Unveiling the stamp at the first-day ceremony:
Left to right: Janet Klug, Chair, Citizen Stamp Advisory Committee; Scott English, Executive Director American Philatelic Society; Daniel A. Piazza, Chief Curator of Philately, Smithsonian National Postal Museum; Michael J. Elston, Associate General Counsel and Chief Ethics and Compliance Officer, USPS; Kevin J. Crocilla, New York City Postmaster; Antonio Alcala, art director for this issue; Dr. Cheryl R. Ganz, CSAC member. Ceremony photographs courtesy USPS.
[press release]
New Forever Stamp Souvenir Sheet Marks 250th Anniversary of the Repeal of the Stamp Act
NEW YORK — The U.S. Postal Service today dedicated a Forever stamp souvenir sheet commemorating the 250th anniversary of the repeal of the Stamp Act in 1766. The Stamp Act was British legislation that proved historic in galvanizing and uniting the American colonies, setting them on a path toward independence.
The stamp ceremony was held at the World Stamp Show— NY 2016 at the Jacob K. Javits Center in New York City, which continues through June 4. The United States plays host to a sanctioned international stamp show only once every 10 years.
“To me, the stamp represents what’s great about America and Americans,” said U.S. Postal Service Chief Ethics and Compliance Officer Mike Elston (right). “Whether born here or only just recently arrived, we share in common a passionate love of liberty and freedom, and the willingness to sacrifice whatever it takes — even ‘our lives, our fortunes and our sacred honor’ — to defend our liberties and our freedom,” he said, referring to the last line in the Declaration of Independence.
These new stamps have been printed – and will be sold – only as complete souvenir sheets of 10 stamps, priced at $4.70 (10 X $0.47). (Left: American Philatelic Society executive director Scott English.)
The Stamp Act, enacted in 1765, required payment of a tax on a wide array of paper materials, such as newspapers, pamphlets, legal documents, licenses, mortgages, contracts and bills of sale. A stamp would be embossed on these papers to indicate payment.
The commemorative stamp art depicts a crowd gathered around a “liberty tree” to celebrate the repeal of the Stamp Act. “Liberty trees” could be found in a number of cities throughout the colonies, and were popular gathering spots for community meetings, political discussions, celebrations and more. (Right: Smithsonian National Postal Museum philatelic curator Daniel Piazza.)
The selvage area on the left side of the souvenir sheet displays a proof print of a one-penny revenue stamp, and includes a famous slogan from the era: “Taxation without representation is tyranny.” Verso text appears on the back of the pane. The stamp was illustrated by noted historical painter Greg Harlin of Annapolis, MD. Art director Antonio Alcalá designed the stamp and the pane.
Updated April 29th, from the Postal Bulletin:
On May 29, 2016, in New York, NY, the U.S. Postal Service® will issue the Repeal of the Stamp Act stamp (Forever® priced at 47 cents) in one design, in a pressure-sensitive adhesive (PSA) souvenir sheet of 10 stamps (Item 586700). The Repeal of the Stamp Act souvenir sheet may not be split, and the stamps may not be sold individually.
The stamp will go on sale nationwide May 29, 2016.
This 2016 issuance of the Repeal of the Stamp Act stamp commemorates the 250th anniversary of the repeal of the Stamp Act — British legislation that galvanized and united the American colonies and set them on a path toward revolution. The act required payment of a tax on a wide array of paper materials, such as newspapers, pamphlets, legal documents, licenses, mortgages, contracts, and bills of sale. A stamp would be embossed on these papers to indicate payment. The postage stamp depicts a crowd gathered around a “liberty tree” to celebrate the repeal of the Stamp Act. The selvage area displays a proof print of a one-penny revenue stamp and includes a famous slogan from the era: “Taxation without representation is tyranny.” Verso text appears on the back of the pane. The stamp was illustrated by noted historical painter Greg Harlin. Art director Antonio Alcalá designed the stamp and the pane.
Initial Supply to Post Offices: Stamp Fulfillment Services will not make an automatic push distribution to Post Offices™. Post Offices may begin ordering stamps prior to the FDOI through SFS Web.
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 http:⁄⁄
www.usps.com⁄shop, or by calling 800-782-6724. 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:
Repeal of the Stamp Act Stamp
Special Events Coordinator
380 West 33rd Street
New York, NY 10199-9998
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. There is a 5-cent charge for each additional postmark over 50. All orders must be postmarked by July 29, 2016.
There are nine philatelic products for this stamp issue:
- 586706 Press Sheet with Die-cut, $56.40 (print quantity 3,000)
- 586710 Keepsake, $11.95
- 586716 First-Day Cover, $0.91
- 586718 First-Day Cover, Full Pane, $7.20
- 586719 Cancelled Full Pane, $7.20
- 586721 Digital Color Postmark, $1.62
- 586724 Framed Art, $39.95
- 586730 Ceremony Program, $6.95
- 586733 Panel, $17.95
Technical Specifications:
Issue: Repeal of the Stamp Act Stamp
Item Number: 586700
Denomination & Type of Issue: First-Class Mail Forever
Format: Souvenir Sheet of 10 (1 design)
Series: N⁄A
Issue Date & City: May 29, 2016, New York, NY 10199
Designer: Antonio Alcalá, Alexandria, VA
Art Director: Antonio Alcalá, Alexandria, VA
Typographer: Antonio Alcalá, Alexandria, VA
Artist: Greg Harlin, Annapolis, MD
Modeler: Sandra Lane⁄Michelle Finn
Manufacturing Process: Offset, Microprint
Printer: Banknote Corporation of America
Printed at: Browns Summit, NC
Press Type: Alprinta 74
Stamps per Pane: 10
Print Quantity: 12 million stamps
Paper Type: Phosphor Tagged Paper, Block
Adhesive Type: Pressure-sensitive
Processed at: Banknote Corporation of America, Browns Summit SC
Colors: Cyan, Magenta, Yellow, Black
Stamp Orientation: Vertical
Image Area (w x h): 1.09 x 1.42 in.⁄27.56 x 36.07 mm
Overall Size (w x h): 1.23 x 1.56 in.⁄31.12 x 39.62 mm
Full Pane Size (w x h): 8.5 x 5.00 in.⁄215.90 x 127.00 mm
Press Sheets Size (w x h): 25.5 x 20.00 in.⁄647.70 x 508.00 mm
Plate Size: 120 stamps per revolution
Marginal Markings:
Back:
© 2015 USPS • USPS logo • Plate position diagram • Barcode (586700) in lower right corner of pane • Promotional text • Verso text
From the USPS August 20, 2015:
FDOI: Second Quarter (at World Stamp Show-NY 2016)
Format: Pane of 10 [souvenir sheet]
This issuance commemorates the 250th anniversary of the repeal of the Stamp Act, British legislation that galvanized and united the American colonies and set them on a path toward revolution. The act required payment of a tax on a wide array of paper materials, such as newspapers, pamphlets, legal documents, licenses, mortgages, contracts, and bills of sale. A stamp would be embossed on these papers to indicate payment.
The stamp art depicts a crowd gathered around a “liberty tree” to celebrate the repeal of the Stamp Act. The selvage area displays a proof print of a one-penny revenue stamp and includes a famous slogan from the era: “Taxation without representation is tyranny.” Verso text appears on the back of the pane.
Artist: Greg Harlin
Art Director: Antonio Alcalá
Full pane: 
How might we engage with and encourage USPS leadership to develop mini history lessons around issues with historical significance. What a great opportunity to engage youth in the hobby.
What you are asking for is exactly what I am trying to do with my FDC Lessons.
If the USPS would help sponsor my work, I could reach many more teachers and students. First day covers are incredible images to hook students on the lesson of the day. Students must collect the facts, analyze, make connections, draw conclusions. Check out my free lessons at http://www.fdclessons.com
I believe there will be a black and white pictoral postmark for this issue, as well as all the issues released at the NY stamp show. I can see them in the postal bulletin, but they don’t specify the sizes. Where can I find that information?
Contrary to a claim in the USPS news release (twice, above), the Stamp Act did not unite all the American colonies, nor did all revolt. Thirteen of 21 eventually did, but eight did not: Nova Scotia, Quebec (which stretched from Illinois to Labrador), St. John’s Island (PEI), Newfoundland, East Florida, West Florida, the Indian Reserve, and Rupert’s Land.