Category Archives: 2021 New Issues

Bluenose sailing ship Centennial (Canada 2021)

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Updated June 29th:
A Canada Post spokeswoman tells The Virtual Stamp Club that only 40,000 of the souvenir sheets with the CAPEX22 overprint will be produced, and the only “OFDC” (official first day cover) for the issue is the one for the un-overprinted souvenir sheet.

[press release] [Picture of uncut press sheet at end of French version]
New stamps celebrate the 100th anniversary of Bluenose
Queen of the North Atlantic undefeated over 17 years of racing

LUNENBURG, N.S. – Canada Post is celebrating the 100th anniversary of the launch of Bluenose, the Nova Scotian schooner known as the Queen of the North Atlantic, with two new stamps.

Canada’s most recognized sailing vessel excelled at fishing and racing in the 1920s and 1930s. The schooner was born of a seafaring rivalry between two fishing communities: Lunenburg, Nova Scotia, and Gloucester, Massachusetts. Competition over whose fishing vessels were the fastest led to the creation of the International Fishermen’s Trophy series in 1920.

Designed by naval architect William J. Roué of Dartmouth, N.S. and launched from Lunenburg’s Smith & Rhuland Shipyard on March 26, 1921, Bluenose was built to challenge the Americans, who had won the inaugural competition.

With Captain Angus J. Walters at the helm, Bluenose handily won the International Fishermen’s Trophy in 1921 and remained undefeated in four subsequent trophy series: 1922, 1923, 1931 and 1938.

CAPEX souvenir sheet

Featured on Canada’s 10-cent coin, adorning Nova Scotia’s current licence plate and immortalized in song by folk music legend Stan Rogers, Bluenose has appeared in four previous Canadian stamp issues (1929, 1982, 1988 and 1998). Generations of collectors consider the 1929 stamp one of the most beautiful ever issued in Canada.

”Bluenose” comes from a nickname for Nova Scotians dating back to the late 18th century.

Souvenir Sheet OFDC

About the stamps
The stamps by Halifax designers Dennis Page and Oliver Hill feature illustrations by Michael Little, who was inspired by the work of East Coast marine artist William E. deGarthe (1907-83). They feature two new designs: one portraying Bluenose fishing; the other competing in its first race in 1921. Printed by Colour Innovations, these Permanent™ domestic rate stamps are available in a booklet of 10, two souvenir sheets, a souvenir sheet Official First Day Cover and an uncut press sheet.

Stamps and collectibles are available at canadapost.ca [direct link] and postal outlets across Canada.

Canada Post video in English:

[en Francais pour les médias d’information]
De nouveaux timbres soulignent le centenaire du Bluenose
La Reine de l’Atlantique Nord reste invaincue sur 17 ans de course

LUNENBURG, N.-É. – Postes Canada célèbre le centenaire de la mise à la mer du Bluenose, la goélette néo-écossaise surnommée la Reine de l’Atlantique Nord, avec le lancement de deux nouveaux timbres.

Navire le plus célèbre du Canada, le Bluenose, qui fascine le monde par ses prouesses dans les années 1920 et 1930, naît d’une rivalité en mer entre les communautés de pêcheurs de Lunenburg, en Nouvelle-Écosse, et de Gloucester, au Massachusetts. Cet esprit de compétition mène alors à la création de la série de courses de l’International Fishermen’s Trophy en 1920.

Conçu par l’architecte naval William J. Roué de Dartmouth, en Nouvelle-Écosse, et mis à la mer depuis le chantier naval Smith & Rhuland de Lunenburg le 26 mars 1921, le Bluenose voit le jour pour devancer les Américains, qui décrochent la victoire lors de la première édition du concours.

Avec le capitaine Angus J. Walters à la barre, la goélette remporte avec brio son premier trophée en 1921 et au cours des 17 années suivantes, elle reste invaincue quatre fois de suite, soit en 1922, en 1923, en 1931 et en 1938.

CAPEX souvenir sheet

Le Bluenose orne la pièce canadienne de 10 cents, figure sur la plaque d’immatriculation actuelle de la Nouvelle-Écosse et est immortalisé en chanson par la légende de la musique folk Stan Rogers; il est aussi en vedette sur quatre anciennes émissions de timbres de Postes Canada (1929, 1982, 1988 et 1998). Des générations de collectionneurs considèrent la vignette de 1929 comme l’une des plus belles émises au pays.

L’appellation « Bluenose » vient d’un surnom donné aux Néo-Écossais à la fin du XVIIIe siècle.

Souvenir Sheet OFDC

À propos des timbres
Les timbres par les designers haligoniens Dennis Page et Oliver Hill présentent des illustrations de Michael Little inspirées de peintures de William E. deGarthe (1907-1983), un artiste de la côte Est. Les deux nouveaux motifs montrent le Bluenose en expédition de pêche et lors de sa première course en 1921. Imprimés par Colour Innovations, ces timbres PermanentsMC au tarif du régime intérieur sont offerts en carnet de 10, sur deux blocs-feuillets, sur un pli Premier Jour officiel du bloc-feuillet et sur une planche non coupée.

Les vignettes et les articles de collection sont en vente sur le site postescanada.ca [direct] et dans les comptoirs postaux partout au pays.

Video du Canada Post en Francaise:

Uncut Press Sheet

[press release – June 26th]
Canada Post to celebrate the 100th anniversary of Bluenose with new stamps

OTTAWA – Canada Post invites you to attend a virtual unveiling of new stamps to mark 100 years since the launch of Bluenose, Canada’s most recognized sailing vessel. Launched from the Smith & Rhuland Shipyard in Lunenburg, Nova Scotia, in 1921, Bluenose excelled as a fishing and racing schooner. Today, Canadians continue to recognize Bluenose for its profile on Canada’s 10-cent coin. Join Canada Post’s webcast (link below) for the stamp unveiling on Tuesday, June 29 at 11 am, Atlantic Time (10 am, Eastern Time). Speakers will be in Ottawa and Lunenburg. Canada’s iconic stamp program shares stories that connect, unite and make Canadians proud.

WHAT: Unveiling of the Bluenose 100th anniversary stamps

WHO: Interview opportunities will be available with Alan Creaser, chair of the Bluenose 100 Committee, and Canada Post representatives.

WHERE: Speakers will be in Ottawa and Lunenburg.
Set a reminder for the webcast here.

WHEN: Tuesday, June 29 at 11 am, Atlantic Time (10 am, Eastern Time)

[en Francais pour les médias d’information]
Postes Canada souligne le centenaire du Bluenose avec l’émission de nouveaux timbres

OTTAWA – Postes Canada vous invite à assister au dévoilement virtuel des nouveaux timbres marquant le centenaire de la mise à la mer du Bluenose, le navire le plus célèbre du Canada. Le Bluenose est inauguré en 1921 au chantier naval Smith & Rhuland à Lunenburg, en Nouvelle-Écosse. La goélette excelle dans la pêche et la course. De nos jours, les Canadiens peuvent toujours admirer le Bluenose sur leurs pièces de 10 cents. Assistez au dévoilement des timbres en webdiffusion (lien ci-dessous) le mardi 29 juin à 11 h, heure de l’Atlantique (10 h, heure de l’Est). Des présentations auront lieu depuis Ottawa et Lunenburg. Le programme des timbres-poste canadien raconte les histoires d’ici qui relient et unissent les Canadiens et les rendent fiers.

QUOI: Dévoilement des timbres du centenaire du Bluenose

QUI: Il sera possible de réaliser des entrevues avec Alan Creaser, président du Bluenose 100 Committee, ainsi qu’avec des représentants de Postes Canada.

OÙ: Les présentateurs se trouveront à Ottawa et à Lunenburg.
Programmez un rappel pour la webdiffusion ici.

QUAND: Mardi 29 juin à 11 h, heure de l’Atlantique (10 h, heure de l’Est)

Experience Nature: Dune Residents (Netherlands 2021)

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[press release]
Dune Residents on New Dutch Stamps

The Hague, June 14, 2021 – The latest PostNL stamps have a well-deserved spot for the flora and fauna of Duin and Kruidberg. This pristine dune area in North Holland is part of the Zuid-Kennemerland National Park, which covers no less than 3800 hectares.

In the series Experience nature, PostNL will issue 4 stamp sheets this year with a total of 40 stamps. The stamps feature images of plants and animals from various Dutch nature reserves. Earlier it was the turn of the Dwingelderveld heath landscape (January 2) and the De Onlanden wetland area (February 22). The last issue of this year is about the park at the Haarzuilens city estate (August 16).

Bats in the Icehouse
The Duin en Kruidberg nature reserve is located in the South Kennemerland region in the province of North Holland. This vast dune area was the domain of the lords of Brederode for centuries. Nowadays Duin en Kruidberg is owned by Natuurmonumenten. Nature has now taken the place of the former inhabitants, with bats in the ice cellar and stinsen plants in the tree-lined avenues and roadsides.

Natural Monuments
The series Experience nature for 2021 was designed by graphic designer Frank Janse from Gouda. This year the leading role in the series is reserved for the flora and fauna of special Dutch nature reserves. Janse collaborated with nature conservation organization Natuurmonumenten in selecting them. For the stamp sheetlet Experience Nature – Duin en Kruidberg, he compiled a list of animals and plants, of which 10 eventually remained: dune fritillary, rabbit, fox, sea buckthorn, parnassia, fallow deer, nightingale, dune violet, common thyme and konik horse.

Relationship between flora and fauna
The names of the plants and animals often make it clear that they have a predilection for this environment. There are also often special relationships between the flora and fauna in this dune area. For example, the fox maintains the rabbit population, the dune violet prefers to grow in places where the rabbits leave their droppings and the dune violets are an important food source for the mother-of-pearl butterfly caterpillars.

Other vegetation
Designer Frank Janse has been able to put a special landscape on the stamps. “As a result of the salty sea air and the wind, you will encounter a completely different vegetation on these sandy soils than in the clay and peat area behind the dunes. From Santpoort-Zuid you walk or cycle for 5 kilometers through the dunes until you reach the sea. You then go through a rough landscape, with winding paths where you don’t encounter many people.”

Availability
The stamp sheet Experience nature – Duin en Kruidberg has 10 different stamps with the value indication Nederland 1, intended for mail up to and including 20 grams with a destination within the Netherlands. The stamps will be available from 14 June 2021 at all PostNL sales points, the post office in the Bruna stores and via www.postnl.nl/bijzondere-postzegels. The stamps can also be ordered by telephone from Collect Club’s customer service on 088 – 868 99 00. The validity period is indefinite.Direct link for ordering these stamps

Typically Dutch: Terraced Houses (Netherlands 2021)

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[press release]
The terraced house is also really typically Dutch

The Hague, June 14, 2021- Nothing is quite as Dutch as the terraced house. No country in the world has as many terraced houses as our country. Three quarters of them date from after 1945. With the stamp sheetlet Typically Dutch – Terraced Houses, PostNL pays tribute to the type of housing where 60 percent of the Dutch feel at home.

In 2021, the Typically Dutch series will pay attention to housing types and facades that are characteristic of our country. Stamps have already been published about stolp farms, wooden houses, canal houses and houseboats. The latest postage stamps about terraced houses are the last in this year’s series.
The latest postage stamps about terraced houses are the last in this year’s series.

The newest stamps about townhomes are the last in the series this year.

Identical homes
Of the 7 million homes in our country, 4 million are listed. The origin of this type of house in the Netherlands lies in the identical houses in the courtyards, the first of which appeared at the end of the 15th century. Most terraced houses were built after the Second World War, the newest in the Vinex neighborhoods since 1995.

Brabant fortified town
The stamps Typically Dutch – terraced houses features a colorful illustration of modern terraced houses in an otherwise empty street. The young trees in front of the houses are in full leaf and the sky has a summery blue. The terraced houses on the stamps are in reality in the middle of the new neighborhood of Brandevoort in the west of Helmond. The center of Brandevoort is set up as an old fortified town in Brabant, with the accompanying city wall, canals and mansions.

Always just different
The designer of the stamps is Edwin van Praet, of Total Design in Amsterdam. In his search for terraced houses, he accidentally came across the photo of the houses in Brandevoort. “It is a colorful image, partly thanks to the sun screens,” says Van Praet. “Behind the facades, the houses are undoubtedly very similar, but the outside is always slightly different: the height, the rhythm of the windows, the type of doors, the color of the bricks.”

Historicizing Architecture
The typical mood that Van Praet evokes in his illustration is partly due to the fact that he hardly uses color gradients or shadows. The depth is in the landscape and the sky. Van Praet: “As far as atmosphere is concerned, this issue fits nicely into the series. The other housing types in the series are older, but due to the historicizing architecture of the terraced houses in Brandevoort, they still fit in well.”

Availability
The stamp sheetlet Typically Dutch – terraced houses has 6 equal stamps with the value indication Nederland 1, intended for mail up to and including 20 grams with a destination within the Netherlands. The stamps will be available from 14 June 2021 at the Bruna stores and via www.postnl.nl/bijzondere-postzegels. The stamps can also be ordered by telephone from Collect Club’s customer service on 088 – 868 99 00. The validity period is indefinite.
Direct link for ordering this stamp

Prime Minister John Turner (Canada 2021)

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[press release] (video and specifications at bottom of page)

Canada Post honours the Rt. Hon. John Turner with new stamp
Canada’s 17th prime minister respected for his fairness and civility

VANCOUVER, B.C. – Canada Post unveiled a new stamp today to celebrate and honour the life of the Right Honourable John Napier Wyndham Turner (1929-2020), whose passion for public service had a lasting impact on Canada.

A Rhodes Scholar at the University of Oxford, Turner earned a law degree before being elected to the House of Commons in 1962. He later became a key figure in the government of Prime Minister Pierre Elliott Trudeau. As Canada’s justice minister, he brought in the Official Languages Act, saw through a series of important Criminal Code reforms, and proposed a national legal aid system. As finance minister, Turner stewarded Ottawa’s fiscal policy through the economic tumult of the 1970s.

booklet cover

In 1984, after an eight-year hiatus from politics, Turner staged a triumphant political comeback by winning the leadership of the governing federal Liberal Party. After Brian Mulroney’s Progressive Conservatives won the ensuing election, Turner continued to serve in Parliament as Opposition leader. He led his party through the 1988 campaign defined by the Canada-United States Free Trade Agreement – which Turner called “the fight of my life.” He remained Liberal Party leader until 1990. Politicians on all sides respected Turner for his integrity, fairness and civility.

Later in his career, Turner practised law, served on several boards, advocated for conservation and urged young people to participate in the democratic process. “Democracy doesn’t happen by accident,” he often said. In 1994 Turner became a Companion of the Order of Canada and, in 2012, received the Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal. Turner died September 19, 2020, at the age of 91.

“This is a tremendous tribute to John, and an honour to our family to see his life’s work recognized in such a meaningful way,” says his widow Geills Turner. “The photo on the stamp is so special. I took it while we were sailing through a beautiful part of our country, in Haida Gwaii in 1985. It represents John and his spirit. It evokes the love he had for nature, for the water, for Canada.”

About the stamp
Designed by Paprika Design of Montréal, the stamp is based on a photograph chosen by the Turner family. The 1970 photo on the booklet and Official First Day Cover (OFDC) shows Turner as federal justice minister. The cancel on the OFDC is a reproduction of his signature.

Stamps and collectibles are available at the Canada Post website [direct link] and postal outlets across Canada.

Official FDC

[en Francais pour les médias d’information]
Postes Canada émet un nouveau timbre en l’honneur du très honorable John Turner
Le 17e premier ministre du Canada était respecté pour son souci d’équité et sa courtoisie

VANCOUVER, C.-B. – Postes Canada a dévoilé aujourd’hui un nouveau timbre soulignant la vie du très honorable John Napier Wyndham Turner (1929-2020), dont la passion pour le service public a profondément marqué le Canada.

Boursier de la fondation Rhodes de l’Université d’Oxford, John Turner obtient un diplôme en droit avant d’être élu à la Chambre des communes en 1962. Plus tard, il joue un rôle clé au sein du cabinet du premier ministre Pierre Elliott Trudeau. En tant que ministre de la Justice du Canada, il présente la Loi sur les langues officielles, met en place une série de réformes importantes duCode criminel, et propose un système national d’aide juridique. Par la suite, ses fonctions de ministre des Finances l’amènent à piloter la politique budgétaire d’Ottawa en réponse aux difficultés économiques des années 1970.

En 1984, après s’être éloigné de la vie politique pendant huit ans, John Turner fait un retour triomphant en étant élu chef du Parti libéral fédéral et en devenant premier ministre du Canada. Après la victoire du Parti progressiste-conservateur de Brian Mulroney, il reste sur la Colline comme chef de l’opposition. Il dirige son parti tout au long de la campagne de 1988, marquée notamment par l’Accord de libre-échange entre le Canada et les États-Unis, que l’homme politique qualifie de combat d’une vie. Il continue d’occuper la fonction de chef du Parti libéral jusqu’en 1990. Les politiciens de toute allégeance saluent son intégrité, son souci d’équité et sa courtoisie.

Par la suite, John Turner pratique le droit, siège à plusieurs conseils d’administration, milite en faveur de la protection de l’environnement et incite les jeunes à participer au processus démocratique. « La démocratie n’est pas le fruit du hasard », dit-il souvent. En 1994, il devient Compagnon de l’Ordre du Canada et en 2012, il reçoit la médaille du jubilé de diamant de la reine Elizabeth II. John Turner décède le 19 septembre 2020, à l’âge de 91 ans.

« C’est un hommage exceptionnel qui est rendu à John, et c’est un honneur pour notre famille de voir le travail de toute une vie souligné de manière aussi significative, dit Geills Turner, son épouse. La photo du timbre est très spéciale. Je l’ai prise pendant qu’on faisait de la voile dans la très belle région de Haida Gwaii, au Canada, en 1985. Elle représente John et son énergie. Elle évoque son amour de la nature, de l’eau et du Canada. »

À propos du timbre
Conçu par la maison montréalaise Paprika, le timbre s’inspire d’une photo choisie par la famille Turner. La photo de 1970 qui orne le carnet et le pli Premier Jour officiel (PPJO) montre le politicien alors ministre fédéral de la Justice. L’oblitération du PPJO est une reproduction de sa signature.

Le timbre et les articles de collection sont en vente sur le Postes Canada site [direct] et dans les comptoirs postaux partout au pays.

A Visit from St. Nick (US 2021)

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Late overnight change in location for the first day ceremony. Details here.

Announced May 14th:

Four new designs in this booklet of 20 stamps tell the story of Santa’s visit on Christmas Eve.

In the first stamp, Santa stands on a snowy rooftop, sack slung across his back, with one leg inside the red-brick chimney; the second stamp shows Santa as he descends through the chimney, his legs dangling over the hearth; the third stamp is a close-up of a winking Santa; and the fourth stamp shows Santa in his sleigh, with four reindeer visible as they fly across the face of the full moon and into a starlit sky.

Art director Greg Breeding designed the stamps with original art by Brad Woodard.

These stamps will be issued October 7th in Santa Claus, Indiana.

Further details will be posted below the large illustration, with the most recent news at the top.

Updated December 6th:
The Scott catalogue numbers for this issue are:

  • 5644 Santa Claus on Roof
  • 5645 Santa Claus in Fireplace
  • 5646 Head of Santa Claus
  • 5647 Santa Claus, Sleigh and Reindeer in Flight
  • a. Block of 4, #5644-5647
  • b. Convertible booklet pane of 20, 5 each #5644-5647

Updated October 14th:
Here are the first-day postmarks for this issue: The Digital Color Postmark measures 2.99″ x 1.08″ The B&W pictorial postmark measures 2.36″ x 1.38″

Updated October 7th:
[press release]
Change of Venue
Visit From St. Nick Forever Stamp Dedication

Due to weather conditions, the event has moved to
The Celebration Room of Santa’s Lodge
91 W. Christmas Blvd.
Santa Claus, IN 47579

Updated September 8th:
[ceremony details]
New Stamps Celebrate the Holidays With a Visit From St. Nick

WHAT: Every Christmas, children all around the world dream of a visit from St. Nick. The U.S. Postal Service celebrates that highly anticipated event with four new stamps, sold in booklets of 20.

The first-day-of-issue event for A Visit From St. Nick Forever stamps is free and open to the public. News of the stamp is being shared with the hashtags #VisitfromStNickStamps and #USPSHolidayStamps.

WHO: Scott Bombaugh, vice president, chief technology officer, U.S. Postal Service, will serve as dedicating official.

WHEN: Thursday, Oct. 7, 2021, at 11 a.m. CDT

WHERE: United States Post Office
45 N. Kringle Place
Santa Claus, IN 47579

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

BACKGROUND: St. Nick — Santa Claus — is one of our most recognized and beloved cultural icons, his jolly laugh and smiling eyes a happy reminder that Christmas is near.
European immigrants brought to their new country folk characters that over the years became our present-day Santa Claus.

A Visit from St. Nick stamps feature four festive, vividly colored designs that evoke the story of Santa’s visit on Christmas Eve.

In the first stamp, Santa stands on a snowy rooftop against a star-filled, pink-hued sky, his sack slung across his back and one leg inside the red-brick chimney.

The next stamp shows Santa as he descends through the chimney, his legs dangling over the hearth, clad in black boots and his trademark fur-trimmed suit. A log sits in the grate of the red-brick fireplace, while three green stockings, with white toes and heels, hang on the mantel.

The third stamp is a close-up of a winking Santa set against a green background.

The fourth shows Santa in his sleigh, with four reindeer visible, as they fly across the face of the full moon in a dark, starlit sky.

Art director Greg Breeding designed the stamps with original art by Brad Woodard.

The A Visit from St. Nick stamps are being issued as Forever stamps. These Forever stamps are always equal in value to the current First-Class Mail 1-ounce price.

Updated August 28th from the Postal Bulletin:

On October 7, 2021, in Santa Claus, IN, the United States Postal Service® will issue A Visit from St. Nick stamps (Forever® priced at the First-Class Mail® rate) in four designs, in a pressure-sensitive adhesive (PSA) booklet of 20 stamps (Item 683400). These stamps will go on sale nationwide October 7, 2021, and must not be sold or canceled before the first-day-of-issue.

Four new designs in this booklet of 20 stamps tell the story of Santa’s visit on Christmas Eve:

  • Santa stands on a snowy rooftop, sack slung across his back, with one leg inside the red-brick chimney;
  • Santa descends through the chimney, his legs dangling over the hearth;
  • Close-up view of a winking Santa; and
  • Santa in his sleigh, with four reindeer visible as they fly across the face of the full moon and into a starlit sky.

Art director Greg Breeding designed the stamps with original art by Brad Woodard.

No automatic distribution.

How to Order the First-Day-of-Issue Postmark:
Customers have 120 days to obtain the first-day-of-issue postmark by mail. They may purchase new stamps at their local Post Office™ or at The Postal Store® website at 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 – A Visit from St. Nick 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 7, 2022.

Technical Specifications:

Issue: A Visit from St. Nick Stamps
Item Number: 683400
Denomination & Type of Issue: First-Class Mail Forever
Format: Double-sided Booklet of 20 (4 designs)
Series: N/A
Issue Date & City: October 7, 2021, Santa Claus, IN 47579
Art Director: Greg Breeding, Charlottesville, VA
Designer: Greg Breeding, Charlottesville, VA
Illustrator: Brad Woodard, Manchaca, TX
Modeler: Joseph Sheeran
Manufacturing Process: Offset
Printer: Ashton Potter (USA) Ltd. (APU)
Press Type: Muller A76
Stamps per Booklet: 20
Print Quantity: 400,000,000 stamps
Paper Type: Nonphosphored Type III, Block Tag
Adhesive Type: Pressure-sensitive
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
Colors: Black, Cyan, Magenta, Yellow
Plate Size: 880 stamps per revolution
Plate Numbers: “P” followed by four (4) single digits in four corners
Marginal Markings: Header: “A Visit From St. Nick” Twenty First-Class Forever Stamps • Plate number in peel strip area • ©2021 USPS in peel strip area • Barcode • Promotional text in peel strip area

Otters In Snow (U.S. 2021)

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This issue was announced May 14th:

This booklet of 20 stamps features four scenes of the alert and playful North American river otter reveling in winter’s white landscape.

The original illustrations were rendered in pen and ink, with watercolor in shades of brown for the otters, using black for facial features and crosshatching. The wintry background is white, with blue water, light blue and violet shadows, and black crosshatching.

Art director Derry Noyes designed the stamps with artwork from illustrator John Burgoyne.

These stamps will be issued October 12th with a first-day city of Otter, Montana, but no “headquarters” first-day ceremony is planned.

Further updates on this issue will be posted below the large illustration, with the most recent at the top.

Updated December 6th:
The Scott catalogue numbers for this issue are:

    • 5648 Otter in Water
    • 5649 Otter, Tail at Right
    • 5650 Otter, Tail at Left
    • 5651 Otter in Snow
    • a. Block of 4, #5648-5651
    • b. Convertible booklet pane of 20, 5 each #5648-5651

Updated October 14th:
Here is the Digital Color Postmark first-day cancel for this issue:It measures 2.75″ x 1.05″. The standard 4-bar FIRST DAY OF ISSUE postmark is the B&W option.

Updated September 10th from the Postal Bulletin:
On October 12, 2021, in Otter, MT, the United States Postal Service® will issue the Otters in Snow stamps (Forever® priced at the First-Class Mail® rate) in four designs, in a pressure-sensitive adhesive (PSA) double-sided booklet of 20 stamps (Item 683500). These stamps will go on sale nationwide October 12, 2021, and must not be sold or canceled before the first-day-of-issue.

Otters in Snow, a new booklet of 20 stamps from the Postal Service™, features four different scenes of the alert and playful North American river otter reveling in winter‘s white landscape. The original illustrations were rendered in pen and ink with watercolor, in a color palette consisting of shades of brown for the otters, with black facial features and crosshatching. The wintry background is white, with blue water, light blue and violet shadows, and black crosshatching. Art director Derry Noyes designed the stamps with artwork from illustrator John Burgoyne.

No automatic distribution.

How to Order the First-Day-of-Issue Postmark:
Customers have 120 days to obtain the first-day-of-issue postmark by mail. They may purchase new stamps at their local Post Office™ or at The Postal Store® website at 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 – Otters in Snow 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 12, 2022.

Technical Specifications:

Issue: Otters in Snow Stamps
Item Number: 683500
Denomination & Type of Issue: First-Class Mail Forever
Format: Double-sided Booklet of 20 (4 designs)
Series: N/A
Issue Date & City: October 12, 2021, Otter, MT 59062
Art Director: Derry Noyes, Washington, DC
Designer: Derry Noyes, Washington, DC
Illustrator: John Burgoyne, West Barnstable, MA
Modeler: Sandra Lane/Michelle Finn
Manufacturing Process: Offset
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
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
Colors: Cyan, Magenta, Yellow, Black, Pantone 4261
Plate Size: 800 stamps per revolution
Plate Number: “B” followed by five (5) single digits
Marginal Markings: Header: OTTERS in SNOW • Twenty First-Class Forever Stamps • USPS logo • Barcode • Plate number in peel strip area • ©2021 USPS in peel strip area • Promotional text in peel strip area

U.S. Adds 2 Winter Issues (US 2021)

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[press release]
Postal Service Announces Additions to the 2021 Stamp Program

WASHINGTON, DC — The U.S. Postal Service today announced two additions to its 2021 stamp program. The new stamps feature the North American river otter and St. Nick — Santa Claus, one of our most recognized and beloved cultural icons.

Otters in Snow
This booklet of 20 stamps features four scenes of the alert and playful North American river otter reveling in winter’s white landscape.

The original illustrations were rendered in pen and ink, with watercolor in shades of brown for the otters, using black for facial features and crosshatching. The wintry background is white, with blue water, light blue and violet shadows, and black crosshatching.

Art director Derry Noyes designed the stamps with artwork from illustrator John Burgoyne.

A Visit From St. Nick
Four new designs in this booklet of 20 stamps tell the story of Santa’s visit on Christmas Eve.

In the first stamp, Santa stands on a snowy rooftop, sack slung across his back, with one leg inside the red-brick chimney; the second stamp shows Santa as he descends through the chimney, his legs dangling over the hearth; the third stamp is a close-up of a winking Santa; and the fourth stamp shows Santa in his sleigh, with four reindeer visible as they fly across the face of the full moon and into a starlit sky.

Art director Greg Breeding designed the stamps with original art by Brad Woodard.

All stamp designs are preliminary and subject to change. Additional details, including issue dates, will be announced later.

Postal Products
Customers may purchase stamps and other philatelic products through the Postal Store at usps.com/shop, by calling (844) 737-7826, by mail through USA Philatelic, or at Post Office locations nationwide.

HRH Prince Philip (UK 2021)

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[press release]

In Memoriam
HRH The Prince Philip, Duke Of Edinburgh

Issue Date: 24 June

  • Royal Mail reveal images of four new portrait stamps in memory of His Royal Highness The Duke of Edinburgh
  • The four black and white images of The Duke are presented in a miniature sheet
  • Born on 10 June, 1921, The Duke of Edinburgh died on 9 April, 2021, aged 99
  • The stamps will go on general sale from 24 June 2021

Royal Mail has revealed images of four new stamps being issued in memory of HRH The Prince Phillip, Duke of Edinburgh.

The black and white images feature Prince Philip through the years:

  • 2nd Class stamp: HRH The Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh taken by the photographer Baron
  • 1st Class: HRH The Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh attending the passing out parade of Prince Andrew at Dartmouth Naval College, Devon
  • £1.70: HRH The Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh at the Royal Windsor Horse Show
  • £2.55: HRH The Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh taken by the photographer Terry O’Neill

Simon Thompson, CEO, Royal Mail said: ”Throughout adulthood, The Duke of Edinburgh dedicated himself to the service of this country, the Commonwealth and to the many causes he was involved with. For more than seven decades he was at the centre of our national life. His passing is a key moment in our history which we mark with this set of commemorative stamps”.

Born on June 1921 in Corfu, Prince Philip of Greece and Denmark was the only son and youngest child of Prince Andrew of Greece and Princess Alice of Battenburg. Like HM The Queen, he was also a great-great-grandchild of Queen Victoria, descended from her second daughter, Princess Alice.

Following the abdication of his uncle, King Constantine I, during a turbulent period in Greece’s history, his family fled the country to exile in France when the Prince was 18 months old.

After education at Cheam Preparatory School and Gordonstoun, in 1939 the 18-year-old Prince joined the Royal Navy as a ‘Special Entry’ Cadet, where he excelled in his training.

In July 1947 the engagement of Lieutenant Philip Mountbatten to Princess Elizabeth was announced, and four months later their wedding at Westminster Abbey was the first great State occasion since the end of World War II.

On the death of King George VI in February 1952, Prince Philip gave up his naval career to commit himself fully to establishing his role as consort to the new monarch.

In addition to supporting HM The Queen, Prince Philip became patron or president of some 800 organisations during his lifetime, including the Industrial Society, the National Playing Fields Association and the Royal Society for the Encouragement of Arts, Manufactures and Commerce. He was also President of the World Wildlife Fund UK, WWF International President and President Emeritus, Chancellor of Cambridge and Edinburgh Universities, and President of the International Equestrian Federation.

Founding The Duke of Edinburgh’s Award in 1956, HRH inspired and encouraged millions of young people around the world to learn new skills and develop their full potential.

In his spare time, Prince Philip pursued his interests in sports and adventure, becoming a qualified pilot, a keen sailor who competed regularly at the Cowes Regatta and an avid polo player. He also took up four-in-hand carriage-driving and represented Britain at several World and European championships.

An artistic individual, The Prince enjoyed painting landscapes and he was a keen collector of art. Prince Philip also played a vital role in helping to modernise the institution of the monarchy. In May 1961, he became the first member of the Royal Family to be interviewed on television. It was his suggestion that The Queen’s Gallery at Buckingham Palace should be built on the site of the chapel destroyed in an air raid in 1940 to display items from the Royal Collection to the public.

During more than half a century in the public eye, Prince Philip accompanied The Queen on more than 250 overseas tours and completed well over 20,000 official engagements. He successfully carved a niche that combined ceremonial and family duties, as the father of four children, with his own crowded itinerary.

The four portrait stamps presented in a miniature sheet, retails at £6.65. The stamps and a range of collectible products are available now to pre-order from www.royalmail.com/dukeofedinburgh.

The stamps will be available on general sale from 24 June 2021.

Queen Máxima’s 50th Birthday (Netherlands 2021)

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[press release] [click on the picture for a larger version] [translated by Google
Queen Máxima on Stamps in Honor of her 50th Birthday

The Hague, May 7, 2021 – May 17, Queen Máxima will celebrate her 50th birthday. Just like the 50th birthday of King Willem-Alexander, PostNL is publishing a special stamp sheetlet dedicated to this special day.

The stamp sheetlet Queen Máxima 50 years has a striking layout because the stamp with the black and white portrait of the Queen is twice the size of the stamps with the color photos. The stamps are intersected by narrow, kinked lines in the colors of the Dutch flag.

1971-2002-2013
Máxima Zorreguieta was born on May 17, 1971 in Buenos Aires, Argentina. In 2002 she married Prince Willem-Alexander. As the wife of King Willem-Alexander, Queen Máxima has been supporting the head of state in fulfilling his duties and his unifying, representative and encouraging role in society since 2013.

Involvement
Queen Máxima is a member of the Council of State and fulfills various other positions at home and abroad. Designer Maud van Rossum chose photographs of Queen Máxima for the stamps, which show her involvement in the various positions she holds. The color photos were taken by photographer Robin Utrecht, the black and white portrait is a private photo.

Small insight
The black and white photo caught the attention of Van Rossum during a TV speech by King Willem-Alexander from his office. Special permission was given to use the photo as a small insight into their private life. “It’s a beautiful image, very intimate,” says Van Rossum. “I don’t think a queen has ever been depicted like that on a stamp.”

Oranjehuis [House of Orange]
Stephan van den Eijnden, commercial director Mail of PostNL, is happy with the latest issue about a member of the Royal Family for several reasons. “It has again become a very beautiful sheet of stamps, with striking portraits of Queen Máxima in a fascinating design. Moreover, it is 170 years ago this year that the first stamp appeared in the Netherlands, then with a portrait of King Willem III. There is of course no other subject that is depicted so often on Dutch stamps as the Oranjehuis. We are very proud of that.”

Availability
The Queen Máxima 50 years stamp sheet has 5 different stamps with the denomination Netherlands 1, intended for mail up to and including 20 grams with a destination within the Netherlands. The stamps will be available from 17 May 2021 at the Bruna stores and via the PostNL website [direct link]. The stamps can also be ordered by telephone from the Collect Club customer service on telephone number 088 – 868 99 00. The period of validity is indefinite.

Paul McCartney (UK 2021)

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[press release] [click on any picture for a larger version]
Royal Mail to Honour Paul McCartney with a Set of 12 Special Stamps
Issue date: 28 May

  • Royal Mail reveals images of 12 stamps being issued as a tribute to the musical contribution of Paul McCartney – one of the most iconic and enduring music artists of all time
  • Eight of the stamps will feature images of some of his most loved album covers
  • A further four stamps, presented in a Miniature Sheet, reflect his passion for studio recording
  • Royal Mail collaborated closely with Paul and his team at MPL Communications Ltd. on the collection
  • The stamps and a range of collectible products are available for pre-order from 6 May from www.royalmail.com/paulmccartney, by phone on 03457 641 641 and from 7,000 Post Offices throughout the UK
  • The stamps go on general sale from 28 May

Royal Mail has revealed images of a set of 12 Special Stamps being issued to celebrate one of the UK’s most successful songwriters and greatest music icons, Paul McCartney.

The main stamp set features a selection of eight LPs which have defined Paul McCartney’s career from his first solo album McCartney released in 1970 through to his most recent No.1 album, McCartney III which was recorded and released during lockdown in 2020.

The remaining four stamps, presented in a Miniature Sheet, feature photographs spanning three decades of Paul in the studio, recording for some of the albums featured in the main Special Stamp set.

Royal Mail collaborated closely with Paul and his team at MPL Communications Ltd. on the collection – with Paul having personal involvement in the images used and the wider product range created for the issue.

Paul McCartney is an icon of 20th and 21st century popular music. He is recognised by Guinness World Records as ‘the most successful songwriter of all time’ having written or co-written 188 charted records in the UK, of which 91 reached the top 10 and 33 reached No.1. He is the most successful albums act in UK Official Chart history and has been awarded more than 60 gold discs.

In the USA he has composed 32 No.1 singles and is a 21-time Grammy award winner.

2021 marks the 50th anniversary of the release of RAM, and the formation of the band Wings, which achieved huge success as one of the biggest selling acts of the 70s – with 27 US top 40 hits, and five consecutive No.1 albums.

The 1977 Wings’ single, Mull of Kintyre, remains one of the UK’s biggest selling non-charity singles.

Paul McCartney is one of only three individual music artists to be featured in a dedicated stamp issue; the others being David Bowie (2017) and Elton John (2019).

David Gold, Royal Mail said: “Paul McCartney remains a vital figure at the centre of rock and pop – an artist whose legacy is immense, but whose work continues to generate popular attention and critical acclaim. This dedicated stamp issue is a fitting tribute to one of the UK’s much loved and revered musical icons.”

The stamps and a range of collectible products are available for pre-order from 6 May from www.royalmail.com/paulmccartney, by phone on 03457 641 641 and from 7,000 Post Offices throughout the UK. The stamps go on general sale from 28 May priced at £16.20 for the full set.

 

The stamps/albums:

Album: McCartney
A clean break from The Beatles and as far from the production extravaganza of their final album Abbey Road as you can get, Paul McCartney’s solo debut was recorded mostly in his living room, with its author playing every instrument.
The sound of a brilliant musical mind throwing out random ideas – and finding they all work – still sounds compelling 50 years on, with its loose patchwork of songs, fragments of songs, instrumentals and experiments.

Album: RAM
More professionally recorded than McCartney’s debut, RAM nevertheless shared its charming, homespun feel. Credited to Paul and Linda McCartney, RAM took in everything from the gentle, ukulele-driven ‘Ram On’ to the hard-rocking ‘Smile Away’ and the experimental song suite ‘Uncle Albert/Admiral Halsey’, the latter an unexpected US No.1.
The closing ‘The Back Seat of My Car’ defines the adjective ‘McCartneyesque’ – impossibly melodically rich, apparently effortless song-writing.

Album: Venus and Mars
Venus and Mars’s ‘Rock Show’ is a paean to the kind of huge stadium gigs that McCartney’s 1970s band Wings would help pioneer: their ensuing world tour became one of the mid-1970s’ most celebrated musical events. Partly recorded in New Orleans,Venus and Mars captures Wings at their zenith: a supremely polished band operating on the cusp of pop and rock, mixing hits – ‘Listen to What the Man Said’ – with more whimsical ideas, among them a cover of the theme from TV soap Crossroads.

Album: McCartney II
Once more recorded at home and greeted with bafflement on release, McCartney II eventually assumed its rightful place as one of its author’s most celebrated solo albums. McCartney threw himself into experiments, largely driven by synthesisers
and drum machines, that ranged from the funky (‘Temporary Secretary’ or ‘Coming Up’) to the flatly bizarre (‘Bogey Music’).
The same sessions produced ‘Wonderful Christmastime’, a perennial favourite of the festive season.

Album: Tug of War
Produced by George Martin after the break-up of Wings, the global chart-topper Tug of War is a song-writing masterclass. ‘Ebony and Ivory’ and ‘Take It Away’ were the big hits and the reflective tribute to the late John Lennon ‘Here Today’ perhaps its most enduring moment, but the album is densely packed with fantastic tracks, the supremely funky Stevie Wonder collaboration ‘What’s That You’re Doing?’ and the gorgeous ballad ‘Wanderlust’ among them.

Album: Flaming Pie
Inspired by the years spent working on The Beatles’ Anthology and mostly co-produced by Jeff Lynne – who had also worked on ‘new’ Beatles songs ‘Free as a Bird’ and ‘Real Love’ – and featuring a rare co-writing credit for Ringo Starr, Flaming Pie saw McCartney strip back his sound, a move that allowed an extremely strong, occasionally understated set of songs to flourish. Poignantly, Flaming Pie is also the last McCartney album to feature the backing vocals of Linda McCartney, who died the following year.

Album: Egypt Station
In 2018, Paul McCartney unexpectedly teamed up with Adele producer Greg Kurstin and – on ‘Fuh You’ – blue-chip pop songwriter Ryan Tedder. But Egypt Station is not a straightforward lunge for latter-day pop contemporaneity: it is an impressively varied album, which switches between the raucous stomp of ‘Come on to Me’, the troubled, reflective ‘I Don’t Know’ and ‘Hunt You Down/Naked/C-Link’, the latest in a long line of McCartney tracks that segue different song fragments together in a thrillingly episodic whole.

Album: McCartney III
Inspired by the circumstances of lockdown to return to the home-studio, one-man-band approach of the previous albums in the McCartney series, McCartney III unexpectedly appeared at the end of 2020, a critically lauded collection of songs that ranged from acoustic ballads to tough rock and roll. The experimental spirit of its predecessors in the McCartney series was underlined by its lengthy instrumental opener, ‘Long Tailed Winter Bird’, and the powerful, episodic eight minutes of ‘Deep Deep Feeling’.