019, and must not be sold or cancelled before the first-day-of-issue.

With this stamp, the 32nd issue in the Literary Arts series, the Postal Service™ honors poet Walt Whitman (1819–1892) on the bicentennial of his birth. The stamp features a portrait of Whitman based on a photograph taken by Frank Pearsall in 1869. In the background, a hermit thrush sitting on the branch of a lilac bush recalls “When Lilacs Last in the Door-yard Bloom‘d,” an elegy for President Abraham Lincoln written by Whitman soon after Lincoln‘s assassination on April 14, 1865. Considered by many to be the father of modern American poetry, Whitman broke away from dominant European poetic forms and experimented with free verse and colloquial expressions, writing powerfully about nearly every aspect of 19th-century America. The artist for the stamp was Sam Weber. Art director Greg Breeding designed the stamp. The words “THREE OUNCE” on this stamp indicate its usage value. Like a Forever® stamp, this stamp will always be valid for the rate printed on it.

Initial Supply to Post Offices, Item 120300, Walt Whitman, 3-Ounce Rate, Non-denominated PSA Pane of 20 Stamps: Stamp Fulfillment Services will not make an automatic push distribution to Post Offices.

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 – Walt Whitman 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 January 12, 2020.

Technical Specifications:

Issue: Walt Whitman Stamp
Item Number: 120300
Denomination & Type of Issue: 3-ounce rate, Non-denominated, Mail use
Format: Pane of 20 (one design)
Series: Literary Arts
Issue Date & City: September 12, 2019, Huntington Station, NY 11746
Art Director: Greg Breeding, Charlottesville, VA
Designer: Greg Breeding, Charlottesville, VA
Typographer: Greg Breeding, Charlottesville, VA
Artist: Sam Weber, Brooklyn, NY
Modeler: Joseph Sheeran
Manufacturing Process: Offset, Microprint
Printer: Ashton Potter (USA) Ltd. (APU)
Press Type: Muller A76
Stamps per Pane: 20
Print Quantity: 12,000,000 stamps
Paper Type: Nonphosphored Type III, Block Tag
Adhesive Type: Pressure-sensitive
Processed at: Ashton Potter (USA) Ltd. (APU)
Stamp Orientation: Horizontal
Image Area (w x h): 1.42 x 0.84 in./36.068 x 21.336 mm
Stamp Size (w x h): 1.56 x 0.98 in./39.624 x 24.892 mm
Full Pane Size (w x h): 7.24 x 5.92 in./183.896 x 150.368 mm
Colors: Black, Cyan, Magenta, Yellow, Pantone Black 6 C
Plate Size: 240 stamps per revolution
Plate Number: “P” followed by five (5) single digits
Marginal Markings:
Front: Header: LITERARY ARTS 32nd IN A SERIES • Plate number four corners
Back: ©2018 USPS • USPS logo • two barcodes (120300) • Promotional text • Plate position diagram

Updated August 8th:
Here are the first-day cancels for this issue:The Digital Color Postmark measures 2.96″ x 1.18″ The B&W pictorial postmark measures 2.98″ x 0.74″

The Walt Whitman Birthplace Association is extending an invitation to anyone who wishes to attend the first day ceremony:

Participants:
Master of Ceremonies – WWBA Board President & WWBA Executive Director
Presentation of Colors – New York State Parks Police
National Anthem – HS Student Jennifer Gardner
Dedicating Official – Postmaster General and CEO US Postal Service

Honored Guests –

Timeline/ Run Of Show:
9:00 a.m. Museum Opens to Public
Stamp sales open
10:30 All program participants meet for briefing
10:55 Stamp sales close for Ceremony

11:00 CEREMONY BEGINS
Master of Ceremonies Welcome Address
11:10 Participants to the stage for stamp unveiling

* Stamps revealed on the count of three. Pose for media pictures.

11:15- 11:40: Participants’ Remarks

11:45 CEREMONY ENDS – stamp sales re-open
11:45 – 12:15 p.m. Autograph session – all participants on the program sign programs and philatelic items for attendees
2:00 p.m. USPS Retail Sales end (or when sales cease)

RSVP to director@waltwhitman.org

Wild and Scenic Rivers (U.S. 2019)

Announced November 20, 2018. The most recent information will appear after the large illustration and the introductory description from the USPS. This issuance celebrates Wild and Scenic Rivers — exceptional American streams that run freely through natural landscapes without man-made alterations. The pane of a dozen different designs features photographs that represent the more than 200 rivers or river segments designated within the Wild and Scenic Rivers System.

First row, left to right: Merced River (Michael Melford, photographer), Owyhee River (Michael Melford, photographer), Koyukuk River (Michael Melford, photographer)

Second row, left to right: Niobrara River (Michael Melford, photographer), Snake River (Tim Palmer, photographer), Flathead River (Tim Palmer, photographer)

Third row, left to right: Missouri River (Bob Wick, staff photographer for Bureau of Land Management), Skagit River (Tim Palmer, photographer), Deschutes River (Bob Wick, BLM, photographer)

Fourth row, left to right: Tlikakila River (Michael Melford, photographer), Ontonagon River (Tim Palmer, photographer), Clarion River (Bob Wick, BLM, photographer). Small type on the bottom of each stamp indicates the name of the river. Michael Melford’s photograph of the Merced River is featured again in the selvage. Art director Derry Noyes designed the pane using existing photographs.

These stamps will be issued May 21, 2019 in Bend OR. The Scott catalogue number is 5381 for the pane of 12:
a. Merced River
b. Owyhee River
c. Koyukuk River
d. Niobrara River
e. Snake River
f. Flathead River
g. Missouri River
h. Skagit River
i. Deschutes River
j. Tlikakila River
k. Ontonagon River
l. Clarion River


Updated April 11th:

On May 21, 2019, in Bend, OR, the U.S. Postal Service® will issue the Wild and Scenic Rivers stamps (Forever® priced at the First-Class Mail® rate) in 12 designs, in a pressure-sensitive adhesive pane of 12 stamps (Item 571500). The stamps will go on sale nationwide May 21, 2019, and must not be sold or canceled before the first-day-of-issue. The Wild and Scenic Rivers pane of 12 stamps may not be split and the stamps may not be sold individually.

This issuance celebrates wild and scenic rivers — exceptional American streams that run freely through natural landscapes without man-made alterations. The pane features photographs that represent the more than 200 rivers or river segments designated within the wild and scenic rivers system:

  • First row, left to right: Merced River (Michael Melford, photographer), Owyhee River (Michael Melford, photographer), and Koyukuk River (Michael Melford, photographer).
  • Second row, left to right: Niobrara River (Michael Melford, photographer), Snake River (Tim Palmer, photographer), and Flathead River (Tim Palmer, photographer).
  • Third row, left to right: Missouri River (Bob Wick, staff photographer for Bureau of Land Management), Skagit River (Tim Palmer, photographer), and Deschutes River (Bob Wick, BLM, photographer)
  • Fourth row, left to right: Tlikakila River (Michael Melford, photographer), Ontonagon River (Tim Palmer, photographer), and Clarion River (Bob Wick, BLM, photographer).
    Small type on the bottom of each stamp indicates the name of the river. Michael Melford’s photograph of the Merced River is featured again in the selvage. Art director Derry Noyes designed the pane using existing photographs.

Availability to Post Offices: Item 571500, Wild and Scenic Rivers (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.

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 – Wild and Scenic Rivers 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 September 21, 2019.

Technical Specifications:

Issue: Wild and Scenic Rivers Stamps
Item Number: 571500
Denomination & Type of Issue: First-Class Mail Forever
Format: Pane of 12 (12 designs)
Series: N/A
Issue Date & City: May 21, 2019, Bend, OR 97701
Art Director: Derry Noyes, Washington, DC
Designer: Derry Noyes, Washington, DC
Typographer: Derry Noyes, Washington, DC
Existing Photos: Michael Melford
Existing Photos: Tim Palmer
Existing Photos: Bob Wick
Modeler: Sandra Lane/Michelle Finn
Manufacturing Process: Offset
Printer: Banknote Corporation of America
Press Type: Alprinta 74
Stamps per Pane: 12
Print Quantity: 60,000,000 stamps
Paper Type: Phosphor, Block Tag
Adhesive Type: Pressure-sensitive
Processed at: Banknote Corporation of America
Colors: Cool Gray 11, Cyan, Magenta, Yellow, Black
Stamp Orientation: Horizontal
Image Area (w x h): 1.42 x 1.085 in./ 36.068 x 27.559 mm
Overall Size (w x h): 1.56 x 1.225 in./39.624 x 31.115 mm
Full Pane Size (w x h): 7.87 x 6.38 in./199.898 x 162.052 mm
Press Sheets Size
(w x h): 23.86 x 19.39 in./606.044 x 492.506 mm
Plate Size: 108 stamps per revolution
Plate Numbers: “B” followed by five (5) single digits
Marginal Markings:
Front: Header: Wild and Scenic Rivers • Plate number in bottom right corner of pane
Back: ©2018 USPS • USPS logo • 2 barcodes (571500) • Plate position diagram • Promotional text

Updated April 19th:

[press release]
Spotlighting the Natural Beauty of America’s Wild and Scenic Rivers

What: The U.S. Postal Service issues Wild and Scenic Rivers, stamps that pay tribute to the exceptional streams that run freely through America’s natural landscapes. This pane honors the rivers’ beauty with a dozen Forever stamps, each showcasing a different segment of the Wild and Scenic River System.

The first-day-of-issue event for the Wild and Scenic Rivers Commemorative Forever stamps is free and open to the public. News of the stamp is being shared with the hashtag #WildScenicRiversStamps and #WildRiverStamps.

Who: Joe Corbett, chief financial officer and executive vice president, U.S. Postal
Service

When: Tuesday, May 21, 2019, at 11 a.m. PT

Where: Tumalo State Park
64170 O.B. Riley Road
Bend, OR 97701

Parking: Admission is free with ample parking at the event.

RSVP: Dedication ceremony attendees are encouraged to RSVP at usps.com/wildrivers.

Background: America’s wild and scenic rivers are those deemed remarkable for values including fish and wildlife, geology, recreation and cultural or historical significance. These special streams are allowed to flow freely through natural settings without man-made alterations.

The Wild and Scenic Rivers Act categorizes designated segments as either wild, scenic or recreational. Wild rivers are undammed, unpolluted and generally accessible only by trail. Scenic rivers may be “accessible in places by roads.” Recreational river areas are “readily accessible by road or railroad,” may have some shoreline development and may have been dammed in the past. Designations often result from grassroots action by local citizens.

The Wild and Scenic Rivers system provides clean water, places of beauty and sanctuary and habitats for native wildlife.

Customers may purchase stamps and other philatelic products through the Postal Store at usps.com/shop, by calling 800-STAMP24 (800-782-6724), by mail through USA Philatelic catalog or at Post Office locations nationwide.

Updated May 24th:

These are the first-day postmarks for this issue:The Digital Color Postmark measures 2.88″x1.35″ The B&W pictorial is 2.72″x1.39″

U.S. Flag (U.S. 2019)

Announced November 20, 2018. The most recent information will appear after the large illustration and the introductory description from the USPS. The Scott catalogue numbers are also below. With this new 2019 stamp, the Postal Service celebrates the American flag, the most recognizable symbol of our nation. The stamp features a U.S. flag, one of several on the flagpoles near the end of Chicago’s Navy Pier, waving in a May breeze. The photograph was taken by art director Antonio Alcalá¡.


December 19th: This stamp will be issued Sunday, January 27th, with a Kansas City MO postmark but no first-day ceremony.

December 21st: Two formats, two printers (four varieties altogether).

On January 27, 2019, in Kansas City, MO, the U.S. Postal Service will issue the U.S. Flag 2019 stamp (Forever priced at the First-Class Mail rate) in one design, in the following formats:

  • A pressure-sensitive adhesive (PSA) booklet of 20 stamps (Item 682300) produced by security printers Ashton Potter (USA) Ltd. (APU) and Banknote Corportation of America (BCA), and
  • A PSA coil of 100 stamps (Item 740100) produced by security printers APU and BCA.

The stamps will go on sale nationwide January 27, 2019, and must not be sold or cancelled before the first-day-of-issue.

With this new 2019 stamp, the Postal Service celebrates the American flag, the most recognizable symbol of our nation. The stamp features a U.S. flag, one of several on the flagpoles near the end of Chicago’s Navy Pier, waving in a May breeze. The photograph was taken by art director Antonio Alcalá.

Availability to Post Offices:

  • Item 682300, U.S. Flag 2019 PSA (Forever Priced at the First-Class Mail Rate) Double-sided Booklet 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.
  • Item 740100, U.S. Flag 2019 PSA (Forever Priced at the First-Class Mail Rate) Coil of 100 Stamps: Stamp Fulfillment Services will not make an automatic push distribution to Post Offices.

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 – U.S. Flag 2019 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 May 27, 2019.

Technical Specifications (Ashton Potter booklet):

Issue: U.S. Flag 2019 Stamp
Item Number: 682300
Denomination & Type of Issue: First-Class Mail Forever
Format: Double-sided Booklet of 20 (1 design)
Series: N/A
Issue Date & City: January 27, 2019, Kansas City, MO 64108
Art Director: Antonio Alcalá, Alexandria, VA
Designer: Antonio Alcalá, Alexandria, VA
Typographer: Antonio Alcalá, Alexandria, VA
Photographer: Antonio Alcalá, Alexandria, VA
Modeler: Joseph Sheeran
Manufacturing Process: Offset, Microprint
Printer: Ashton Potter (USA) Ltd. (APU)
Press Type: Muller A76
Stamps per Booklet: 20
Print Quantity: 1,500,000,000 stamps
Paper Type: Nonphosphored Type III, Block Tagged
Adhesive Type: Pressure-sensitive
Processed at: Ashton Potter (USA) Ltd. (APU)
Stamp Orientation: Horizontal
Image Area (w x h): 0.84 x 0.73 in./21.336 x 18.542 mm
Stamp Size (w x h): 0.98 x 0.87 in./24.892 x 22.098 mm
Full Booklet Size (w x h): 1.96 x 5.52 in./49.784 x 140.208 mm
Colors: Black, Cyan, Magenta, Yellow
Plate Size: 1040 stamps per revolution
Plate Numbers: “P” followed by four (4) single digits
Marginal Markings: Header. “20 First-Class Forever Stamps U.S. Flag” • ©2018 USPS in peel strip area • Barcode • Promotional text • Plate number in peel strip area

Technical Specifications (Banknote booklet):

Issue: U.S. Flag 2019 Stamp
Item Number: 682300
Denomination & Type of Issue: First-Class Mail Forever
Format: Double-sided Booklet of 20 (1 design)
Series: N/A
Issue Date & City: January 27, 2019, Kansas City, MO 64108
Art Director: Antonio Alcalá, Alexandria, VA
Designer: Antonio Alcalá, Alexandria, VA
Typographer: Antonio Alcalá, Alexandria, VA
Photographer: Antonio Alcalá, Alexandria, VA
Modeler: Sandra Lane/Michelle Finn
Manufacturing Process: Offset, Microprint
Printer: Banknote Corporation of America
Press Type: Alprinta 74
Stamps per Booklet: 20
Print Quantity: 1,500,000,000
Paper Type: Phosphor Tagged Paper, Block Tagged
Adhesive Type: Pressure-sensitive
Processed at: Banknote Corporation of America
Stamp Orientation: Horizontal
Image Area (w x h): 0.84 x 0.73 in./21.336 x 18.542 mm
Stamp Size (w x h): 0.98 x 0.87 in./24.892 x 22.098 mm
Full Booklet Size (w x h): 1.96 x 5.52 in./49.784 x 140.208 mm
Colors: Cyan, Magenta, Yellow, Black
Plate Size: 960 stamps per revolution
Plate Numbers: “B” followed by four (4) single digits
Marginal Markings: Header. “20 First-Class Forever Stamps U.S. Flag” • ©2018 USPS in peel strip area • Barcode • Promotional text • Plate number in peel strip area

Technical Specifications (Ashton Potter coil):

Issue: U.S. Flag 2019 Stamp
Item Number: 740100
Denomination & Type of Issue: First Class Mail Forever
Format: Coil of 100 (1 design)
Series: N/A
Issue Date & City: January 27, 2019, Kansas City, MO 64108
Art Director: Antonio Alcalá, Alexandria, VA
Designer: Antonio Alcalá, Alexandria, VA
Typographer: Antonio Alcalá, Alexandria, VA
Photographer: Antonio Alcalá, Alexandria, VA
Modeler: Joseph Sheeran
Manufacturing Process: Offset, Microprint
Printer: Ashton Potter (USA) Ltd. (APU)
Press Type: Muller A76
Stamps per Coil: 100
Print Quantity: 1,900,000,000 stamps
Paper Type: Nonphosphored Type III, Block Tag
Adhesive Type: Pressure-sensitive
Processed at: Ashton Potter (USA) Ltd. (APU)
Colors: Black, Cyan, Magenta, Yellow
Stamp Orientation: Horizontal
Image Area (w x h): 0.84 x 0.73 in./21.336 x 18.542 mm
Stamp Size (w x h): 0.98 x 0.87096 in./24.892 x 22.122 mm
Plate Size: 744 stamps per revolution
Plate Numbers: “P” followed by four (4) single digits
Coil Number Frequency: Plate numbers every 31st stamp beside stamp image

Technical Specifications (Banknote coil):

Issue: U.S. Flag 2019 Stamp
Item Number: 740100
Denomination & Type of Issue: First-Class Mail Forever
Format: Coil of 100 (1 design)
Series: N/A
Issue Date & City: January 27, 2019, Kansas City, MO 64108
Art Director: Antonio Alcalá, Alexandria, VA
Designer: Antonio Alcalá, Alexandria, VA
Typographer: Antonio Alcalá, Alexandria, VA
Photographer: Antonio Alcalá, Alexandria, 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 Coil: 100
Print Quantity: 1,900,000,000 stamps
Paper Type: Phosphor Tagged Paper, Overall
Adhesive Type: Pressure-sensitive
Processed at: Banknote Corporation of America
Colors: Cyan, Magenta, Yellow, Black
Stamp Orientation: Horizontal
Image Area (w x h): 0.84 x 0.73 in./21.336 x 18.542 mm
Stamp Size (w x h): 0.96 x 0.871 in./24.384 x 22.123 mm
Plate Size: 744 stamps per revolution
Plate Numbers: “B” followed by four (4) single digits
Coil Number Frequency: Plate numbers every 31st stamp beside stamp image

Updated January 9th:
There is only a B&W pictorial first-day cancel for this issue: It measures 2.9″x1.14″.

Updated January 17th:

The first-day postmark design has changed:

The Scott catalogue numbers for this issue are as follows:

5342 (55¢) Flag coil (Ashton-Potter printing), serpentine die cut 11 horiz., microprinted “USPS” at lower flag grommet
5343 (55¢) Flag coil (Banknote printing), serpentine die cut 9½ horiz., microprinted “USPS” to right of sixth red flag stripe
5344 (55¢) Flag booklet stamp (Ashton-Potter printing), serpentine die cut 10¾x11¼ on 2 or 3 sides, microprinted “USPS” at upper left corner of flag
a. Convertible booklet pane of 20
5345 (55¢) Flag booklet stamp (Banknote printing), serpentine die cut 10¾x11¼ on 2 or 3 sides, microprinted “USPS” to right of sixth red flag stripe
a. Convertible booklet pane of 20

Post Office Murals (U.S. 2019)

Announced November 20, 2018. The most recent information will appear after the large illustration and the introductory description from the USPS.This pane of 10 stamps features five different murals designed to add a touch of beauty to Post Office walls and help boost the morale of Americans during the era of the Great Depression. On the stamp art, the town or city and state in which the work of art is located is printed underneath each mural. The murals included are: “Kiowas Moving Camp” (1936) Anadarko, Oklahoma; “Mountains and Yucca” (1937) Deming, New Mexico; “Antelope” (1939) Florence, Colorado; “Sugarloaf Mountain” (1940) Rockville, Maryland; and “Air Mail” (1941) Piggott, Arkansas. Art director Antonio Alcalá¡ designed the stamps.


Updated January 30th:
These stamps will be issued April 10th in Piggott, Arkansas.

Updated February 28th:
On April 10, 2019, in Piggott, AR, the U.S. Postal Service® will issue the Post Office Murals stamps (Forever® priced at the First-Class Mail® rate) in five designs, in a pressure-sensitive adhesive pane of 10 stamps (Item 571100). The stamps will go on sale nationwide April 10, 2019, and must not be sold or cancelled before the first-day-of-issue. The Post Office Murals pane of 10 stamps may not be split and the stamps may not be sold individually.

This pane of 10 stamps features five different murals designed to add a touch of beauty to Post Office™ walls, while depicting the American landscape during the era of the Great Depression. On the stamp art, the town or city and state in which the work of art is located is printed underneath each mural. The murals included are:

  • “Kiowas Moving Camp” (1936), Anadarko, Oklahoma;
  • “Mountains anYucca” (1937), Deming, New Mexico;
  • “Antelope” (1939), Florence, Colorado;
  • “Sugarloaf Mountain” (1940), Rockville, Maryland; and
  • “Air Mail” (1941), Piggott, Arkansas.

Art director Antonio Alcalá designed the stamps.

Availability to Post Offices: Item 571100, Post Office Murals (Forever Priced at the First-Class Mail Rate) Commemorative Pane of 10 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 – Post Office Murals 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 August 10, 2019.

Technical Specifications:

Issue: Post Office Murals Stamps
Item Number: 571100
Denomination & Type of Issue: First-Class Mail Forever®
Format: Pane of 10 (5 designs)
Series: N/A
Issue Date & City: April 2, 2019, Piggott, AR 72454
Art Director: Antonio Alcalá, Alexandria, VA
Designer: Antonio Alcalá, Alexandria, VA
Typographer: Antonio Alcalá, Alexandria, VA
Modeler: Joseph Sheeran
Manufacturing Process: Offset
Printer: Ashton Potter (USA) Ltd. (APU)
Press Type: Muller A76
Stamps per Pane: 10
Print Quantity: 30,000,000 stamps
Paper Type: Nonphosphored Type III, Block Tag
Adhesive Type: Pressure-sensitive
Processed at: Ashton Potter (USA) Ltd. (APU)
Stamp Orientation: Horizontal
Image Area (w x h): 1.68 x 1.05 in./42.672 x 26.67 mm
Stamp Size (w x h): 1.82 x 1.19 in./46.228 x 30.226 mm
Full Pane Size (w x h): 5.03 x 7.37 in./127.762 x 187.198 mm
Press Sheet Size (w x h): 25.15 x 7.37 in./ 638.81 x 187.198 mm
Colors: Black, Cyan, Magenta, Yellow, PMS Cool Gray 9C, PMS Cool Gray 7C
Plate Size: 150 stamps per revolution
Plate Numbers: “P” followed by six (6) single digits
Marginal Markings:
Front: Header: “Post Office Murals” • Plate number in two corners
Back: ©2018 USPS • USPS logo • Barcode (571100) in two corners of pane • Plate position diagram • Promotional text

Updated March 5th:

Here are the first-day postmarks for this issue: The Digital Color Postmark measures 2.98″ x 1.15″ The pictorial postmark measures 2.95″ x 1.42″

Updated March 10th:

[press release]
U.S. Postal Service Honors Post Office Lobby Artwork with Stamps

What: The Postal Service will celebrate its Post Office lobby government-commissioned artworks from the 1930’s and 1940’s by featuring five lobby paintings on stamps. During this era, President Franklin D. Roosevelt’s administration commissioned artwork in Post Offices across the nation to provide jobs to artists and illustrate the history and culture of local communities across America.

The first-day-of-issue event is free and open to the public. News of the stamp is being shared with the hashtags #PostOfficeMurals and #MuralStamps

Who: Patrick Mendonca, senior director, Office of the Postmaster General
Travis Williams, Piggott, AR, mayor
John Gill, chairman, Arkansas Parks and Recreation Foundation
Stephanie N. Jett, postmaster, Piggott

When: Wednesday, April 10, 2019, at 11 a.m. CDT

Where: Piggott Main Post Office
116 N. 3rd Avenue
Piggott, AR 72454-2000

RSVP: Dedication ceremony attendees are encouraged to RSVP at usps.com/postofficemurals

Background:
In the 1930s and 1940s, murals brought a touch of beauty to Post Offices across the United States. These works of art were designed to help boost the morale of Americans during the Great Depression.
This pane of 10 stamps features five different murals. On the stamp art, the town or city and state in which the work of art is located is printed underneath each mural. The murals included are: “Kiowas Moving Camp” (1936), Anadarko, OK; “Mountains and Yucca” (1937), Deming, NM; “Antelope” (1939), Florence, CO; “Sugarloaf Mountain” (1940), Rockville, MD; and “Air Mail” (1941), Piggott, AR.

The Postal Service is committed to the upkeep of these classic paintings and has a federal preservation officer and historian to both help maintain the beauty of the murals and also educate the public about their place in postal lore. Today, many of these works have been restored and remain on display for the public to enjoy.

Art Director Antonio Alcalá designed the stamps.

Updated May 4th:

Here are updated versions of the first-day postmarks:

and

USS Missouri (U.S. 2019)

Announced November 20, 2018. The most recent information will appear after the large illustration and the introductory description from the USPS. The Postal Service celebrates USS Missouri (BB-63), America’s last battleship, with the issuance of a commemorative stamp in 2019, coinciding with the 75th anniversary of Missouri’s commissioning on June 11, 1944. The stamp art depicts Missouri in the disruptive camouflage she wore from her commissioning until a refit in early 1945. Missouri earned numerous combat awards and citations during her decades of service, which include World War II, the Korean War and Operation Desert Storm. She played a momentous role when she hosted the ceremony marking Japan’s surrender and the end of World War II. Designed by art director Greg Breeding, the stamp features a digital illustration by Dan Cosgrove.

This stamp will be issued June 11, 2019 in Honolulu HI.


Updated May 11th: [press release]
U.S. Postal Service Honors Battleship USS Missouri with a Forever Stamp

What: The U.S. Postal Service celebrates the USS Missouri (BB-63) with a Forever stamp. The famed American battleship is being honored to coincide with the 75th anniversary of her commissioning on June 11, 1944. The battleship was affectionately nicknamed “Mighty Mo,” and had one of the most historic roles during World War II. On Sept. 2, 1945, military officials from the Allied powers and imperial Japan convened on her deck and signed the documents confirming Japan’s surrender and ending the war.

News of the stamp is being shared with the hashtags #USSMissouriStamps.

Who: USPS Acting Enterprise Analytics Vice President Jeffrey C. Johnson
USS Missouri Memorial Foundation President and CEO Mike Carr
Rear Adm. Brian P. Fort, U.S. Navy Region Hawaii
Rear Adm. Samuel Cox, U.S. Navy (Retired), Director, Naval History and Heritage Command, Curator of the Navy

When: Tuesday, June 11, at 11 a.m. HST

Where: Battleship Missouri Memorial
Pearl Harbor, Honolulu, HI 96818

RSVP: Dedication ceremony attendees are required to RSVP and determine access requirements at usps.com/ussmissouri

Background:
The stamp art depicts Missouri from a low vantage point almost at sea level, cutting through the water at a moderate speed commensurate with entering or leaving port. Large and imposing in the frame, Missouri is shown in the disruptive camouflage she wore from her commissioning until a refit in early 1945. Clouds loom in the background, tinged with gold and rose from the sun’s rays.

Designed by art director Greg Breeding, the stamp features a digital illustration created by Dan Cosgrove.

The USS Missouri stamp is being issued as a Forever stamp and will always be equal in value to the current First-Class Mail 1-ounce price.

Customers may purchase stamps and other philatelic products through the Postal Store at usps.com/shop, by calling 800-STAMP24 (800-782-6724), by mail through USA Philatelic or at Post Office locations nationwide.

From the May 9th Postal Bulletin:

On June 11, 2019, in Honolulu, HI, the U.S. Postal Service will issue the USS Missouri stamp (Forever priced at the First-Class Mail rate) in one design, in a pressure-sensitive adhesive pane of 20 stamps (Item 478700). The stamp will go on sale nationwide June 11, 2019, and must not be sold or canceled before the first-day-of-issue.

The U.S. Postal Service celebrates USS Missouri (BB-63), America’s last battleship, with the issuance of a commemorative stamp in 2019, coinciding with the 75th anniversary of the Missouri’s commissioning on June 11, 1944. The stamp art depicts the Missouri in the disruptive camouflage she wore from her commissioning until a refit in early 1945. The Missouri earned numerous combat awards and citations during her decades of service, which include World War II, the Korean War, and Operation Desert Storm. She played a momentous role when she hosted the ceremony marking Japan’s surrender and the end of World War II. Designed by art director Greg Breeding, the stamp features a digital illustration by Dan Cosgrove.

Availability to Post Offices: Item 478700, USS Missouri (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 – USS Missouri 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 October 11, 2019.

Technical Specifications:

Issue: USS Missouri Stamp
Item Number: 478700
Denomination & Type of Issue: First-Class Mail Forever
Format: Pane of 20 (1 design)
Series: N/A
Issue Date & City: June 11, 2019, Honolulu, HI 96818
Art Director: Greg Breeding, Charlottesville, VA
Designer: Greg Breeding, Charlottesville, VA
Typographer: Greg Breeding, Charlottesville, VA
Artist: Dan Cosgrove, Chicago, IL
Modeler: Sandra Lane/Michelle Finn
Manufacturing Process: Offset, Microprint
Printer: Banknote Corporation of America
Press Type: Alprinta 74
Stamps per Pane: 20
Print Quantity: 20,000,000 stamps
Paper Type: Phosphor, Block Tag
Adhesive Type: Pressure-sensitive
Processed at: Banknote Corporation of America
Colors: Cool Gray 8, Cyan, Magenta, Yellow, Black
Stamp Orientation: Vertical
Image Area (w x h): 0.84 x 1.42 in/21.336 x 36.068 mm
Overall Size (w x h): 0.98 x 1.56 in/24.892 x 39.624 mm
Full Pane Size (w x h): 6 x 8.25 in/152.4 x 209.55 mm
Press Sheet Size (w x h): 18 x 24.75 in/457.2 x 628.65 mm
Plate Size: 180 stamps per revolution
Plate Numbers: “B” followed by five (5) single digits
Marginal Markings:
Front: Footer: USS Missouri • Plate numbers in top corners
Back: ©2018 USPS • USPS logo • Two barcodes (478700) • Plate position diagram • Promotional text

Updated May 24th:
Here are the first-day postmarks for this issue: The Digital Color Postmark measures 2.40″x1.46″ The B&W pictorial postmark measures 2.90″x1.47″

Updated August 7th:
The Scott catalogue number for this issue is 5392.