Collector’s Set Update February 20th: I received my set yesterday, not quite the “available February 1st” advertised. I bought one because I needed the four sheets of War of 1812 stamps that were included (for my own FDCs), and because I wanted one of those FDC cards that has the Digital Color Postmark that’s available only in the set. I have to admit it’s a little disappointing: It’s 4″x6″, very thin cardstock, and there is nothing on it besides the four stamps and postmark. Still, no regrets at buying the set.

Scott catalogue number added February 2nd: 4952.

Collector’s Set Update January 20th: The USPS website shows the set (described below) as “discontinued.” The set IS still available; Headquarters is checking with “our IT people” to see why it can’t be ordered on the website. Update January 22nd: It’s back on the site. Apparently, this is a long-running glitch when an item is moved from “presale” to “onsale.”

First Day Postmarks (better versions added January 22nd):

This postmark measures 2.26″ x 0.96″.
This postmark measures 2.93″ x 1.29″.

First Day of Issue: Thursday, January 8, 2015, in New Orleans. update December 4th: at the Chalmette Battlefield outside New Orleans in Chalmette, La. Will the postmark read “Chalmette” or “New Orleans?” We’ve asked.

[updated December 23rd] There will be a special War of 1812 product for collectors. See below. Also, there will be a special dedication at 1 pm at the Andrew Jackson’s Hermitage in Nashville on the same day. A postmark will be offered (below), but this will not be a first-day ceremony. There is nothing about the stamp yet on The Hermitage’s website, but it does promise free admission that day (and you can order tickets on the website). The stamp ceremony is in the auditorium of the Andrew Jackson Center.

Fourth and final stamp in the series, and of course it will be issued in New Orleans. That’s Andrew Jackson on horseback. This is an original painting by Greg Harlin, who also designed 2014’s Battle of Fort McHenry stamp. Below are the designs for the full sheet. Both the small vignette of Jackson on the reverse (by John Vanderlyn) and the “selvage” illustration on the front of the sheet (Oliver Pelton) are in the Library of Congress: The War of 1812 Limited Edition Collector’s Set This $59.95 product will include all four sheets of War of 1812 stamps (face value $39.20), a card with a special Digital Color Postmark that won’t be available otherwise, a book about the War and the stamps, and a certificate numbered and signed by series art director Greg Breeding. It’s a limited edition of 3,000. Preorders hopefully will begin January 1st, but this set probably won’t be available until February 1st – meaning not in time for sale at the first day ceremony. (However, experienced FDC servicers know they can obtain first-day cancels for months after the issue date.)

From the December 11th Postal Bulletin:

On January 8, 2015, in Chalmette, Louisiana, the U.S. Postal Service will issue The War of 1812: Battle of New Orleans (Forever First-Class Mail stamp priced at 49-cents), in one design, in a pressure-sensitive adhesive (PSA) pane of 20 stamps (Item 589100). The War of 1812: Battle of New Orleans $9.80 pane of 20 stamps may not be split, and the stamps may not be sold individually.

The stamp will go on sale nationwide January 8, 2015.

In 2015, the Postal Service concludes its commemoration of the War of 1812, a conflict with Great Britain that many Americans viewed as the nation’s “Second War of Independence.” The subject of this final stamp is Andrew Jackson’s triumphant victory over the British on January 8, 1815, at the Battle of New Orleans. Illustrated with mixed media by noted historical painter Greg Harlin, the stamp art depicts American troops and artillery repelling British forces from behind a mile-long defensive earthwork known as Jackson’s line. A portrait of Andrew Jackson in his military uniform, by artist John Vanderlyn (1775–1852), appears on the reverse of the stamp pane. A nineteenth century depiction of the battle by Oliver Pelton appears on the front of the pane above the selvage text. The stamp pane also includes verso text. Art director Greg Breeding designed the stamp and pane.

How to Order the First-Day-of-Issue Postmark:
Customers have 60 days to obtain the first-day-of-issue postmark by mail. They may purchase new stamps at their local Post Office, at The Postal Store website at http://www.usps.com/shop, or by calling 800-STAMP-24. They should affix the stamps to envelopes of their choice, address the envelopes (to themselves or others), and place them in a larger envelope addressed to:

The War of 1812: Battle of New Orleans Stamp
Marketing Manager
701 Loyola Avenue #10003
New Orleans, LA 70113-9996

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. For more than 50, customers have to pay five cents each. All orders must be postmarked by March 9, 2015.

There are ten philatelic products for this stamp issue:

• 589106 Press Sheet with Die cuts, $49.00 (print quantity 500).
• 589108 Press Sheet without Die cuts, $49.00 (print quantity 1,000).
• 589110 Digital Color Postmark Keepsake, $11.95.
• 589116 First-Day Cover, $0.93.
• 589118 Full Pane, First-Day Cover, $12.30.
• 589119 Cancelled Full Pane, $12.30.
• 589121 Digital Color Postmark, $1.64.
• 589130 Ceremony Program, $6.95.
• 589131 Stamp Deck Card, $0.95.
• 589132 Stamp Deck Card with Digital Color Postmark, $1.99.

Technical Specifications:

Issue: The War of 1812: Battle of New Orleans Stamp
Item Number: 589100
Denomination & Type of Issue: First-Class Mail Forever Commemorative
Format: Souvenir Sheet of 20 (1 design)
Series: War of 1812
Issue Date & City: January 8, 2015, Chalmette, LA 70043
Designer: Greg Breeding, Charlottesville, VA
Art Director: Greg Breeding, Charlottesville, VA
Typographer: Greg Breeding, Charlottesville, VA
Artist: Greg Harlin, Annapolis, MD
Engraver: WRE
Modeler: CCL Label, Inc.
Manufacturing Process: Gravure
Printer: CCL Label, Inc.
Printed at: Clinton, SC 29325
Press Type: Dia Nippon Kiko (DNK)
Stamps per Pane: 20
Print Quantity: 30 Million stamps
Paper Type: Phosphor Tagged Paper, Block, Nonphosphored Type III
Adhesive Type: Pressure-sensitive adhesive
Processed at: CCL Label, Inc., Clinton, SC
Colors: Yellow, Magenta, Cyan, Cool Gray, Black
Stamp Orientation: Horizontal
Image Area (w x h): 1.42 x 1.09 in./36.07 x 27.56 mm
Overall Size (w x h): 1.56 x 1.23 in./39.62 x 31.12 mm
Full Pane Size (w x h): 10.25 x 7.25 in./260.35 x 184.15 mm
Press Sheet Size (w x h): 10.25 x 36.25 in./ 260.35 x 920.75 mm
Plate Size: 100 stamps per revolution
Plate Numbers: N/A
Marginal Markings:
Front: Side Header: The War of 1812: Battle of New Orleans • Descriptive Text
Back: © 2014 USPS • USPS logo • Plate position diagram • Barcode (589100) on lower left corner • Promotional text