“It won’t be a surprise to anyone (since the USPS hasn’t issued one in two years),” reports Foster Miller in The Stamp Collecting Forum, “but Mary-Anne Penner (Director, Stamp Services) confirmed to me today that, while the USPS will continue to issue press sheets with die cuts, there will not be any issued without die cuts.”
Penner answered questions during a seminar June 27 at American Philatelic Society headquarters in Bellefonte, Pa.
The USPS has established a new policy that all future US commemorative stamps will have automatic distribution to all post offices, reports Foster Miller in The Stamp Collecting Forum. “Post offices will still have to order new definitives based on their needs and inventory limits.”
Director of Stamp Services Mary-Anne Penner made the announcement during a Q&A session at American Philatelic Society headquarters in Bellefonte, Pa., June 27th.
Miller did not state if Penner gave a start date for the new policy.
Announced June 26th; updated July 26th: To be issued October 11th in Pigeon Forge, TN (home of Dollywood). On August 28th, the USPS announced the issue would also include a souvenir sheet and gave details on the first-day ceremony.
[press release]
U.S. Postal Service to Issue Classic Santa Stamps this Christmas
Art Features Images from 1950s Coca-Cola Ads
WASHINGTON — It’s beginning to look like a classic Christmas! This October, the Postal Service will ring in the 2018 holiday season with four Sparkling Holidays stamps featuring character-rich close-ups of Santa Claus.
The Santa images are from Haddon Sundblom paintings created for The Coca-Cola Company holiday advertisements that ran from the1940s through the early 1960s. Sundblom, a famed commercial artist, depicted a rosy-cheeked, smiling, grandfatherly man in a red suit that came to embody the very essence of “Santa.”
The Sparkling Holidays stamps will be issued as Forever stamps. Forever stamps are always equal in value to the current First-Class Mail 1-ounce price.
Additional details will be announced before the stamps’ release.
Added June 28th:
As reported by Foster Miller in The Stamp Collecting Forum, Bill Gicker of the USPS design team says the stamp designs were adapted from the original artwork produced by Sundblom for the soft drink company, not from specific Coca-Cola ads. Gicker was speaking at a Q&A session with Stamp Services staff June 27th at American Philatelic Society headquarters in Bellefonte, Pa.
FDC collector and retired professional artist Dave Bennett found matches for three of the stamp designs in Coca-Cola ads: 
Dave didn’t find a match for the fourth stamp design, but he did find what may be the inspiration for the official name for this issue: 
Added June 30th: And from VSC member Mary Kneller, the 4th design: 
[USPS advisory August 28th]
USPS Issues “Sparkling Holidays” Stamps and Souvenir Sheet
Offerings Feature Sundblom Santa Paintings from Coca-Cola Ads
WHAT: U.S. Postmaster General and CEO Megan Brennan Dedicates New Sparkling Holidays Forever Stamps
WHEN: Oct. 11, 2018
11:15 a.m. (EDT)
WHERE: The Inn at Christmas Place
119 Christmas Tree Lane
Pigeon Forge, TN 37868
WHY: The Postal Service issues four new stamps and a souvenir sheet [shown on right] showcasing classic images of Santa Claus painted by famed commercial artist Haddon Sundblom. Each stamp portrays a close-up of Santa’s face. The four images featured in the booklet are details from larger paintings created by Sundblom and originally published in ads for The Coca-Cola Company from the 1940s through the early 1960s. Sundblom is the man credited with refining the modern image of Santa Claus.
The souvenir sheet includes a semi-jumbo stamp as part of a wider scene of one of Sundblom’s paintings chosen for the Sparkling Holidays stamp booklet. In it, Santa is depicted standing by a fireplace holding a book that lists good boys and girls. Three Christmas stockings hang along a mantel decorated with greens and ornaments. Peering over his glasses, Santa reads a note among the stockings.
A quatrefoil design element surrounded by a metallic gold background encloses the scene. The use of gold metallic ink, the flow of the type, and the organic shape of the border are intended to harken back to the graphic style of the first half of the 20th century. Art director Greg Breeding designed the souvenir sheet and the stamps.
Santa’s legend is based on customs brought to America by European immigrants. St. Nicholas, the Dutch Sinterklaas, was one of Santa’s forebearers. He delivered gifts on Dec. 5, the eve of his feast day.
Note: Sparkling Holidays Stamps, sold in books of 20, and the Sparkling Holidays Souvenir Sheet, with one stamp, will be available for pre-order online starting Sept. 14 at The Postal Store at usps.com. The souvenir sheet will only be sold through usps.com or by calling 1-800-STAMP24.
Updated August 30th:
On October 11, 2018, in Pigeon Forge, TN, the U.S. Postal Service will issue the Sparkling Holidays stamps (Forever priced at the First-Class Mail rate) in four designs, in a pressure-sensitive adhesive booklet of 20 stamps (Item 682100). The stamps will go on sale nationwide October 11, 2018, and must not be sold or canceled before the first-day-of-issue.
The U.S. Postal Service celebrates Christmas with Sparkling Holidays, four new stamps featuring classic images of Santa Claus painted by famed commercial artist Haddon Sundblom. Each of the four images portraying a close-up of Santa’s face are details from larger paintings created by Sundblom and originally published in ads for The Coca-Cola Company from the 1940s through the early 1960s. Sundblom is the man credited with refining the modern image of Santa Claus. Art director Greg Breeding designed the 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 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 – Sparkling Holidays 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 11, 2019.
Technical Specifications:
Issue: Sparkling Holidays Stamps
Item Number: 682100
Denomination & Type of Issue: First-Class Mail Forever
Format: Double-Sided Booklet of 20 (4 designs)
Series: N/A
Issue Date & City: October 11, 2018, Pigeon Forge, TN 37862
Art Director: Greg Breeding, Charlottesville, VA
Designer: Greg Breeding, Charlottesville, VA
Typographer: Greg Breeding, Charlottesville, VA
Existing Art: Haddon Sundblom
Modeler: Joseph Sheeran
Manufacturing Process: Offset
Printer: Ashton Potter (USA) Ltd. (APU)
Press Type: Muller A76
Stamps per Booklet: 20
Print Quantity: 1,000,000,000 stamps
Paper Type: Nonphosphored Type III, Block Tag
Adhesive Type: Pressure-sensitive
Processed at: Ashton Potter (USA) Ltd. (APU)
Colors: PMS 872 Gold, Cyan, Magenta, Yellow, Black
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
Press Sheet Size (w x h): 23.29 x 4.76 in./ 591.566 x 120.904 mm
Plate Size: 880 stamps per revolution
Plate Numbers: “P” followed by five (5) single digits
Marginal Markings:
Front: Header: “Sparkling Holidays” Twenty First-Class Forever Stamps • Plate number in peel strip area
Back: ©2018 USPS in peel strip area • Barcode • Promotional text in peel strip area
Added September 8th:
Here are the first-day postmarks for this issue:
The Digital Color postmark measures 2.86″x1.49″
The B&W pictorial measures 2.97″x1.47″
The “special” postmark for use by local post offices measures 2.66″x1.47″
[press release]
Canada Post proposes new postage rates for 2019
Price of a domestic stamp would increase to 90 cents
OTTAWA, June 21, 2018 /CNW/ – Canada Post is proposing to increase postage rates in 2019. The postage rate for domestic Lettermail™ items weighing 30 grams or less when purchased in a booklet, coil or pane would increase to $0.90 from the current rate of $0.85. The price of a single domestic stamp would increase to $1.05 from the current rate of $1.00. The rate change would take effect on January 14, 2019.
In January 2018, the Government of Canada unveiled a new vision for Canada Post focused on ensuring Canadians have access to high-quality postal services at a reasonable price, no matter where they live. This requires the Corporation to remain financially viable, generating sufficient revenues to support current and future services.
Canada Post works to strike the right balance between the need for greater revenues and ensuring it continues to provide good value to the people who rely on the postal service. While usage varies, the impact of the first increase since 2014 would be less than a dollar a year for the average Canadian household and about $14 per year for the typical small business. Canadians can avoid the cost increase by purchasing Permanent™ stamps at the current rate in advance of the change.
Canada Post is also proposing to increase rates for other domestic Lettermail, U.S. and international Letter-post items and domestic Registered Mail™. The current proposals will be published for comment on June 23, 2018 in the Canada Gazette Part I. Going forward, the Corporation will resume its annual review of regulated postage rates.
The American Philatelic Society is giving its highest award this year to John H. Barwis, Denise Stotts and Wayne L. Wayne Youngblood. Barwis is receiving the Luff Award for philatelic research. Stotts is being honored for her contributions to philately. Youngblood is cited for his service to the APS. 
L-R, Barwis, Stotts and Youngblood.
The Luff awards are considered the highest awards in U.S. philately.
The 2018 awards will be formally presented August 11 at the banquet of StampShow / National Topical Stamp Show in Columbus, Ohio.
The APS press release, with more details, is on the APS web blog.
The Scott catalogue number for this issue is 5299.
First announced by the USPS on June 14, with an issuance of July 14 at the Mall of America in Bloomington, MN. The press release:
Zoinks! Everyone’s Favorite Great Dane, SCOOBY-DOO, is New Addition to the 2018 Forever Stamp Program
WASHINGTON — “Scooby-Doo, Where Are You!” For nearly 50 years, this call has summoned the beloved animated Great Dane wherever help is needed. The U.S. Postal Service, in collaboration with Warner Bros. Consumer Products, is excited to announce a new Forever stamp will be issued July 14 highlighting the popular canine and his new social responsibility initiative, Scooby-Doo DOO GOOD.
The stamp ceremony will be held at the Mall of America in Bloomington, MN.
This new issuance is a 12-stamp sheet featuring Scooby-Doo helping out by watering a blossoming plant in a flowerpot — a simple act symbolizing a component of the “Doo Good” campaign’s effort to provide young people with tools and activities geared toward enriching the environment. The campaign, launching this year in partnership with generationOn, the youth division of Points of Light, also focuses on helping the hungry and acting as animal allies.
The lovable, iconic Great Dane Scooby-Doo has solved mystery after spooky mystery since his 1969 debut. With his teenage friends — Fred, Daphne, Velma, and Shaggy — Scooby is at the heart of one of the most enduring cartoon franchises in television history. The charismatic canine has now fronted more than a dozen TV series, plus direct-to-video animated films, comic books and live-action cinematic releases.
In Scooby-Doo’s comedy–mystery adventures, he and the gang investigate strange plots in eerie locales as they travel in their colorful van, the Mystery Machine. Scooby Snacks are always on hand; the tempting treats empower the cowardly Scooby to sniff out clues. Once the gang musters courage, cooperates, and persists in their dogged investigations, the spooky schemers’ plots are exposed.
Three generations of fans have now embraced Scooby-Doo and the “meddling kids,” as they are often called by the villains unmasked at the conclusion of each Scooby-Doo mystery.
Art director Greg Breeding of Charlottesville, VA, worked closely with Warner Bros. Consumer Products, to design this stamp.
Updated July 4, 2018:
On July 14, 2018, in Bloomington, MN, the U.S. Postal Service will issue the Scooby-Doo! stamp (Forever priced at the First-Class Mail rate) in one design, in a pressure-sensitive adhesive pane of 12 stamps (Item 565500). The stamp will go on sale nationwide July 14, 2018. The Scooby-Doo! pane of 12 stamps may not be split and the stamps may not be sold individually.
This stamp celebrates the beloved animated Scooby- Doo, the iconic Great Dane who met instant success upon his 1969 debut in the series Scooby-Doo, Where Are You! The stamp art features Scooby-Doo watering a blossoming plant — a simple act symbolizing a component of the Scooby-Doo DOO GOOD campaign, which provides young people with tools and activities to enrich the environment. The campaign, launching in partnership with generationOn ( generationon.org/page/partners ), the youth division of Points of Light, also focuses on helping the hungry and acting as animal allies. The selvage, which features a friendly, grinning Scooby-Doo, includes the title Scooby- Doo! and the DOO GOOD logo. Art director Greg Breeding worked closely with Warner Bros. Consumer Products, Inc. to design this stamp.
Availability to Post Offices: Item 565500, Scooby- Doo! (Forever priced at the First-Class Mail rate) Commemorative Pane of 12 Stamps Stamp Fulfillment Services will make an automatic push distribution to Post Offices™ of a quantity to cover approximately 30 days of sales.
Special Dedication Postmarks:
Only the following pictorial postmark is permitted for the Scooby-Doo! stamp. The word “Station” or the abbreviation “STA” is required somewhere in the design, because it will be a temporary station. 
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 – Scooby-Doo! 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 14, 2018.
Technical Specifications:
Issue: Scooby-Doo! Stamp
Item Number: 565500
Denomination & Type of Issue: First-Class Mail Forever
Format: Pane of 12 (1 design)
Series: N/A
Issue Date & City: July 14, 2018, Bloomington, MN 55401
Art Director: Greg Breeding, Charlottesville, VA
Designer: Greg Breeding, Charlottesville, VA
Typographer: Greg Breeding, Charlottesville, VA
Modeler: Joseph Sheeran
Manufacturing Process: Offset, Microprint
Printer: Ashton Potter (USA) Ltd. (APU)
Printed at: Williamsville, NY
Press Type: Muller A76
Stamps per Pane: 12
Print Quantity: 252,000,000 stamps
Paper Type: Nonphosphored Type III, Block Tag
Adhesive Type: Pressure-sensitive
Processed at: Ashton Potter (USA) Ltd. (APU)
Colors: Black, Cyan, Magenta, Yellow, PMS 2592 C Purple (modified)
Stamp Orientation: Horizontal
Image Area (w x h): 1.085 x 1.42 in./27.559 x 36.07 mm
Overall Size (w x h): 1.225 x 1.56 in./31.115 x 39.62 mm
Full Pane Size (w x h): 7.525 x 5.925 in./191.135 x 150.495 mm
Press Sheet Size (w x h): 22.575 x 11.85 in./573.405 x 300.99 mm
Plate Size: 144 stamps per revolution
Plate Numbers: “P” followed by five (5) digits
Marginal Markings:
Front: Header: Scooby Doo! DOO GOOD • Plate number in two corners
Back: ©2018 USPS • USPS Logo • Two barcodes (565500) • Plate Position Diagram • Promotional Text • Proprietary Notice
Updated July 19th: Here are the first-day postmarks for this issue: 
It measures 2.999″ (but it’s no over 3 inches!) x 1.06″.
It measures 2.7989″x1.482″.
The special cancellations for post offices other than the first-day city measures 2.7597×1.4564″.
[press release]
Royal Mail Issues Special Commemorative Sheet To Mark 150th Anniversary Of The Trades Union Congress
Royal Mail today launched a Commemorative Sheet to mark the 150th anniversary of the Trades Union Congress (TUC). Founded in 1868, the TUC is the world’s oldest, national independent trade union organisation.
The first TUC meeting was held when the Manchester and Salford Trades Council convened the founding meeting in the Manchester Mechanics’ Institute. Its original aims were to win a shorter working day, training and free education for all, and – at a time when most working-class people were denied a voice – representation in Parliament.
The Commemorative Sheet features 10 existing 1st Class Seal stamps alongside images that depict pivotal moments in the TUC’s 150-year history. These key events include the 1888 strike by women from the Bryant & May match factory in London in protest at poor working conditions. Their demands were met three weeks later. The Equal Pay Campaign of 1968 saw female workers at Ford car plants in Dagenham strike to demand the lower ‘women’s rate’ of pay be abolished. It was, and their efforts went on to inspire similar protests around the country.
The sheet also includes an illustrated folder telling the story of the TUC, its forerunners and its evolution to the present day organisation that represents 5.5 million workers across the UK.
TUC General Secretary, Frances O’Grady said: “The commemorative sheet is a wonderful way to mark the TUC’s big anniversary, and we are honoured that working people have been recognised in this way. The pack is full of inspiring stories about people who made Britain better for working people over the last 150 years.
“It’s a reminder too that trade unionists have come from many different occupations and backgrounds. As the world of work changes, trade unions are needed more than ever to make sure every job is a good job and every working person gets the respect they deserve.”
The stamp sheet is on sale now priced at £15.95 and available at www.royalmail.com/TUC150
Left hand side — Top down:
Right hand side — Top down
[press release]
Insects play leading part in summer version of ‘Experience Nature’ stamp series
The Hague, 4 June 2018 – PostNL will be issuing the new ‘Experience Nature’ stamp series this year. There will be a ten-stamp sheetlet for each season. The third stamp series will appear today. This summer edition of the stamp series is devoted to insects. The autumn version of this stamp series, with mushrooms, will follow in October.
The summer stamps feature 10 insects we may encounter in our country. The photographs used are ‘portraits’ of these insects in their natural environment. Most images run almost imperceptibly through onto the adjacent stamp. This makes it seem like the insects live side by side in the same habitat.
The beauty of nature
With the ‘Experience Nature’ stamp series, PostNL pays tribute to the diversity of nature in our country. “The stamps in this series show Dutch nature on its best behaviour,” says Stephan van den Eijnden, PostNL’s Commercial Director for Mail. “After the reptiles & amphibians and the wildflowers, 10 insects are showing themselves in their best light. A promising run-up to the fourth sheetlet, which will be appearing this autumn.”
Thousands of photos
For the ‘Experience Nature’ series, graphic designer Frank Janse from Gouda selected around one thousand photographs for each of the four stamp sheetlets. He narrowed these down to a shortlist consisting of around a hundred images, from which he chose the ten photographs that made it onto each stamp sheetlet. He was guided by both the beauty of the photograph and the special characteristics of the depicted plants and animals. The photographs are the work of amateur photographers who send their best images to the PIXFACTORY websites.
Availability
The ‘Experience Nature – Insects’ stamp sheetlet consists of ten different stamps marked with ‘Nederland 1’, the denomination for items up to 20g in weight destined for mail in the Netherlands. The stamps are available from 4 June at all post offices and online at postnl.nl/bijzondere-postzegels and can also be ordered by calling the Collect Club customer service on 088 – 868 99 00, The stamps are valid until further notice.
[press release]
Beautiful Netherlands 2018: walking through cities with city gates
The Hague, 4 June 2018 – In 2018, as part of the stamps series ‘Beautiful Netherlands’, PostNL will be highlighting the monumental city gates that our country boasts. Today, two stamp sheetlets with the Nobelpoort of Zierikzee and the Binnenpoort of Culemborg, as well as an assembled stamp sheetlet, appear. The assembled stamp sheetlet also features the city gates on the stamps about Vianen, Bergen op Zoom, and Hattem, which appeared previously. The ‘Beautiful Netherlands 2018’ series was designed by visual artist Jan Rothuizen.
The artist drew the outlines of the city gates on the stamps with a black pen against a white background. The background of each stamp sheetlet shows a perspective drawing in red or blue of a map of the surrounding area.
Strong involvement
By means of his written and drawn records, Rothuizen has made a report in words and images of his walk through each city, the buildings he saw, and the people he met. “In each city, I noticed the strong involvement of the inhabitants with their residence, how much they know about its history, and how eager they are to tell wonderful stories about it,” the artist said.
Rooted in society
Since 2005, the ‘Beautiful Netherlands’ series has been paying tribute to local history, cultural treasures, and scenic beauty. Stephan van den Eijnden, commercial director Mail of PostNL: “This way, we want to show that our business is rooted in Dutch society. City gates are proof of a past in which cities were walled to protect them. Fortunately, these days are over, but beautiful city gates have been preserved throughout the Netherlands. And now, five special ones can be found on stamps!”
Availability
Each stamp sheetlet from the ‘Beautiful Netherlands 2018’ series consists of five stamps marked with ‘Nederland 1’, the denomination for items up to 20g in weight destined for delivery in the Netherlands. The assembled stamp sheetlet will be available at post offices in Bruna shops as well as via postnl.nl/collectclub from 4 June. As from today, the stamp sheetlets about Zierikzee and Culemborg can be bought in their own regions and online. The stamps can also be ordered from the Collect Club customer service by calling 088 – 868 99 00. The validity period is indefinite.
Cheryl Ganz has been chosen to fill a vacancy on the American Philatelic Society’s Board of Directors. By a unanimous vote, the former Smithsonian National Postal Museum philatelic curator was elected as a Vice President, filling the vacancy when Bob Zeigler succeeded Mick Zais as president. Zais resigned when he became U.S. Deputy Secretary of Education.
Ganz called into the telephone conference-call meeting Monday, June 11th, from Iceland!
At the same time, the Board chose Steve Rod as Historian, replacing Gini Horn, who resigned because of ill health.
Zeigler opened the meeting by vowing to “do no harm,” expand the membership “or at least stop the attrition,” and to retire more debt.
In announcing his nomination of Ganz, Zeigler cited her record of service to the APS and philately, “her great temperament,” and her writing.
Ganz said she did not seek the job, but was asked by two people. She said she has always a big booster of the society, a donor, a life member, and serves on two committees, Ethics and New Initiatives. She has never been on the Board before. “I will do my best to do everything I can to help the APS,” she said.
Ganz joins a three-member Board of Vice Presidents that also includes Trish Kaufmann and Jeff Shapiro.
Speaking at the meeting, Rod cited past historian Herb Trenchard, who severed for decades. “I am in awe” of Trenchard, he said. “I hope to serve in this position as dutifully as Herb and Gini have,” Rod said. “I love the APS with all my heart and soul.”
Rod’s appointment by the president did not need a vote, but was approved unanimously anyway.
The Board also approved unanimously a resolution honoring APS staffer Janet Houser. Executive director Scott English noted that she began at the APS in 1990, and worked in the accounting department before moving to education. He said he was “extremely grateful” for her help as he became the organization’s CEO and made changes. “Janet has been extremely supportive of the education initiatives” and “an ambassador of good will,” he said. “I’ve been grateful for having her.”
English said he will also be submitting the resolution to the American Philatelic Research Library board.
The executive director recommended the Board skip its previously-scheduled meeting on June 19th, inasmuch as all the business has been covered. The Board will next convene the day before StampShow.
Zeigler recommended English draw up a resolution praising Zais, for a vote by the Board at the August meeting.
