Monthly Archives: July 2024

Norman Jewison (Canada 2024)

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[press release] [click on any of the pictures for larger versions]
New stamp celebrates acclaimed filmmaker Norman Jewison
Stamp issue honours the works and contributions of the award-winning director and Canadian Film Centre founder

TORONTO – Canada Post is pleased to unveil its latest stamp, which commemorates the life and work of genre-spanning Canadian filmmaker Norman Jewison (1926-2024). The director of such classics as In the Heat of the Night (1967), Fiddler on the Roof (1971) and Moonstruck (1987) was one of Hollywood’s most prolific filmmakers, who earned nominations for Best Director at the Academy Awards in three consecutive decades.

Jewison began his directorial career in television with CBC in 1951 before directing his first feature film, the Tony Curtis comedy 40 Pounds of Trouble in 1962. His masterful blend of style and substance was evident throughout his films, which often tackled major social justice issues and shone a light on the experiences of marginalized communities. Jewison was awarded with the Irving G. Thalberg Memorial Award at the Oscars in 1999 for his body of work. He passed away earlier this year at the age of 97.

Jewison is the latest silver-screen icon recognized with a stamp by Canada Post, joining the likes of Donald Sutherland, Monique Mercure, Mary Pickford, Christopher Plummer, Mike Myers and Denys Arcand. The stamp was unveiled at an event hosted at the Canadian Film Centre in Toronto, which was founded by Jewison and serves as a training ground and incubator for Canadian talent.

Photo below from the ceremony: From left to right: Rick Mercer, Canadian comedian and television personality, Lynne St. David Jewison, Norman Jewison’s wife, Charles Sousa, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Public Services and Procurement and Member of Parliament for Mississauga-Lakeshore, and Doug Ettinger, Canada Post’s Chief Executive Officer, at the Norman Jewison stamp unveiling event in Toronto, on July 24, 2024. (Photo: Carlos Osorio, courtesy Canada Post)

About the stamp issue
The stamp image was photographed at the Canadian Film Centre in 2007 by photographer Peter Bregg for HELLO! Canada. The image was selected by Jewison himself, who was closely involved in the creation of the stamp. One of his fondest memories was being sworn in by the postmaster as a teenager, so he could work in the post office of his father’s general store. Printed by Lowe-Martin, the stamp issue includes a booklet of six Permanent™ domestic rate stamps and an Official First Day Cover [below].The new stamp and collectibles are now available for purchase at canadapost.ca and postal outlets across Canada.

Initial announcement of Jewison on July 20th:
[press release] [click on any of the pictures for larger versions]
Canada Post to honour acclaimed filmmaker Norman Jewison with a new stamp

Canada Post invites you to the unveiling of a new commemorative stamp, celebrating the life and legacy of genre-spanning Toronto-born filmmaker Norman Jewison, C.C. (1926-2024), on Wednesday, July 24.

Photo right by Canadian Film Centre from Toronto, Ontario. taken by Gail Harvey.

One of Hollywood’s most prolific filmmakers, Norman Jewison directed some of the most popular movies of our time – including multiple-Academy Award winners In the Heat of the Night (1967) and Moonstruck (1987). He made some 60 films and television productions over his long career, received four Oscar nominations for Best Picture, was awarded the Irving G. Thalberg Memorial Award in 1999 for his body of work.

This private event will take place at the Canadian Film Centre in Toronto, which was established by Jewison, and serves as a training ground and incubator for Canadian talent.

WHAT: Norman Jewison stamp unveiling event

WHEN: Wednesday, July 24; doors open at 2 pm ET and event starts at 2:30 pm ET

WHERE: The Canadian Film Centre, Northern Dancer Pavilion
2489 Bayview Avenue, North York, Ontario

[en Francais pour les médias d’information]
Postes Canada rendra hommage au grand cinéaste Norman Jewison avec le lancement d’un timbre

Postes Canada vous invite au dévoilement d’un nouveau timbre commémoratif qui rend hommage à la vie et à l’héritage du cinéaste éclectique natif de Toronto Norman Jewison, C.C. (1926-2024), le mercredi 24 juillet.

L’un des cinéastes les plus prolifiques de Hollywood, Norman Jewison a réalisé certains des films les plus populaires de notre époque, y compris Dans la chaleur de la nuit (1967) et Éclair de lune (1987), qui lui ont valu plusieurs Academy Awards. Il a signé quelque 60 films et productions télévisées, obtenu quatre nominations aux Oscars dans la catégorie du meilleur film et reçu le Irving G. Thalberg Memorial Award en 1999 pour l’ensemble de son œuvre.

Cet événement privé aura lieu au Canadian Film Centre à Toronto. Établi par Norman Jewison, il s’agit d’un lieu de formation et d’une pépinière pour les talents canadiens.

QUOI : Dévoilement du timbre consacré à Norman Jewison

QUAND : Le mercredi 24 juillet; les portes ouvriront à 14 h (HE) et l’événement débutera à 14 h 30 (HE).

OÙ : Canadian Film Centre, Northern Dancer Pavilion
2489, avenue Bayview, North York (Ontario)

Plethora of Postmarks for Great American Stamp Show

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There will be at least two pictorial postmarks for each day of Great American Stamp Show 2024 in August 15-18 in Hartford, Conn., and sometimes more.

One set of postmarks for each day of the show are for the “GASS Station.” A second set, for the “Americover Station,” was created by the American First Day Cover Society, one of the co-sponsors of the show. The only “official” show cachets for GASS are from the AFDCS.

You can click on any of the illustrations to see a larger version.

All eight postmarks were designed by Martin Kent Miller, editor of the journals of GASS co-sponsors the AFDCS and the American Topical Association and a professional marketing and graphics consultant.

Here are the four GASS Station postmarks:

When Americover was the independent show and convention of the AFDCS, a different pictorial postmark was available for each day of the show, and that tradition has continued now that Americover is part of GASS.

The Thursday, August 15, Americover postmark is “Celebrating Public Art in America,” in concordance with the American Philatelic Society’s “Stamp Soiree” at the Wadsworth Atheneum art museum that evening. The postmark, which measures 2.83- by 1.71-inches, may also be used on first day covers of the U.S. Pinback Buttons stamps that are being issued that day.

The GASS 2024 show cachet, by award-winning professional artist and Connecticut native Chris Calle, will show a variety of the pinback buttons produced since the first Americover in 1993.

Friday August 16’s postmark honors Hartford’s Charter Oak, the legendary tree that is a symbol of American independence. The U.S. Postal Service is issuing its Autumn Colors stamps that day, and no doubt, before it fell in an 1856 storm, the Charter Oak’s leaves turned colors in the fall. That postmark is 2.95- by 1.56-inches.

Calle’s cachet for Friday also depicts the Charter Oak tree, and the 1935 stamp and commemorative coin that honored it.

 

 

 

On Saturday, when the GASS Cachetmakers Bourse will be held, the Americover Station postmark notes National Cachetmakers Day. This one is 2.91- by 1.69-inches. The show cover cachet by Calle commemorates the 250th anniversary of the First Continental Congress (for which a stamp will be issued in September) and Connecticut’s delegate to it, Roger Sherman. He also was a member of the committee that drafted the Declaration of Independence, and a key Founding Father of the U.S.

The 10-cent stamp shown in the cachet is one of four issued by the U.S. Postal Service in 1974 as part of its Bicentennial celebration

 

 

Sunday’s Americover Station postmark, measuring 2.92- by 1.69-inches, is “Celebrating Heroes of the Batter’s Box.” Calle’s cachet artwork honors Hartford resident Samuel Clemens, better known as author Mark Twain, who was an avid baseball fan and supported local teams. The Hartford Dark Blues were a charter member of the National League in 1876-77, a few years after Clemens moved to the city. (The Hartford Yard Goats, a professional minor league (Double-A) baseball team affiliated with the Colorado Rockies, will be playing at home during GASS 2024.)

Both Miller and Calle will be at Great American Stamp Show for all four days. Calle, in fact, has a station at the AFDCS booth where he will be available to chat with collectors and sign autographs. Miller will be splitting his time between the ATA and AFDCS booths.

In addition, the U.S. Postal Service has its own postmarks for the two issues that will be released during the show, Pinback Buttons

And Autumn Colors

Thursday’s show postmarks may be used on first day covers of Pinback Buttons, and Friday’s on Autumn Colors FDCs, but Friday’s may not be used on the stamps issued the day before (that is, creating a bogus “early release” FDC for Pinback Buttons).

The AFDCS will be selling unserviced cacheted envelopes and already-serviced covers like this one, both at its booth and, after the show, by mail.

Dungeons & Dragons (UK 2024)

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[press release] [click on any of the pictures for larger versions]
Royal Mail Celebrates 50 Years Of Dungeons & Dragons

  • Issue date: 25 July
  • A stunning set of 14 stamps features monsters and characters from the World’s Greatest Roleplaying Game®
  • The stamps have been illustrated by British artist Wayne Reynolds, with 11 of the illustrations never-before-seen for the stamp issue
  • The stamps and a range of collectible products are available to pre-order at www.royalmail.com/dnd and by telephone on 03457 641641

Royal Mail has revealed striking images of 14 Special Stamps being issued to celebrate 50 years since the creation of the World’s Greatest Roleplaying Game, Dungeons & Dragons (D&D).

D&D is often cited as the first modern role-playing game, and it is currently estimated there are over 64 million fans worldwide. It is hugely popular in the UK.

All 14 stamps in the set have been illustrated by British artist Wayne Reynolds, with 11 images being specially commissioned for this set. Reynolds has previously produced illustrations for various D&D games, handbooks and guides for more than 20 years.

The main set of eight stunning stamps features a selection of iconic monsters from the game: Red Dragon, Owlbear, Vecna, Gelatinous Cube, Mind Flayer, Mimic, Displacer Beast and Beholder.

When an ultraviolet light is shone over the stamps in the main set, a special surprise will be revealed.

Four stamps show the D&D ampersand logo. The other four show a graphic that is relevant to the monster featured on the stamp – Red Dragon (dragon head), Vecna (skull), Mimic, and the Beholder. Each of these four fluorescent graphics was created for the 50th anniversary.

A further six stamps, presented in a miniature sheet, depict dynamic images of a party of adventuring heroes that might be played in the game, including: Tiefling Rogue, Human Bard, Halfling Cleric, Elf Fighter, Dwarf Paladin and Dragonborn Wizard.

David Gold, Director of External Affairs and Policy said: “For fifty years, Dungeons & Dragons has enabled millions of fans across the world to enjoy using their imaginations and immersing themselves in a magical world. We are delighted that this creative and exciting role-playing game is celebrated using Britain’s Wayne Reynolds’ unique illustrations.”

Dan Rawson, Global Play Lead, Dungeons & Dragons at Wizards of the Coast: said; “Building on Hasbro’s existing work with Royal Mail, we’re honoured to release this beautiful collection of stamps, officially approved by HM King Charles III, in celebration of the 50th anniversary of the World’s Greatest Roleplaying Game. With stunning art from long-time Dungeons & Dragons artist Wayne Reynolds showcasing our adventuring heroes and fearsome creatures, we’re sure these items will be treasured by D&D fans and stamp collectors alike.”

Artist, Wayne Reynolds, said: “Being asked to design the Dungeons & Dragons stamps for Royal Mail was a massive honour for me. As a British artist it was a wonderful opportunity to be able to contribute artwork that I’d created as a long-running D&D fantasy artist to something I consider to be an iconic institution. I get the opportunity to see my artwork on stamp!”

First published in 1974, D&D was originally designed by Gary Gygax and Dave Arneson in Wisconsin, USA. Introduced to the UK in 1975, it has since become the World’s Greatest Roleplaying Game.

The worlds, monsters and gameplay of D&D have influenced popular fantasy tropes in film, television, video games and beyond.

The stamps, and a range of collectible products, are available to pre-order at www.royalmail.com/dnd and by telephone on 03457 641 641. A Presentation Pack including all 14 stamps is priced at £24.40. The stamps go on general sale on 25 July.

From VSC: Royal Mail are offering a wide range of “philatelic products,” including the usual all-one-design sheets and half-sheets, framed stamps, postcards and a prestige booklet. No platinum ingots! None of the items is priced above £25 (about US$32.43).

Also available are a Dragons medal cover, £19.99Monsters medal cover, £19.99
Collector’s Sheet £20.45 first day covers for the stamps, £19.15
and the minisheet, £10.40
but also a “Prestige Cover,” £3.35.
The alternate postmark for the FDCs is Dragonsville, Durham. Also offered are the Red Dragon Ingot, £24.99 and the Beholder Ingot, also £24.99.

AFDCS Announces Americover 2024 Postmarks

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These are subject to approval by the US Postal Service and will be available at Great American Stamp Show 2024. The first two may be used on first day covers for Pinback Buttons and Autumn Colors, respectively.

Americover was the independent show and FDC celebration of the American First Day Cover Society from 1993 through 2019. It was slated to become part of Great American Stamp Show in 2020, but that was pushed back by a year because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Updated July 16th:
Due to concerns about copyrights, the Sunday postmark has been revised:

AFDCS Declares National Cachetmakers Day

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[press release]

AFDCS Declares National Cachetmakers Day
Saturday August 17, 2024 to Coincide with GASS Cachetmakers Bourse

American First Day Cover Society president Lloyd A. de Vries has issued a Presidential Proclamation, designating Saturday, August 17, as National Cachetmakers Day. It coincides with the cachetmakers bourse at Great American Stamp Show 2024 in Hartford, Conn., and a special postmark will be available at the show. [shown on right]

“Every day is ‘national something day’ — usually several somethings —and apparently anyone can proclaim such a designation,” explains de Vries. “I am the AFDCS president, so that makes this a Presidential Proclamation.”

First day covers are like a birth certificate for a stamp, with the postmark for the first day that the stamp or postal stationery was available for sale. In many countries, the postal agency produces these “FDCs” but in the U.S., collectors are encouraged to do so themselves.

Cachets are the designs on the envelopes or cards used for first day covers. The cachets add to the theme or subject of the stamp or postal issue, either with clever artwork, interesting information or in some cases, neither. Cachets started appearing on envelopes as advertising around the time of the U.S. Civil War, and the first intended specifically for first day covers was created in 1923.

“We’re having fun,” says de Vries, a cachetmaker himself. “I’m sure not doing it for the money.”

The AFDCS is the largest not-for-profit first day cover society in the world, with members in more than a dozen countries. It publishes an award-winning journal, First Days, six times a year, as well as handbooks, catalogues and You-Tube videos; holds fundraising auctions; is a co-sponsor of the annual Great American Stamp Show, conducts an annual cachetmaking contest; and encourages philatelic exhibiting and writing about FDCs.

For more information about the AFDCS, visit www.afdcs.org, e-mail afdcs@afdcs.org or write the AFDCS at Post Office Box 27, Greer, SC 29652-0027.

afdcs_cmkr_proclamation

Thank You Healthcare Community (US 2024)

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Note further down that the date of issue was changed from October 1 to 3 and anyone who had registered to attend the event must re-register.

Announced July 9th:

[press release] [click on any of the pictures for larger versions]
USPS Announces Thank You Healthcare Community Stamp
Stamp to Be Issued in Conjunction with U.S. Dept. of Health and Human Services

WASHINGTON, DC — The U.S. Postal Service today announced it will pay tribute to the health care community with a new commemorative Forever stamp.

In conjunction with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, USPS will recognize health care workers, who dedicate their lives to protect our health, safety and well-being, often at great personal risk.
The artwork consists of health-related icons spelling out the stacked words “thank you” against a pristine white background. Running across the lower right edge of the stamp are the words “Healthcare” in gray and “Community” in surgical green.

Bryan Duefrene was the art director and stamp designer.

The Thank You Healthcare Community stamp will be issued in panes of 20. As a Forever stamp, it will always be equal in value to the current First-Class Mail 1 ounce price.

The official release date and stamp dedication ceremony location will be announced later.

News of the stamp is being shared with the hashtag #ThankYouHealthcareStamp.

New information will appear below the line, with latest at the top.

Updated November 5th:
The Scott catalogue number for this issue is 5947.

Updated September 5th:
Here are the first-day postmarks for this issue:The Digital Color Postmark measures 2.23″ x 1.51″ The Pictorial Postmark measures 2.75″ X 1.06″

Updated August 22nd:
On October 1, 2024, in Washington, DC, the United States Postal Service® will issue the Thank You, Healthcare Community stamp (Forever® priced at the First-Class Mail® rate), in one design, in a pressure-sensitive adhesive (PSA) pane of 20 stamps (Item 485800). This stamp will go on sale nationwide October 1, 2024, and must not be sold or canceled before the first-day-of-issue.

With this stamp, sold in a pane of 20, the Postal Service™ pays tribute to the healthcare community, whose members, sometimes at great personal risk, dedicate their lives to our health, safety, and well-being. The artwork consists of health-related icons spelling out the stacked words “Thank you” against a pristine white background. Running across the lower right edge of the stamp are the words “Healthcare” in gray and “Community” in surgical green. Bryan Duefrene was the art director and stamp designer.

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 store.usps.com/store/home. 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 – Thank You, Healthcare Community 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 1, 2025.

Technical Specifications:

Issue: Thank You, Healthcare Community Stamp
Item Number: 485800
Denomination & Type of Issue: First-Class Mail Forever
Format: Pane of 20 (1 design)
Series: N/A
Issue Date & City: October 1, 2024, Washington, DC 20066
Art Director: Bryan Duefrene, Washington, DC
Designer: Bryan Duefrene, Washington, DC
Modeler: Sandra Lane / Michelle Finn
Manufacturing Process: Offset, Microprint
Printer: Banknote Corporation of America
Press Type: Alprinta 74
Stamps per Pane: 20
Print Quantity: 20,000,000
Paper Type: Phosphor, Block Tag
Adhesive Type: Pressure-sensitive
Colors: Cyan, Magenta, Yellow, Black, PMS Cool Gray 8C, PMS 2413C
Stamp Orientation: Horizontal
Image Area (w x h): 1.4200 x 0.8400 in. / 36.0680 x 21.3360 mm
Overall Size (w x h): 1.5600 x 0.9800 in. / 39.6240 x 24.8920 mm
Full Pane Size (w x h): 7.2400 x 6.5000 in. / 183.8960 x 165.1000 mm
Press Sheets Size (w x h): 21.7200 x 19.7500 in. / 551.6880 x 501.6500 mm
Plate Size: 180 stamps per revolution
Plate Number: “B” followed by six (6) single digits in bottom two corners
Marginal Markings:
Front: Header: Thank You, Healthcare Community • Plate number in bottom two corners
Back: © 2024 USPS • USPS Logo • Two barcodes (485800) • Plate position diagram (9) • Promotional text

Updated August 19th:
The stamp will be issued Tuesday, October 1, with a ceremony in Washington attended by the Postmaster General and the Secretary of HHS:

[press release] [click on any of the pictures for larger versions]
Healthcare Community Recognized on New Forever Stamp

What: Together with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, the U.S. Postal Service will pay tribute to the healthcare community with a new commemorative Forever stamp.

The first-day-of-issue event is free and open to the public. News of the stamp is being shared with the hashtag #ThankYouHealthcareStamp.-

Who:
• Louis DeJoy, postmaster general and chief executive officer of the U.S. Postal Service
• Xavier Becerra, secretary of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services-

When: Tuesday, Oct. 3, at 2:30 p.m. EDT.   Change in date “due to a scheduling conflict.”

Where:
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services [right]
Hubert H. Humphrey Building
200 Independence Ave. SW
Washington, DC 20201

RSVP: Anyone who previously registered for the event will need to re-register at usps.com/thankyouhealthcarecommunitystamp by 5:00 p.m. on Oct. 2. Each person must register individually.

Background: The healthcare community encompasses physicians, surgeons, dentists, nurses, midwives, pharmacists, lab technicians, orderlies, home health aides, hospital custodians and emergency medical workers, among others. It also includes public health professionals such as epidemiologists, microbiologists and data analysts. USPS will recognize the healthcare community, as these individuals dedicate their lives to protect our health, safety and well-being, often at great personal risk.

The stamp artwork consists of health-related icons spelling out the stacked words “thank you” against a pristine white background. Running across the lower right edge of the stamp are the words “Healthcare” in gray and “Community” in surgical green.

Bryan Duefrene was the art director and stamp designer.

The Thank You Healthcare Community stamp will be issued in panes of 20. As a Forever stamp, it will always be equal in value to the current First-Class Mail 1 ounce price.

Updated July 16th:
The new issue of Philatelic, the Postal Service’s philatelic catalogue, has a poster that puts this stamp in the fourth quarter of this year.

Scott U.S. Catalogue Update (July 2024)

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5854 Photographs by Ansel Adams pane of 16
a. (68¢) Half Dome, Merced River, Winter, Yosemite National Park, California, 1938
b. (68¢) Oak Tree, Sunset City, Sierra Foothills, California, 1962
c. (68¢) Thundercloud, Ellery Lake, High Sierra, Sierra Nevada, California, 1934
d. (68¢) Denali and Wonder Lake, Denali National Park, Alaska, 1947
e. (68¢) The Golden Gate and Bridge from Baker Beach, San Francisco, California,1953
f. (68¢) Road and Fog, Del Monte Forest, Pebble Beach, California, 1964
g. (68¢) Rock and Grass, Moraine Lake, Sequoia National Park, California, 1936
h. (68¢) Leaves, Mount Rainier National Park, Washington, c. 1942
i. (68¢) Monument Valley, Arizona, 1958
j. (68¢) Tetons and Snake River, Grand Teton National Park, Wyoming, 1942
k. (68¢) Jeffrey Pine, Sentinel Dome, Yosemite National Park, California, 1940
l. (68¢) Mirror Lake, Mount Watkins, Spring, Yosemite National Park, California, 1935
m. (68¢) Maroon Bells, near Aspen, Colorado, 1951
n. (68¢) Aspens, Dawn, Autumn, Dolores River Canyon, Colorado, 1937
o. (68¢) Road After Rain, Northern California, 1960
p. (68¢) Dunes, Oceano, California, 1963
q. As #5854, imperforate
r. As #5854a, imperforate
s. As #5854b, imperforate
t. As #5854c, imperforate
u. As #5854d, imperforate
v. As #5854e, imperforate
w. As #5854f, imperforate
x. As #5854g, imperforate
y. As #5854h, imperforate
z. As #5854i, imperforate
aa. As #5854j, imperforate
ab. As #5854k, imperforate
ac. As #5854l, imperforate
ad. As #5854m, imperforate
ae. As #5854n, imperforate
af. As #5854o, imperforate
ag. As #5854p, imperforate