Announced by the USPS on January 11th:
Painted flags can be found on barns in almost every region of the United States. Four colorful pencil and watercolor illustrations of flags on barns grace the latest issuance of stamps available for bulk-mail users. The barns are set in landscapes inspired by the seasons and different regions of the United States. The stamps will be sold in self-adhesive coils of 3,000 and 10,000. Stephanie Bower designed and illustrated the stamps. Antonio Alcalá was the art director.
The Scott catalogue numbers for this issue:
5684 Flag on Red Barn Near Well
5685 Flag on White Barn in Winter
5686 Flag on White Barn with Gambrel Roof
5687 Flag on Barn Near Windmill
a. Horiz. coil strip of 4 #5684-5687
Additional information will be posted below the line, with the most recent info near the top.
Updated April 6th:
Collectors may order strips of 25 of either the 3,000- or 10,000-stamp coils; the order numbers are 751103 and 761203, respectively, at $2.50 each. You cannot order this stamp online (except for the FDCs): You must call the order line at 1-844-737-7826. Note that there is a limit of 4 of one of these strips (but you can order 4 of each strip-of-25).
Updated March 10th:
On April 14, 2022, in Halifax, PA, the United States Postal Service® will issue the Flags on Barns stamps (Non-denominated priced at the Presorted Standard Rate of 10 cents) in four designs, in pressure-sensitive adhesive (PSA) coils of 3,000 stamps (Item 751100) and 10,000 stamps (Item 761200). The stamps will go on sale nationwide April 14, 2022, and must not be sold or canceled before the first-day-of-issue.
Flags on Barns stamps feature four Presorted Standard stamps intended for use by bulk mailers. The illustrator used pencil and watercolors on watercolor paper to create the original stamp art. Each stamp features a barn with a large American flag painted on one side. The barns are set in landscapes inspired by the seasons and different regions of the United States. Illustrator Stephanie Bower designed the stamps and created the original art. Antonio Alcalá was the art director.
Item 751100, Flags on Barns (Non-denominated Priced at the Presorted Standard Rate of 10 Cents) PSA Coil of 3,000 Stamps
Item 761200, Flags on Barns (Non-denominated Priced at the Presorted Standard Rate of 10 Cents) PSA Coil of 10,000 Stamps
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 – Flags on Barns Stamps
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 14, 2022.
Technical Specifications — Coil of 3,000:
Issue: Flags on Barns Stamps
Item Number: 751100
Denomination & Type of Issue: 10-cent Presorted Standard, Mail-use
Format: Coil of 3,000 (4 designs)
Series: N/A
Issue Date & City: April 14, 2022, Halifax, PA 17032
Art Director: Antonio Alcalá, Alexandria, VA
Designer: Stephanie Bower, Seattle, WA
Ilustrator: Stephanie Bower, Seattle, WA
Modeler: Joseph Sheeran
Manufacturing Process: Offset
Printer: Ashton Potter
Press Type: Muller A76
Stamps per Coil: 3,000
Print Quantity: 30,000,000 stamps
Paper Type: Nonphosphored Type III
Adhesive Type: Pressure-sensitive
Colors: Black, Cyan, Magenta, Yellow, PMS Cool Gray 7C
Stamp Orientation: Horizontal
Image Area (w x h): 0.84 x 0.73 in./21.336 x 18.542 mm
Stamp Size (w x h): 0.98 x 0.87 in./24.892 x 22.098 mm
Plate Size: 576 stamps per revolution
Plate Number: “P” followed by five (5) single digits
Coil Number Frequency: Plate number every 24th stamp below stamp image
Technical Specifications — Coil of 10,000:
Issue: Flags on Barns Stamps
Item Number: 761200
Denomination & Type of Issue: 10-cent Presorted Standard, Mail-use
Format: Coil of 10,000 (4 designs)
Series: N/A
Issue Date & City: April 14, 2022, Halifax, PA 17032
Art Director: Antonio Alcalá, Alexandria, VA
Designer: Stephanie Bower, Seattle, WA
Ilustrator: Stephanie Bower, Seattle, WA
Modeler: Joseph Sheeran
Manufacturing Process: Offset
Printer: Ashton Potter
Press Type: Muller A76
Stamps per Coil: 10,000
Print Quantity: 1,000,000,000 stamps
Paper Type: Nonphosphored Type III
Adhesive Type: Pressure-sensitive
Colors: Black, Cyan, Magenta, Yellow, PMS Cool Gray 7C
Stamp Orientation: Horizontal
Image Area (w x h): 0.84 x 0.73 in./21.336 x 18.542 mm
Stamp Size (w x h): 0.98 x 0.87 in./24.892 x 22.098 mm
Plate Size: 576 stamps per revolution
Plate Number: “P” followed by five (5) single digits
Coil Number Frequency: Plate number every 24th stamp below stamp image
Updated January 13th:
These stamps will be issued April 14 without a first-day ceremony. The designated city is Halifax, Pa.
I am confused.
You talk about Flags On Barns stamps. Fine and dandy.
Then you picture four OTHER Barns without Scott numbers.
Are these for sale? #5550 etc?
You’re not the one who was confused; I was. Or half-asleep. I put up the wrong pictures (of last year’s Barns postcard-rate stamps). It’s been fixed now. I’m surprised no one else brought it to my attention before now. Thanks.
Always enjoy talking with yu. You give such good information. Helpful to us. Thanks.
Charlie
Is there any way to distinguish a stamp from the 3000-stamp coil from its corresponding one from the 10000-stamp coil? Will they have different Scott Numbers?
The illustrations above show the stamps abutting on the backing strip, but on both the actual strips there is a space between; how so? And, their serpentine edges look identical.
I’m told the numbers on the back of the stamp selvage differentiates the coil sizes. Yes, I was surprised, too, in that the stamps were separated. I was expecting to put strips of 4 on my FDCs, but had to place each stamp individually. It took hours more than expected. I’ve also been told this separation is normal for bulk-mailing stamps, because the machines the mass-mailers use find separated stamps easier to affix.
Thank you for picturing the correct Barns with Flags stamps; however, there Scott order number is incorrect. Currently shown are from left to right: 5686, 5687. 5684 and 5685.
Thank you. I just used the illustration the USPS provided when the stamps were announced, and did not try to coordinate them with the listing. I should have.