The March 6th USPS Postal Bulletin indicates that this issue will be released April 11th in Los Angeles.
From my article from the October press preview:
Of the revealed subjects, the headliner is Charlton Heston in the Legends of Hollywood series. The eighteenth stamp in the series is a Drew Struzan painting based on a photograph taken by Heston’s wife. The selvage for the issue’s pane will feature a scene from the movie “Ben-Hur.”
Although Heston appeared in dozens of blockbuster films over six decades, he was also a political activist — present at the March on Washington and later president of the National Rifle Association. I asked if there was any political pressure to move Heston to the head of the list for the Legends of Hollywood series; I was told there was not.
USPS added on January 30th:
With his chiseled jaw, compelling baritone voice, and muscular physique, Charlton Heston (1923-2008) seemed perfectly at home leading a cast of thousands. The 18th stamp in the Legends of Hollywood series salutes an actor who portrayed presidents and prophets, Moses and Michelangelo. Known for tackling heroic roles in epic blockbusters, Heston made more than 70 films in a career that spanned seven decades.
This stamp features a color portrait based on a photograph taken by the actor’s wife, Lydia Clarke Heston. An image of Heston from the 1959 movie Ben-Hur decorates the selvage. Originally shot in black and white, the photograph was later hand-tinted, and shows Heston in his costume from the monumental chariot racing scene, one of the most famous action sequences ever filmed. Heston won a best actor Oscar for playing the title character, Judah Ben-Hur, a Judean prince who rebels against Roman occupation during the time of Christ.
Director Cecil B. DeMille tapped Heston for one of the biggest parts of his career: Moses in The Ten Commandments (1956). A Biblical extravaganza that tells the story of Exodus, this sprawling epic featured a cast of thousands, eye-popping special effects, and a Charlton Heston who could convincingly raise a rod over his head and part the Red Sea. Heston lent his heroic presence to other larger-than-life roles in the 1960s, including Michelangelo in The Agony and the Ecstasy and John the Baptist in The Greatest Story Ever Told. He broke new ground in 1968’s Planet of the Apes, making a foray into science fiction as a time-traveling astronaut trapped on a planet ruled by English-speaking apes.
Designed by art director Greg Breeding, the stamp was illustrated by noted movie artist Drew Struzan. The Charlton Heston stamp is being issued in sheets of 20 self-adhesive Forever® stamps.
From the March 6th Postal Bulletin:
Stamp Announcement 14-21: Charlton Heston (471800)
On April 11, 2014, in Hollywood, CA, the U.S. Postal Service will issue the Charlton Heston commemorative stamp, in one design in a pressure-sensitive adhesive (PSA) pane of 20 stamps (Item 471800).
The 18th stamp in the Legends of Hollywood series celebrates the career of Charlton Heston (1923-2008). Known for tackling heroic roles in epic blockbusters, Heston made more than 70 films in a career that spanned seven decades. He won a Best Actor Oscar for his role in the 1959 film ”Ben-Hur.” The stamp art features a color portrait of Heston based on a photograph taken by the actor’s wife, Lydia Clarke Heston. A color-tinted image of Heston from ”Ben-Hur” decorates the selvage. The back of the stamp pane includes verso text. Art director Greg Breeding designed the stamp, illustrated by Drew Struzan.
The stamp will go on sale nationwide April 11, 2014.
Distribution: Item 471800, Charlton Heston Commemorative First Class Mail (Forever priced at 49 cents) PSA Pane of 20 Stamps
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:
Charlton Heston
Special Events
USPS Marketing ñ Admin Building
7001 S CENTRAL AVE RM 307
LOS ANGELES CA 90052-9998
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 June 10, 2014.
Philatelic Products
There are ten philatelic products available for this stamp issue:
• 471806*, Press sheet with die cuts, $88.20
• 471808*, Press sheet without die cuts, $88.20
• 471810*, Keepsake (pane of 20, 1 DCP) $11.95
• 471816*, First Day Cover, $0.93
• 471818*, First Day Cover Full Pane, $12.30
• 471819*, Cancelled Full Pane, $12.30
• 471821*, Digital Color Postmark, $1.64
• 471830*, Ceremony Program, $6.95
• 471831*, Stamped Deck Card, $0.95
• 471832*, Stamped Deck Card with DCP, $1.99
Items with an asterisk (*) will use the 128 bar code from Stamp Fulfillment Services. All other philatelic products will continue to use bar code series A, with the exception of the Yearbook and the Guide Book.
Technical Specifications:
Issue: Charlton Heston Stamp
Item Number: 471800
Denomination & Type of Issue: First-Class Mail Forever Commemorative
Format: Pane of 20 (1 design)
Series: Legends of Hollywood
Issue Date & City: April 11, 2014, Hollywood, CA
Designer: Greg Breeding
Art Director: Greg Breeding
Typographer: Greg Breeding
Artist: Drew Struzan
Engraver:
Modeler: Joseph Sheeran
Manufacturing Process: Offset Microprint
Printer: Ashton Potter
Printed at: Williamsville, NY
Press Type: Muller A76
Stamps per Pane: 20
Print Quantity: 20 million stamps
Paper Type: Nonphosphored Type III Blocked Tagged
Adhesive Type: Pressure-sensitive
Processed at: Ashton Potter, Williamsville, NY
Colors: Black, Cyan, Magenta, Yellow
Stamp Orientation: Horizontal
Image Area (w x h): .84 x 1.42 in./21.34 x 36.07 mm
Overall Size (w x h): .98 x 1.56 in./24.89 x 39.63 mm
Full Pane Size (w x h): 8.47 x 7.17 in./ 215.24 x 182.10 mm
Press Sheets (w x h) 25.922 x 22.01 in. / 658.42 x 558.98 mm
Plate Size: 180 stamps per revolution
Plate Numbers: ìPî followed by four (4) single digits
Marginal Markings:
Front: Header: LEGENDS of HOLLYWOOD Plate numbers in two corners of pane
Back: © 2014 USPS • USPS logo • Plate position diagram •
Barcode (471800) in upper right and lower left corners of pane •
Promotional text • Proprietary notice • Biographical text
I am not happy with his real picture. It is not like other stamps. It needs a little young look. Oh well I like the “Ben Hur” background. thanks.
The picture was selected by his wife.
A beginner’s question: when sending stamped covers to the USPS FDC servicing location, how do I indicate whether I want the traditional four-bar or the newer digital cancellation?
Or do I not have a choice in how my covers are cancelled?
Thank you!
There are actually TWO four-bar cancels, “machine” (steel) and “hand” (rubber). You’ll get the machine cancel unless you request otherwise. I usually put a paper band (a strip of paper) around the covers, with what type of cancel (hand, machine, DCP (“digital color postmark) written on it. For DCPs, you need a minimum of 10, and have to include 50¢ per cancellation. (If you have more than 50 hand cancels, the additional are 5¢ apiece.)
Photographs from the first-day ceremony can be found on another VSC page: http://virtualstampclub.com/lloydblog/?p=494
President Heston would have been a great President for these United States of America too.
One of the very best human beings ever to walk on the face of this Earth.
We miss you.