Announced October 23, 2023:
The fifth of 12 stamps in the latest Lunar New Year stamp series celebrates the Year of the Dragon. Calling to mind the elaborately decorated masks used in dances often performed in Lunar New Year parades, this three-dimensional mask depicting a dragon is a contemporary take on the long tradition of paper-cut folk art crafts created during this auspicious time of year. The dragon mask design incorporates colors and patterns with symbolic meaning. Antonio Alcalá, an art director for USPS, designed the stamp and pane with original art by Camille Chew.
Further information will be posted below the line, with the newest information at the top.
Updated March 2nd:
The Scott catalogue number for this issue is 5829.
Updated December 22nd:
[press release] [click on any of the pictures for larger versions]
USPS Rings In Lunar New Year With Year of the Dragon Stamp
What: The U.S. Postal Service commemorates the Lunar New Year with the unveiling of the Year of the Dragon stamp.
The first-day-of-issue event for this Forever stamp is free and open to the public. News of the stamp is being shared with the hashtags #LunarNewYearDragon and #LunarNewYearStamps.
Who: Eduardo H. Ruiz, Jr., vice president, Retail and Delivery Operations — Western-Pacific Area, U.S. Postal Service
When: Jan. 25, 2024, at 11 a.m. PST
Where:
International District/Chinatown Community Center
719 Eighth Ave. S.
Seattle, WA 98104
RSVP: Dedication ceremony attendees are encouraged to RSVP at usps.com/lunarnewyeardragon.
Background: As the auspicious Year of the Dragon begins, the U.S. Postal Service commemorates the Lunar New Year with a colorful new stamp. The Year of the Dragon begins Feb. 10, 2024, and ends Jan. 28, 2025.
Parades, customary foods, and red and gold lanterns mark the Lunar New Year festival for people all over the world. Celebrants set off firecrackers to ward off evil spirits and clean their houses to signify a moment of renewal before spring. They write couplets, give gifts and prepare traditional meals to celebrate the coming year.
People born in the Year of the Dragon are said to be successful, wise and powerful. In fact, many consider the dragon to be so favorable, they plan for children to be born under the sign. Every 12 years, many Asian communities experience a baby boom because of the allure of the dragon, the only mythical creature in the Chinese zodiac.
Updated December 18th:
Here are the first-day postmarks for this issue:
The Digital Color Postmark measures 3.0″ x 1.43″
The Pictorial Postmark measures 2.69″ x 1.23″
From the Postal Bulletin:
On January 25, 2024, in Seattle, WA, the United States Postal Service® will issue the Lunar New Year: Year of the Dragon stamp (Forever® priced at the First-Class Mail® rate) in one design, in a pressure-sensitive adhesive (PSA) pane of 20 stamps (Item 484300). This stamp will go on sale nationwide January 25, 2024, and must not be sold or canceled before the first-day-of-issue. The Lunar New Year: Year of the Dragon commemorative pane of 20 stamps must not be split and the stamps must not be sold individually.
In 2024, the Postal Service™ will issue the fifth of 12 stamps in its latest Lunar New Year series. The Year of the Dragon begins February 10, 2024, and ends on January 28, 2025. Calling to mind the elaborately decorated masks used in the dragon or lion dances often performed in Lunar New Year parades, this three-dimensional mask depicting a dragon is a contemporary take on the long tradition of paper-cut folk-art crafts created during this time of year. Simplified illustrations of the 12 zodiac animals form columns on the left and right sides of the stamp pane. Art director Antonio Alcalá designed this stamp issuance with original artwork by Camille Chew.
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 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 – Lunar New Year: Year of the Dragon 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 25, 2024.
Technical Specifications:
Issue: Lunar New Year: Year of the Dragon Stamp
Item Number: 484300
Denomination & Type of Issue: First-Class Mail Forever
Format: Pane of 20 (1 design)
Series: Lunar New Year
Issue Date & City: January 25, 2024, Seattle, WA 98109
Art Director: Antonio Alcalá, Alexandria, VA
Designer: Antonio Alcalá, Alexandria, VA
Artist: Camille Chew, Providence, RI
Modeler: Sandra Lane / Michelle Finn
Manufacturing Process: Offset, Foil Stamping, Flexographic, Microprint
Printer: Banknote Corporation of America
Press Type: Gallus RCS
Stamps per Pane: 20
Print Quantity: 22,000,000 stamps
Paper Type: Phosphor, Block Tag
Adhesive Type: Pressure-sensitive
Colors: Cyan, Magenta, Yellow, Black, PMS 7579C Orange, PMS 7563C Light Brown, Gold Foil Luxor MTS 413, Purple Foil Luxor MTS 432
Stamp Orientation: Vertical
Image Area (w x h): 0.8400 x 1.4200 in. / 21.3360 x 36.0680 mm
Overall Size (w x h): 0.9800 x 1.5600 in. / 24.8920 x 39.6240 mm
Full Pane Size (w x h): 7.2500 x 8.5000 in. / 184.1500 x 215.9000 mm
Press Sheets Size (w x h): 14.5000 x 19.5000 in. / 368.3000 x 495.3000 mm
Plate Size: 80 stamps per revolution
Plate Number: “B” followed by six (6) single digits
Marginal Markings:
Front: Header: Lunar New Year: Year of the Dragon • Plate number in bottom two corners
Back: © 2023 USPS • USPS logo • Two barcodes (484300) • Plate position diagram (4) • Promotional text
Updated November 30th:
This stamp will be issued Monday, January 25, in Seattle.
RE: postal Bulletin 14 DEC 2023. USPS has given out the USPS# for the Lunar New Year – Dragon stamps 4843xx Pane-20 ’04 $13.60 ( Full Pane Only – ON AUTOMATIC DISTRIBUTION!) Pic FDoI Cancel ’16 ( no price yet – was $1.21 ) Digital Color FDoI cancel ’21 ( No price yet – was $2.06 ) Images on my facebook page.
FDoI Ceremony: https://about.usps.com/newsroom/national-releases/2023/1221ma-usps-rings-in-lunar-new-year-with-year-of-the-dragon-stamp.htm
Based on the For Sale add placed on USPS.COM for the Lunar New Year – Dragon FDoI items, the Surcharge for the Pictorial and Digital Color Postmarked envelopes will remain at 55 cents and $1.40 + Postage. ( $1.23 PIC #16, and $2.08 DCP #21. )
https://store.usps.com/store/product/stamp-collectors/lunar-new-year-year-of-the-dragon-digital-color-postmark-S_484321
I don’t think you can draw a conclusion. The USPS can change what’s on its website.
Oh Really? Then what do you say about this: https://store.usps.com/store/results/collector-s-zone/_/N-1j49vgd#content
Once the rate increase goes into effect, I expect the USPS to increase the FDC prices. Since you can’t get this issue’s FDCs until after the increase, it doesn’t matter what the website says NOW.
Don’t think the USPS can increase the cost of your order after you place it? Most retailers aren’t permitted to charge your payment cards until the product is shipped. The USPS always charges your card as soon as you place the order. Always.
We’ll see what the price is on January 22nd.