Announced October 23, 2023:
A new series of low denomination stamps will debut in 2024. Each stamp will showcase a different flower design: 1-cent fringed tulip, 2-cent daffodils, 3-cent peonies, 5-cent red tulips and 10-cent poppies and coneflowers. Photographer Harold Davis combines innovative technology with digital painting and photographic techniques to arrive at his unique floral designs. These stamps will be available in panes of 20 and coils of 10,000. 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 September 6th:
The Scott catalogue numbers for this issue are
- 5897 1¢ Fringed Tulip, serpentine die cut 11¼x11
- 5898 2¢ Daffodils, serpentine die cut 11¼x11
- 5899 3¢ Peonies, serpentine die cut 11¼x11
- 5900 5¢ Red Tulips, serpentine die cut 11¼x11
- 5901 10¢ Poppies and Coneflowers, serpentine die cut 11¼x11
- 5902 1¢ Fringed Tulip, coil stamp, serpentine die cut 10 vert.
- 5903 2¢ Daffodils, coil stamp, serpentine die cut 10¾ vert.
- 5904 3¢ Peonies, coil stamp, serpentine die cut 10 vert.
- 5905 5¢ Red Tulips, coil stamp, serpentine die cut 10 vert.
- 5906 10¢ Poppies and Coneflowers, coil stamp, serpentine die cut 10¾ vert.
Updated June 13th:
Here is the only first-day postmark for this issue:
No size was given, but generally these “killerbar” cancels are 3.50″ in width.
All five designs will be available in panes of 20 and coils of 10,000.
Updated May 20th:
These stamps will be issued July 18 in Berkeley, Calif.
Will all five stamps be issued on the same date, or each on a separate date? Here are larger versions of each stamp; I think if you click on each of these pictures, you’ll get an even larger view:
They won’t all be on the same pane/coil right?
These make sense in coil format but who would buy these denominations in a pane? Without any research, I think low denomination stamps are usually done in coils. At least all the junk mail I get has coil stamps of low denomination.
Uh, me.
Well of course, back in the days before “Forever” stamps, we needed a pane of low denominations to make up our old first class stamps shortage when a new rate was imposed. But today? Who else besides collectors?
As long as we exist, so would they.😃
People sending mail internationally, especially postcrossers. You need two first-class stamps, plus (right now) 19 cents extra. I can’t wait for these!!
But would all denominations be on the same coil/pane…do you think?
Again, depending on their purpose, they might all show up on one pane but certainly not on coils which are used primarily for automated affixing at mail processing plants. Somebody out there has a definitive answer for you. (No pun intended).
The current low denomination stamps in both formats are the 4 & 5¢ blueberries and grapes. The 1, 2 & 3¢ (apples, lemons, and strawberries) are coil only). I use these to fill in postage because I have 37, 39 & 42¢ stamps from yesteryear.
I don’t think so, Mary. I’m not even sure these will all be issued on the same day.
Check usps.com All issued same day. Panes of 20 and coils. 18 Jul 2024
Yes. After posting my comment, we were updated on the date, city and format for all 5, as noted in the above main story.
I have pre-“Forever” stamps and use them and the extra-ounce stamps to make up a total of 68¢. They were given to me, so I rarely use the Forever stamps unless they’re for birthday cards, etc.
The obsolete little boy left in me that always liked stamping the mail when I was little thinks that sounds so much more fun that one single recent-issue stamp in the corner. I was always the one who deliberately bought low value stamps just to mix and match three or four on a letter. Just because.
you don’t see much mail, do you? large envelopes (flats) postage is not met by any current USPS stamp, they take combinations of forever-rate stamps plus low denominations.
My final response on this thread is to say that each of these stamps are absolutely beautiful and for me, some of the best stamp artwork I’ve seen in some time. Can’t wait to see them become available.
Same. Personally, I was expecting USPS to release panes for 1c Apple, 2c Lemon, and 3c Strawberry, like they did with the American Design Series.
I just realized that each stamp has the same number of flowers as the value in cents. That’s a fun design element.
Good observation! Thank you.
OK 1c in Berkeley CA on 18 July ( 3 days before the price increase. )
2c, 3c, 5c, 10c on/at other days/places? ( TBA? )
Make that ( 4 Days AFTER the price increase. ) Listing on Linn’s shows them All in Berkeley on 18 June. No reply from the Berkeley Chamber of Commerce or the Berkeley P.O. on Un-Official Ceremonies. Anyone in Berkeley know a Florist?
From Postal Bulletin 13 June ( A Thursday ) ALL Five Stamps issued on 18 June in Berkeley CA – No Official FDoI ceremony. All in Panes-20 and Coils-10K. Some are printed by BCA, some by AP. ALL of the coils have a PNC every 27 stamps. FDoI cancel is Only a 4-Bar 94704. Pn-20 1232, 1233, 1235, 1236, 1238. Cl-10K 7622, 7623, 7624, 7625, 7626. ( 1, 2, 3, 5, 10 cents ) Hopefully Oneco CT 06373 will have PB#-4 and PNC-Strip of 25 ( or 30 ). ( As well as back-number strips. )
Will the post offer strips from the coils?
???
Yes. I called SFS and Confirmed xxxx03 PNC strip-25. Will not show up on USPS .COM prices .25, .50, .75, 1.25, 2.50 + s/h. Same Deal from ONECO CT 06373, but no S/H. The FDoI Prices from USPS .COM reflect a price of .73c ( forever stamp ) + 55c ( 4-Bar FDoI fee ) and 1 cent to 10 cents for the actual stamp. Still No Word from Berkeley CA about an un-official FDoI ceremony…
Calling today to acquire strips of 25 for the coils I was told that the strips of 25 are only available to subscription service holders. This sounded strange not knowing exactly how one subscribes to a subscription service. Can anyone elaborate?
I don’t know about subscriptions, either, but according to the order numbers in the latest philatelic catalogue from the USPS (and in the 2024 U.S. Stamp program page here on VSC), the minimum order on these stamps is strips of 500.
https://about.usps.com/newsroom/national-releases/2024/0718-usps-unveils-low-denomination-flowers-stamps.htm
Lefty is not correct. Strips of 25 are NOT available. The minimum purchase is a strip of 500 for each with the following order numbers.
1 cent – coil of 500 – 762215
2 cent – coil of 500 – 762315
3 cent – coil of 500 – 762415
5 cent – coil of 500 – 762515
10 cent – coil of 500 – 762615
Maurice in Oneco has been instructed not to sell smaller quantities. He may or may not follow the instruction.
Humm, then why did the Clerk at KC MO Say they were available? I have some on pre-order. They may not be available at USPS .COM, but they are available at (800) STAMP24…
See my reply to a previous comment dtd July 30
I suppose this is a settled issue and I need not comment. But, I just placed an order and was politely told no coil strips less than 500 were available. The woman I spoke with was one of those scarce but wonderful people you seldom get anywhere when you order over the phone. She clearly understood her products, and knew the stock numbers by heart. I’m sure she had her facts correct.
On the related topic, I tried the subscription service last time they issued the low-value fruit stamps. I hope it has changed, but it was sort of sporadic and more trouble than it was worth. IF you collect every single stamp and absolutely want them just buy the 500.
That’s because 500 of a 1¢ stamp is only $5. 25 of it would be 25¢, not even worth processing. On the higher-denomination stamps (that actually match rates), there are usually strips of 25.
Try the subscription service again: The new head of Stamp Services, Lisa Bobb-Semple (as of June 2023), has put more emphasis on programs like that and it should work better. If not, let us know here and I’ll relay it to the people who implement it.