Announced by the USPS October 31st.
[press release]
U.S. Postal Service Marks Red Ribbon Week with Drug Free USA Stamp
Forever Stamp Will Be Issued in October 2020
WASHINGTON — The U.S. Postal Service today revealed the Drug Free USA Forever stamp during Red Ribbon Week, the nation’s oldest and largest drug use prevention awareness program. The stamp will go on sale in October 2020. Additional details about the stamp dedication ceremony will be announced next year.
“This Drug Free USA Forever stamp will help further raise awareness about the dangers of drug abuse, and the toll it is taking on families and communities around our country,” said Robert M. Duncan, chairman of the USPS Board of Governors. “The Postal Service is glad to do its part in marking Red Ribbon Week, and renewing our commitment to helping these efforts to educate youth about the dangers of illegal drugs.”
In 1988, the National Family Partnership coordinated the first National Red Ribbon Week with President Ronald Reagan and first lady Nancy Reagan serving as honorary chairpersons. The week runs Oct. 23-31 and coincides with National Substance Abuse Prevention Month every October.
Red Ribbon Week was started after the death of Drug Enforcement Administration special agent Enrique “Kiki” Camarena, who was tortured and murdered in 1985 by drug traffickers he was investigating in Mexico. After Camarena’s death, people started wearing red ribbons to honor Kiki’s sacrifice.
“I am very pleased that the U.S. Postal Service will issue a stamp affirming our commitment to a drug-free America,” said DEA Acting Administrator Dhillon. “This stamp will help raise awareness of the fight against drug addiction and honor those who have dedicated their lives to that cause.”
The Drug Free USA Forever stamp art features a white star with lines of red, light blue and blue radiating from one side of each of the star’s five points, suggesting the unity necessary at all levels to effectively address drug abuse. Charlottesville, VA, designer Greg Breeding designed the stamp with original artwork by Portland, OR, graphic designer Aaron Draplin. USPS Acting Stamp Services Director William J. Gicker was the art director.
The stamp is being issued as a Forever stamp, which will always be equal in value to the current First-Class Mail 1-ounce price.
Added later: This stamp will be issued October 27th with a first-day city of Washington, DC.
Here is a larger version of the design:
Further information about this issue will be posted below the line, with the most recent nearest the top.
Updated December 5th:
The Scott catalogue number for this issue is 5542.
Updated October 22nd:
The first-day city has been changed from Washington, DC, to Arlington, VA. It will have a virtual first-day ceremony. More details from the press release:
[press release]
Miss America 2020 Attending Postal Service Ceremony For Drug Free USA Stamp Dedication Oct. 27
WHAT: The U.S. Postal Service joins the Drug Enforcement Administration to raise awareness about the dangers of drug abuse with the release of the Drug Free USA stamp. The release coincides with Red Ribbon Week, Oct. 23-31, promoting drug abuse prevention.
A pictorial postmark of the first-day-of-issue location, Arlington, VA, is available at usps.com/shopstamps.
News of the stamp is being shared with the hashtag #DrugFreeStamp.
WHO:
Louis DeJoy, Postmaster General and Chief Executive Officer,
U.S. Postal Service
Timothy Shea, acting administrator, Drug Enforcement Administration
Gary Barksdale, chief postal inspector, U.S. Postal Inspection Service
Peggy Sapp, president, National Family Partnership
Camille Schrier, Miss America 2020
WHEN: Tuesday, Oct. 27, 10 a.m. EDT
WHERE:
The stamp dedication ceremony will be livestreamed on the U.S. Postal Service’s Facebook and Twitter pages. The ceremony will not be open to the public to remain in compliance with Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidance on the COVID-19 pandemic. There will be designated space for media covering the event.
BACKGROUND: Red Ribbon Week, which takes place in schools and communities nationwide every year from Oct. 23-31, helps parents as well as teachers, business owners and neighborhood organizations promote drug abuse awareness and prevention.
Participants wear a red ribbon or red to symbolize their dedication to preventing drug abuse. The annual campaign is sponsored by the National Family Partnership.
The Drug Free USA stamp features original artwork by Aaron Draplin. The image of a white star with lines of red, light blue and blue radiating from one side of each of the star’s five points suggests the unity that is necessary at all levels to effectively address drug abuse. The stamp’s background is dark blue. “Drug Free USA” appears above the stamp art, while the stamp’s denomination, “Forever,” appears below it. The year 2020 runs vertically along the bottom right corner of the image.
Greg Breeding designed the stamp and was also the typographer. USPS Stamp Services Director William J. Gicker was the art director.
The Drug Free USA stamp is being issued as a Forever stamp, which will always be equal in value to the current First-Class Mail 1-ounce price.
Here are the revised first-day cancels for this issue; 
The Digital Color Postmark measures 2.68″ x 1.35″ 
The pictorial postmark measures 2.58″ x 1.25″
Updated September 24th:
Several VSC Facebook Group participants don’t like this design; what do you think?
Today’s Postal Bulletin says the first-day city is Washington, DC.
More from the Bulletin:
On October 27, 2020, in Washington, DC, the United States Postal Service® will issue the Drug Free USA stamp (Forever® priced at the First-Class Mail® rate) in one design, in a pressure-sensitive adhesive pane of 20 stamps (Item 478900). The stamp will go on sale nationwide October 27, 2020, and must not be sold or canceled before the first-day-of-issue.
The Postal Service™ joins the effort to raise awareness about the dangers of drug use with the release of the Drug Free USA stamp. The stamp art features a white star with lines of red, light blue, and blue radiating from one side of each of the star’s five points, suggesting the unity necessary at all levels to effectively address drug use. Greg Breeding designed the stamp with original artwork by Aaron Draplin. William J. Gicker was the art director.
Automatic distribution.
How to Order the First-Day-of-Issue Postmark:
Customers have 120 days to obtain the first-day-of-issue postmark by mail. They may purchase new stamps at their local Post Office™ or at The Postal Store® website at usps.com/shop. They must affix the stamps to envelopes of their choice, address the envelopes (to themselves or others), and place them in a larger envelope addressed to:
FDOI – Drug Free USA 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 27, 2021.
Technical Specifications:
Issue: Drug Free USA Stamp
Item Number: 478900
Denomination & Type of Issue: First-Class Mail Forever
Format: Pane of 20 (1 design)
Series: N/A
Issue Date & City: October 27, 2020, Washington, DC 20066
Art Director: William J. Gicker, Washington, DC
Designer: Greg Breeding, Charlottesville, VA
Artist: Aaron Draplin, Portland, OR
Modeler: Joseph Sheeran
Manufacturing Process: Offset, Microprint
Printer: Ashton Potter (USA) Ltd. (APU)
Press Type: Muller A76
Stamps per Pane: 20
Print Quantity: 20,000,000 stamps
Paper Type: Nonphosphored Type III, Block Tag
Adhesive Type: Pressure-sensitive
Processed at: Ashton Potter (USA) Ltd. (APU)
Colors: PMS 533 C Dark Blue, PMS 2121 C Light Blue, PMS 2133 C Blue, PMS 485 C Red, PMS Cool Gray 7C
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 7.24 in./150.368 x 183.896 mm
Press Sheets Size (w x h): 11.84 x 21.72 in./300.736 x 551.688 mm
Plate Size: 240 stamps per revolution
Plate Number: “P” followed by five (5) single digits in four corners
Marginal Markings:
Front: Plate number in four corners
Back: ©2019 USPS • USPS logo • 2 barcodes (478900) • Plate position diagram (6) • Promotional text
Updated September 22nd:
This stamp will be issued October 27th. The city has not yet been announced.
[press release]
Postal Service Dedicating Drug Free USA Forever Stamp on Oct. 27
WHAT: The U.S. Postal Service joins the effort to raise awareness about the dangers of drug abuse with the release of the Drug Free USA Forever stamp, coinciding with Red Ribbon Week, Oct. 23-31, promoting drug abuse prevention.
News of the stamp is being shared with the hashtag #DrugFreeStamp.
WHEN: Tuesday, Oct. 27, 11 a.m. EDT.
BACKGROUND: Red Ribbon Week, which takes place in schools and communities nationwide every year from Oct. 23-31, helps parents as well as teachers, business owners and neighborhood organizations promote drug abuse awareness and prevention.
Participants wear a red ribbon or red to symbolize their dedication to preventing drug abuse. The annual campaign is sponsored by the National Family Partnership.
The Drug Free USA Forever stamp features original artwork by Aaron Draplin. The image of a white star with lines of red, light blue and blue radiating from one side of each of the star’s five points suggests the unity that is necessary at all levels to effectively address drug abuse. The stamp’s background is dark blue. “Drug Free USA” appears above the stamp art, while the stamp’s denomination, “Forever,” appears below it. The year 2020 runs vertically along the bottom right corner of the image.
Greg Breeding designed the stamp and was also the typographer. William J. Gicker was the art director.
The Drug Free USA stamp is being issued as a Forever stamp, which will always be equal in value to the current First-Class Mail 1-ounce price.
Postal Products: Customers may purchase stamps and other philatelic products through the Postal Store at usps.com/shop, by calling 800-STAMP24 (800-782-6724), by mail through USA Philatelic, or at Post Office locations nationwide.
MONTRÉAL – Hanukkah begins on the 25th day of Kislev, the third month of the Jewish calendar year, and lasts for eight days. In 2019, the festival occurs from nightfall on December 22 until nightfall on December 30. Canada Post is issuing this stamp today, well in advance of the celebration, so that Canadians can make their Hanukkah cards and other mail more festive.
The Official First Day Covers: 
Technical Specifications:
[press release]
The official first day cover: 
up their December holiday mail with festive stamps. This year, Canada Post continues the tradition – and mailers can choose stamps depicting a variety of seasonal imagery.
your holiday mail.
Vancouver, raconte l’histoire des Mages, ces sages de l’Orient qui auraient suivi une étoile brillante jusqu’à Bethléem pour apporter des présents au roi nouveau-né.
The official first day cover: 
WINNIPEG – Canada Post on November 6th issued a stamp marking the 150th anniversary of the Red River Resistance of 1869-70. It was a turbulent time when Métis rights were asserted, leading to negotiations that shaped the creation of Manitoba as a province.
And a closeup and enhancement of the list of names: 
This new stamp celebrates the joyous Jewish holiday of Hanukkah. The stamp art’s colorful digital illustration shows the lighting of the nine-branched Hanukkah menorah on the last evening of the holiday. All eight of the Hanukkah candles have been lit, and the child is reaching up to replace the shamash, the helper candle used to light the others in the menorah. Art director Ethel Kessler designed the stamp with original art by Jing Jing Tsong.
The Digital Color Postmark measures 2.88″x1.09″ 
The Pictorial Postmark measures 2.73″x1.08″
With this new stamp, the Postal Service continues its tradition of celebrating Kwanzaa. The annual Pan-African holiday, which takes place over seven days from Dec. 26 to Jan. 1, brings family, community and culture together for many African Americans. The stamp design features the face of a woman in profile with her eyes closed. Her contemplative demeanor signifies the ways in which observers of Kwanzaa reflect on the seven founding principles, the Nguzo Saba, and their role in everyday life. A kinara (candleholder) with the seven lit candles (mishumaa saba) sits in front of her. Cool tones evoke a sense of inner peace, and vibrant design elements give the artwork a celebratory feel. Art director Antonio Alcalá designed the stamp with original artwork by Andrea Pippins.
The Digital Color Postmark measures 2.43″ x 1.49″ 
The pictorial postmark measures 1.93″ x 1.23″
The Digital Color Postmark measures 2.69″ x 1.46″ (Corrected August 19th)
The pictorial postmark measures 2.70″ x 1.49″. (Corrected August 19th.)
one design, in a pressure-sensitive adhesive pane of 20 stamps (Item 476700). The stamp will go on sale nationwide September 17, 2020, and must not be sold or canceled before the first-day-of-issue. The Mayflower in Plymouth Harbor pane of 20 stamps may not be split and the stamps may not be sold individually.
The woman in the photographs is Stahl herself! 
She had discussions with the U.S. Postal Service on how many women to include and where. These are not meant to be specific historical figures, but representations. Stahl said she wishes she had fought harder for the black woman to be more prominent in the finished design, which is shown on the right and at the top of this page.
WHAT:
The Digital Color Postmark for this issue measures 2.55″ x 1.49″ 
The Pictorial Postmark for this issue measures 1.66″ x 1.48″
The Scott catalogue numbers for this issue are:
WHAT:
The Digital Color Postmark for this issue measures 2.89″ x 1.39″ 
The Pictorial Postmark for this issue measures 2.74″ x 1.46″
