It’s something many collectors want. So we put the question to Mary-Anne Penner, acting director of the U.S. Postal Service’s Stamp Services department. Hear her answer here.
Transcript:
“Yes, they’re possible. Are we going to go completely to a soakable stamp? I’m going to tell you know, because the cost is expensive. But I have reached out to both printers and we’re going to see what we can do. You know, maybe we can do one edition a year. Let’s see what happens. You know, you’ve got to give me some time. I need to get true facts; I don’t want to rush into anything, and I want to see what other people are doing, I mean, other countries.”
Left to right: Janet Klug, Chair, Citizen Stamp Advisory Committee; Scott English, Executive Director American Philatelic Society; Daniel A. Piazza, Chief Curator of Philately, Smithsonian National Postal Museum; Michael J. Elston, Associate General Counsel and Chief Ethics and Compliance Officer, USPS; Kevin J. Crocilla, New York City Postmaster; Antonio Alcala, art director for this issue; Dr. Cheryl R. Ganz, CSAC member. Ceremony photographs courtesy USPS.
“To me, the stamp represents what’s great about America and Americans,” said U.S. Postal Service Chief Ethics and Compliance Officer Mike Elston (right). “Whether born here or only just recently arrived, we share in common a passionate love of liberty and freedom, and the willingness to sacrifice whatever it takes — even ‘our lives, our fortunes and our sacred honor’ — to defend our liberties and our freedom,” he said, referring to the last line in the Declaration of Independence.
These new stamps have been printed – and will be sold – only as complete souvenir sheets of 10 stamps, priced at $4.70 (10 X $0.47). (Left: American Philatelic Society executive director Scott English.)
The commemorative stamp art depicts a crowd gathered around a “liberty tree” to celebrate the repeal of the Stamp Act. “Liberty trees” could be found in a number of cities throughout the colonies, and were popular gathering spots for community meetings, political discussions, celebrations and more. (Right: Smithsonian National Postal Museum philatelic curator Daniel Piazza.)
On May 29, 2016, in New York, NY, the U.S. Postal Service® will issue the Repeal of the Stamp Act stamp (Forever® priced at 47 cents) in one design, in a pressure-sensitive adhesive (PSA) souvenir sheet of 10 stamps (Item 586700). The Repeal of the Stamp Act souvenir sheet may not be split, and the stamps may not be sold individually.
www.usps.com⁄shop, or by calling 800-782-6724. 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:
On August 2, 2016, in Las Vegas, NV, the U.S. Postal Service® will issue the Pets stamps (Forever® priced at 47 cents) in 20 designs, in a pressure-sensitive adhesive (PSA) double-sided booklet of 20 stamps (Item 680700).
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 http: ⁄⁄www.usps.com⁄shop, or by calling 800-782-6724. 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:
There are five 
Issue: Pets Stamps
Printed at: Williamsville, NY
It measures 2.9″ x 1.4″. The B&W postmark is the standard 4-bar FDOI.
Updated June 23rd:
SuperZoo, National Show for Pet Retailers
On July 13, 2016, in Washington, DC, the U.S. Postal Service will issue the Jaime Escalante First-Class Mail stamp (Forever priced at 47 cents), in one design, in a pressure-sensitive adhesive (PSA) pane of 20 stamps (Item 473800).
