Updated July 31st:“Long sloping die cut” in the Scott listing — as Rushmeister said, it’s at the intersection of three stamps’ “perforations.” I hope this Q&D illustration helps. Talk about “fly specs!”
Updated July 3rd:
[press release]
Postal Service Celebrates Soda Fountain Favorites
New Forever Stamp Booklet On Sale Today Nationwide
NASHVILLE — The U.S. Postal Service Thursday June 30 dedicated the Soda Fountain Favorites Forever Stamp booklet featuring the cold, sweet treats beloved by people of all ages. The ceremony was held at the Elliston Place Soda Shop in Nashville.
The First-Class Mail Forever booklet of 20 stamps features five different illustrations: a double-scoop ice cream cone, an egg cream, a banana split, a root beer float and a hot fudge sundae.
This booklet includes four of each design. The words “FOREVER*USA” are featured along the right edge of each stamp. The geometric silver-toned patterns in the selvage and on the booklet cover evoke a classic chrome-accented soda fountain. The words “Soda Fountain Favorites” appear across the top of the booklet cover. Art director Ethel Kessler designed the stamps, with illustrations by Nancy Stahl.
“It is our hope at the United States Postal Service that the stamps we are issuing today will spur nostalgia in everyone mailing or receiving postcards, letters and packages,” said Nancy Rettinhouse, vice president, Employee Resource Management, who dedicated the stamp.
“The Postal Service issues a few dozen stamps each year. And each year, there are usually one or two edibles on the list,” said Rettinhouse. “In the past few years, grapes, pears and even wedding cakes have been immortalized with postage stamps. But I venture to say that we have tapped into something special with Soda Fountain Favorites.”
Other participants in the ceremony included Lelan Statom, Emmy Award-winning meteorologist; Tommy Cole, lifelong soda shop customer; Rob Hatchett, Postal Service employee; and Girl Scout Troop 53, whose members read soda fountain essays.
The ice cream soda’s precise origin is not clear, but by the turn of the 20th century, it had become a fountain staple. Adding a creamy scoop or two of chocolate or strawberry to a soft drink only added to its already considerable allure. The rise of refrigeration helped establishments produce, serve and store frozen confections, whose popularity surged. After all, it was difficult to resist thick milkshakes, malts, and sundaes topped with syrups, sauces, whipped cream and cherries.
In cities and towns across the United States, the soda fountain was an important gathering place. When Prohibition banned alcohol sales, people flocked to soda fountains. During World War II, soda fountains popped up at military bases in the United States and abroad, because drinking a soda or indulging in a sundae reminded soldiers of simple pleasures at home.
After World War II, the country’s collective attitude toward dining out began to change. Speed and convenience were prized over service, and by the 1960s, the number of soda fountains had dramatically decreased. Soda fountain culture, however, still lives on in homes, restaurants and ice cream parlors. The joy of sharing a soda or a sundae is an indelible American tradition.
Soda Fountain Favorites is being issued as a First-Class Mail Forever booklet of 20. These Forever stamps will always be equal in value to the current First-Class Mail one-ounce price.
Customers may purchase the Soda Fountain Favorites stamp booklet at usps.com/stamps, at the Postal Store usps.com/shop, by calling 800-STAMP24 (800-782-6724) and at Post Offices nationwide. A variety of stamps and collectibles also is available at ebay.com/stamps.
Updated June 23rd: This ceremony will be held Thursday, June 30, 2016 3:00 p.m at the Elliston Place Soda Shop (2111 Elliston Place in Nashville). The dedicating official will be Employee Resource Management VP Nancy L. Rettinhouse.
Updated May 26th: From the Postal Bulletin:
On June 30, 2016, in Nashville, TN, the U.S. Postal Service® will issue Soda Fountain Favorites stamps (Forever® priced at 47 cents) in five designs, in a pressure-sensitive adhesive (PSA) convertible booklet of 20 stamps (Item 680800).
The stamps will go on sale nationwide June 30, 2016.
In 2016, the U.S. Postal Service celebrates soda fountain favorites — the cold, sweet treats beloved by people of all ages. This First-Class Mail® Forever booklet of 20 stamps features five different illustrations: a double-scoop ice cream cone, an egg cream, a banana split, a root beer float, and a hot fudge sundae. The geometric silver-toned patterns in the selvage and on the booklet cover evoke a classic chrome-accented soda fountain. The words “Soda Fountain Favorites” appear across the top of the booklet cover. Art director Ethel Kessler designed the stamps, with illustrations by Nancy Stahl.
Stamp Fulfillment Services will not make an automatic push distribution to Post Offices™.
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:
Soda Fountain Favorites Stamps
Metro Station Post Office
2245 Rosa L. Parks Boulevard
Nashville, TN 37228-9998
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 August 30, 2016.
There are six philatelic products for this stamp issue:
- 680806 Press Sheet with Die-cut, $75.20 (print quantity 800).
- 680810 Digital Color Postmark Keepsake, $17.95.
- 680816 First-Day Cover (set of 5), $4.55.
- 680821 Digital Color Postmark (set of 5), $8.10.
- 680824 Framed Art, $39.95.
- 680830 Ceremony Program (random stamp), $6.95.
Technical Specifications:
Issue: Soda Fountain Favorites Stamps
Item Number: 680800
Denomination & Type of Issue: First-Class Mail Forever
Format: Convertible Booklet of 20 (5 designs)
Series: N⁄A
Issue Date & City: June 30, 2016, Nashville, TN 37228
Art Director: Ethel Kessler, Bethesda, MD
Designer: Ethel Kessler, Bethesda, MD
Typographer: Nancy Stahl, New York, NY
Artist: Nancy Stahl, New York, NY
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 Booklet: 20
Print Quantity: 50 million stamps
Paper Type: Phosphor Tagged Paper, Overall
Adhesive Type: Pressure-sensitive
Processed at: Banknote Corporation of America, Browns Summit, NC
Stamp Orientation: Horizontal, Vertical
Image Area (w x h): 1.68 x 1.05 in.⁄42.67 x 26.67 mm
0.77 x 1.05 in⁄19.56 x 26.67 mm
Stamp Size (w x h): 1.82 x 1.19 in.⁄46.23 x 30.23 mm
0.91 x 1.19 in⁄23.11 x 30.23
Booklet Size (w x h): 5.88 x 5.43 in.⁄149.35 x 137.92 mm
Press Sheet Size (w x h): 11.11 x 23.52 in.⁄282.19 x 597.41 mm
Colors: Cyan, Magenta, Yellow, Black, PMS 7510⁄Gold
Plate Size: 320 stamps per revolution
Plate Numbers: “B” followed by five (5) single digits
Marginal Markings: • Plate numbers in peel strip area • © 2015 USPS • USPS logo in peel strip area • Promotional text • Barcode
The Digital Color Postmark for this issue:
This postmark measures 3.0″ x 0.9″
Updated February 25th, from the USPS:
These stamps will be issued June 30th in Nashville at the Elliston Place Soda Shop.
From the USPS:
5 designs
FDOI: Information to come. (3rd Quarter)
Format: Booklet of 20
This issue celebrates soda fountain favorites—the cold, sweet treats beloved by people of all ages.
This First-Class Mail® Forever® booklet of 20 features five different illustrations: a double-scoop ice cream cone, an egg cream, a banana split, a root beer float, and a hot fudge sundae. The geometric silver-toned patterns in the selvage and on the booklet cover evoke a classic chrome-accented soda fountain.
[Note that the middle stamp is wider than the other 4. -LdeV]
Art Director: Ethel Kessler
Illustrator: Nancy Stahl
i love, love these stamps. Can not wait to place my order.
From Postal Bulletin 26 May 2016 USPS # 6808 #04 CB-20 $9.40 (Plate number in seam) #10 $17.95 #16 (5) $4.55 #21 (5) $8.10 No Auto Distrib. FDoI 30 June 2245 Rosa Parks Blvd Nashville TN 37228-9998 Image for DCP on next-to-last page of P.B.
I may not understand what “Long sloping die cut a top / bottom”. Could anybody elaborate?
I believe it refers to 3-stamp intersection that occurs at either the top middle or bottom middle of stamp 5095. See the Postal Bulletin image above from the “May 26 update” entry and you should be able to see the elongated corner perforation pattern.
Both stamp variations occur on the same pane, according to the graphic, so that relieves collectors from scrambling about looking for that hard-too-find variety.
Thank you. I just examined an actual pane, and finally saw what you mean. I can’t post a picture in this reply, so I’ll add it to the main article above.
I too would like to understand what ‘long sloping die cut on top” and “long sloping die cut on bottom” means. I can’t seem to see the difference in the picture of the booklet.