Monthly Archives: March 2015

Water Lilies Stamped Envelopes (U.S., 2015)

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Updated April 2nd: From the Postal Bulletin:

s_wliliesenvOn April 17, 2015, in New York, NY, the U.S. Postal Service® will issue the Water Lilies stamped envelope set of 10 envelopes with seals, Forever® First-Class Mail® priced at $9.95, in pressure-sensitive adhesive (PSA) #10 stamped envelopes (Item 882101).

This spring, the U.S. Postal Service issues two different sets of 10 stamped envelopes including seals. The artwork on the stamped envelopes is based on the 2015 stamps celebrating the same subjects. The Water Lilies set includes 10 stamped envelopes featuring two designs — five of a colorful pink water lily and five of an elegant white water lily. The seals included in each of the sets complement the stamp designs.

How to Order the First-Day-of-Issue Postmark:
Customers have 60 days to obtain the first-day-of-issue postmark by mail. They may purchase new stamps at their local Post Office™, at The Postal Store® website at www.usps.com/shop, or by calling 800-STAMP-24. They should affix the stamps to envelopes of their choice, address the envelopes (to themselves or others), and place them in a larger envelope addressed to:

Water Lilies Stamped Envelopes
Special Events Coordinator
380 West 33rd Street
New York, NY 10199-9998

After applying the first-day-of-issue postmark, the Postal Service™ will return the envelopes through the mail. There is no charge for the postmark up to a quantity of 50. For more than 50, customers have to pay five cents each. All orders for Water Lilies Stamped Envelopes must be postmarked by June 16, 2015.

These two items are considered Philatelic Products and will be issued in the following formats:

  • 882101 Water Lilies Stamped Envelope set of 10 with seals (2 designs), $9.95.
  • 882103 Water Lilies Stamped Envelope First-Day Cover set of 2, $1.48.

Technical Specifications:

s_wliliesenvIssue: Water Lilies Stamped Envelopes
Item Number: 882101
Denomination & Type of Issue: Forever First-Class Stamped Envelopes
Format: #10 Regular Envelopes, Packet of 10, 2 designs
Issue Date & City: April 17, 2015, New York, NY 10199
Art Director: Phil Jordan, Falls Church, VA
Designer: Phil Jordan, Falls Church, VA
Typographer: Phil Jordan, Falls Church, VA
Existing Photos: Cindy Dyer
Modeler: Joseph Sheeran
Manufacturing Process: Offset, Microprint
Printer: Ashton Potter (USA) Ltd. (APU)
Printed at: Williamsville, NY
Press Type: Halm Jet EM4000
Folding Machine: W&D #527
Print Quantity: 370,000 (185,000 each design)
Paper Type: 61# Postal Envelope, Block, Type III
Adhesive Type: Pressure-sensitive adhesive
Processed at: Ashton Potter (USA) Ltd. (APU)
Envelope Orientation: Horizontal
Envelope Size: (w x h): 9.5 x 4.13 in/241.30 x 104.78 mm
Image Size (w x h): 1.32 x 1.01 in/33.60 x 25.76 mm
Colors: Black, Cyan, Magenta, Yellow, PMS 431 U Gray
Marginal Markings: Forest Stewardship Council Logo • “THIS ENVELOPE IS RECYCLABLE AND MADE WITH 30% POST CONSUMER CONTENT” • Recycling Logo • © USPS 2015

Updated March 31st: The first day ceremony will be at 12 noon at the ASDA Show in NYC, The Hilton Hotel, 1335 Avenue of the Americas.

The address for mail-in FDC requests:

Water Lilies Stamped Envelopes
Special Events Coordinator
380 West 33rd Street
New York, NY 10199-9998

Updated March 24th: From the USPS, in response to my inquiry: “…Two designs were used from the Water Lilies stamps; the pink water lily and the white water lily. Here’s an excerpt from the announcement to be in next week’s bulletin: ‘On April 17, 2015 in New York, New York, the U.S. Postal Service® will issue the Water Lilies stamped envelope set of 10 envelopes with seals, Forever First-Class mail priced at $9.95 each set in pressure-sensitive adhesive (PSA) #10 stamped envelopes (Item 882101).'”

A surprise issue that popped up in the USPS website store on the first day of issue of the Water Lilies stamps, March 20th. Although the USPS store says “available now,” it also says the first day of issue for these is April 17th. There has been no announcement in the Postal Bulletin or to the philatelic press. Here’s the listing on the USPS website: s_wliliesenvPack of 10 PSA

Make mailing a breeze with this new package of ten Water Lilies Forever® stamped envelopes. Each ready-to-mail #10 envelope carries pre-printed postage featuring one of two photographs of classic water lilies – one in colorful pink, and the second in elegant white (five of each). For a finishing touch, ten coordinating pink lily seals are also included. Simply address, seal and mail!

Only two of the designs are used, from what we can see in the illustration. We will try to get more information from the USPS.

Report: Top USPS Stamps People Leaving

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rudolph_fdoi01Bill McAllister of Linn’s Stamp News reports that Nagisa Manabe, the often-controversial Chief Marketing Officer of the U.S. Postal Service, and Cindy Tackett, the acting head of USPS Stamp Services, are both leaving the agency this spring.

Manabe (shown at the Rudolph first-day ceremony in November) joined the USPS as CMO in May 2012, and is reportedly telling associates she will leave on May 22, 2015. Tackett reportedly has told her staff she plans to retire in May after almost 42 years with the Postal Service.

cindy_tackett14octStamp collectors are likely to applaud Manabe’s departure and bemoan Tackett’s. Cindy (shown here at the Christmas stamps first-day in October) has provided more information to collectors during her brief stint as chief of the stamp program than her predecessor, and before that, was also often helpful to collectors.

As McAllister notes, it will be interesting to see who new Postmaster General Megan Brennan taps to fill these positions.

Exhibiting Newsletter Released

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March 7, 2015
For Immediate Release

World Stamp Show-NY 2016 is pleased to report the release of its seventh quarterly newsletter, this one with important information for exhibitors. It is available online at
http://www.ny2016.org.

The five page issue provides a comprehensive summary of details every potential exhibitor should know about. Articles reference exhibiting basics and exhibit classifications, applications and acceptance, judges and judging, scoring and prizes. Most useful is a timeline of important dates covering the overall application process.

An application and a PDF copy of The Bulletin are downloadable from the WSS-NY 2016 web site. Hard copies may be requested directly from commissioners appointed by their respective FIP national philatelic organizations. Their contact information can be found at http://www.ny2016.org/SubMenu/The_Commissioners.aspx?id=519. Forms must be returned to the appropriate national commissioner no later than August.

World Stamp Show-NY 2016 takes place May 28 through June 4, 2016 at the Javits Center in New York City. Follow the show on Facebook, Twitter and Pinterest.

RIP Les Winick 1927-2015

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Longtime Linn’s Stamp News columnist Les Winick has died at the age of 87 in Galesburg, Illinois. The local paper in its obituary says “his passion became promoting the hobby of stamp collecting.”

Many collectors remember him as the executive director of Ameripex ’86, the very successful “international” stamp show in Chicago.

Although we corresponded a few times, I’m afraid I only met him once, briefly. If you knew him, or even if your memories of Les are only through his writing and other philatelic work, please take a moment to share your thoughts here.