Announced November 1, 2021:
The Sunflower Bouquet 2-ounce stamp features an array of sunflowers, irises and other small flowers priced to accommodate the weight of heavy invitations, oversize greeting cards and other mailings that require extra postage. The Sunflower Bouquet stamp is similar in design to the new Tulips Forever stamp, and the two form a natural pair. The stamp was designed by art director Ethel Kessler, with digital photography by Harold Davis.
Additional information will be posted below the line, with the newest at the top.
Updated May 2nd: The Scott catalogue number for this issue is 5682.
Updated February 16th:
Here is the Digital Color Postmark for this issue:I
It measures 2.0″ x 1.45″.
There is no pictorial postmark for this issue, just the FIRST DAY OF ISSUE “killer bar.”
Updated February 10th:
On March 24, 2022, in Lawrence, KS, the United States Postal Service® will issue the Sunflower Bouquet stamp (priced at the Non-denominated, 2-ounce mail rate) in one design, in a pressure-sensitive adhesive (PSA) pane of 20 stamps (Item 578300). This stamp will go on sale nationwide, March 24, 2022 and must not be sold or canceled before the first-day-of-issue.
This stamp features a still life image of several orange-and-yellow sunflowers intermingled with irises, dahlias, echinacea (coneflowers), and other small red, purple, white, and pink flowers against a white background. As a 2-ounce stamp, Sunflower Bouquet can accommodate the weight of heavy invitations for birthdays, weddings, anniversaries, and other celebrations; oversized greeting cards; and mailings such as small gifts that require extra postage. This stamp is similar in design to the Tulips Forever® stamp, also issued in 2022, and the two form a natural pair. Art director Ethel Kessler designed the stamp, which features digital photography by Harold Davis.
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. Each cover must have sufficient postage to meet First-Class Mail® requirements. 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 – Sunflower Bouquet 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 24, 2022.
Technical Specifications:
Issue: Sunflower Bouquet Stamp
Item Number: 578300
Denomination & Type of Issue: 2-Ounce Rate, Non-denominated, Mail Use
Format: Pane of 20 (1 design)
Series: N/A
Issue Date & City: March 24, 2022, Lawrence, KS 66044
Art Director: Ethel Kessler, Bethesda, MD
Designer: Ethel Kessler, Bethesda, MD
Existing Photo: Harold Davis, Berkeley, CA
Modeler: Sandra Lane / Michelle Finn
Manufacturing Process: Offset, Microprint
Printer: Banknote Corporation of America
Press Type: Gallus RCS
Stamps per Pane: 20
Print Quantity: 35,000,000 stamps
Paper Type: Phosphor, Block Tag
Adhesive Type: Pressure-sensitive
Colors: Cyan, Magenta, Yellow, Black, Pantone 272, Pantone 7417
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 Pane Size (w x h): 5.55 x 5.76 in./140.97 x 146.304 mm
Plate Size: 160 stamps per revolution
Plate Numbers: “B” followed by six (6) single digits in four corners
Marginal Markings:
Front: Plate number in bottom four corners
Back: ©2021 USPS • USPS logo • 2 barcodes (578300) • Plate position diagram (8) • Promotional text
Updated December 25th:
Linn’s Stamp News reports this issue will be released March 24, with no “headquarters” first-day ceremony. The first-day city is Lawrence, Kansas.
Will first day covers be available for this Sunflower stamp in Lawrence KS
Yes, both from the USPS and from individual “cachetmakers.” However, if you mean will they be available IN Lawrence on the first day of issue (March 24th), the answer is “probably not,” since no “headquarters” ceremony is planned and there’s been no word yet on a local event.
Unless there is a Stamp Club at Univ. of KS, in Lawrence, I dought it. The folks at The Caves in KC MO are too busy to drive out to Lawrence KS, with all of the media & USPS stuff for a FDoI ceremony. Oh well…
Stamp Fulfillment Services (“The Caves”) doesn’t stage first-day ceremonies. That’s a Headquarters decision.
From USA Philatelic 2022 Q1 USPS# 5783xx #04 Pn-20 $15.60, #16 FDC $1.33, #21 DCP $2.18
Same Info and FDoI postmarks in FEB 10 Post Bull.
Does anyone know what happened to this issue?
There’s apparently a glitch in the USPS.com system that around the day of issue and sometimes longer, in the transition between “not yet available” and “now available,” stamps show up as sold out or no longer available. Try again. If it persists, let us know.