Announced by the USPS on January 11th:The extraordinarily versatile Shel Silverstein (1930–1999) was one of the 20th century’s most imaginative authors and illustrators. His picture book “The Giving Tree” and his quirky poetry collections are beloved by children everywhere. The stamp art features a version of the illustration of a boy catching an apple that appears on the cover of “The Giving Tree.” Published in 1964, the best-selling tale of selflessness is considered a children’s literature classic. Art director Derry Noyes designed the stamp.

Wikipedia’s biography of Shel Silverstein.

The Scott catalogue number for this issue is 5683.

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

Updated March 30th:
Here are the designs for the first-day postmarks: The Digital Color Postmark measures 2.26″ x 1.45“. The Pictorial Postmark postmark measures 2.37″ x 1.24“. The “Special” postmark is for use only by post offices after the first-day. We do not have a measurement for it.

Updated March 10th:
On April 8, 2022, in Chicago, IL, the United States Postal Service® will issue the Shel Silverstein stamp (Forever® priced at the First-Class Mail® rate) in one design, in a pressure-sensitive adhesive (PSA) pane of 20 stamps (Item 481900). This stamp will go on sale nationwide April 8, 2022, and must not be sold or canceled before the first-day-of-issue.

This issuance honors Shel Silverstein (1930–1999), one of the 20th century’s most imaginative authors and illustrators. The stamp features Silverstein’s drawing of a boy catching an apple, a version of which appears on the cover of his picture book The Giving Tree, a story about a friendship between a motherly tree and a boy. Art director Derry Noyes designed the stamp.

No automatic distribution.

There is a special cancellation for this issue that local post offices may use after the first-day [right].

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 – Shel Silverstein 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 8, 2022.

Technical Specifications:

Issue: Shel Silverstein Stamp
Item Number: 481900
Denomination & Type of Issue: First-Class Mail Forever
Format: Pane of 20
Series: N/A
Issue Date & City: April 8, 2022, Chicago, IL 60607
Art Director: Derry Noyes, Washington, DC 20008
Designer: Derry Noyes, Washington, DC 20008
Typographer: Derry Noyes, Washington, DC 20008
Artist: Shel Silverstein
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 Tagged
Adhesive Type: Pressure-sensitive
Colors: Pantone 360 C, Black 6 C, 364 C, 186 C
Stamp Orientation: Vertical
Image Area (w x h): 0.84 x 1.42 in/21.336 x 36.068 mm
Overall 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 7.24 in/150.368 x 183.896 mm
Press Sheet Size (w x h): 22.75 x 27.00 in/577.85 x 685.80 mm
Plate Size: 240 stamps per revolution
Plate Number: “P” followed by four (4) single digits
Marginal Markings:
Front: Plate number in 4 corners
Back: ©2022 USPS • USPS logo • Two barcodes (481900) • USPS logo • Promotional text • Plate position diagram (6)

Updated March 7th:
The date of issue is confirmed and first-day ceremony details released:

[press release] [click on the picture for a larger versions]
USPS To Release Shel Silverstein Stamp

WHAT: The U.S. Postal Service will honor author and illustrator Shel Silverstein with a Forever stamp featuring artwork from his book, “The Giving Tree.” The first-day-of-issue event will be held at the school Shel Silverstein attended, Chicago’s Darwin Elementary School.

The first-day-of-issue event for the Shel Silverstein Forever stamp is free and open to the public. News of the stamp is being shared with the hashtag #ShelSilversteinStamp.

WHO: Judy de Torok, vice president of corporate affairs, U.S. Postal Service

WHEN: Friday, April 8, 2022, at 11 a.m. CDT

WHERE:
Darwin Elementary School
3116 W. Belden Ave.
Chicago, IL 60647

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

Background: The extraordinarily versatile Shel Silverstein (1930–1999) was one of the 20th century’s most imaginative authors and illustrators.

“The Giving Tree,” published in 1964 by Harper & Row, is about a friendship between a motherly tree and a boy. As the child grows older, the tree gives him its shade, apples, branches and trunk. The story ends with the boy, now an old man, returning to rest against the tree’s stump. The best-selling tale of selflessness, which is accompanied by the author’s elegantly simple black-and-white illustrations, is considered a classic of children’s literature.

Silverstein’s zany, self-illustrated books of poetry are similarly revered. “Where the Sidewalk Ends” (1974), “A Light in the Attic” (1981), “Falling Up” (1996) and “Every Thing On It” (2011) feature clever and, at times, playfully nonsensical verse that is adored by young people all over the world. Children are enthralled by Silverstein’s poetry, which is full of fantastical imagery and often deals with the joys and fears of childhood. The four distinctive collections of poetry were best-sellers. The New York Times named “Where the Sidewalk Ends” an Outstanding Book of 1974; Silverstein’s album version of the book earned a Grammy Award for Best Recording for Children.

The multi-talented Silverstein also wrote and illustrated books for adult readers. He recorded his own songs in addition to writing hits for other artists. Silverstein’s music has appeared in many films. In the 1980s, he wrote plays performed off-Broadway in New York. He died in May 1999 at his home in Key West, FL.

In 2002, Silverstein was inducted into the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame. Three of Silverstein’s books have been published posthumously: “Runny Babbit” (2005), a children’s story chock full of clever spoonerisms; “Every Thing On It”; and “Runny Babbit Returns” (2017). His diverse body of work, which has been translated into 47 languages, remains beloved by adults and children alike.

Updated February 28th:
Foster Miller reports in The Stamp Collecting Forum that this stamp will be issued April 8 in Chicago, with an actual ceremony.