Announced October 23, 2023:

Bluegrass music combines elements of country music, sacred songs, string band music, the blues and traditions of Scotland and Ireland into a style that is uniquely American. The stamp art showcases a graphic design that includes four of the string instruments typically used by bluegrass bands: guitar, fiddle, five-string banjo and mandolin. Antonio Alcalá, an art director for USPS, designed the stamp with original art by Heather Moulder.

Further information will be posted below the line, with the newest information at the top.

Updated May 7^th:
The Scott catalogue number for this issue is 5844.

Updated April 16^th:
The USPS has added a philatelic product for this issue: 484760 Matted Stamp, $9.95.

Updated February 8^th:
Here are the first-day postmarks for this issue:The Digital Color Postmark measures 2.40″ x 1.24″The Pictorial Postmark measures 1.87″ x 1.24″

[press release] [click on any of the pictures for larger versions]
Postal Service to Pay Tribute to Bluegrass Music

What: The U.S. Postal Service will commemorate the rich history of bluegrass music in the United States. The stamp dedication ceremony will occur before Bluegrass Music Hall of Fame inductee Ricky Skaggs’ concert.

News of the stamp is being shared with the hashtag #BluegrassStamp.-

Who: The Honorable Robert M. Duncan, Member, Postal Service Board of Governors-

When: Friday, March 15, 2024, at 6:00 p.m. Central time zone-

Where: Bluegrass Music Hall of Fame & Museum
311 W 2nd St
Owensboro, KY 42301

RSVP: Those interested in attending, should RSVP at usps.com/bluegrassstamp.

Background: Bluegrass is a singularly American music style, bluegrass blends old-time folk and fiddle music with elements of the blues, jazz, country and gospel. Born in the mid-20th century, bluegrass defies time, drawing inspiration from the past while also openly embracing innovation.

The signature sound of bluegrass relies on a mix of acoustic string instruments. The five-string banjo dominates and, along with guitar, mandolin, and bass, sets the rhythmic foundation of this often fast-paced music. Fiddle, mandolin, banjo, and guitar evoke a range of melodic flavors and emotions in their solos and backup.

From the Postal Bulletin:
On March 15, 2024, in Owensboro, KY, the United States Postal Service® will issue the Bluegrass stamp (Forever® priced at the First-Class Mail® rate) in one design, in a pressure-sensitive adhesive (PSA) pane of 20 stamps (Item 484700). This stamp will go on sale nationwide March 15, 2024, and must not be sold or canceled before the first-day-of-issue.

With this stamp, USPS® celebrates the rich history of bluegrass. Inspired by vintage bluegrass concert posters, the stamp art features four acoustic string instruments typical of bluegrass bands — guitar, five-string banjo, fiddle, and mandolin — below the word “Bluegrass.” Text at the top of the stamp reads “High Lonesome Sound,” the title of a 1963 documentary about Appalachian folk music and a familiar nickname for bluegrass. Art director Antonio Alcalá worked with designer and illustrator Heather Moulder to produce the stamp art.

Availability to Post Offices: Item 484700, Bluegrass (Forever Priced at the First-Class Mail Rate) Pane of 20 Stamps: 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 – Bluegrass 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 July 15, 2024.

Technical Specifications:

Issue:-Bluegrass Stamp
Item Number:-484700
Denomination & Type of Issue:-First-Class Mail Forever
Format:-Pane of 20 (1 design)
Series:-N/A
Issue Date & City:-March 15, 2024, Owensboro, KY 42301
Art Director:-Antonio Alcalá, Alexandria, VA
Designer:-Heather Moulder, Woodbury, TN
Illustrator:-Heather Moulder, Woodbury, TN
Modeler:-Sandra Lane / Michelle Finn
Manufacturing Process:-Offset, Microprint
Printer:-Banknote Corporation of America
Press Type:-Alprinta 74
Stamps per Pane:-20
Print Quantity:-15,000,000
Paper Type:-Phosphor, Block Tag
Adhesive Type:-Pressure-sensitive
Colors:-Cyan, Magenta, Yellow, Black
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):-5.9200 x 7.2400 in. / 150.3680 x
183.8960 mm
Press Sheets Size (w x h):-11.8400 x 21.7200 in. / 300.7360 x
551.6880 mm
Plate Size:-240 stamps per revolution
Plate Number:-“B” followed by four (4) single digits in four corners
Marginal Markings:
Front:-Plate number in four corners
Back:-© 2023 USPS • USPS logo • Two barcodes (484700) • Plate position diagram (6) • Promotional text

Updated January 27^th:
Although no plans for a ceremony have been announced, the Garfield-Perry Stamp Club’s March Party stamp show will be in session that day and may provide an opportunity for unofficial-location postmarks.

Updated November 30^th:
This stamp will be issued Friday, March 15, in Owensboro, KY, which includes the International Bluegrass Music Museum and hosts the annual River of Music Party festival (ROMP) each year — but in June 2024, not March.