Announced November 1, 2022:

This stamp honors all of the women cryptologists of World War II. One of the conflict’s best-kept secrets, their service played an inestimable role in the Allied victory. The stamp art features an image from a World War II–era WAVES recruitment poster with an overlay of characters from the “Purple” code. In the pane selvage, seemingly random letters can be deciphered to reveal some key words. The reverse side of the pane discloses the cipher needed to read the words. Antonio Alcalá was the art director and designer for the stamp and pane.

I have read this book on this subject, and recommend it highly:

Additional information will be posted below the line, with the newest at the top.

---

Updated December 1^st:
The Scott Catalog number for this issue is 5738 (5738a for an imperforate single)

Updated September 21^st:
On October 18, 2022, in Annapolis Junction, MD, the United States Postal Service® will issue the Women Cryptologists of World War II stamp (Forever® priced at the First-Class Mail® rate) in one design, in a pressure-sensitive adhesive (PSA) pane of 20 stamps (Item 482200). This stamp will go on sale nationwide October 18, 2022, and must not be sold or canceled before the first-day-of-issue.

With this stamp, the Postal Service™ honors all of the women cryptologists of World War II. The stamp art features an image from a World War II–era WAVES recruitment poster with an overlay of characters from the “Purple” code, used by the Japanese government to encrypt diplomatic messages.

Established in July 1942, the WAVES (Women Accepted for Volunteer Emergency Service) were part of the U.S. Naval Reserve. The key to the Purple code was discovered by a female cryptologist with the U.S. Army‘s Signal Intelligence Service. In the pane selvage, seemingly random letters (ZRPH QF UB SWRORJLVWV RIZRUOGZDULL, FLSKHU, DQDOBCH, and VHFUHW) can be deciphered to reveal some key words. The reverse side of the pane discloses the cipher needed to read the words. Antonio Alcalá designed the stamp and served as art director.

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 store.usps.com/store/home. 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 – Women Cryptologists of World War II Stamp
USPS Stamp Fulfillment Services
8300 NE Underground Drive, Suite 300
Kansas City, MO 64144-9900

After applying the first-day-of-issue postmark, the Postal Service will return the envelopes through the mail. There is no charge for the postmark up to a quantity of 50. There is a 5-cent charge for each additional postmark over 50. All orders must be postmarked by February 18, 2023.

Technical Specifications:

Issue: Women Cryptologists of World War II Stamp
Item Number: 482200
Denomination & Type of Issue: First-Class Mail Forever
Format: Pane of 20
Series: N/A
Issue Date & City: October 18, 2022, Annapolis Junction, MD 20701
Art Director: Antonio Alcalá, Alexandria, VA
Designer: Antonio Alcalá, Alexandria, VA
Modeler: Joseph Sheeran
Manufacturing Process: Offset
Printer: Ashton Potter (USA) Ltd (APU)
Press Type: Muller A76
Stamps per Pane: 20
Print Quantity: 18,000,000 stamps
Paper Type: Nonphosphored Type III, Block Tag
Adhesive Type: Pressure-sensitive
Colors: Black, 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 7.50 in/150.368 x 190.50 mm
Press Sheet Size (w x h): 12.62 x 22.75 in/330.548 x 577.85 mm
Plate Size: 240 stamps per revolution
Plate Number: “P” followed by four (4) single digits
Marginal Markings:
Front: Header “ZRPH QF UB WOMEN CRYPTOLOGISTS OF WORLD WAR II SWRORJLVWV RIZRUOGZDULL” • Left side: “DQ DOB CH” • Right side: “FL SKH U” • Bottom: “VHFUHW • Plate number in bottom two corners
Back: Encryption Cipher • ©2021 USPS • USPS logo • Two barcodes (482200) • Promotional text • Plate position diagram (6)

Updated September 19^th:
[first-day ceremony information]
Women Cryptologists Crack the Code on New Forever Stamps

What: With this stamp, the U.S. Postal Service honors the women cryptologists of World War II, whose work played a significant role in the Allied victory.

The first-day-of-issue event for the stamps is free and open to the public. News of the stamps is being shared with the hashtag #WomenCryptologistStamp.

Who: Jakki Krage Strako, chief commerce and business solutions officer and executive vice president, U.S. Postal Service

When: Tuesday, Oct. 18, 2022, at 11 a.m. ET

Where: National Cryptologic Museum
8290 Colony Seven Road
Annapolis Junction, MD 20701

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

Background: During World War II, some 11,000 women helped to process and decipher an endless stream of enemy military messages. Both frustrating and exhilarating, their work was one of the conflict’s best-kept secrets.

These women helped break and decipher the encryption systems that revealed vital shipping and diplomatic messages, built the machines that allowed cryptologists to break encrypted messages and performed many other duties.

Today, they are widely considered STEM pioneers, whose contributions opened the door for women in the military and have helped shape information security efforts for future generations.

The stamp art features an image from a World War II-era Women Accepted for Volunteer Emergency Service, or WAVES, recruitment poster with an overlay of characters from the “Purple” code. In the pane selvage, seemingly random letters can be deciphered to reveal some key words. The reverse side of the pane discloses the cipher needed to read the words.

Updated September 13^th:
Here are the first-day postmarks for this issue: The Digit The Digital Color Postmark for this issue measures 2.97″ x 1.48”  The Pictorial Postmark for this issue measures 2.73″ x1.25″.

Updated June 15^th:
This stamp will be issued October 18 with an Annapolis Junction, MD postmark.

This appears to be the closest post office to National Security Agency headquarters and, more importantly, the National Cryptologic Museum (and on Wikipedia).

Announced November 1, 2022:

The Mississippi River is variously referred to as America’s backbone, heart and soul. The Mighty Mississippi release honors the big river with a portfolio of 10 photographic stamps, each representing a state along its course. On the back of the pane is a map of the central United States, detailing the river and its major tributaries. Art director Ethel Kessler designed the pane using existing photographs.

Additional information will be posted below the line, with the newest at the top.

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Updated July 5^th:
Here are the Scott catalogue numbers for this issue:
5698 Mighty Mississippi pane of 10
a. (58¢) Minnesota
b. (58¢) Wisconsin
c. (58¢) Iowa
d. (58¢) Illinois
e. (58¢) Missouri
f. (58¢) Kentucky
g. (58¢) Arkansas
h. (58¢) Tennessee
i. (58¢) Louisiana
j. (58¢) Mississippi
k. As #5698a, imperforate
l. As #5698b, imperforate
m. As #5698c, imperforate
n. As #5698d, imperforate
o. As #5698e, imperforate
p. As #5698f, imperforate
q. As #5698g, imperforate
r. As #5698h, imperforate
s. As #5698i, imperforate
t. As #5698j, imperforate

Updated April 27^th:
Here are the first-day postmarks for this issue:The Digital Color Postmark measures 1.95″x1.49″ The black-and-white pictorial postmark measures 2.75″x1.09″

Ceremony Details:

Postal Service To Honor Mighty Mississippi on Forever Stamps

WHAT: The U.S. Postal Service will honor the Mighty Mississippi, America’s quintessential waterway, with 10 different Forever stamps following the river’s course north to south.

The first-day-of-issue event for the Mighty Mississippi Forever stamps is free and open to the public. News of the stamp is being shared with the hashtag #MightyMississippiStamps.

WHO: Gary R. Barksdale, chief postal inspector and dedicating official

WHEN: Monday, May 23, 2022, at 11 a.m. CDT

WHERE: Beale Street Landing
251 Riverside Drive
Memphis, TN 38103

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

BACKGROUND: The Mississippi River is at the core of the nation’s heritage, and is variously referred to as America’s backbone, its heart and its soul. From Lake Itasca’s trickling overspill in Minnesota, the Mississippi flows and grows for 2,300 miles.

It streams through varied topography in Wisconsin’s Driftless Area, past Iowa’s millennium-old effigy mounds, and by the remains of Cahokia, the nation’s largest pre-Columbian city, in Illinois. The Gateway Arch in Missouri rises near where Meriwether Lewis and William Clark embarked to venture westward in 1803.

The Ohio River, flowing in along Kentucky’s northern border, doubles the Mississippi’s volume. The Lower Mississippi is a riparian superhighway. Massive engineering works — channels, locks, dams and levees — help accommodate barge tows more than 1,000 feet long, common along the Arkansas-Tennessee boundary and beyond.

Abundant bayous in Mississippi and Louisiana split the river into a bird-foot-shaped delta. The New Orleans area hosts the river’s largest port.

At the point where the Mississippi reaches the Gulf of Mexico, the trickle that started in Lake Itasca has intermingled with waters from 31 states.

Updated April 21^st:
On May 23, 2022, in Memphis, TN, the United States Postal Service® will issue the Mighty Mississippi stamps (Forever® priced at the First-Class Mail® rate) in 10 designs, in a pressure-sensitive adhesive (PSA) pane of 10 stamps (Item 580300). These stamps will go on sale nationwide May 23, 2022, and must not be sold or canceled before the first-day-of-issue. The Mighty Mississippi commemorative pane of 10 stamps may not be split and the stamps may not be sold individually.

This stamp issuance honors the Mighty Mississippi with a portfolio of ten different photographic images. Arranged on the pane in five rows of two stamps each, the images correspond to the states’ north-south and west-east sequence along the Mississippi River. Small type on the margin of each stamp indicates its location:

• Top row: Minnesota and Wisconsin;
• Second row: Iowa and Illinois;
• Third row: Missouri and Kentucky;
• Fourth row: Arkansas and Tennessee; and
• Bottom row: Louisiana and Mississippi.

In the selvage, three photographic riverscapes frame the stamps. From top to bottom: the Julien Dubuque Bridge, Illinois/Iowa; St. Louis, Missouri; and a Mississippi bayou. The verso features a map of the central United States detailing the river’s course and its major tributaries. It is superimposed on a blue monochromatic version of the selvage images. Art director Ethel Kessler designed the stamp pane with existing photographs.

No automatic distribution of Item 580300, Pane of 10 Stamps

How to Order the First-Day-of-Issue Postmark:
Customers have 120 days to obtain the first-day-of-issue postmark by mail. They may purchase new stamps at their local Post Office™ or at The Postal Store® website at store.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 – Mighty Mississippi 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 23, 2022.

Technical Specifications:

Issue: Mighty Mississippi Stamps
Item Number: 580300
Denomination & Type of Issue: First-Class Mail Forever
Format: Pane of 10
Series: N/A
Issue Date & City: May 23, 2022, Memphis, TN 38101
Art Director: Ethel Kessler, Bethesda, MD
Designer: Ethel Kessler, Bethesda, MD
Existing Photo: Evan Spiler
Existing Photo: Dana Holm
Existing Photo: Sean Pavone
Existing Photo: Ron Levine
Existing Photo: Jay Olson-Goude
Existing Photo: Mississippi River Parkway Commission
Existing Photo: David Sebben
Existing Photo: Walter Blackledge
Existing Photo: M.J. Scanlon
Existing Photo: Larry Braun
Existing Photo: Don McLaughlin
Selvage Existing Photo: Jeffrey Smith
Selvage Existing Photo: Tom Wolf
Manufacturing Process: Offset
Printer: Ashton Potter (USA) Ltd (APU)
Press Type: Muller A76
Stamps per Pane: 10
Print Quantity: 40,000,000 stamps
Paper Type: Nonphosphored Type III, Block Tag
Adhesive Type: Pressure-sensitive
Colors: Black, Cyan, Magenta, Yellow, Pantone Cool Grey 7C
Stamp Orientation: Horizontal
Image Area (w x h): 1.42 x 0.84 in/36.068 x 21.336 mm
Overall Size (w x h): 1.56 x 0.98 in/39.624 x 24.892 mm
Full Pane Size (w x h): 5.4 x 8.0 in/137.16 x 203.20 mm
Press Sheet Size (w x h): 10.925 x 24.25 in/277.495 x 615.95 mm
Plate Size: 120 stamps per revolution
Plate Number: “P” followed by five (5) single digits
Marginal Markings:
Front: Header: “Mighty Mississippi” • Plate number in 2 corners
Back: ©2021 USPS • USPS logo • Two barcodes (580300) • Plate position diagram (6) • Promotional text • Mighty Mississippi map

Updated April 14^th:
The USPS is offering a new philatelic product for this issue, Mighty Mississippi Field Notes^®.Five “pocket-sized notebooks from the classic FIELD NOTES brand … each with two different Mighty Mississippi stamps affixed to the cover and canceled with” the first-day pictorial postmark. $26.95 for item 580399.

Updated January 13^th:
These stamps will be issued May 23 in Memphis, TN.

Announced November 1, 2021:

One of the nation’s greatest modernist artists and a founding figure of Native American modernism, George Morrison (1919-2000) challenged prevailing ideas of what Native American art should be, arguing that an artist’s identity can exist independently from the nature of the art he creates. Morrison is best known for his abstract landscapes and monumental wood collages. A pane of 20 colorful stamps showcases five of Morrison’s artworks. The selvage features a photograph of the artist in his home studio. Antonio Alcalá was the art director and designer for this stamp pane.

The Scott catalogue number for this issue:

5688 Sun and River
a. Imperforate
5689 Phenomena Against the Crimson: Lake Superior Landscape
a. Imperforate
5690 Lake Superior Landscape
a. Imperforate
5691 Spirit Path, New Day Red Rock Variation: Lake Superior Landscape
a. Imperforate
5692 Untitled
a. Imperforate
b. Vert. strip of 5, #5688-5692
c. Imperforate vert. strip of 5, #5688-5692

Additional information will be posted below the line, with the newest at the top.

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Updated March 30th:
Here is what the full pane looks like:Updated March 30th:
Here are the designs for the first-day postmarks: The Digital Color Postmark measures 2.89″ x 1.12“.  The Pictorial Postmark measures 2.19″ x 1.17“. The “Special” postmark is for use only by post offices after the first-day. We do not have a measurement for it.

Updated March 17th:
[press release] [click on any of the pictures for larger versions]
Native American Modernist Artist George Morrison Memorialized
on New Forever Stamps

WHAT: The U.S. Postal Service honors George Morrison (1919-2000), one of the nation’s greatest modernist artists and founding figure of Native American modernism, with a set of five stamps showcasing his work.

The first-day-of-issue event for the George Morrison Forever stamps is free and open to the public. News of the stamps is being shared with the hashtag#GeorgeMorrisonStamps.

WHO: Steve Monteith, chief customer and marketing officer and executive vice president, U.S. Postal Service

Briand Mesaba Morrison, Grand Portage Band of Minnesota Chippewa Tribe, musician and interdisciplinary artist

Hazel Belvo, artist and Minneapolis College of Art and Design Professor Emerita

Kristin Makholm, art historian and co-author of the book Modern Spirit: The Art of George Morrison

Andrea Carlson, (Grand Portage Anishinaabe and Scandinavian descent), visual artist and writer

Christina Woods (Anamacikwe), Member of the Bois Forte Tribal Nation,
Executive Director Duluth Art Institute, US Senate Curatorial Advisory Board

John Morrin (Giniwogichada), committeeman, Grand Portage Tribal Council

Robert Deschampe, Grand Portage Band of Minnesota Chippewa Tribe, Chairman of Grand Portage Band of Lake Superior Chippewa

Elizabeth Drost, Grand Portage Ojibwe, Executive Director of the Cook County/Grand Marais Joint Economic Development Authority

WHEN: Friday, April 22, 2022, at 1 p.m. CDT

WHERE:
Grand Portage National Monument
170 Mile Creek Road
Grand Portage, MN 55605

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

BACKGROUND: One of the nation’s greatest modernist artists and a founding figure of Native American modernism, George Morrison challenged prevailing ideas of what Native American art should be, arguing that an artist’s identity can exist independently from the nature of the art he creates. He is best known for his abstract landscape paintings and monumental wood collages, which draw on childhood memory and reflect a deep and abiding connection with the natural world.

Many of his works feature a prominent horizon line inspired consciously and subconsciously by his childhood on the shore of Lake Superior. Representing the space where sky and water meet, the horizon line also marks the boundary between known and unknown, a mystery that Morrison repeatedly explored, even as he continued to refine his modernist vision.

Updated March 10th:
Note the date change in the Postal Bulletin:

On April 22, 2022, in Grand Portage, MN, the United States Postal Service® will issue the George Morrison stamps (Forever® priced at the First-Class Mail® rate) in five designs, in a pressure-sensitive adhesive (PSA) pane of 20 stamps (Item 481800). The stamps will go on sale nationwide April 22, 2022, and must not be sold or canceled before the first-day-of-issue.

With these stamps, the Postal Service™ recognizes George Morrison (1919–2000), one of the nation‘s greatest modernist artists. The pane of 20 stamps showcases five of Morrison‘s abstract landscapes:

• Sun and River (1949);
• Phenomena Against the Crimson: Lake Superior Landscape (1985);
• Lake Superior Landscape (1981);
• Spirit Path, New Day, Red Rock Variation: Lake Superior Landscape (1990); and
• Untitled (1995).

The selvage features a photograph of Morrison at Red Rock, his home and studio in Grand Portage, Minnesota. The photograph was taken by Marlene Wisuri in 1993. A founding figure of Native American modernism, Morrison challenged prevailing ideas of what Native American art should be, arguing that an artist‘s identity can exist independently from the nature of the art he creates. Antonio Alcalá served as art director and designer for this stamp pane.

No automatic distribution.

There is a special postmark for this issue that local post offices may use after the first-day [right].

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 – George Morrison 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 22, 2022.

Technical Specifications:

Issue: George Morrison Stamps
Item Number: 481800
Denomination & Type of Issue: First-Class Mail Forever
Format: Pane of 20 (5 designs)
Series: N/A
Issue Date & City: April 22, 2022, Grand Portage, MN 55605
Art Director: Antonio Alcalá, Alexandria VA
Designer: Antonio Alcalá, Alexandria VA
Existing Art: George Morrison
Existing Photo: Marlene Wisuri
Modeler: Joseph Sheeran
Manufacturing Process: Offset
Printer: Ashton Potter (USA) Ltd (APU)
Press Type: Muller A76
Stamps per Pane: 20
Print Quantity: 18,000,000 stamps
Paper Type: Nonphosphored Type III, Block Tag
Adhesive Type: Pressure-sensitive
Colors: Black, Cyan, Magenta, Yellow, Pantone Grey 7C
Stamp Orientation: Square
Image Area (w x h): 1.085 x 1.085 in. / 27.559 x 27.559 mm
Overall Size (w x h): 1.225 x 1.225 in. / 31.115 x 31.115 mm
Full Pane Size (w x h): 8.25 x 7.12 in. / 209.55 x 180.848 mm
Press Sheets Size (w x h): 22.50 x 27 in. / 571.5 x 685.8 mm
Plate Size: 180 stamps per revolution
Plate Number: “P” followed by five (5) single digits in two corners
Marginal Markings:
Front: Header: GEORGE MORRISON 1919-2000 American Landscape Painter and Sculptor • Plate number in bottom two corners
Back: ©2021 USPS • USPS logo • 2 barcodes (481800) • Plate position (9) • Promotional text

Updated January 13:
These stamps will be issued April 29 in Grand Portage, Minn. Morrison was a member of the Grand Portage Band Minnesota Chippewa Tribe, and was born near its reservation.

Announced November 1, 2021:

This lighthearted and playful stamp celebrates America’s affection for elephants. A graphic illustration of an elephant interacting with its young calf represents the loving nature of these beloved animals. Two stylized plants and a bright orange sun add whimsy and color. The Elephants stamp will be sold in booklets of 20. Art director Derry Noyes designed the stamp with original art by Rafael López.

Additional information will be posted below the line, with the newest at the top.

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Updated July 15^th:
The Scott catalogue number for this issue is 5714.

Updated July 15^th:
[ceremony details] [click on any of the pictures for larger versions]
Postal Service to Feature Elephants on Forever Stamps

What: The U.S. Postal Service will celebrate elephants with this lighthearted and playful new stamp. The Elephants Forever stamp features a fanciful, digital illustration of an elephant interacting with its young calf, depicting the affectionate nature of these beloved animals.

The first-day-of-issue event for the Forever stamps is free and open to the public. News of the stamps is being shared with the hashtag #ElephantsStamps.

Who: Jeffery A. Adams, USPS corporate communications vice president and dedicating official

When: Friday, Aug. 12, 2022, at 11 a.m. CDT

Where: The Elephant Discovery Center
27 East Main Street
Hohenwald, TN 38462

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

Background: Americans have been intrigued by elephants since the first one arrived on our shores in 1796. While Americans loved the floppy-eared giants, they were not always conscientious in providing care and nurturing for the emotional and sensitive creatures. However, changing attitudes in the United States have increased awareness of conditions for captive elephants, encouraged circuses to discontinue using elephants as performers, enabled legislation to ban ivory importation and encouraged conservation efforts for elephants in the wild.

Updated July 7^th:
Here are the first-day cancels for this issue:The Digital Color Postmark measures 2.65″ x 1.28″ The 4-bar “killer” or “FDOI” postmark is the standard size (about 3.25″ x 1.00″). There is no pictorial for this issue.

Updated June 30^th from the Postal Bulletin:

On August 12, 2022, in Hohenwald, TN, the United States Postal Service® will issue the Elephants stamp (Forever® priced at the First-Class Mail® rate) in one design, in a pressure-sensitive adhesive (PSA) double-sided booklet (Item 683800). This stamp will go on sale nationwide August 12, 2022, and must not be sold or canceled before the first-day-of-issue.

The Postal Service™ celebrates America’s affection for elephants with this lighthearted and playful new stamp. A graphic illustration of an elephant interacting with its young calf represents the affectionate nature of these beloved animals. Two stylized plants and a bright orange sun add whimsy and color. The Elephants stamp will be sold in booklets of 20. Artist Rafael López created the original art and designed the stamp. Derry Noyes was the art director.

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 store.usps.com/store/home. They must affix the stamps to envelopes of their choice, address the

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

After applying the first-day-of-issue postmark, the Postal Service will return the envelopes through the mail. There is no charge for the postmark up to a quantity of 50. There is a 5-cent charge for each additional postmark over 50. All orders must be postmarked by December 12, 2022.

Technical Specifications:

Issue: Elephants Stamp
Item Number: 683800
Denomination & Type of Issue: First-Class Mail Forever
Format: Double-sided Booklet of 20 (1 design)
Issue Date & City: August 12, 2022, Hohenwald, TN 38462
Art Director: Derry Noyes, Washington, DC
Designer: Rafael López, San Diego, CA
Artist: Rafael López, San Diego, CA
Modeler: Joseph Sheeran
Manufacturing Process: Offset
Printer: Ashton Potter (USA) Ltd. (APU)
Press Type: Muller A76
Stamps per Booklet: 20
Print Quantity: 175,000,000 stamps
Paper Type: Nonphosphored Type III, Block Tagged
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 Number: “P” followed by four (4) single digits
Marginal Markings: Header: “Elephants”, Twenty First-Class Forever Stamps • ©2021 USPS in peel strip area • Barcode • USPS logo • Promotional text • Plate number in peel strip area

Updated April 21^st:

This stamp will be issued August 12 in Hohenwald, Tenn., the home of the Elephant Sanctuary, the largest natural-habitat sanctuary for elephants in the United States.

Announced November 1, 2021:

Over the past six decades, pony cars have become a uniquely American obsession, bringing a youthful spirit to the automotive world. These stamps celebrate five iconic U.S. automobiles — the 1969 Ford Mustang Boss 302, the 1970 Dodge Challenger R/T, the 1969 Chevrolet Camaro Z/28, the 1967 Mercury Cougar XR-7 GT and the 1969 AMC Javelin SST. The bold and dramatic artwork, painted with oils on panel, captures the energy and mystique of pony cars. Zack Bryant designed the stamps with original art by Tom Fritz. Greg Breeding was the art director.

Additional information will be posted below the line, with the newest at the top.

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Updated July 19^th:
Here are the Scott catalogue numbers for this issue:
5715 1969 Ford Mustang Boss 302
a. Imperforate
5716 1970 Dodge Challenger R/T
a. Imperforate
5717 1969 Chevrolet Camaro Z/28
a. Imperforate
5718 1967 Mercury Cougar XR-7 GT
a. Imperforate
5719 1969 AMC Javelin SST
a. Imperforate
b. Vert. strip of 5, #5715-5719
c. Imperforate strip of 5, #5715a-5719a

Updated July 19^th:
Here are the first-day postmarks for this issue:The Digital Color Postmark measures 2.89″ x 1.50″ The Pictorial Postmark measures 2.55″ x 1.32″. In addition, these cancels will be available at Great American Stamp Show: The show’s Day 1 postmark measures 2.7714” x 1.8191″ The Americover postmark measures approximately 3″ x 1″.

Updated July 15^th:
[ceremony details] [click on any of the pictures for larger versions]
Pony Cars Power Onto Stamps

What: The U.S. Postal Service will commemorate the heyday of the pony car era with five new stamps featuring some of the most famous examples of these youth-oriented vehicles.

The first-day-of-issue event for the Pony Cars Forever stamp will be held at the Great American Stamp Show in partnership with the American Philatelic Society. The ceremony is free and open to the public. News of the stamp is being shared with the hashtag #PonyCarsStamps.

Who: Scott Bombaugh, chief technology officer and executive vice president, U.S. Postal Service.

When: Thursday, Aug. 25, 2022, at 11 a.m. PT

Where:
Great American Stamp Show
SAFE Credit Union Convention Center
1400 J Street
Sacramento, CA 95814

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

Background: In the 1960s, a new breed of vehicle began appearing on our nation’s roads. Over the past six decades, fast and fun pony cars have become a uniquely American obsession. Since their emergence, these performance coupes and convertibles have brought a youthful spirit to the automotive world.

In the mid-to-late 20th century, American automakers began catering to a segment of their customer base that was rapidly growing — younger drivers. These drivers craved sporty, affordable cars that looked and felt different from what was in their parents’ garages. Several manufacturers initially produced models that fit that description, but the pony car trend did not begin in earnest until 1964.

By the time of the 1970s energy crisis, sales of the once ubiquitous pony cars had begun to decline. But by the end of the decade, the cars had a resurgence. Pony cars were cultural icons; throughout the 1970s, they appeared in many television shows and movies.

Since then, the popularity of pony cars has ebbed and flowed. But over the past two decades, automakers have reintroduced many of the beloved models first launched in the genre’s heyday. Today, adventurous young — and young-at-heart — drivers enjoy the thrill of driving pony cars.

Updated July 14^th from the Postal Bulletin:
On August 25, 2022, in Sacramento, CA, the United States Postal Service® will issue the Pony Cars stamps (Forever® priced at the First-Class Mail® rate) in five designs, in a pressure-sensitive adhesive (PSA) pane of 20 stamps (Item 482400). These stamps will go on sale nationwide August 25, 2022, and must not be sold or canceled before the first-day-of-issue. The Pony Cars commemorative pane of 20 stamps may not be split and the stamps may not be sold individually.

Over the past 6 decades, fast and fun pony cars have become a uniquely American obsession. With bold colors and dramatic lighting, this pane of 20 stamps captures the energy and mystique of five iconic U.S. automobiles:

• 1969 Ford Mustang Boss 302,
• 1970 Dodge Challenger R/T,
• 1969 Chevrolet Camaro Z/28,
• 1967 Mercury Cougar XR-7 GT, and
• 1969 AMC Javelin SST.

Using photographs as a reference, the artist painted in oil on panels. Zack Bryant designed the stamps with original art by Tom Fritz. Greg Breeding served as art director.

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 store.usps.com/store/home. 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 – Pony Cars 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 December 25, 2022.

Technical Specifications:

Issue: Pony Cars Stamps
Item Number: 482400
Denomination & Type of Issue: First-Class Mail Forever
Format: Pane of 20 (5 designs)
Issue Date & City: August 25, 2022, Sacramento, CA 95813
Art Director: Greg Breeding, Charlottesville, VA
Designer: Zack Bryant, Charlottesville, VA
Artist: Tom Fritz, Newbury Park, CA
Modeler: Joseph Sheeran
Manufacturing Process: Offset
Printer: Ashton Potter (USA) Ltd (APU)
Press Type: Muller A76
Stamps per Pane: 20
Print Quantity: 45,000,000 stamps
Paper Type: Nonphosphored Type III, Block Tag
Adhesive Type: Pressure-sensitive
Colors: Black, Cyan, Magenta, Yellow, Pantone 6C
Stamp Orientation: Horizontal
Image Area (w x h): 1.42 x 0.84 in. / 36.068 x 21.336 mm
Overall 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 6.5 in. / 183.896 x 165.1 mm
Press Sheets Size (w x h): 13.0 x 21.75 in. / 330.2 x 552.45 mm
Plate Size: 240 stamps per revolution
Plate Number: “P” followed by five (5) single digits in two corners
Marginal Markings:
Front: Header: PONY CARS • Plate number in bottom two corners
Back: ©2021 USPS • USPS logo • 2 barcodes (482400) • Plate position (6) • Promotional text

Updated December 27^th:
American Philatelist. the official journal of the American Philatelic Society, the principal host of Great American Stamp Show, reports in its January issue that these stamps will be issued at the show. The usual day for U.S. first-day ceremonies at APS shows is the, well, first day of the show, making the issue date August 25^th in Sacramento, Calif.

The magazine adds the USPS is “working with the California Automobile Museum [which is in Sacramento] with hopes of displaying ‘Pony Cars’ on the show floor.”

Announced November 1, 2021:

For 50 years, U.S. marine sanctuaries and marine national monuments have protected areas with special ecological, cultural and historical significance. Each of the 16 stamps on the pane features a photograph from a site that is part of the National Marine Sanctuary System, showcasing just some of our nation’s precious natural treasures. A map of the National Marine Sanctuary System is printed on the back of the pane. Art director Greg Breeding designed the pane using existing photographs and a newly illustrated map.

Additional information will be posted below the line, with the newest at the top.

---

Scott Catalogue Numbers:
5713 National Marine Sanctuaries pane of 16
a. (60¢) Balloon fish
b. (60¢) Red-footed boobies
c. (60¢) Humpback whale
d. (60¢) Sea stacks
e. (60¢) Mallows Bay-Potomac River Marine Sanctuary at sunset
f. (60¢) Farallon Islands
g. (60¢) Elkhorn coral
h. (60¢) Hawaiian monk seal
i. (60¢) Queen angelfish
j. (60¢) Sea otter
k. (60¢) Young rockfish exploring reef
l. (60¢) Atlantic sea nettle
m. (60¢) Sea lions
n. (60¢) Sand tiger shark
o. (60¢) Corals and fish, Rose Atoll
p. (60¢) Ice on shoreline of Thunder Bay National Marine Sanctuary
q. As #5713, imperforate
r. As #5713a, imperforate
s. As #5713b, imperforate
t. As #5713c, imperforate
u. As #5713d, imperforate
v. As #5713e, imperforate
w. As #5713f, imperforate
x. As #5713g, imperforate
y. As #5713h, imperforate
z. As #5713i, imperforate
aa. As #5713j, imperforate
ab. As #5713k, imperforate
ac. As #5713l, imperforate
ad. As #5713m, imperforate
ae. As #5713n, imperforate
af. As #5713o, imperforate
ag. As #5713p, imperforate

Ceremony Information:

[press release] [click on any of the pictures for larger versions]
Explore the Beauty of Marine Sanctuaries Through Forever Stamps

What: California sea lions, a sand tiger shark and the Farallon Islands are just a few examples of the abundant wildlife and diverse ecosystems that can be found throughout the National Marine Sanctuary System. The U.S. Postal Service celebrates these important treasures in the upcoming Marine Sanctuaries Forever stamps.

Art director Greg Breeding designed the pane using existing photographs. A map of the National Marine Sanctuary System illustrated by Todd M. Detwiler is printed on the back of the pane.

The first-day-of-issue event for the Marine Sanctuaries Forever stamp is free and open to the public.

News of the stamp is being shared with the hashtag#NationalMarineSanctuariesStamps.

Who: William D. Zollars, U.S. Postal Service Board of Governors

When: Friday, Aug. 5, 2022, at 10 a.m. PT/1 p.m. ET

Where:
Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary Exploration Center
35 Pacific Ave.
Santa Cruz, CA 95060

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

Background: The U.S. Postal Service celebrates the nation’s underwater treasures with the release of the National Marine Sanctuaries stamps. For 50 years, U.S. national marine sanctuaries and marine national monuments have protected areas with special ecological, cultural and historical significance.

The 16 new Forever stamps showcase the abundant wildlife and diverse ecosystems that can be found throughout the National Marine Sanctuary System.

The stamps include photographs taken by Daryl Duda, Michael Durham, Mark Sullivan, Peter Turcik, Norbert Wu, and National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration employees Wendy Cover, Jeff Harris, Elliott Hazen, Joseph Hoyt, Ed Lyman, Greg McFall, Matt McIntosh, G. P. Schmahl and Kate Thompson.

Updated July 7^th:
Here are the first-day cancels for this issue:The Digital Color Postmark measures 1.84″ x 1.28″ The B&W pictorial postmark measures 1.95″ x 1.13″

Updated July 1^st:
Courtesy David Rupert of the USPS in Denver:

The stamps in the first row (above) include a balloonfish photographed by Daryl Duda in Florida Keys National National Marine Sanctuary, followed by a pair of red-footed footed boobies photographed by Mark Sullivan in The Papahanaumokuakea Marine National Monument. The next two stamps feature images captured by staff photographers for the National Oceanic Atmospheric Administration (NOAA): Elliott Hazen photographed the breaching humpback whale in Stellwagen Bank National Marine Sanctuary, and Matt McIntosh photographed the sea stacks in Olympic Coast National Marine Sanctuary.

In the second row (above), the first stamp features a photograph of Mallows Bay–Potomac River National Marine Sanctuary at sunset taken by Peter Turcik. Norbert Wu photographed the images shown on the next two stamps: the Farallon Islands, a refuge managed by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service that is surrounded by waters protected as part of Greater Farallones National Marine Sanctuary, and elkhorn coral in Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary. The Hawaiian monk seal on the final stamp was photographed in Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale National Marine Sanctuary by Ed Lyman, NOAA.

The stamps in row three (above) offer an image of a queen angelfish taken by G. P. Schmahl, NOAA, in Flower Garden Banks National Marine Sanctuary, followed by a sea otter photographed by Norbert Wu in Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary. On the next stamp, young rockfish explore the reef in Cordell Bank National Marine Sanctuary in an image captured by Joseph Hoyt, NOAA. Atlantic sea nettles like the one on the last stamp, photographed by Michael Durham, can be found in Gray’s Reef National Marine Sanctuary.

All of the stamps in the final row feature images captured by NOAA staff photographers. Jeff Harris photographed the sea lions in Channel Islands National Marine Sanctuary, and Greg McFall photographed the sand tiger shark in Monitor National Marine Sanctuary. The photograph of Rose Atoll, part of National Marine Sanctuary of American Samoa, was taken by Wendy Cover, and Kate Thompson captured the image of an icy shoreline in Thunder Bay National Marine Sanctuary.

Updated June 30^th from the Postal Bulletin:

On August 5, 2022, in Santa Cruz, CA, the United States Postal Service® will issue the National Marine Sanctuaries stamps (Forever® priced at the First-Class Mail® rate) in 16 designs, in a pressure-sensitive adhesive (PSA) pane of 16 stamps (580500). These stamps will go on sale nationwide August 5, 2022, and must not be sold or canceled before the first-day-of-issue. The National Marine Sanctuaries pane of 16 stamps may not be split and the stamps may not be sold individually.

For 50 years, U.S. national marine sanctuaries and marine national monuments have protected areas with special ecological, cultural, and historical significance. The 16 stamps on the National Marine Sanctuaries pane showcase the abundant wildlife and diverse ecosystems that can be found throughout the National Marine Sanctuary System. Art director Greg Breeding designed the pane with existing photographs. A map of the National Marine Sanctuary System illustrated by Todd M. Detwiler is printed on the pane verso.

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 store.usps.com/store/home. 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 – National Marine Sanctuaries 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 December 5, 2022.

Technical Specifications:

Issue: National Marine Sanctuaries Stamps
Item Number: 580500
Denomination & Type of Issue: First-Class Mail Forever
Format: Pane of 16 (16 designs)
Issue Date & City: August 5, 2022, Santa Cruz, CA 95060
Art Director: Greg Breeding, Charlottesville, VA
Designer: Greg Breeding, Charlottesville, VA
Artist: Existing Photos
Modeler: Joseph Sheeran
Manufacturing Process: Offset
Printer: Ashton Potter (USA) Ltd. (APU)
Press Type: Muller A76
Stamps per Pane: 16
Print Quantity: 38,000,000 stamps
Paper Type: Nonphosphored Type III, Block Tagged
Adhesive Type: Pressure-sensitive
Colors: Black, Cyan, Magenta, Yellow
Stamp Orientation: Square, Horizontal, Vertical
Image Area (w x h): 1.42 x 0.84 in./36.068 x 21.336 mm
Overall Size (w x h): 1.56 x 0.98 in/39.624 x 24.892 mm
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
Image Area (w x h): 0.84 x 0.84 in./21.336 x 21.336 mm
Overall Size (w x h): 0.98 x 0.98 in./24.892 x 24.892 mm
Image Area (w x h): 1.42 x 1.42 in./36.068 x 36.068 mm
Overall Size (w x h): 1.56 x 1.56 in./39.624 x 39.624 mm
Full Pane Size (w x h): 6.375 x 7.25 in./161.925 x 184.15 mm
Press Sheets Size (w x h): 12.875 x 21.75 in./327.025 x 552.45 mm
Plate Size: 192 stamps per revolution
Plate Numbers: “P” followed by four (4) single digits
Marginal Markings:
Front: Header “National Marine Sanctuaries” • Plate number in bottom two corners
Back: ©2021 USPS • USPS logo • Barcode (580500) in lower left corner of pane • Plate position diagram (6) • Promotional text • National Marine Sanctuaries map

Updated April 21^st:

These stamps will be issued August 5 in Santa Cruz, Calif., the home of the Santa Cruz Museum of Natural History, known as “the Whale Museum.”

Announced November 1, 2022:

Affectionately known as the “Shark Lady,” pioneering marine biologist Eugenie Clark (1922-2015) spent her career working tirelessly to change public perception about sharks as well as to preserve marine environments around the world. The stamp art features a digital collage, including a photograph of Clark and a lemon shark. Wavy blue elements in the background evoke an undersea scene. Multidisciplinary artist Amanda Phingbodhipakkiya designed and created the stamp. Antonio Alcalá was the art director.

The Scott catalogue number for this issue is 5693.

Additional information will be posted below the line, with the newest at the top.

---

Updated March 30th:
Here are the designs for the first-day postmarks: The Digital Color Postmark measures 2.86″ x 1.46″. The Pictorial Postmark measures 2.75″ x 1.13″. The “Special” postmark is for use only by post offices after the first-day. We do not have a measurement for it.

Updated March 28th:

[press release] [click on any of the pictures for larger versions]
Aquatic Scholar Eugenie Clark To Be Honored With Forever Stamp

WHAT: The U.S. Postal Service will honor ichthyologist and oceanographer Eugenie Clark with a Forever stamp. The first-day-of-issue event will be held at the Mote Marine Laboratory & Aquarium in Sarasota, FL.

The event for the Eugenie Clark Forever stamp is free and open to the public. Share the news of the stamp with the hashtag #EugenieClarkStamp.

WHO: Angela Curtis, vice president retail and post office operations, U.S. Postal Service

Michael P. Crosby, president & CEO, Mote Marine Laboratory & Aquarium

Aya Konstantinou, daughter of Eugenie Clark

WHEN: Wednesday, May 4, 2022, at 11 a.m. EDT

WHERE: Mote Marine Laboratory & Aquarium
1600 Ken Thompson Parkway
Sarasota, FL 34236

RSVP: For free entrance to the ceremony, attendees are encouraged to RSVP at: usps.com/eugenieclark.

BACKGROUND: Affectionately known as the “Shark Lady,” pioneering marine biologist Eugenie Clark (1922-2015) spent her career working tirelessly to change public perception about sharks as well as to preserve marine environments around the world.

A prolific scientist animated by an unyielding sense of curiosity, Clark conducted a series of groundbreaking experiments and carried out more than 200 expeditions across the globe. She demonstrated that lemon sharks could be trained to do complex tasks, disproved the notion that some shark species must keep swimming in order to survive, and debunked myths about sharks as vicious, fearsome creatures. She also made significant contributions to the study of hermaphroditism in fishes, discovered several fish species, and even found that one species naturally repels sharks.

Clark was widely respected for her research as well as for her eager embrace of new advances in diving technology, knowing that each development would bring her closer to the creatures she loved. A pioneer in the era when scuba emerged as a research tool, she later took more than 70 trips in high-tech submersibles, sometimes as deep as 12,000 feet beneath the ocean surface — something that has still been done by only a small number of other marine biologists.

An inspiration to scientists and laypeople alike, Clark left an extraordinary legacy. Her life and career blazed a trail for women marine biologists and continue to excite new generations of scientists and explorers. For her contributions to marine science, she received the Franklin L. Burr Award from the National Geographic Society and was honored posthumously by Congress in 2015. A species of dogfish shark [right] newly discovered in the Gulf of Mexico was named Squalus clarkae [Wikipedia] in her honor in 2018.

Updated March 25th:
On May 4, 2022, in Sarasota, FL, the United States Postal Service® will issue the Eugenie Clark stamp (Forever® priced at the First-Class Mail® rate) in one design, in a pressure-sensitive adhesive (PSA) pane of 20 stamps (Item 482000). This stamp will go on sale nationwide May 4, 2022, and must not be sold or canceled before the first-day-of-issue.

This commemorative stamp honors pioneering marine biologist Eugenie Clark (1922–2015). Affectionately known as the “Shark Lady,” Clark demonstrated that lemon sharks could be trained to do complex tasks, disproved the notion that some shark species must keep swimming in order to survive, and debunked myths about sharks as vicious, fearsome creatures. The stamp features a digital collage. The design includes a photograph of Clark taken by David Doubilet as well as a photograph of a lemon shark taken by Reinhard Dirscherl. Wavy blue elements in the stamp‘s background evoke an undersea scene. The stamp was designed and created by multidisciplinary artist Amanda Phingbodhipakkiya. Antonio Alcalá served as art director for this stamp.

Item 482000, Eugenie Clark Pane of 20 Stamps: No automatic distribution.

There is a special dedication postmark for use by local post offices after the first-day.

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 – Eugenie Clark 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 September 4, 2022.

Technical Specifications:

Issue: Eugenie Clark Stamp
Item Number: 482000
Denomination & Type of Issue: First-Class Mail Forever
Format: Pane of 20
Series: N/A
Issue Date & City: May 4, 2022, Sarasota, FL 34230
Art Director: Antonio Alcalá, Alexandria, VA
Designer: Amanda Phingbodhipakkiya, Brooklyn, NY
Artist: Amanda Phingbodhipakkiya, Brooklyn, NY
Modeler: Sandra Lane/Michelle Finn
Manufacturing Process: Offset
Printer: Banknote Corporation of America
Press Type: Gallus RCS
Stamps per Pane: 20
Print Quantity: 18,000,000 stamps
Paper Type: Phosphor, Block Tag
Adhesive Type: Pressure-sensitive
Colors: Black, PMS 7531, PMS 1205, PMS 2151, PMS 2183, PMS 7416, PMS 7709
Stamp Orientation: Horizontal
Image Area (w x h): 1.42 x 0.84 in/36.068 x 21.336 mm
Overall 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
Press Sheet Size (w x h): 11.84 x 21.72 in/300.736 x 551.688 mm
Plate Size: 120 stamps per revolution
Plate Number: “B” followed by seven (7) single digits
Marginal Markings:
Front: Plate number in 4 corners
Back: ©2021 USPS • USPS logo • Two barcodes (482000) • Promotional text • Plate position diagram (6)

Updated January 13:
This stamp will be issued May 4 in Sarasota, FL, which will be the exact centennial of her birth.

Announced November 1, 2021:

These stamps celebrate women’s rowing, a graceful but demanding sport in which American women have excelled, including in the Olympics. The artwork, which covers the entire pane, is a stylized illustration of five eight-person rowing teams competing or practicing. Four stamp designs are featured in a pane of 20 stamps arranged as five staggered rows of four. Nancy Stahl designed and illustrated the stamps and pane. Ethel Kessler was the art director.

Additional information will be posted below the line, with the newest at the top.

---

Updated July 5^th:
Here are the Scott catalogue numbers for this issue:
5694 (58¢) Women’s Rowing – Women Wearing Red Shirts, No Oar Splash
a. Imperforate
5695 (58¢) Women’s Rowing – Women Wearing Red Shirts, Oar Splash at Lower Left
a. Imperforate
b. Horiz. pair, #5694-5695
c. Imperforate horiz. pair, #5694a-5695a
5696 (58¢) Women’s Rowing – Women Wearing Blue Shirts, Oar Splash at Center
a. Imperforate
5697 (58¢) Women’s Rowing – Women Wearing Blue Shirts, No Oar Splash
a. Imperforate
b. Horiz. pair, #5696-5697
c. Imperforate horiz. pair, #5696a-5697a

Updated April 22^nd:
Here are the first-day postmarks for this issue: The Digital Color Postmark measures 2.92″ x 1.42″ The pictorial postmark measures 2.75″ x 1.09″

Updated April 21^st:
On May 13, 2022, in Philadelphia, PA, the United States Postal Service® will issue the Women’s Rowing stamps (Forever® priced at the First-Class Mail® rate) in four designs, in a pressure-sensitive adhesive (PSA) pane of 20 stamps (Item 482100). These stamps will go on sale nationwide May 13, 2022, and must not be sold or canceled before the first-day-of-issue. The Women’s Rowing commemorative pane of 20 stamps may not be split and the stamps may not be sold individually.

This issuance celebrates women’s rowing, a graceful but demanding sport in which American women have excelled. Four different stamp designs are featured in a pane of 20 stamps arranged as five staggered rows of four. The artwork, which covers the entire pane, is a stylized illustration of five 8-person crews on the water, apparently practicing or possibly racing. The eight rowers, featured in the four stamps, face left. The ninth person in each shell, the coxswain, shown in the selvage, faces the direction the shell is moving, as her job is to steer. Nancy Stahl designed and illustrated the stamps and pane. Ethel Kessler was the project art director.

No automatic distribution of Item 482100, Pane of 20 Stamps

How to Order the First-Day-of-Issue Postmark:
Customers have 120 days to obtain the first-day-of-issue postmark by mail. They may purchase new stamps at their local Post Office™ or at The Postal Store® website at store.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 – Women’s Rowing 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 13, 2022.

Technical Specifications:

Issue: Women’s Rowing Stamps
Item Number: 482100
Denomination
& Type of Issue: First-Class Mail Forever
Format: Pane of 20
Series: N/A
Issue Date & City: May 13, 2022, Philadelphia, PA 19104
Art Director: Ethel Kessler, Bethesda, MD
Designer: Nancy Stahl, New York, NY
Illustrator: Nancy Stahl, New York, NY
Manufacturing Process: Offset
Printer: Ashton Potter (USA) Ltd (APU)
Press Type: Muller A76
Stamps per Pane: 20
Print Quantity: 18,000,000 stamps
Paper Type: Nonphosphored Type III, Block Tag
Adhesive Type: Pressure-sensitive
Colors: Black, Cyan, Magenta, Yellow
Stamp Orientation: Horizontal
Image Area (w x h): 1.42 x 0.84 in/36.068 x 21.336 mm
Overall Size (w x h): 1.56 x 0.98 in/39.624 x 24.892 mm
Full Pane Size (w x h): 8.0 x 8.0 in/203.20 x 203.20 mm
Press Sheet Size (w x h): 25.00 x 27.00 in/635.0 x 685.8 mm
Plate Size: 180 stamps per revolution
Plate Number: “P” followed by four (4) single digits
Marginal Markings:
Front: Header: “Women’s Rowing” • Plate number in 2 corners
Back: ©2021 USPS • USPS logo • Two barcodes (482100) • Plate position diagram (9) • Promotional text

Updated April 15^th:
Ceremony information:

What: The U.S. Postal Service will commemorate Women’s Rowing with Forever stamps. The first-day-of-issue event will be held at the Philadelphia Girls’ Rowing Club.

The event for the Women’s Rowing Forever stamps is free and open to the public. Share the news of the stamp with the hashtag #WomensrowingStamps.

Who:
• Joe Corbett, chief financial officer and executive vice president, U.S. Postal Service
• Sophie Socha, president, Philadelphia Girls’ Rowing Club
• Amanda Kraus, chief executive officer, United States Rowing Association
• Elizabeth Milroy, professor emerita of art history, Wesleyan University
• Brannon Johnson, founder and head coach, BLJ Community Rowing
• Ethel Kessler, art director, U.S. Postal Service

When: Friday, May 13, 2022, at 11 a.m. EDT

Where:
Philadelphia Girls’ Rowing Club
14 Kelly Drive
Philadelphia, PA 19130

RSVP: at usps.com/womensrowing

Background:
This issuance celebrates women’s rowing, a graceful but demanding sport in which American women have excelled.

The sports world largely excluded women until 1972, when Congress amended federal education law by adding Title IX, which prohibited gender-based discrimination in federally funded education, including athletics. Although some colleges and universities reacted slowly, women pressed them into opening up varsity sports and disbursing funding equitably.

The men’s teams at some institutions had been racing each other since the mid-19th century, and administrators could not always fathom women in such a strenuous and macho sport — until they started winning big.

The first time they competed in the Olympics, in 1976, the women’s eight-person team won bronze. The team won gold in 1984, the next games in which the United States participated. The team then began a glorious second winning streak in 2004, attaining silver that year and gold in 2008, 2012 and 2016.

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

Announced November 1, 2021:

The 10th stamp in the Music Icons series honors Pete Seeger (1919-2014), a champion of traditional music and its power to inspire activism. Seeger’s clear tenor voice, iconic banjo and enormous charisma transformed concerts into singalongs. The stamp art features a color-tinted black-and-white photograph of Seeger singing and playing his banjo in the early 1960s, by Dan Seeger, the performer’s son. One side of the pane includes 16 stamps and the image of a sliver of a record seeming to peek out the top of the sleeve. A larger version of the stamp art photograph appears on the reverse side. Art director Antonio Alcalá designed the stamp and pane.

Additional information will be posted below the line, with the newest at the top.

---

Updated September 8^th — Scott Catalogue Number:
5708 (60¢) Pete Seeger
a. Imperforate

[ceremony advisory] [click on any of the pictures for larger versions]
U.S. Postal Service Honors Folk Singer Pete Seeger
Stamp Is Latest in Music Icons Stamp Series

WHAT: The U.S. Postal Service will honor famed folk singer Pete Seeger with a stamp as part of the Music Icon series. Seeger celebrated the unifying power of singing together and promoting the role traditional music played in addressing social and political causes.
The first-day-of-issue ceremony will be held at the Jane Pickens Theater in Newport, RI. Share the news of the stamp with the hashtag #PeteSeegerStamp.

WHO: Tom Foti, product solutions vice president, U.S. Postal Service, will serve as dedicating official

Dan Seeger (Pete Seeger’s son & stamp photographer) and other family members

WHEN: Thursday, July 21, 2022, at 8 p.m. ET

WHERE:
Newport Folk Presents:
For Pete’s Sake
Jane Pickens Theater
49 Touro Street
Newport, RI 02840

RSVP: The Peter Seeger stamp dedication ceremony will have limited tickets available. Please RSVP at usps.com/peteseegermi to sign up for tickets. The ceremony will take place at the beginning of a concert honoring Pete Seeger. Attendees must be at least 21 years old to watch the stamp ceremony and concert. Proof of identification will be required. Stamps and philatelic items will be available outside of the Jane Pickens Theater for the public to purchase.

BACKGROUND: Pete Seeger (1919-2014) promoted the unifying power of voices joined in song to address social issues. His adaptation of “We Shall Overcome” became a civil rights anthem. Led by his ringing tenor voice and emblematic five-string banjo, his sing-along concerts mixed traditional songs and Seeger originals like “If I Had a Hammer” and “Turn! Turn! Turn!” During his long career, the charismatic and idealistic performer became a folk hero to generations.

Updated June 21^st:
Here are the first-day postmarks for this issue:The Digital Color Postmark measures 2.48″ x 1.49″ The B&W Pictorial Postmark measures 2.48″ x 1.24″

From the Postal Bulletin:

On July 21, 2022, in Newport, RI, the United States Postal Service® will issue the Pete Seeger stamp (Forever® priced at the First-Class Mail® rate) in one design, in a pressure-sensitive adhesive (PSA) pane of 16 stamps (580400). The stamp will go on sale nationwide July 21, 2022, and must not be sold or canceled before the first-day-of-issue. The Pete Seeger pane of 16 stamps may not be split and the stamps may not be sold individually.

With the newest stamp in the Music Icons series, the Postal Service™ honors folk singer, songwriter, and activist Pete Seeger (1919–2014). The stamp art features a color-tinted, black-and-white photograph taken in the early 1960s by Dan Seeger, the performer’s son. Pete Seeger is shown in left profile singing and playing his iconic banjo. The square stamp pane resembles a vintage 45 rpm record sleeve. One side of the pane includes the stamps and the image of a sliver of a record seeming to peek out the top of the sleeve. A larger version of the stamp-art photograph appears on the reverse side with the words “Pete Seeger FOLK SINGER.” Art director Antonio Alcalá designed the issuance. Dan Seeger’s photograph was color-tinted by Kristen Monthei.

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 store.usps.com/store/home. 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 – Pete Seeger Stamp
USPS Stamp Fulfillment Services
8300 NE Underground Drive, Suite 300
Kansas City, MO 64144-9900

After applying the first-day-of-issue postmark, the Postal Service will return the envelopes through the mail. There is no charge for the postmark up to a quantity of 50. There is a 5-cent charge for each additional postmark over 50. All orders must be postmarked by November 21, 2022.

Technical Specifications:

Issue: Pete Seeger Stamp
Item Number: 580400
Denomination & Type of Issue: First-Class Mail Forever
Format: Pane of 16 (1 design)
Series: Music Icons
Issue Date & City: July 21, 2022, Newport, RI 02840
Art Director: Antonio Alcalá, Alexandria, VA
Designer: Antonio Alcalá, Alexandria, VA
Typographer: Antonio Alcalá, Alexandria, VA
Existing Photo: Dan Seeger
Modeler: Sandra Lane/Michelle Finn
Manufacturing Process: Offset, Microprint
Printer: Banknote Corporation of America
Press Type: Alprinta 74
Stamps per Pane: 16
Print Quantity: 22,000,000 stamps
Paper Type: Phosphor, Block Tagged
Adhesive Type: Pressure-sensitive
Processed at: Banknote Corporation of America
Colors: Cyan, Magenta, Yellow, Black
Stamp Orientation: Square
Image Area (w x h): 1.085 x 1.085 in./27.559 x 27.559 mm
Overall Size (w x h): 1.225 x 1.225 in./31.115 x 31.115 mm
Full Pane Size (w x h): 7 x 7 in./177.8 x 177.8 mm
Press Sheets Size (w x h): 21.25 x 21.25 in./539.75 x 539.75 mm
Plate Size: 144 stamps per revolution
Plate Numbers: none
Marginal Markings:
Front: ©2022 USPS • USPS logo • Barcode (580400) in lower right corner of pane • Promotional text • Biography brief
Back: • “Pete Seeger” • Music Icons logo

Updated April 21^st:

This stamp will be issued July 21 in Newport, RI. The Newport Folk Festival is July 22-24.

Updated November 2nd:
This book (semi-autobiography) may be of interest:

The above link goes to the Kindle version, but from there you can order the printed paperback. Here are two CDs. Note that if you order a (physical) CD from Amazon, a digital download of it is included:

Announced November 1, 2021:

The 17th stamp in the Distinguished Americans series honors Katharine Graham (1917-–2001), the first female head of a Fortune 500 company and a pivotal figure during turbulent moments in American history. The stamp features an oil portrait of Graham, based on a photograph taken in the 1970s, during the peak of her influence as owner and president of The Washington Post Co., where she was also publisher of its flagship newspaper. Art director Derry Noyes designed the stamp with original art by Lynn Staley.

Additional information will be posted below the line, with the newest at the top.

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Updated August 1^st:
The Scott catalogue number for this issue is 5699. It had a face value of 78¢ when issued, but it is now 80¢.

[press release] [click on any of the pictures for larger versions]
Distinguished Americans Series Honors Washington Post Publisher

WHAT: The U.S. Postal Service honors Katharine Graham (1917–2001) as the first female head of a Fortune 500 company and a pivotal figure during turbulent moments in U.S. history with the 17th stamp in the Distinguished Americans series.

The first-day-of-issue event for the Katharine Graham 2-ounce mail stamp is free and open to the public. News of the stamp is being shared with the hashtag #KatharineGrahamStamp.

WHO: Donald Moak, governor, U.S. Postal Service Board of Governors

WHEN: Tuesday, June 14, 2022, at 6 p.m. ET

WHERE: Library of Congress
James Madison Memorial Building
101 Independence Ave. SE
Washington, DC 20540

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

BACKGROUND: Born in 1917, Katharine Meyer was 16 when her father, Eugene, purchased The Washington Post at a bankruptcy auction in 1933. At the time, the paper was the least successful of the city’s five daily newspapers. She grew up in Washington. After graduating from college and working at a newspaper in San Francisco, she returned to Washington in 1938. She then met a young law clerk named Philip Graham and they married in 1940.

After being groomed to run the company, her husband died unexpectedly in 1963. Katharine Graham went on to learn the business from every angle and lead The Washington Post to the forefront of some of journalism’s biggest moments. These included the publication of the Pentagon Papers in 1971 as well as the paper’s tenacious investigative reporting on the break-in at the Democratic National Committee headquarters in the Watergate Hotel in 1972, which led to President Richard M. Nixon’s resignation in 1974.

An author herself, Graham’s candid memoir, “Personal History,” won a Pulitzer Prize in 1997. She died in 2001 and was posthumously awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2002.

Updated May 5^th from the Postal Bulletin:

On June 14, 2022, in Washington, DC, the United States Postal Service® will issue the Katharine Graham stamp (priced at the Non-denominated, 2-ounce Mail Rate). This stamp will go on sale nationwide, June 14, 2022, and must not be sold or canceled before the first-day-of-issue.

The 17th stamp in the Distinguished Americans series honors pioneering publisher and business leader Katharine Graham (1917–2001). The stamp features an oil portrait of Graham based on a photo taken in the 1970s, during the peak of her influence as owner and president of the Washington Post Company where she also served as publisher of its flagship newspaper. Art director Derry Noyes designed the stamp. Lynn Staley was the artist.

No automatic distribution for Item 122200, Pane of 20 Stamps

How to Order the First-Day-of-Issue Postmark:
Customers have 120 days to obtain the first-day-of-issue postmark by mail. Each cover must have sufficient postage to meet First-Class Mail® requirements. They may purchase new stamps at their local Post Office™ or at The Postal Store® website at store.usps.com/store/home. 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 – Katharine Graham 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 14, 2022.

Technical Specifications:

Issue: Katharine Graham Stamp
Item Number: 122200
Denomination & Type of Issue: 2-ounce Rate, Non-denominated, Mail Use
Format: Pane of 20 (1 design)
Series: Distinguished Americans
Issue Date & City: June 14, 2022, Washington, DC 20066
Art Director: Derry Noyes, Washington, DC
Designer: Derry Noyes, Washington, DC
Artist: Lynn Staley, New York, NY
Modeler: Sandra Lane / Michelle Finn
Manufacturing Process: Offset, Microprint
Printer: Banknote Corporation of America
Press Type: Gallus RCS
Stamps per Pane: 20
Print Quantity: 10,000,000 stamps
Paper Type: Phosphor, Block Tag
Adhesive Type: Pressure-sensitive
Colors: Cyan, Magenta, Yellow, Black, Pantone 7619
Stamp Orientation: Vertical
Image Area (w x h): 0.77 x 1.05 in./ 19.558 x 26.67 mm
Overall Size (w x h): 0.91 x 1.19 in./23.114 x 30.226 mm
Full Pane Size (w x h): 5.55 x 5.76 in./140.97 x 146.304 mm
Plate Size: 160 stamps per revolution
Plate Numbers: “B” followed by five (5) single digits in two corners
Marginal Markings:
Front: Header: “DISTINGUISHED AMERICANS, Number 17 in a Series” • Plate number in bottom two corners
Back: ©2021 USPS • USPS logo • 2 barcodes (122200) • Plate position diagram (8) • Promotional text

Updated May 5^th:
Here are the first-day cancels for this issue:The Digital Color Postmark measures 2.78″ x 1.54″ The pictorial postmark measures 2.43″ x 1.20″ This “special” postmark is not for use on the first-day, but may be used by local post offices after that date. It measures 2.58″ x 0.94″

Updated April 14^th:
According to the Quarter 2 issue of the USPS Philatelic catalogue, this two-ounce-rate (78¢) stamp will be issued Tuesday, June 14th, with Washington, DC, as the first-day city.