Announced on January 15th:
This new stamped card for 2021 features an illustration of a mallard drake (Anas platyrhynchos) from preexisting artwork by illustrator and designer Dugald Stermer (1936-2011). The full-body, left-facing profile was created in pencil and watercolor. Art director Ethel Kessler designed the stamped card.
Additional information will appear below the line, with the latest at the top
Updated July 5th:
Here are the Scott catalogue numbers for this issue:
UX648 36¢ postal card
UY55 (36¢+ 36¢) Mallard Duck paid reply postal card
Updated May 28th:
There is only one first-day postmark available for this issue, other than the Circular Date Stamp (CDS):
No specific size is given by Cancellation Services, but the “Killer Bar” FDOI postmark usually measures about 3.25″ x by 1″. The CDS (the “dial” portion of this postmark) is about 1-inch in diameter.
Updated May 7th:
On June 1, 2021, in Fargo, ND, the United States Postal Service® will issue the Mallard Forever® stamped card priced at 40 cents (36-cent postage plus 4-cent surcharge) in one design. These stamped cards will go on sale nationwide June 1, 2021, and must not be sold or canceled before the first-day-of-issue.
The Postal Service™ issues a new stamped card for 2021 featuring an illustration of a mallard drake (Anas platyrhynchos) from pre-existing artwork by famed illustrator and designer Dugald Stermer (1936–2011). The full-body, left-facing profile was created in pencil and watercolor. Art director Ethel Kessler designed the stamped card.
The Mallard stamped card will be available in the following formats:
- Single-cut cards (Item 250600).
- Double-reply cards (Item 250700).
- Sheet of 40 cards (Item 250800).
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 – Mallard Stamped Card
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 1, 2021.
Technical Specifications:
Issue: Mallard Stamped Card
Item Number: 250600
Denomination & Type of Issue: Forever Stamped Card Rate
Format: Single-cut Card
Series: N/A
Issue Date & City: June 1, 2021, Fargo, ND 58102
Art Director: Ethel Kessler, Bethesda, MD
Designer: Ethel Kessler, Bethesda, MD
Existing Art: Dugald Stermer
Modeler: Joseph Sheeran
Manufacturing Process: Offset, Microprint
Printer: Ashton Potter (USA) Ltd. (APU)
Press Type: Heidelberg Speedmaster
Print Quantity: 3,480,000 stamped cards
Paper Type: Nonphosphored Type III, Block Tag
Adhesive Type: N/A
Stamp Orientation: Horizontal
Card Size (w x h): 5.5 x 3.5 in./139.70 x 88.90 mm
Colors: Black, Cyan, Magenta, Yellow
Plate Size: 40 cards per revolution
Plate Number: N/A
Marginal Markings: ©2021 USPS, Recycling logo
Technical Specifications:
Issue: Mallard Stamped Card
Item Number: 250700
Denomination & Type of Issue: Forever Stamped Card Rate
Format: Double-reply Card
Series: N/A
Issue Date & City: June 1, 2021, Fargo, ND 58102
Art Director: Ethel Kessler, Bethesda, MD
Designer: Ethel Kessler, Bethesda, MD
Existing Art: Dugald Stermer
Modeler: Joseph Sheeran
Manufacturing Process: Offset, Microprint
Printer: Ashton Potter (USA) Ltd. (APU)
Press Type: Heidelberg Speedmaster
Print Quantity: 50,000 Double-cut Cards
Paper Type: Nonphosphored Type III, Block Tag
Adhesive Type: N/A
Stamp Orientation: Horizontal
Card Size (w x h): 5.5 x 7.0 in./139.70 x 177.80 mm
Colors: Black, Cyan, Magenta, Yellow
Plate Size: 20 cards per revolution
Plate Number: N/A
Marginal Markings: ©2021 USPS, Recycling logo
Technical Specifications:
Issue: Mallard Stamped Card
Item Number: 250800
Denomination & Type of Issue: Forever Stamped Card Rate
Format: Sheet of 40 Cards
Series: N/A
Issue Date & City: June 1, 2021, Fargo, ND 58102
Art Director: Ethel Kessler, Bethesda, MD
Designer: Ethel Kessler, Bethesda, MD
Existing Art: Dugald Stermer
Modeler: Joseph Sheeran
Manufacturing Process: Offset, Microprint
Printer: Ashton Potter (USA) Ltd. (APU)
Press Type: Heidelberg Speedmaster
Print Quantity: 1,000 sheets of 40 cards
Paper Type: Nonphosphored Type III, Block Tag
Adhesive Type: N/A
Stamp Orientation: Horizontal
Card Size (w x h): 5.5 x 3.5 in./139.70 x 88.90 mm
Colors: Black, Cyan, Magenta, Yellow
Plate Size: 40 cards per revolution
Plate Number: N/A
Marginal Markings: ©2021 USPS, Recycling logo
Updated April 30th:
In reply to an inquiry from The Virtual Stamp Club, the USPS says this will be issued as a single card, a double reply card, and in sheets of 40.
Updated March 17th:
This postcard will be issued June 1. The first day city is Fargo, ND, but no ceremony will be held.
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Truly beautiful. Hopefully full press sheet of card will be available.
It’s odd that it is inscribed “Forever” but is supposedly a postcard stamp.
The “Forever” designation has been extended to more than just the one-ounce letter rate. I wonder, however, whether clerks will recognize when a lower-priced Forever stamp has been used for a more-expensive class of mail, such as using a postcard-rate stamp for a letter. However, that shouldn’t be a problem with this item, since it won’t be used to pay for anything other than mailing a postcard.
I believe this is an actual postcard, not a stamp. So the postcard would be forever.
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1 June Fargo ND
Sales Flyer – Maybe your Postmaster will order some…
https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=4082429258488073&set=p.4082429258488073&type=3
From USA Philatelic Q2 USPS# 2506xx 40c Reply Card 2507xx 80c
In the Post Bull 06 May. Not on Auto-Distrib., 4-bar FDoI cancel, #250610 10-Pack of single cards, #250704 Double reply-card, #250800 Sheet of 40 cards. Single Card 40c ( .36 + .04 ) 4-Bar FDoI FARGO ND 58102. Available for pre-order now on USPS.COM
Hopefully uncut press sheets will be announced and as was the last few issues.
Last few of issues of postcards (“stamped cards”)?
Lloyd, there has been a lot of misunderstanding about this one. Maybe put the image from this website on your blog? https://about.usps.com/newsroom/local-releases/ri/2021/0116-usps-announces-several-additional-stamps-to-be-issued-in-2021.htm
So, everyone can see it’s a stamped post card and not a stamp?
Well, this page’s title is “Mallard Postcard and the listing in the U.S. 2021 is also “Mallard postcard.
Will the new mallard postcard be issued in a reply card format? This is a wonderful examle of what the USPS can do.
Yes. The USPS tells VSC this will be issued as a single card, a double reply card, and in sheets of 40. Thanks for asking me to ask the USPS.
Thank you so much. Please list the USPS order # for uncut sheet of 40 whenever you learn.
USPS order number for uncut sheets listed above.
I have tried several times to purchase the uncut sheets of 40 at SFC and Phili and they replied not available but I have seen cutup blocks of 4 on eBay?