Scott Numbers:
4868 (49¢) Fort McHenry Flag and Fireworks lithographed self-adhesive coil stamp, with microprinted “USPS” in fireworks above flagpole, serpentine die cut 11 vert. (Sennett printing)
4869 (49¢) Fort McHenry Flag and Fireworks photogravure self-adhesive booklet stamp, without microprinted “USPS,” serpentine die cut 11¼x11½ on 2 or 3 sides (CCL printing)
a. Convertible booklet pane of 20
4870 (49¢) Fort McHenry Flag and Fireworks lithographed self-adhesive booklet stamp, with microprinted “USPS” in fireworks above flagpole, serpentine die cut 11¼x11½ on 2 or 3 sides (Sennett printing)
a. Convertible booklet pane of 20
4871 (49¢) Fort McHenry Flag and Fireworks lithographed self-adhesive booklet stamp, thin paper, with microprinted “USPS” in fireworks above flagpole, serpentine die cut 11¼x11 on 2, 3 or 4 sides (Sennett printing)
a. Convertible booklet pane of 18
The January 23rd USPS Postal Bulletin indicates that this issue will be released January 28th in Independence, Missouri (not Baltimore???).
From my article from the October press preview:
“Star-Spangled Banner” will also be commemorated by a mail-use stamp early in the year when the Postal Service expects to have new rates. This definitive-size Forever design is based on a photograph by Gary Clark of a replica of the flag flying over Fort McHenry with fireworks bursts int he background. Clark says getting the photograph with the flag unfurled and the fireworks in the background was a challenge, because here was a stiff wind that night.
From the USPS on December 31st:
The Star-Spangled Banner has been a treasured American icon ever since Francis Scott Key celebrated the sight of an American flag still flying over Fort McHenry during the War of 1812.
This stamp commemorates the 200th anniversary of the Star-Spangled Banner with a photograph of the flag that flies over Fort McHenry National Monument and Historic Shrine in Baltimore. This flag is a replica of the one that inspired Key to write “The Star-Spangled Banner” after Fort McHenry withstood the British attack of September 13-14, 1814.
Photographer Gary Clark took the picture of the flag against a backdrop of fireworks during an annual celebration of Defenders’ Day. Defenders’ Day, according to the National Park Service, is “Baltimore’s oldest holiday commemorating the bombardment of Fort McHenry and the writing of ‘The Star-Spangled Banner.’” Clark said it was a challenge to get the fireworks and the flag in the same shot and that “the wind picked up quite a bit that night.” Art director Phil Jordan designed the stamp.
The Star-Spangled Banner stamps are being issued as Forever® stamps. Forever stamps are always equal in value to the current First-Class Mail® one-ounce rate.
How to Order the First-Day-of-Issue Postmark
Customers have 60 days to obtain the first-day-of-issue postmark by mail. They may purchase new stamps at their local Post Office, at The Postal Store® website at www.usps.com/shop, or by calling 800-STAMP-24. They should affix the stamps to envelopes of their choice, address the envelopes (to themselves or others), and place them in a larger envelope addressed to:
The Star-Spangled Banner Stamp
Postmaster
Independence Station
301 West Lexington Avenue
Independence, MO 64050-9998
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. For more than 50, customers have to pay five cents each. All orders must be postmarked by April 2, 2014.
Technical Specifications:
Issue: The Star-Spangled Banner Stamp
Item Number: 689000
Denomination & Type of Issue: First-Class Mail Forever
Format: Booklet of 20 (1 design)
Series: N/A
Issue Date & City: January 28, 2014, Independence, MO 64050
Designer: Phil Jordan, Falls Church, VA
Art Director: Phil Jordan, Falls Church, VA
Typographer: Phil Jordan, Falls Church, VA
Existing Photo: Gary Clark
Modeler: Joseph Sheeran
Manufacturing Process: Offset/Microprint “USPS”
Engraver: N/A
Printer: Ashton Potter (USA) Ltd. (APU)
Printed at: Williamsville, NY
Press Type: Mueller Martini, A76
Stamps per Booklet: 20
Print Quantity: 1 billion stamps
Paper Type: Nonphosphored, Type II
Adhesive Type: Pressure-sensitive
Processed at: Ashton Potter (USA) Ltd. (APU)
Stamp Orientation: Vertical
Image Area (w x h): 0.73 x 0.84 in./18.54 x 21.34 mm
Overall Size (w x h): 0.87 x 0.98 in./22.10 x 24.89 mm
Booklet Size (w x h): 5.52 x 1.96 in./140.21 x 49.78 mm
Colors: Black, Cyan, Magenta, Yellow
Plate Size: 1,040 stamps per revolution
Plate Numbers: “P” followed by four (4) single digits
Marginal Markings: Front: Header: “The Star-Spangled Banner” Twenty First-Class Forever® Stamps
• © 2013 • USPS in peel strip area • Plate numbers in peel strip area • Barcode (015645689008)
Issue: The Star Spangled Banner Stamp
Item Number: 789900
Denomination & Type of Issue: First-Class Mail Forever
Format: Coil of 100 (1 design)
Series: N/A
Issue Date & City: January 28, 2014, Independence, MO 65040
Director: Phil Jordan, Falls Church, VA
Designer: Phil Jordan, Falls Church, VA
Typographer: Phil Jordan, Falls Church, VA
Existing Photo: Gary Clark
Modeler: Joseph Sheeran
Manufacturing Process: Offset/Microprint “USPS”
Engraver: N/A
Printer: Ashton Potter (USA) Ltd. (APU)
Printed at: Williamsville, NY
Press Type: Mueller Martini, A76
Stamps per Coil: 100
Print Quantity: 1,500 million stamps
Paper Type: Nonphosphored, Type III
Adhesive Type: Pressure-sensitive
Processed at: Ashton Potter (USA) Ltd. (APU)
Stamp Orientation: Vertical
Image Area (w x h): 0.73 x 0.84 in./18.54 x 21.34 mm
Overall Size (w x h): 0.87096 x 0.98 in./22.12 x 24.89 mm
Coil Size (w x h): 0.98 x 87.096 in./24.89 x 2212.24 mm
Colors: Black, Cyan, Magenta, Yellow
Plate Size: 744 stamps per revolution
Plate Numbers: “P” followed by four (4) single digits
Plate Number Frequency: Plate numbers every 31st stamp
Coil Back Number Frequency: N/A
Marginal Markings: N/A
Other: Coil Wrap Barcode (07899003)
Issue: The Star-Spangled Banner Stamp
Item Number: 789900
Denomination & Type of Issue: First-Class Mail Forever
Format: Coil of 100 (1 design)
Series: N/A
Issue Date & City: January 28, 2014, Independence, MO 65040
Art Director: Phil Jordan, Falls Church, VA
Designer
Phil Jordan, Falls Church, VA
Typographer: Phil Jordan, Falls Church, VA
Existing Photo: Gary Clark
Engraver: WRE
Modeler: CCL Label, Inc.
Manufacturing Process: Gravure
Printer: CCL Label, Inc.
Printed at: Clinton, SC 29325
Press Type: Dia Nippon Kiko (DNK)
Stamps per Coil: 100
Print Quantity: 1.5 billion stamps
Paper Type: Phosphor Tagged, Overall; Nonphosphored, Type III
Adhesive Type: Pressure-sensitive
Processed at: CCL Label, Inc., Clinton, SC
Colors: Yellow, Magenta, Cyan, Black, 665 (Purple)
Stamp Orientation: Vertical
Image Area (w x h): 0.73 x 0.84 in./18.54 x 21.34 mm
Overall Size (w x h): 0.87 x 0.98 in./22.10 x 24.89 mm
Full Pane Size (w x h): N/A
Plate Size: 480 stamps per revolution
Plate Numbers: “C” followed by five (5) single digits
Coil Number Frequency: Plate numbers appear in center below every 21th Stamp • Barcode on coil banding
Linn’s Stamp News reports new varieties of this issue will be released March 3rd, with their own Washington, D.C. first-day ceremony at the National Museum of American History. The actual flag that inspired Francis Scott Key’s poem is on display there.
The new varieties are a 20-stamp double-sided booklet pane produced by Sennett/CCL, a coil of 100 by Sennett, and an ATM booklet of 18. The latter was not originally planned.
what are the correct perfs for Sc# 4870 & 4871
Scott catalog: ..11¼ x 10¾ & 11¼ x 11
VSC:……………..11¼ x 11½ &11¼ x 11
Mystic catalog: 11¼ x 11½ &11¼ x 11
The perfs for 4871 seem consistent for all (3)
The perfs for 4870 are (?)
Who knows for certain
Perhaps if you have the actual booklets you can check them
PLEASE advise if you know for sure
Thanks
I don’t know which perf measurements are correct. What I posted above was what the USPS provided, but it’s possible those measurements are incorrect. I don’t have the stamps or a top-quality perforation gauge with which to check them. I’d go with Scott’s measurements.
Hi; The explanations below the stamps and the listing 4869-71 at both January and March are for the same stamps. What happened to the discussion of Jan 28th? 4853,4854 and 4855? thank you. Mr. dibs
HI; Both the Jan and March discussions contain descriptions of the March issued stamps. What happened to the January issue, 4853,4 and 5?
Thank you. mr. dibs
RE Linns 13 MAR 2017 seems there is a counterfeit of this on the market ( coil 100 )
I just used a 10X Loupe with a 12 LED lamp and found my actual booklet measures 11.25 X 10.75 (dead on without the slightest of drift). Used a LINN’S MULTI-GAUGE , perf gauge for the measurement. It has perfs measured to the tenth’s, so I would guess that’s pretty accurate