From the U.S. Postal Service announcement on October 22, 2019:

The Postal Service captures the classic beauty of still-life paintings in a booklet of 20 stamps featuring 10 different portraits of fruits and vegetables. Each stamp features a collection of one kind of fruit or vegetable: red and black plums, heirloom and cherry tomatoes, carrots, lemons, blueberries, red and green grapes, lettuces, strawberries, eggplants and figs. Art director Derry Noyes designed the stamps with existing art by Robert Papp.

These stamps will be issued Friday, July 17, in Charleston WV.

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

Updated September 9th:
Here are the individual Scott catalogue numbers for this issue:
5484 (55¢) Fruits and Vegetables – Red and black plums
5485 (55¢) Fruits and Vegetables – Heirloom and cherry tomatoes
5486 (55¢) Fruits and Vegetables – Carrots
5487 (55¢) Fruits and Vegetables – Lemons
5488 (55¢) Fruits and Vegetables – Blueberries
5489 (55¢) Fruits and Vegetables – Red and green grapes
5490 (55¢) Fruits and Vegetables – Lettuce
5491 (55¢) Fruits and Vegetables – Strawberries
5492 (55¢) Fruits and Vegetables – Eggplants
5493 (55¢) Fruits and Vegetables – Figs
a. Block of 10, #5484-5493
b. Convertible booklet pane of 20, 2 each #5484-5493

Updated June 30th:
We wondered why Charleston, WV, was chosen as the first-day city: Was there an “affinity event” scheduled or some historical significance. The USPS replied:

“USPS tries to hold FDOI Ceremonies in diverse locations across the Country. We felt that Capitol Market was a great example of a community supported year-round fulltime farmers’ market. As a nonprofit organization the market raises thousands of dollars for local charities and nonprofits and also had the infrastructure from their own schedule of events to host a stamp ceremony.”

Updated June 29th:

[press release]
Postal Service Cancels Dedication Ceremony for Fruits & Vegetables Stamps
Stamps Will Still Be Available for Purchase on July 17

WASHINGTON, DC — The U.S. Postal Service is canceling the dedication ceremony for the Fruits & Vegetables stamps, previously announced for July 17, due to social distancing guidance during the coronavirus pandemic.

These new Forever stamps will still be available for purchase on July 17. A follow-up announcement for the stamps will be made prior to the release date.

Updated June 17th:

Here are the first-day postmarks for this issue: The Digital Color Postmark measures 2.97″ x 1.49″ The pictorial postmark measures 2.69″ x 1.19″

Updated June 5th from the Postal Bulletin:

On July 17, 2020, in Charleston, WV, the United States Postal Service® will issue the Fruits & Vegetables stamps (Forever® priced at the First-Class Mail® rate) in 10 designs, in a pressure-sensitive adhesive (PSA) booklet of 20 stamps (Item 682700). The stamps will go on sale nationwide July 17, 2020, and must not be sold or canceled before the first-day-of-issue. The Fruits & Vegetables booklet of 20 stamps may not be split and the stamps may not be sold individually.

The Postal Service™ captures the classic beauty of still-life paintings in a booklet of 20 stamps featuring 10 different portraits of fruits and vegetables. Each stamp features a collection of one kind of fruit or vegetable:

• Red and black plums,
• Heirloom and cherry tomatoes,
• Carrots,
• Lemons,
• Blueberries,
• Red and green grapes,
• Lettuces,
• Strawberries,
• Eggplants, and
• Figs.

Art director Derry Noyes designed the stamps with existing art by Robert Papp.

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 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 – Fruits & Vegetables 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 November 17, 2020.

Technical Specifications:

Issue: Fruits & Vegetables Stamps
Item Number: 682700
Denomination & Type of Issue: First-Class Mail Forever
Format: Double-sided Booklet of 20 (10 designs)
Series: N/A
Issue Date & City: July 17, 2020, Charleston, WV 25301
Art Director: Derry Noyes, Washington, DC
Designer: Derry Noyes, Washington, DC
Exising Art: Robert Papp, Quakertown, PA
Modeler: Sandra Lane/Michelle Finn
Manufacturing Process: Offset
Printer: Banknote Corporation of America
Press Type: Alprinta 74
Stamps per Booklet: 20
Print Quantity: 200,000,000 stamps
Paper Type: Phosphor Tagged Paper, Block
Adhesive Type: Pressure-sensitive
Processed at: Banknote Corporation of America
Colors: Cyan, Magenta, Yellow, Black
Stamp Orientation: Vertical
Image Area (w x h): .77 x 1.05 in./ 19.558 x 26.670 mm
Overall Size (w x h): .91 x 1.19 in./23.114 x 30.226 mm
Full Booklet Size (w x h): 5.743 x 2.375 in./145.872 x 60.325 mm
Plate Size: 800 stamps per revolution
Plate Numbers: “B” followed by four (4) single digits in peel strip area
Marginal Markings: Header: Fruits & Vegetables Twenty First-Class Forever Stamps • Plate number in peel strip area • ©2019 USPS in peel strip area • USPS logo • Barcode • Promotional text in peel strip area

From the U.S. Postal Service announcement on October 22, 2019:

The Postal Service celebrates hip hop with four new stamps in a pane of 20. Since its inception more than four decades ago, the electrifying music, dance and art movement has profoundly influenced American and global popular culture. The stamp art features photographs taken by Cade Martin that depict four elements of hip hop: MCing (rapping), b-boying (breakdancing), DJing and graffiti art. The bold, digitally tinted images are intended to appear in motion. The words “Forever” and “USA,” “Hip Hop,” and the name of the element featured appear across the top of each stamp. Art director Antonio Alcalá designed the stamps, which are highlighted with a vivid yellow, green, red and black color scheme. The title of the stamps, printed in red and black, is centered on the top of the pane.

These stamps will be issued Wednesday, July 1, in New York, NY (a change from the date given in the USA Philatelic catalogue).

Here are the Scott catalogue numbers for this issue:

5480 (55¢) Hip Hop – MC with microphone rapping
5481 (55¢) Hip Hop – B-boy dancing
5482 (55¢) Hip Hop – Graffiti art
5483 (55¢) Hip Hop – DJ at turntable
a. Block or vert. strip of 4, #5480-5483

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

Updated May 28th:

The USPS says there will be no first-day ceremony for this isue, but it will till go on sale on July 1^st.

From the Postal Bulletin:

On July 1, 2020, in New York, NY, the United States Postal Service® will issue the Hip Hop stamps (Forever® priced at the First-Class Mail® rate) in four designs, in a pressure-sensitive adhesive (PSA) pane of 20 stamps (Item 476500). The stamps will go on sale nationwide July 1, 2020, and must not be sold or canceled before the first-day-of-issue. The Hip Hop pane of 20 stamps may not be split, and the stamps may not be sold individually.

The Postal Service™ celebrates hip hop with four new stamps in a pane of 20. Since its inception more than four decades ago, the electrifying music, dance, and art movement has profoundly influenced American and global popular culture. The stamp art features photographs taken by Cade Martin that depict four elements of hip hop:

• MC-ing (rapping),
• B-boying (break dancing),
• DJ-ing, and
• Graffiti art.

The bold, digitally-tinted images are intended to appear in motion. The words “Forever” and “USA,” “Hip Hop,” and the name of the element featured appear across the top of each stamp. Art director Antonio Alcalá designed the stamps, which are highlighted with a vivid yellow, green, red, and black color scheme. The title of the stamp issuance, printed in red and black, is centered on the top of the pane.

No automatic distribution to post offices.

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 – Hip Hop 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 November 1, 2020.

Technical Specifications:

Issue: Hip Hop Stamps
Item Number: 476500
Denomination & Type of Issue: First-Class Mail Forever
Format: Pane of 20 (4 designs)
Series: N/A
Issue Date & City: July 1, 2020, New York, NY 10199
Art Director: Antonio Alcalá, Alexandria, VA
Designer: Antonio Alcalá, Alexandria, VA
Typographer: Antonio Alcalá, Alexandria, VA
Photographer: Cade Martin, Bethesda, MD
Modeler: Joseph Sheeran
Manufacturing Process: Offset
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)
Stamp Orientation: Vertical
Image Area (w x h): 0.84 x 1.42 in./21.336 x 36.068 mm
Stamp 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 7.45 in./150.368 x 189.23 mm
Press Sheet Size (w x h): 11.84 x 22.35 in./ 300.736 x 567.69 mm
Colors: PMS 7549 C Yellow, PMS Black 6 C, Cyan, Magenta, Yellow
Plate Size: 240 stamps per revolution
Plate Number: “P” followed by five (5) single digits
Marginal Markings:
Front: Header: Hip Hop • Plate number in bottom two corners
Back: • ©2019 USPS • USPS logo • Two barcodes (476500) • Promotional text • Plate position diagram (6)

Here are the first-day postmarks for this issue: The Digital Color Postmark for this issue measures 2.60″ x 1.31″ The pictorial postmark measures 2.70″ x 1.20″

From the U.S. Postal Service announcement on October 22, 2019:

With the release of the Enjoy the Great Outdoors Forever stamps, the Postal Service celebrates the many ways individuals experience America’s abundance of natural beauty. These hand-sketched and painted designs depict five different scenes of outdoor activities — building a sand castle, hiking, cross-country skiing, canoeing and biking. Art director Derry Noyes designed the stamps with original art by Gregory Manchess.

Here are the Scott catalogue numbers for this issue:

5475 (55¢) Enjoy the Great Outdoors – Child building sandcastle
5476 (55¢) Enjoy the Great Outdoors – Canoeing
5477 (55¢) Enjoy the Great Outdoors – Hiking
5478 (55¢) Enjoy the Great Outdoors – Bicycling
5479 (55¢) Enjoy the Great Outdoors – Cross-country skiing
a. Vert. strip of 5, #5475-5479

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

Updated June 12th:
The USPS says there will be a virtual first-day ceremony for this issue:

[press release]
U.S. Postal Service Announces Virtual Dedication Ceremony for Enjoy the Great Outdoors Stamps

What: The Postal Service celebrates the many ways we appreciate the natural world with a virtual event on Facebook and Twitter to introduce the Enjoy the Great Outdoors stamps. These Forever stamps will be released June 13 in panes of 20.

News of the stamps is being shared with the hashtag#GreatOutdoorsStamps.

These stamps will be available for purchase at Post Office locations nationwide and at usps.com/outdoors.

Who: John M. Barger, U.S. Postal Service Board of Governors
David Vela, deputy director, National Park Service, exercising the authority of the director

Where: The virtual stamp event will be posted on the Postal Service’s Facebook and Twitter pages.

When: Saturday, June 13, 11 a.m. EDT.

How to View:
Facebook
If you choose to watch a virtual Postal Service stamp event through your mobile device:

1. Download the Facebook app from your phone’s app store. (If you already have the app, go to step 3.)
2. Sign in to your Facebook account.
3. In the search box, type USPS.
4. Select “Pages” and click the “Like” button for “US Postal Service.”(Note: You must “Like” USPS to be able to view the virtual event.)
5. Once you have liked USPS, go to the USPS Facebook page.
6. Scroll down the page until you see “Posts.”
7. Click on the event. (Note: If you are experiencing technical difficulties or the event doesn’t start exactly at the scheduled time and you don’t see the livestream, keep refreshing your page until it becomes available.)
8. Jump down, spin around, throw the dog a bone. No, sorry, we made this one up. Go have a drink. You’ll need it if you made it this far.

If you choose to watch a virtual Postal Service stamp event through your desktop or laptop, sign in to your Facebook account.

1. In the search box, type USPS.
2. Select “Pages” and click the “Like” button for “US Postal Service.”(Note: You must “Like” USPS to be able to view the virtual event.)
3. Once you have liked USPS, go to the USPS Facebook page.
4. Scroll down the page until you see “Posts.”
5. Click on the event. (Note: If you are experiencing technical difficulties or the event doesn’t start exactly at the scheduled time and you don’t see the livestream, keep refreshing your page until it becomes available.)

Twitter
Mobile view: Open Twitter app. If you don’t have a Twitter account, you can download the Twitter app and create your own account, or open twitter.com/USPS from your phone’s web browser. Once the ceremony begins, the virtual event will appear at the top of the USPS Twitter feed. If the ceremony doesn’t appear, keep refreshing the page until the event appears.

Desktop view: Sign in to your Twitter account or open twitter.com/USPS from your computer’s web browser. Once the ceremony begins, the virtual event will appear at the top of the USPS Twitter feed. If the ceremony doesn’t appear, keep refreshing the page until the event appears.

Background:
The Enjoy the Great Outdoors stamps artwork depicts five different scenes of various outdoor activities — building a sandcastle, hiking, cross-country skiing, canoeing and biking. In these hand-sketched and painted designs, artist Gregory Manchess uses light and shadow to evoke a sense of wonder for these remarkable landscapes. Surrounding the pane of 20 stamps is a painting showing trees and the bank of a body of water. The small figures of a canoe in the water and a man standing ashore holding an oar are visible at the top of the selvage. The title “Enjoy the Great Outdoors” appears right above the pane of stamps in white lettering. Derry Noyes, a USPS art director, designed the stamps.

Forever stamps 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.

Updated May 28th:
The USPS says there will not be a first-day ceremony for this issue, but the stamps will still go on sale June 13th.

Updated May 8, 2020 from the Postal Bulletin:
On June 13, 2020, in Incline Village, NV, the United States Postal Service® will issue the Enjoy the Great Outdoors stamps (Forever® priced at the First-Class Mail® rate) in five designs, in a pressure-sensitive adhesive pane of 20 stamps (Item 572800). The stamps will go on sale nationwide June 13, 2020, and must not be sold or canceled before the first-day-of-issue. The Enjoy the Great Outdoors pane of 20 stamps may not be split and the stamps may not be sold individually.

With the release of the Enjoy the Great Outdoors Forever® stamps, the Postal Service™ celebrates the many ways individuals experience America’s abundance of natural beauty. These hand-sketched and painted designs depict five different scenes showing outdoor activities:

• Building a sandcastle,
• Canoeing,
• Hiking,
• Biking, and
• Cross-country skiing.

Art director Derry Noyes designed the stamps with original art by Gregory Manchess.

Automatic distribution to post offices.

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 – Enjoy the Great Outdoors 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 October 13, 2020.

Technical Specifications:

Issue: Enjoy the Great Outdoors Stamps
Item Number: 572800
Denomination & Type of Issue: First-Class Mail Forever
Format: Pane of 20 (5 designs)
Series: N/A
Issue Date & City: June 13, 2020, Incline Village, NV 89451
Art Director: Derry Noyes, Washington, DC
Designer: Derry Noyes, Washington, DC
Artist: Gregory Manchess, Fort Thomas, KY
Modeler: Joseph Sheeran
Manufacturing Process: Offset
Printer: Ashton Potter (USA) Ltd. (APU)
Press Type: Muller A76
Stamps per Pane: 20
Print Quantity: 35,000,000 stamps
Paper Type: Nonphosphored Type III, Block Tag
Adhesive Type: Pressure-sensitive
Processed at: Ashton Potter (USA) Ltd. (APU)
Stamp Orientation: Horizontal
Image Area (w x h): 1.42 x 0.84 in./36.068 x 21.336 mm
Stamp 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 7.65 in./183.896 x 194.31 mm
Press Sheet Size (w x h): 23.2 x 21.97 in./ 589.28 x 558.038 mm
Colors: Black, Cyan, Magenta, Yellow
Plate Size: 180 stamps per revolution
Plate Number: “P” followed by four (4) single digits
Marginal Markings:
Front: Header: Enjoy the Great Outdoors • Plate number in bottom two corners
Back: ©2019 USPS • USPS logo • Two barcodes (572800) • Promotional text • Plate position diagram (9)

Here are the first-day cancels for this issue:The Digital Color Postmark measures 1.85″ x 1.47″ The pictorial postmark measures 1.61″ x 1.27″

Updated April 17th: USA Philatelic [sales catalogue] shows a first-day date of June 13th, a Saturday, at Incline Village, NV.

From the U.S. Postal Service announcement on October 22, 2019:

These stamps celebrate one of the great artistic and literary movements in American history, the Harlem Renaissance of the 1920s, which firmly established African Americans as a vital force in literature and the arts. Twenty stamps showcase four stylized pastel portraits of these literary figures: writer, philosopher, educator and arts advocate Alain Locke; novelist Nella Larsen; bibliophile and historian Arturo Alfonso Schomburg; and poet Anne Spencer. African-inspired motifs are used as background elements of each portrait. The pane header shows a cityscape in silhouette with a sun in its midst and the title “Voices of the Harlem Renaissance.” The artist for these stamps was Gary Kelley. Art director Greg Breeding designed the stamps.

These stamps will be issued Thursday, May 21 in New York City.

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

Updated April 15th:
[press release]
USPS Cancels Dedication Ceremony for Voices of the Harlem Renaissance Stamps
These stamps will still be available for purchase on May 21.

The U.S. Postal Service is canceling the dedication ceremony for the Voices of the Harlem Renaissance Forever stamps, previously announced for May 21, due to social distancing guidance during the coronavirus pandemic.

The Voices of the Harlem Renaissance Forever stamps will still be available for purchase on May 21. A follow-up announcement for the stamps will be made prior to the release date.

Customers may purchase these stamps through the Postal Store at usps.com/shopstamps, by calling 800-STAMP24 (800-782-6724), by mail through USA Philatelic and at Post Office locations nationwide.

Requests for first-day-of-issue postmarks and first-day covers will be processed by:

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

The Postal Service receives no tax dollars for operating expenses and relies on the sale of postage, products and services to fund its operations

Updated April 15th:
Here are the first-day cancels for this issue: The Digital Color Postmark for this issue measures 2.53″ x 1.40″.The pictorial postmark measures 2.48″ x 1.11″ The “special” postmark, for cities other than the first-day city, measures 2.75″ x 1.38″

Updated April 10th from the Postal Bulletin:

On May 21, 2020, in New York, NY, the United States Postal Service® will issue the Voices of the Harlem Renaissance stamps (Forever® priced at the First-Class Mail® rate) in four designs, in a pressure-sensitive adhesive pane of 20 stamps (Item 476400). The stamps will go on sale nationwide May 21, 2020, and must not be sold or canceled before the first-day-of-issue. The Voices of the Harlem Renaissance pane of 20 stamps may not be split and the stamps may not be sold individually.

This issuance celebrates one of the great artistic and literary movements in American history, the Harlem Renaissance of the 1920s, which firmly established African Americans as a vital force in literature and the arts. Twenty stamps showcase four stylized pastel portraits of these literary figures:

• Alain Locke, writer, philosopher, educator, and arts advocate;
• Nella Larsen, novelist;
• Arturo Alfonso Schomburg, bibliophile and historian; and
• Anne Spencer, poet.

African-inspired motifs are used as background elements of each portrait. The pane header shows a cityscape in silhouette with a sun in its midst and the issuance title “Voices of the Harlem Renaissance.” The artist for these stamps was Gary Kelley. Art director Greg Breeding designed the stamps.

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 – Voices of the Harlem Renaissance 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 21, 2020.

Technical Specifications:

Issue: Voices of the Harlem Renaissance Stamps
Item Number: 476400
Denomination & Type of Issue: First-Class Mail Forever
Format: Pane of 20 (4 designs)
Series: N/A
Issue Date & City: May 21, 2020, New York, NY 10199
Art Director: Greg Breeding, Charlottesville, VA
Designer: Greg Breeding, Charlottesville, VA
Typographer: Greg Breeding, Charlottesville, VA
Artist: Gary Kelley, Cedar Falls, IA
Modeler: Sandra Lane/Michelle Finn
Manufacturing Process: Offset
Printer: Banknote Corporation of America
Press Type: Alprinta 74
Stamps per Pane: 20
Print Quantity: 16,000,000 stamps
Paper Type: Phosphor, Block Tag
Adhesive Type: Pressure-sensitive
Processed at: Banknote Corporation of America
Stamp Orientation: Vertical
Image Area (w x h): 0.84 x 1.42 in./ 21.336 x 36.068 mm
Stamp Size (w x h): 0.98 x 1.56 in./24.892 x 39.624 mm
Full Pane Size (w x h): 6 x 9 in./152.4 x 228.6 mm
Colors: Cyan, Magenta, Yellow, Black
Plate Size: 160 stamps per revolution
Plate Number: “B” followed by four (4) single digits
Marginal Markings:
Front: Header: Voices of the Harlem Renaissance • Plate number in bottom two corners
Back: ©2019 USPS • USPS logo • 2 barcodes (476400) • Plate position diagram (8)
• Promotional text

From the U.S. Postal Service announcement on October 22, 2019:

With these stamps the Postal Service celebrates the beauty of American gardens. This pane of 20 stamps features 10 different photographs of botanic, country estate and municipal gardens taken between 1996 and 2014. The gardens include: Biltmore Estate Gardens (North Carolina); Brooklyn Botanic Garden (New York); Chicago Botanic Garden (Illinois); Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens (Maine); Dumbarton Oaks Garden (District of Columbia); The Huntington Botanical Gardens (California); Alfred B. Maclay Gardens State Park (Florida); Norfolk Botanical Garden (Virginia); Stan Hywet Hall & Gardens (Ohio); and Winterthur Garden (Delaware). Art director Ethel Kessler designed the stamps with existing photographs by Allen Rokach.

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

These stamps will be issued Wednesday, May 13th, in Winterthur, Delaware, presumably because of at Winterthur Garden.

Updated May 11th:
There will be a virtual ceremony for these stamps, open to the public, on the day after, Thursday, the 14th. Member Lefty Dundee got the information. See his message below for details (or click on “his message” in this sentence).

Updated March 23rd:
The first-day ceremony for this stamp has been canceled. The stamps will still be issued on May 13th. More details will be announced closer to the issue date.

Updated April 10th from the Postal Bulletin:
On May 13, 2020, in Winterthur, DE, the United States Postal Service® will issue the American Gardens stamps (Forever® priced at the First-Class Mail® rate) in 10 designs, in a pressure-sensitive adhesive pane of 20 stamps (Item 572700). The stamps will go on sale nationwide May 13, 2020, and must not be sold or canceled before the first-day-of-issue. The American Gardens pane of 20 stamps may not be split and the stamps may not be sold individually.

With this issuance, the United States Postal Service celebrates the beauty of American Gardens. This pane of 20 stamps features 10 different photographs of botanic, country estate, and municipal gardens taken between 1996 and 2014. The gardens include:

• Biltmore Estate Gardens (North Carolina);
• Brooklyn Botanic Garden (New York);
• Chicago Botanic Garden (Illinois);
• Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens (Maine);
• Dumbarton Oaks Garden (District of Columbia);
• The Huntington Botanical Gardens (California);
• Alfred B. Maclay Gardens State Park (Florida);
• Norfolk Botanical Garden (Virginia);
• Stan Hywet Hall & Gardens (Ohio); and
• Winterthur Garden (Delaware).

Art director Ethel Kessler designed the stamps with existing photos taken by Allen Rokach.

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 – American Gardens 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, 2020.

Technical Specifications:

Issue: American Gardens Stamps
Item Number: 572700
Denomination & Type of Issue: First-Class Mail Forever
Format: Pane of 20 (10 designs)
Series: N/A
Issue Date & City: May 13, 2020, Winterthur, DE 19803
Art Director: Ethel Kessler, Bethesda, MD
Designer: Ethel Kessler, Bethesda, MD
Typographer: Ethel Kessler, Bethesda, MD
Existing Photos: Allen Rokach
Modeler: Sandra Lane/Michelle Finn
Manufacturing Process: Offset
Printer: Banknote Corporation of America
Press Type: Alprinta 74
Stamps per Pane: 20
Print Quantity: 50,000,000 stamps
Paper Type: Phosphor Tagged Paper, Block
Adhesive Type: Pressure-sensitive
Processed at: Banknote Corporation of America
Colors: Pantone 554, Cyan, Magenta, Yellow, Black
Stamp Orientation: Vertical
Image Area (w x h): 1.42 x 1.085 in./ 36.068 x 27.559 mm
Overall Size (w x h): 1.56 x 1.225 in./39.624 x 31.115 mm
Full Pane Size (w x h): 7.5 x 7.9 in./190.5 x 200.66 mm
Plate Size: 180 stamps per revolution
Plate Number: “B” followed by five (5) single digits
Marginal Markings:
Front: Header: American Gardens • Plate number in bottom two corners
Back: ©2019 USPS • USPS logo • 2 barcodes (572700) • Plate position diagram (9) • Promotional text

From the U.S. Postal Service announcement on October 22, 2019:

Coinciding with the 50th anniversary of Earth Day, the Postal Service issues a stamp featuring a playful painting of the planet, with small green lines surrounding Earth and hand-lettered text. Art director Antonio Alcalá was the stamp artist and designer. Ricky Altizer was the typographer.

The Scott Catalogue number for this issue is 5459.

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

This stamp will be issued Saturday, April 18th, with a Denver first-day postmark. Note that there is no automatic distribution of this stamp to post offices.

Updated April 17th:

[press release]
Celebrate Earth Day with A New Forever Stamp

WASHINGTON, DC — The U.S. Postal Service honors the 50th anniversary of Earth Day by putting its own stamp on raising awareness of our environment and the communities in which we live and serve. The new Earth Day Forever stamp marks five decades of Americans coming together to celebrate the importance of protecting the environment. The stamp will be available for sale nationwide on April 18.

The Postal Service has canceled the first-day-of-issue ceremony for the Earth Day stamp due to social distancing guidance. News of the stamp can be shared using the hashtag #EarthDayStamps.

On the first Earth Day in 1970, millions of people across America joined to rally against pollution. The event quickly developed into an annual tradition. As time passed, educating children about the environment became a priority, with the annual celebration also providing an opportunity for businesses to showcase new goods and services that are mindful of the environment.

Today, Earth Day remains a high-profile day for people around the world to recognize the importance of the planet and the impact of their environmental footprint. The Earth Day Forever stamp is a reminder for both senders and recipients that we share the atmosphere on our planet.

The Earth Day Forever stamp is being issued in booklets of 20 stamps. Art director Antonio Alcalá created the painting of Earth, using gouache on watercolor paper. The design features small green lines surrounding the blue planet. The title of the stamp runs across the top, and the words “Forever” and “USA” appear along the bottom. Ricky Altizer was the typographer. This Forever stamp will always be equal in value to the current First-Class Mail 1-ounce price.

Background
In the 1950s and 1960s, as the dangers of pollution were becoming a common concern, a

Crowds gather by a George Washington statue in Union Square for Earth Day celebrations, New York City, April 22, 1970. (Photo by Hulton Archive/Getty Images)

groundswell of support began for a day to celebrate the planet. It gained further traction in 1969 after what was then the largest oil spill in U.S. history occurred off the coast of Santa Barbara, CA.

Soon after the spill, Sen. Gaylord Nelson (D-WI), a conservationist who championed legislation to protect natural resources, resolved to unite the nation around environmental causes. Senator Nelson inspired thousands of people to organize environmental teach-ins at universities, schools and community centers around the country. April 22, between college spring break and finals, was chosen as the date for a national observance.

USPS has long been a sustainability leader through a variety of policies and programs, including recycling and renewable energy initiatives. The more than 630,000 employees of the Postal Service are “Putting Our Stamp on a Greener Tomorrow,” with more information available at usps.com/green.

Postal Products
Customers may purchase stamps and other philatelic products through the Postal Store at usps.com/shopstamps.

Updated March 23rd:
The first-day ceremony for this stamp has been canceled. The stamp will still be issued on April 18th. More details will be announced closer to the issue date.

Updated March 13th:
What do you think of the design?

Updated March 12th:
Here are the first-day cancels for this issue: The Digital Color Postmark measures 2.92″ x 1.36″ The pictorial postmark measures 2.42″ x 1.19″

Updated March 12th from the Postal Bulletin:
On April 18, 2020, in Denver, CO, the United States Postal Service® will issue the Earth Day stamp (Forever® priced at the First-Class Mail® rate) in one design, in a pressure-sensitive adhesive (PSA) booklet of 20 stamps (Item 682600). The stamp will go on sale nationwide April 18, 2020, and must not be sold or canceled before the first-day-of-issue.

Coinciding with the 50th anniversary of Earth Day, the stamp features a playful painting of the planet, with small green lines surrounding Earth and hand-lettered text. Art director Antonio Alcalá was the stamp artist and designer. Ricky Altizer was the typographer.

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 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 – Earth Day 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 August 18, 2020.

Technical Specifications:

Issue: Earth Day Stamp
Item Number: 682600
Denomination & Type of Issue: First-Class Mail Forever
Format: Double-sided Booklet of 20 (1 design)
Series: N/A
Issue Date & City: April 18, 2020, Denver, CO 80202
Art Director: Antonio Alcalá, Alexandria, VA
Designer: Antonio Alcalá, Alexandria, VA
Typographer: Ricky Altizer, Alexandria, VA
Artist: Antonio Alcalá, Alexandria, VA
Modeler: Sandra Lane/Michelle Finn
Manufacturing Process: Offset, Microprint
Printer: Banknote Corporation of America
Press Type: Alprinta 74
Stamps per Booklet: 20
Print Quantity: 175,000,000 stamps
Paper Type: Phosphor Tagged Paper, Block
Adhesive Type: Pressure-sensitive
Processed at: Banknote Corporation of America
Colors: Cyan, Magenta, Yellow, Black
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 Booklet Size (w x h): 5.743 x 2.375 in./145.872 x 60.325 mm
Plate Size: 800 stamps per revolution
Plate Numbers: “B” followed by four (4) single digits in peel strip area
Marginal Markings: Header: EARTH DAY Twenty First-Class Forever Stamps • Plate number in peel strip area • ©2019 USPS in peel strip area • Barcode • Promotional text in peel strip area

From the U.S. Postal Service announcement on October 22, 2019:

The Postal Service introduces Garden Corsage, a new 2-ounce stamp. This stamp can accommodate the weight of heavy invitations for birthdays, weddings, anniversaries and other celebrations, oversize greeting cards for all occasions, and mailings such as small gifts that require extra postage. The stamp features a photograph of a corsage containing a spray of peach roses and a pink ranunculus, accented with deep-pink heather and seeded eucalyptus. A cream-colored lace ribbon entwines the flowers. Garden Corsage is similar in design to the Contemporary Boutonniere Forever stamp, and the two form a natural pair. The corsage was arranged by floral designer Carol Caggiano and photographed by Renée Comet. Art director Ethel Kessler designed the stamp.

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

This stamp was issued Thursday, April 2nd, in Crestwood, Kentucky.

The Scott Catalogue number for this issue is 5458.

Updated April 16th:
Here are the first-day cancels for this issue:The Digital Color Postmark measures 2.85″ x 1.38″ The pictorial postmark measures 2.64″ x 0.95″

Updated March 23rd:
The first-day ceremony for this stamp has been canceled. The stamp will still be issued on April 2nd. More details will be announced closer to the issue date.

Updated March 12th:
Technical Specifications:

Issue: Garden Corsage Stamp
Item Number: 585900
Denomination & Type of Issue: 2-Ounce Rate, Non-denominated, Mail Use
Format: Pane of 20 (1 design)
Series: N/A
Issue Date & City: April 2, 2020, Crestwood, KY 40014
Art Director: Ethel Kessler, Bethesda, MD
Designer: Ethel Kessler, Bethesda, MD
Typographer: Ethel Kessler, Bethesda, MD
Photographer Renée Comet, Washington, DC
Modeler: Joseph Sheeran
Manufacturing Process: Offset, Microprint
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
Processed at: Ashton Potter (USA) Ltd. (APU)
Stamp Orientation: Horizontal
Image Area (w x h): 1.05 x 0.77 in./26.67 x 19.558 mm
Stamp Size (w x h): 1.19 x 0.91 in./30.226 x 23.114 mm
Full Pane Size (w x h): 5.76 x 5.55 in./146.304 x 140.97 mm
Colors: Black, Cyan, Magenta, Yellow, PMS Cool Gray 7 C
Plate Size: 320 stamps per revolution
Plate Numbers: “P” followed by five (5) single digits in four corners
Marginal Markings: Plate position diagram (8) • 2 Barcodes (585900) • ©2019 USPS • USPS logo • Promotional text

Updated March 6th:
Here are the first-day cancels for this issue:The Digital Color Postmark measures 2.72″ x 1.41″ The pictorial measures 2.39″ x 1.22″

Updated March 4th:
[press release]
Save the Date: Boutonniere and Corsage Stamps Arrive in April
New Stamps Perfect for Mailing Wedding and Other Invitations

WHAT: The U.S. Postal Service introduces two stamps for many of life’s special moments. The Contemporary Boutonniere Forever stamp and the Garden Corsage 2-ounce stamp form a natural pair.

The first-day-of-issue event for these stamps is free and open to the public. News of the stamps is being shared with the hashtags #BoutonniereStamp and #CorsageStamp.

WHO: David E. Williams, chief operating officer and executive vice president, U.S. Postal Service

WHEN: Thursday, April 2, 2020, at 11 a.m. ET

WHERE:
Yew Dell Botanical Gardens
6220 Old LaGrange Road
Crestwood, KY 40014

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

Background: These new stamps reflect the organic style popular for today’s floral designs. Photographs of a boutonniere and corsage were used as the artwork for these chic stamps.

The Contemporary Boutonniere stamp is well suited for RSVP envelopes included inside wedding invitations. It is also a perfect touch for thank-you notes and announcements, in addition to regular correspondence. The 2-ounce Garden Corsage stamp can accommodate the weight of heavy invitations, oversize greeting cards, and mailings that require extra postage.

The flower arrangements in both of these designs create beautiful botanical presentations.

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.

Updated February 27th:

On April 2, 2020, in Crestwood, KY, the United States Postal Service® will issue the Garden Corsage stamp (Non-denominated priced at the 2-ounce rate) in one design, in a pressure-sensitive adhesive (PSA) pane of 20 stamps (Item 585900). The stamp will go on sale nationwide April 2, 2020, and must not be sold or canceled before the first-day-of-issue.

The United States Postal Service introduces Garden Corsage, a new 2-ounce stamp for all of life’s special moments. This stamp can accommodate the weight of:

• Heavy invitations for birthdays, weddings, anniversaries, and other celebrations;
• Oversize greeting cards for all occasions; and
• Mailing small gifts that require extra postage.

The stamp art features a photograph of a corsage containing a spray of peach roses and a pink ranunculus, accented with deep-pink heather and seeded eucalyptus. A cream-colored lace ribbon entwines the flowers. Garden Corsage is similar in design to the Contemporary Boutonniere Forever stamp, and the two form a natural pair. The corsage was arranged by floral designer Carol Caggiano, and photographed by Renée Comet. Art director Ethel Kessler designed the stamp.

No automatic distribution to post offices.

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 – Garden Corsage 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 August 2, 2020.

Technical Specifications are not yet available.

Updated February 25th:
The first-day ceremony will be held at 11 a.m. at Yew Dell Botanical Gardens, 6220 Old LaGrange Road in Crestwood.

You can reserve a space here.

From the U.S. Postal Service announcement on October 22, 2019:

Contemporary Boutonniere is a new Forever stamp similar in design to the new 2-ounce Garden Corsage stamp. It can be used for wedding RSVP cards and is also perfect for party invitations, thank-you notes, announcements, birthday cards, Father’s Day cards and other occasions when a beautiful stamp is fitting. The stamp features a photograph of an arrangement of a burgundy mini-cymbidium orchid bloom, a succulent and a touch of green hydrangea, accented with loops of variegated lily grass. These materials are on trend for today’s modern designs, as arranged by floral designer Carol Caggiano and photographed by Renée Comet. Art director Ethel Kessler designed the stamp.

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

This stamp was issued Thursday, April 2nd, in Crestwood, Kentucky.

The Scott Catalogue number for this issue is 5457.

Updated March 23rd:
The first-day ceremony for this stamp has been canceled. The stamp will still be issued on April 2nd. More details will be announced closer to the issue date.

Updated March 6th:
Here are the first-day postmarks for this issue:The Digital Color Postmark measures 2.98″ x 1.35″ The pictorial postmark measures 2.62″ x 0.96″

Updated March 4th:
[press release]
Save the Date: Boutonniere and Corsage Stamps Arrive in April
New Stamps Perfect for Mailing Wedding and Other Invitations

WHAT: The U.S. Postal Service introduces two stamps for many of life’s special moments. The Contemporary Boutonniere Forever stamp and the Garden Corsage 2-ounce stamp form a natural pair.

The first-day-of-issue event for these stamps is free and open to the public. News of the stamps is being shared with the hashtags #BoutonniereStamp and #CorsageStamp.

WHO: David E. Williams, chief operating officer and executive vice president, U.S. Postal Service

WHEN: Thursday, April 2, 2020, at 11 a.m. ET

WHERE:
Yew Dell Botanical Gardens
6220 Old LaGrange Road
Crestwood, KY 40014

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

Background: These new stamps reflect the organic style popular for today’s floral designs. Photographs of a boutonniere and corsage were used as the artwork for these chic stamps.

The Contemporary Boutonniere stamp is well suited for RSVP envelopes included inside wedding invitations. It is also a perfect touch for thank-you notes and announcements, in addition to regular correspondence. The 2-ounce Garden Corsage stamp can accommodate the weight of heavy invitations, oversize greeting cards, and mailings that require extra postage.

The flower arrangements in both of these designs create beautiful botanical presentations.

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.

Updated February 25th:
The first-day ceremony will be held at 11 a.m. at Yew Dell Botanical Gardens, 6220 Old LaGrange Road in Crestwood.

You can reserve a space here.

From the February 27th Postal Bulletin:

On April 2, 2020, in Crestwood, KY, the United States Postal Service® will issue the Contemporary Boutonniere stamp (Forever® priced at the First-Class Mail® rate) in one design, in a pressure-sensitive adhesive (PSA) pane of 20 stamps (Item 572300). The stamp will go on sale nationwide April 2, 2020, and must not be sold or canceled before the first-day-of-issue.

Contemporary Boutonniere is similar in design to the 2-ounce Garden Corsage stamp, and can be used for:

• Wedding RSVP cards and party invitations;
• Thank-you notes and announcements;
• Birthday cards;
• Father‘s Day cards, or any occasion when a beautiful stamp is needed.

The stamp art features a photograph of a burgundy mini-cymbidium orchid bloom, a succulent, and a touch of green hydrangea, accented with loops of variegated lily grass. Each of these materials are right on trend for today’s modern designs. The boutonniere was arranged by floral designer Carol Caggiano, and photographed by Renée Comet. Art director Ethel Kessler designed the stamp.

No automatic distribution to post offices.

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 – Contemporary Boutonniere 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 August 2, 2020.

Technical Specifications:

Issue: Contemporary Boutonniere Stamp
Item Number: 572300
Denomination & Type of Issue: First-Class Mail Forever
Format: Pane of 20 (1 design)
Series: N/A
Issue Date & City: April 2, 2020, Crestwood, KY 40014
Art Director: Ethel Kessler, Bethesda, MD
Designer: Ethel Kessler, Bethesda, MD
Typographer: Ethel Kessler, Bethesda, MD
Photographer Renée Comet, Washington, DC
Modeler: Joseph Sheeran
Manufacturing Process: Offset, Microprint
Printer: Ashton Potter (USA) Ltd. (APU)
Press Type: Muller A76
Stamps per Pane: 20
Print Quantity: 200,000,000 stamps
Paper Type: Nonphosphored Type III, Block Tag
Adhesive Type: Pressure-sensitive
Processed at: Ashton Potter (USA) Ltd. (APU)
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 Pane Size (w x h): 5.55 x 5.76 in./140.97 x 146.304 mm
Colors: Black, Cyan, Magenta, Yellow, PMS Cool Gray 7 C
Plate Size: 320 stamps per revolution
Plate Numbers: “P” followed by five (5) single digits in four corners
Marginal Markings: Plate position diagram (8) • 2 Barcodes (572300) • ©2019 USPS • USPS logo • Promotional text

From the U.S. Postal Service announcement on October 22, 2019:

This stamp celebrates the 200th anniversary of Maine statehood. Nicknamed the Pine Tree State, Maine became the 23rd state in the Union on Mar. 15, 1820. American painter Edward Hopper (1882-1967) was among the many prominent artists who sought the tranquility of the state’s coastal towns during the summer. His painting “Sea at Ogunquit” (1914) captures the rugged beauty characteristic of Maine. Art director Derry Noyes designed the stamp.

Issue date: Sunday, March 15th.

The Scott Catalogue number for this issue is 5456.

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

Updated April 26^th:
Linn’s Stamp News reports the first-day ceremony has been rescheduled for September 27th, at the Augusta Armory. It will again be part of the overall state bicentennial event.

Updated March 13^th:

Ceremony postponed!

[press release]
Maine Statehood Stamp Dedication Ceremony Postponed
Stamp will still available for purchase starting Sunday, March 15.

The U.S. Postal Service dedication of the Maine Statehood Forever stamp, scheduled for March 15, 2020, will be delayed due to the postponement of the host event, the Maine Statehood Day Ceremony in Augusta, ME. The Maine Statehood Forever stamp will still be available for purchase starting Sunday, March 15.

The Maine Bicentennial Commission noted that it would reschedule the Statehood celebration for a date when everyone can safely come together to join in observing 200 years of Maine statehood.

The Postal Service will schedule a special dedication for the Maine Statehood Forever stamp at a later date that will likely coincide with the Statehood Day ceremony as planned.

Customers may still purchase the stamps starting Sunday, March 15…

Updated February 24^th:
[press release / ceremony details]
U.S. Postal Service to Issue Maine Statehood Forever Stamp March 15

What: The U.S. Postal Service celebrates the 200th anniversary of Maine statehood with a new Forever stamp. Maine became the 23rd state on March 15, 1820.

The picturesque rocky coastline of Maine has long inspired the imagination of writers and artists. American painter Edward Hopper (1882-1967) was among the many prominent artists who sought the tranquility of the state’s coastal towns during the summer. His painting “Sea at Ogunquit” (1914) captures the rugged beauty so characteristic of Maine and is being represented on the stamp, which art director Derry Noyes designed.

The stamp dedication event will be part of the Maine Statehood Day Ceremony activities.

Who: Michael J. Elston, Secretary of the Board of Governors, U.S. Postal Service
Janet Mills, Governor, State of Maine
Matthew Dunlap, Secretary of State, Maine

When: Sunday, March 15, 2020, 1 p.m. EDT

Where: Augusta Armory
179 Western Ave.
Augusta, ME 04330

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

Background:
Maine celebrates its bicentennial in 2020, but its history of human habitation dates back some 12,000 years to the earliest Native Americans, who are now part of the Wabanaki Confederacy. During the Colonial period, Maine territory was disputed between Massachusetts Bay Colony and French Acadia, who sought allies among and warred against Native Americans. Following the Revolutionary War and ratification of the U.S. Constitution, the District of Maine remained part of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. Maine became an independent state on March 15, 1820. Portland, the state’s largest city then and now, served as the capital until 1827 when the seat of government moved to Augusta, a more geographically central location.

Customers may purchase stamps and other philatelic products through The Postal Store at usps.com/shopstamps, by calling 800-STAMP24 (800-782-6724), by mail through USA Philatelic or at Post Office locations nationwide.

Updated February 13, 2020:
This stamp will be issued Sunday, March 15th, in Augusta, Maine. This is a change from what was initially announced.

From the Postal Bulletin:

On March 15, 2020, in Augusta, ME, the United States Postal Service® will issue the Maine Statehood stamp (Forever® priced at the First-Class Mail® rate) in one design, in a pressure-sensitive adhesive pane of 20 stamps (Item 476100). The stamp will go on sale nationwide March 15, 2020, and must not be sold or canceled before the first-day-of-issue.

This stamp celebrates the 200th anniversary of Maine statehood. Nicknamed the Pine Tree State, Maine became the 23rd state in the Union on March 15, 1820. American painter Edward Hopper (1882–1967) was among the many prominent artists who sought the tranquility of the state’s coastal towns during the summer. His painting Sea at Ogunquit (1914) captures the rugged beauty so characteristic of Maine. Art director Derry Noyes designed the stamp.

Availability to Post Offices: Item 476100, Maine Statehood (Forever Priced at the First-Class Mail Rate) Pane of 20 Stamps. Automatic push.

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 – Maine Statehood 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 July 15, 2020.

Technical Specifications:

Issue: Maine Statehood Stamp
Item Number: 476100
Denomination & Type of Issue: First-Class Mail Forever
Format: Pane of 20 (1 design)
Series: Statehood
Issue Date & City: March 15, 2020, Augusta, ME 04330
Art Director: Derry Noyes, Washington, DC
Designer: Derry Noyes, Washington, DC
Typographer: Derry Noyes, Washington, DC
Existing Art: Edward Hopper
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)
Stamp Orientation: Horizontal
Image Area (w x h): 1.42 x 0.84 in./36.068 x 21.336 mm
Stamp 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
Colors: Black, Cyan, Magenta, Yellow
Plate Size: 240 stamps per revolution
Plate Numbers: “P” followed by four (4) single digits in four corners
Marginal Markings: Plate position diagram (6) • 2 Barcodes (476100) • ©2019 USPS • USPS logo
• Promotional text

Here are the first-day postmarks for this issue:The Digital Color Postmark (DCP) measures 2.76″ x 1.46″ The B&W Pictorial Postmark measures 2.64″ x 1.24″