Tulips (U.S. 2022)

Announced November 1, 2021:

The Tulips Forever stamp features a luminous, almost ethereal assortment of overlapping tulips in red, orange, yellow, purple and white against a bright white background. Similar in design to the 2-ounce Sunflower Bouquet stamp, this stamp can be used on RSVP envelopes often enclosed with wedding invitations. In addition to regular correspondence, it is also perfect for party invitations, thank-you notes and important announcements. This 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 5681.

Updated February 16th:
Here is the Digital Color Postmark for this issue:It measures 2.58″ x 0.99″.

There is no pictorial postmark for this issue, just the FIRST DAY OF ISSUE “killer bar.”

Updated February 10th:

On March 24, 2022, in Mount Vernon, WA, the United States Postal Service® will issue the Tulips stamp (Forever® priced at the First-Class Mail® rate) in one design, in a pressure-sensitive adhesive (PSA) pane of 20 stamps (Item 580200). 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 luminous, almost ethereal assortment of overlapping tulips in red, orange, yellow, purple, and white against a bright white background. Similar in design to the 2-ounce Sunflower Bouquet stamp, also issued in 2022, this Forever stamp can be used on RSVP envelopes often enclosed with wedding invitations. In addition to regular correspondence, Tulips is also perfect for party invitations, thank-you notes, and important announcements. This stamp was designed by art director Ethel Kessler, with 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. 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 – Tulips 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: Tulips Stamp
Item Number: 580200
Denomination & Type of Issue: First-Class Mail Forever
Format: Pane of 20 (1 design)
Series: N/A
Issue Date & City: March 24, 2022, Mount Vernon, WA 98273
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: Alprinta 74
Stamps per Pane: 20
Print Quantity: 200,000,000 stamps
Paper Type: Phosphor, Block Tag
Adhesive Type: Pressure-sensitive
Colors: Cyan, Magenta, Yellow, Black, Pantone 7423, Pantone 7417
Stamp Orientation: Horizontal
Image Area (w x h): 1.05 x 0.77 in./26.67 x 19.558 mm
Overall 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
Plate Size: 320 stamps per revolution
Plate Number: “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 (580200) • 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 Mount Vernon, Washington.

2 thoughts on “Tulips (U.S. 2022)

  1. From USA Philatelic 2022 Q1 USPS# 5802xx #04 Pn-20 $11.60, #16 FDC $1.13, #21 DCP $1.98

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