Announced October 23, 2023:
The Postal Service continues its tradition of celebrating the U.S. flag with these stamps, available in booklets of 20 and in coils of 100, 3,000 and 10,000. Four stamps feature the flag majestically waving at different times of the day. While the shapes and colors of the clouds change, the sun is always shining on Old Glory. Shown from a low-angle perspective, the flags draw attention upward, toward the magic of the sky. Illustrator Laura Stutzman painted the designs using gouache on illustration board. Ethel Kessler, an art director for USPS, designed the stamps.
Further information will be posted below the line, with the newest information at the top.
Updated August 5th:
Here are the Scott catalogue numbers:
- 5871 Flag with Blue Sky at Top and Cloud at Bottom, serpentine die cut 9½ vert. coil stamp
- 5872 Flag with Dark Clouds at Top and Bottom, serpentine die cut 9½ vert. coil stamp
- 5873 Flag with Blue Sky and Clouds at Top and Bottom, serpentine die cut 9½ vert. coil stamp
- 5874 Flag with Blue Sky and White Clouds at Top, serpentine die cut 9½ vert. coil stamp
a. Coil strip of 4, #5871-5874 (Ashton-Potter USA) - 5875 Flag with Dark Clouds at Top and Bottom, serpentine die cut 11½ vert. coil stamp
- 5876 Flag with Blue Sky and Clouds at Top and Bottom, serpentine die cut 11½ vert. coil stamp
- 5877 Flag with Blue Sky and White Clouds at Top, serpentine die cut 11½ vert. coil stamp
- 5878 Flag with Blue Sky at Top and Cloud at Bottom, serpentine die cut 11½ vert. coil stamp
a. Coil strip of 4, #5875-5878 (Banknote Corp.) - 5879 Flag with Blue Sky at Top and Cloud at Bottom, serpentine die cut 10 vert. coil stamp
- 5880 Flag with Dark Clouds at Top and Bottom, serpentine die cut 10 vert. coil stamp
- 5881 Flag with Blue Sky and Clouds at Top and Bottom, serpentine die cut 10 vert. coil stamp
- 5882 Flag with Blue Sky and White Clouds at Top, serpentine die cut 10 vert. coil stamp
a. Coil strip of 4, #5879-5882 (Ashton-Potter USA) - 5883 Flag with Blue Sky and Clouds at Top and Bottom, 18¾x21½mm design size, serpentine die cut 11¼x10¾ on 2 or 3 sides booklet stamp
- 5884 Flag with Blue Sky and White Clouds at Top, 18¾x21½mm design size, serpentine die cut 11¼x10¾ on 2 or 3 sides booklet stamp
- 5885 Flag with Blue Sky at Top and Cloud at Bottom, 18¾x21½mm design size, serpentine die cut 11¼x10¾ on 2 or 3 sides booklet stamp
- 5886 Flag with Dark Clouds at Top and Bottom, 18¾x21½mm design size, serpentine die cut 11¼x10¾ on 2 or 3 sides booklet stamp
a. Block of 4, #5883-5886 (Ashton Potter USA)
b. Convertible booklet pane of 20, 5 each #5883-5886 - 5887 Flag with Blue Sky and Clouds at Top and Bottom, 18¼x21mm design size, serpentine die cut 11¼x10¾ on 2 or 3 sides booklet stamp
- 5888 Flag with Blue Sky and White Clouds at Top, 18¼x21mm design size, serpentine die cut 11¼x10¾ on 2 or 3 sides booklet stamp
- 5889 Flag with Blue Sky at Top and Cloud at Bottom, 18¼x21mm design size, serpentine die cut 11¼x10¾ on 2 or 3 sides booklet stamp
- 5890 Flag with Dark Clouds at Top and Bottom, 18¼x21mm design size, serpentine die cut 11¼x10¾ on 2 or 3 sides booklet stamp
a. Block of 4, #5887-5890 (Banknote Corp.)
b. Convertible booklet pane of 20, 5 each #5887-5890
Updated May 2nd:
On June 14, 2024, in Keystone, SD, the United States Postal Service® will issue the U.S. Flags stamps (Forever® priced at the First-Class Mail® rate) in four designs, in a pressure-sensitive adhesive (PSA) double-sided booklet of 20 stamps (Item 684900), a PSA coil of 100 stamps (Item 740800), a PSA coil of 3,000 stamps (Item 751800), and a PSA coil of 10,000 stamps (Item 762000). These stamps will go on sale nationwide June 14, 2024, and must not be sold or canceled before the first-day-of-issue.With the 2024 U.S. Flags stamp issuance, the Postal Service™ continues its long tradition of honoring the American flag. Four stamps feature the flag majestically waving at different times of the day. While the shapes and colors of the clouds change, the sun is always shining on the flag. The flags, shown from a low-angle perspective, draw attention upward, toward the magic of the sky. Illustrator Laura Stutzman painted the designs using gouache on illustration board. Art director Ethel Kessler designed the stamps.
No automatic distribution
- Item 684900, Double-sided booklet of 20 Stamps
- Item 740800, Coil of 100 Stamps
- Item 751800, Coil of 3,000 Stamps
- Item 762000, Coil of 10,000 Stamps
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 – U.S. Flags 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 October 14, 2024.
Technical Specifications — all versions:
Issue: U.S. Flags Stamps
Denomination & Type of Issue: First-Class Mail Forever
Series: N/A
Issue Date & City: June 14, 2024, Keystone, SD 57751
Art Director: Ethel Kessler, Bethesda, MD
Designer: Ethel Kessler, Bethesda, MD
Illustrator: Laura Stutzman, Mountain Lake Park, MD
Manufacturing Process: Offset
Adhesive Type: Pressure-sensitive
Stamp Orientation: Vertical
Technical Specifications — Booklet of 20 (APU):
Item Number: 684900
Format: Double-sided Booklet of 20 (4 designs)
Modeler: Joseph Sheeran
Printer: Ashton Potter
Press Type: Muller A76
Stamps per Booklet: 20
Print Quantity: 900,000,000 stamps
Paper Type: Nonphosphored Type III, Block Tagged
Image Area (w x h): 0.7300 x 0.8400 in. / 18.5420 x 21.3360 mm
Stamp Size (w x h): 0.8700 x 0.9800 in. / 22.0980 x 24.8920 mm
Booklet Size (w x h): 5.5200 x 1.9600 in. / 140.2080 x 49.7840 mm
Colors: Black, Cyan, Magenta, Yellow
Plate Size: 1040 stamps per revolution
Plate Number: “P” followed by four (4) single digits
Marginal Markings: Header: U.S. Flags Twenty First-Class Forever Stamps • © 2023 USPS in peel strip area • Barcode • USPS logo • Promotional text • Plate number in peel strip area
Technical Specifications — Booklet of 20 (BNA):
Item Number: 684900
Format: Double-sided Booklet of 20 (4 designs)
Modeler: Sandra Lane / Michelle Finn
Manufacturing Process: Offset
Printer: Banknote Corporation of America
Press Type: Alprinta 74
Stamps per Booklet: 20
Print Quantity: 900,000,000 stamps
Paper Type: Phosphor Tagged, Block
Adhesive Type: Pressure-sensitive
Stamp Orientation: Vertical
Image Area (w x h): 0.7300 x 0.8400 in. / 18.5420 x 21.3360 mm
Stamp Size (w x h): 0.8700 x 0.9800 in. / 22.0980 x 24.8920 mm
Booklet Size (w x h): 5.5200 x 1.9600 in. / 140.2080 x 49.7840 mm
Colors: Cyan, Magenta, Yellow, Black
Plate Size: 960 stamps per revolution
Plate Number: “B” followed by four (4) single digits
Marginal Markings: Header: U.S. Flags Twenty First-Class Forever Stamps • © 2023 USPS in peel strip area • Barcode • USPS logo • Promotional text • Plate number in peel strip area
Technical Specifications — Coil of 100 (APU):
Item Number: 740800
Modeler: Joseph Sheeran
Manufacturing Process: Offset
Printer: Ashton Potter
Press Type: Muller A76
Stamps per Coil: 100
Print Quantity: 1,250,000,000 stamps
Paper Type: Nonphosphored Type III, Block Tagged
Adhesive Type: Pressure-sensitive
Colors: Black, Cyan, Magenta, Yellow
Stamp Orientation: Vertical
Image Area (w x h): 0.7037 x 0.8391 in. / 17.8740 x 21.3130 mm
Stamp Size (w x h): 0.8438 x 0.9800 in. / 21.4330 x 24.8920 mm
Plate Size: 768 stamps per revolution
Plate Number: “P” followed by four (4) single digits
Coil Number Frequency: Plate number every 32nd stamp below stamp image
Technical Specifications — Coil of 100 (BNA):
Item Number: 740800
Modeler: Sandra Lane / Michelle Finn
Manufacturing Process: Offset
Printer: Banknote Corporation of America
Press Type: Alprinta 74
Stamps per Coil: 100
Print Quantity: 1,000,000,000 stamps
Paper Type: Phosphor Tagged, Overall
Adhesive Type: Pressure-sensitive
Colors: Cyan, Magenta, Yellow, Black
Stamp Orientation: Vertical
Image Area (w x h): 0.7300 x 0.8400 in. / 18.5420 x 21.3360 mm
Stamp Size (w x h): 0.8700 x 0.9800 in. / 22.0980 x 24.8920 mm
Plate Size: 768 stamps per revolution
Plate Number: “B” followed by four (4) single digits
Coil Number Frequency: Plate number every 32nd stamp below stamp image
Technical Specifications — Coil of 3,000 (APU):
Item Number: 751800
Modeler: Joseph Sheeran
Manufacturing Process: Offset
Printer: Ashton Potter
Press Type: Muller A76
Stamps per Coil: 3,000
Print Quantity: 12,000,000 stamps
Paper Type: Nonphosphored Type III, Block Tagged
Adhesive Type: Pressure-sensitive
Colors: Black, Cyan, Magenta, Yellow
Stamp Orientation: Vertical
Image Area (w x h): 0.7300 x 0.8400 in. / 18.5420 x 21.3360 mm
Stamp Size (w x h): 0.8700 x 0.9800 in. / 22.0980 x 24.8920 mm
Plate Size: 594 stamps per revolution
Plate Number: “P” followed by four (4) single digits
Coil Number Frequency: Plate number every 27th stamp below stamp image
Technical Specifications — Coil of 10,000 (APU):
Item Number: 762000
Modeler: Joseph Sheeran
Manufacturing Process: Offset
Printer: Ashton Potter
Press Type: Muller A76
Stamps per Coil: 10,000
Print Quantity: 125,000,000 stamps
Paper Type: Nonphosphored Type III, Block Tagged
Adhesive Type: Pressure-sensitive
Colors: Black, Cyan, Magenta, Yellow
Stamp Orientation: Vertical
Image Area (w x h): 0.7300 x 0.8400 in. / 18.5420 x
21.3360 mm
Stamp Size (w x h): 0.8700 x 0.9800 in. / 22.0980 x
24.8920 mm
Plate Size: 594 stamps per revolution
Plate Number: “P” followed by four (4) single digits
Coil Number Frequency: Plate number every 27th stamp below stamp image
Here are the first day postmarks for this issue:
The Digital Color Postmark 2.83″ x 0.70″. There is no Pictorial Postmark, only the FDOI.
Updated April 17th:
These stamps will be available online for pre-ordering on May 14. USPS collectibles have been added to the U.S. 2024 Stamp Program listing for this issue (“USPS Order Numbers”).
Updated February 23rd:
This stamp will be issued June 14 in Keystone, SD, with a local ceremony. The only connection we have found so far is The National Presidential Wax Museum.
Actually I kind of like these. But I don’t know why we need a new design every year.
And these bear a likeness to A Flag For All Seasons of 2013.
Not really. More like the 2008 version.
I think they look similar to both 2008 and 2013 versions.
The 2013 had seasons. These and 2008 have weather.
A Steam Train based in Keystone SD: Battle Creek RR
https://www.1880train.com/
Hummm, No Pane-20 as in #1217 ( 9 JAN 22 )
Keystone, South Dakota is the nearest city to Mount Rushmore (see my Facebook and The Stamp Collecting Forum posts).
Is there a way to tell before the stamps come out if these will be attached vertically or horizontally in coil format? Thanks.
How do you tell the difference between the APU and the BNA stamps? Past issues was the location of the micro-print “USPS” but I can’t find any micro-print. Am I missing something?
I did my best to find a difference. Nope, die Cthulhu by my eye. Micro printing, nope. Dates appear the same. Only difference I could see was plate number.
The difference appaears to be in the paper. All APU appear to be Nonphosphored Type III, Block Tagged while is Phosphor Tagged, Block. Not having a UV light right now means I may need to get one 🙂
From Linns: *June 14, Flags. Twenty (68¢) forever definitive stamps (four designs): double-sided pane of 20 (BCA, AP: Scott 5887-5890, 5883-5886), coils of 100 (BCA, AP: 5875-5878, 5871-5874),
3,000 and 10,000 (AP: 5879-5882); Keystone, SD 57751; Linn’s June 17, page 12; USPS item No. 684902 (BCA double-sided pane); 684904 (AP double-sided pane),
740802 (BCA coil of 100), 740804 (AP coil of 100); 751804 (coil of 3,000); 751803 (strip of 25 with plate number from coil of 3,000),
751815 (strip of 500 from coil of 3,000); 762004 (coil of 10,000), 762003 (strip of 25 with plate number from coil of 10,000),
762015 (strip of 500 from coil of 10,000); 684916 (set of four double-sided pane FDCs at $4.92), 684921 (set of four color postmark double-sided pane FDCs at $8.32);
751816 (set of four coil FDCs at $4.92).
Thanks for mapping the SC# to the APU/BCA coils and APU/BCA booklets.