Red Fox (US 2023)

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Announced by the USPS on October 24, 2022.

The handsome face of a red fox (Vulpes vulpes) graces this new 40-cent stamp. Sold in panes of 20 and in self-adhesive coils of 3,000 and 10,000, the stamp is intended for use by bulk mailers for items such as circulars, newsletters and catalogs. It can also be used by customers who enjoy using a variety of stamps on their envelopes and packages. The stamp art features a pencil-and-watercolor illustration from preexisting artwork by wildlife illustrator Dugald Stermer (1936-2011). His penciled calligraphy on the stamp indicates the animal’s common name and its scientific classification. Art director Ethel Kessler designed the stamp.

New information will appear below the line, with the most recent at the top.

Updated December 28th:
The First Day Of Issue “killer bars” is the only postmark for this issue.

Updated December 5th from the Postal Bulletin:
On January 5, 2023, in Fox, AR, the United States Postal Service® will issue the 40-cent Red Fox denominated stamp in one design, in a pressure-sensitive adhesive (PSA) pane of 20 (Item 122100), coil of 3,000 (Item 751200), and coil of 10,000 (Item 761300). This stamp will go on sale nationwide January 5, 2023, and must not be sold or canceled before the first-day-of-issue.

Red Fox is a 40-cent stamp intended for use by bulk mailers for items such as circulars, newsletters, and catalogs. It can also be used by customers who enjoy placing a variety of stamps on their envelopes and packages. The stamp art features a pencil-and-watercolor illustration of the face of a red fox from preexisting artwork by wildlife illustrator Dugald Stermer (1936–2011). Art director Ethel Kessler designed the stamp.

Availability to Post Offices: Item 122100, Red Fox, 40 Cents, PSA Pane of 20 Stamps
Availability to Post Offices: Item 751200, Red Fox, 40 Cents, PSA Coil of 3,000 Stamps
Availability to Post Offices: Item 761300, Red Fox, 40 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 store.usps.com/store/home. 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 – Red Fox 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 May 5, 2023.

Technical Specifications – Pane of 20:

Issue: Red Fox Stamp
Item Number: 122100
Denomination &
Type of Issue: 40-cent Denominated, Mail-use
Format: Pane of 20 (1 design)
Series: N/A
Issue Date & City: January 5, 2023, Fox, AR 72051
Designer: Ethel Kessler, Bethesda, MD
Art Director: Ethel Kessler, Bethesda, MD
Artist: Dugald Stermer
Modeler: Sandra Lane/Michelle Finn
Manufacturing Process: Offset, Microprint
Printer: Banknote Corporation of America
Press Type: Gallus RCS
Stamps per Pane: 20
Print Quantity: 10,000,000 stamps
Paper Type: Phosphor, Block Tag
Adhesive Type: Pressure-sensitive
Colors: Cyan, Magenta, Yellow, Black, Pantone 4745
Stamp Orientation: Vertical
Image Area (w x h): 0.73 x 0.84 in./18.542 x 21.336 mm
Overall Size (w x h): 0.87 x 0.98 in./22.098 x 24.892 mm
Full Pane Size (w x h): 5.35 x 4.93 in./135.89 x 125.222 mm
Plate Size: 160 stamps per revolution
Plate Numbers: “B” followed by five (5) single digits
Marginal Markings:
Front: Plate numbers in four corners of pane
Back: ©2022 USPS • USPS logo • Two barcodes (122100) • Plate position diagram (8) • Promotional text

Technical Specifications – Coil of 3,000:

Issue: Red Fox Stamp
Item Number: 751200
Denomination & Type of Issue: 40-cent Denominated, Mail-use
Format: Coil of 3,000 (1 design)
Series: N/A
Issue Date & City: January 5, 2023, Fox, AR 72051
Designer: Ethel Kessler, Bethesda, MD
Art Director: Ethel Kessler, Bethesda, MD
Artist: Dugald Stermer
Modeler: Sandra Lane/Michelle Finn
Manufacturing Process: Offset, Microprint
Printer: Banknote Corporation of America
Press Type: Alprinta 74
Stamps per Coil: 3,000
Print Quantity: 15,000,000
Paper Type: Phosphor, Overall
Adhesive Type: Self-adhesive
Colors: Cyan, Magenta, Yellow, Black, Pantone 4745
Stamp Orientation: Vertical
Image Area (w x h): 0.73 x 0.84 in./18.542 x 21.336 mm
Stamp Size (w x h): 0.87 x 0.98 in./22.098 x 24.892 mm
Plate Size: 540 stamps per revolution
Plate Numbers: “B” followed by five (5) single digits
Coil Number Frequency: Plate numbers every 27th stamp below stamp image

Technical Specifications – Coil of 10,000:

Issue: Red Fox Stamp
Item Number: 761300
Denomination & Type of Issue: 40-cent Denominated, Mail-use
Format: Coil of 10,000 (1 design)
Series: N/A
Issue Date & City: January 5, 2023, Fox, AR 72051
Designer: Ethel Kessler, Bethesda, MD
Art Director: Ethel Kessler, Bethesda, MD
Artist: Dugald Stermer
Modeler: Sandra Lane/Michelle Finn
Manufacturing Process: Offset, Microprint
Printer: Banknote Corporation of America
Press Type: Alprinta 74
Stamps per Coil: 10,000
Print Quantity: 75,000,000
Paper Type: Phosphor, Overall
Adhesive Type: Self-adhesive
Colors: Cyan, Magenta, Yellow, Black, Pantone 4745
Stamp Orientation: Vertical
Image Area (w x h): 0.73 x 0.84 in./18.542 x 21.336 mm
Stamp Size (w x h): 0.87 x 0.98 in./22.098 x 24.892 mm
Plate Size: 540 stamps per revolution
Plate Numbers: “B” followed by five (5) single digits
Coil Number Frequency: Plate numbers every 27th stamp below stamp image

Updated November 30th:
This stamp will be issued Thursday, January 5, in Fox, AR, without a ceremony. There are no cities nearby.

21 thoughts on “Red Fox (US 2023)”

  2. Why it states that it was “Announced by the USPS on October 24, 2023”? That goes for every issue, issued on that date. Also, the periods between US are missing in all October 24, 2022 announcement.🤔

    Thanking VSC in advance if these errors will be fixed.😉

    • It is on the pages for every issue announced that day. “US” versus “U.S.” was a stylistic choice, although I admit I am not consistent.

      • The other years set as U.S., but if it’s stylistic choice then other years should be changed to US as well. But then it will be time consuming since you need to do it to every issue starting from 1997.😥

        Is it possible to at least change “Announced by the USPS on October 24, 2023” to “Announced by the USPS on October 24, 2022”. This is an obvious typo as we can’t post announcement a year in advance.😂

        • Yes, I should and will change the”2023.” I even missed it when you pointed it out late last night. Oops.

          • Thanks. If you chose the stylistic change from U.S. to US why in the December announcement it states U.S.?🤔

            Either way, I also left you a message in the Art of Skateboard discussion. The bracket was missing there since your initial post.😉

          • Thanks. The missing parenthesis (singular of “parentheses”) has been added to Skateboard’s heading. Everybody needs an editor. When I get a bunch of issues to add at one time, I make mistakes because I’m rushing. I can’t update the program grid until there is a discussion for each issue. The “2023” mistake was because I used a template for all 25 issues with that mistake in it.

  3. I appreciate all the work you do to keep the stamp issues up to date!
    I like this stamp, hopefully the details will be as good when I see the stamp in person.
    Happy new year.

  4. Both this and the school bus stamp are now (1/5/23) marked “discontinued” on the USPS website. Both were for sale as preorders as yesterday (1/4/23). What’s going on? Very unusual.

    • There’s some sort of a glitch (human or programming or both) that when moving an issue from “presale” to “on sale” it becomes “discontinued” for a while. Collectors have told Stamp Services about it several times. However, Stamp Services does not operate the website. Try the pages again. If the problem persists, call the toll-free number {844} 737-7826.

      • Thank you, for explaining this! I have screenshots to prove I wasn’t seeing things! 🙂

  5. Me too. And I periodically keep it typos free, ever since I joined it in 2019. But, because I don’t have admin rights, I need to mention all that I see wrong to VSC and seek his approval. Together – we are a team.😉

  6. I’m sorry to seem a bit obsessed about the Red Fox 40c stamps, but I ask this to the experience moderators: any idea why the USPS is issuing a 40c stamp? It just seems like a very unusual denomination; one that doesn’t line up with other elements of the current or future rates.

    Your thoughts?

  7. Are there any “special” pictorial cancellations for this issue? Thank you. Paul

  8. This has the same artist and designer as the 2021 Bush Rabbit (Scott 5544, 5545). Does anyone know if these stamps are part of a series?

  9. Just to be sure, both the Red Fox stamp and the School Bus stamp must be in the mail (postmarked) no later than May 5th in order to get FDOI cancellations? Thank you.

    • Correct. But make sure you get anything mailed on May 5th postmarked at the counter with the May 5th date. Just to be sure.

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