Hank Aaron (U.S. 2024)

According to Virtual Stamp Club member Foster Miller, a U.S. Postal Service representative said there will be a stamp for Hank Aaron. Word came at the first-day ceremony for Underground Railroad.

The person did not reveal a date. Best guess would be during “Induction Weekend” at the Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown. The Hall of Fame induction ceremony is Sunday, July 21. However, there are events Friday through Monday.

The photo shown here is from 1974, his last year with the Milwaukee/Atlanta Braves. Assuming this photo was taken during spring training, as is likely, it is from right before he broke the home run record at the Atlanta home opener on April 8, 1974.

Henry Louis Aaron died in January 2021 at the age of 86, so under current rules, this year is the first opportunity to honor him with a stamp. He has, however, been honored by the USPS before: At the end of the 1973 season, Aaron received a plaque from the postal agency for receiving more mail (930,000 pieces) than any person excluding politicians. The Wikipedia entry is here.

Further information will be posted as we get it.


Updated September 6th:
The Scott catalogue number for this issue is 5908.

Updated June 28th:
[press release] [click on any of the pictures for larger versions]
Baseball Legend Hank Aaron Memorialized on New Forever Stamp

What: The U.S. Postal Service will honor Henry “Hank” Aaron with a commemorative Forever stamp.

The first-day-of-issue event is free and open to the public. News of the stamp is being shared with the hashtag #HankAaronStamp.

Who: Thomas J. Marshall, U.S. Postal Service general counsel and executive vice president, will serve as dedicating official.

When: Wednesday, July 31, at 10 a.m. EDT

Where:
Truist Park
755 Battery Ave. SE
Atlanta, GA 30339

RSVP: Attendees are encouraged to RSVP at usps.com/hankaaronstamp.

Background: A giant both on and off the field, Hank Aaron (1934–2021) rose from humble beginnings to rewrite the record books while prevailing in the face of racism. The stamp art features a portrait of Aaron as a member of the Atlanta Braves, based on a 1968 photo, showing Aaron’s famous right-handed batting stance from the waist up.
Greg Breeding, an art director for USPS, designed the stamp and pane with original art by Chuck Styles and typography by Kevin Cantrell.
The Hank Aaron stamp is being issued in panes of 20. The Forever stamp will always be equal in value to the current First-Class Mail one-ounce price.-

On July 31, 2024, in Atlanta, GA, the United States Postal Service® will issue the Hank Aaron stamp (Forever® priced at the First-Class Mail® rate), in one design, in a pressure-sensitive adhesive (PSA) pane of 20 stamps (Item 484900). This stamp will go on sale nationwide July 31, 2024, and must not be sold or canceled before the first-day-of-issue.

This stamp celebrates the life and career of Hank Aaron (1934–2021), a giant of baseball both on and off the field, who rose from humble beginnings to rewrite the record books while prevailing in the face of racism. The stamp art features a digital painting of Aaron as a member of the Atlanta Braves™, showing Aaron’s famous right-handed batting stance from the waist up. The selvage showcases a digital painting of Aaron watching the ball he had just hit for his record-breaking 715th home run. Art director Greg Breeding designed the stamp and pane with original art by Chuck Styles and typography by Kevin Cantrell.

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 – Hank Aaron 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 November 30, 2024.

Technical Specifications:

Issue: Hank Aaron Stamp
Item Number: 484900
Denomination & Type of Issue: First-Class Mail Forever
Format: Pane of 20 (1 design)
Series: N/A
Issue Date & City: July 31, 2024, Atlanta, GA 30304
Art Director: Greg Breeding, Charlottesville, VA
Designer: Greg Breeding, Charlottesville, VA
Artist: Chuck Styles
Typographer: Kevin Cantrell, Mantua, UT
Modeler: Joseph Sheeran
Manufacturing Process: Offset, Microprint
Printer: Ashton Potter
Press Type: Muller A76
Stamps per Pane: 20
Print Quantity: 30,000,000
Paper Type: Nonphosphored Type III, Block Tag Applied
Adhesive Type: Pressure-sensitive
Colors: Black, Cyan, Magenta, Yellow
Stamp Orientation: Vertical
Image Area (w x h): 1.0850 x 1.4200 in. / 27.5590 x
36.0680 mm
Overall Size (w x h): 1.2250 x 1.5600 in. / 31.1150 x
39.6240 mm
Full Pane Size (w x h): 9.8100 x 7.3800 in. / 249.1740 x
187.4520 mm
Press Sheets Size (w x h): 19.7450 x 22.3900 in. / 501.5230 x
568.7060 mm
Plate Size: 120 stamps per revolution
Plate Number: “P” followed by four (4) single digits in bottom two corners
Marginal Markings:
Front: Header: Hank Aaron • 1934 x 2021 • Plate number in bottom two corners
Back: Major League Baseball trademarks and copyrights are used with permission of Major League Baseball • © 2024 USPS • USPS Logo • Two barcodes (484900) • Plate position diagram (6) • Promotional text

Here are the first-day postmarks for this issue:
The Digital Color Postmark for this issue measures 2.29″ x 1.10″ .
The Pictorial Postmark for this issue measures 2.80″ x 1.15″

Updated May 20th:
This stamp will be issued July 31 in Atlanta, GA. The Atlanta Braves are on the road that day — in Milwaukee!

Updated April 8th, the 50th of the 715th home run:

[press release] [click on any of the pictures for larger versions]
USPS Unveils Henry “Hank” Aaron Stamp
On 50th Anniversary of Eclipsing Homerun Record

ATLANTA — The U.S. Postal Service today announced it will honor baseball legend Henry “Hank” Aaron with a commemorative Forever stamp.

This stamp celebrates the life and career of Aaron (1934–2021), a giant both on and off the field, who rose from humble beginnings to rewrite the record books while prevailing in the face of racism.

The stamp art features a digital painting of Aaron as a member of the Atlanta Braves, showing his famous right-handed batting stance from the waist up. The selvage showcases a digital painting of Aaron watching the ball he had just hit for his record-breaking 715th home run on April 8, 1974.

Greg Breeding, an art director for USPS, designed the stamp and pane with original art by Chuck Styles.

The Hank Aaron stamp will be issued in panes of 20. As a Forever stamp, it will always be equal in value to the current First-Class Mail 1 ounce price.

The official first day of issue and stamp dedication ceremony location will be announced at a later date.

News of the stamp is being shared with the hashtag #HankAaronStamp.

2 thoughts on “Hank Aaron (U.S. 2024)

  1. From Post Bull 27 June: On Auto-Distrib USPS# 4849xx DCP, PIC, ANY City cancels. New Rates! FDoI Atlanta GA.

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