Updated April 6th: Scott Catalogue editors have assigned 5058 to this issue.

Updated February 18th: Here is the Digital Color Postmark for this issue. It measures 2.98″ by 1.21″.

Updated February 18th, from the Postal Bulletin: On  February 22, 2016, in Washington, DC, the U.S. Postal Service® will issue The Moon Forever® International rate stamp, in one design, in a pressure-sensitive adhesive (PSA) pane of 10 stamps (Item 589200).

The stamp will go on sale nationwide February 22, 2016.

In 2016, the U.S. Postal Service introduces The Moon, a new Forever international rate stamp. Issued at the $1.20 price, this Global Forever stamp can be used to mail a one-ounce letter to any country to which First-Class Mail International® service is available. As with all Global Forever stamps, this stamp will have a postage value equivalent to the price of a single-piece First-Class Mail International one-ounce machinable letter in effect at the time of use. To distinguish this stamp from other Forever stamps, the shape of the international stamp is round and bears the words “Global Forever.” The Moon features a detailed photograph of the full moon. The image captures the brilliant surface of Earth’s only natural satellite. The selvage features a tree line silhouetted against the night sky. The new Global Forever stamps are being issued in self-adhesive panes of 10. William J. Gicker was the art director. Greg Breeding illustrated the selvage and he designed the stamp with an existing photograph by Beth Swanson.

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:

The Moon Stamp
Special Events
PO Box 92282
Washington, DC 20090-2282

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 April 22, 2016.

There are four philatelic products for this stamp issue:

• 589206, Press Sheet with Die-cut, $120.00 (print quantity 1,000)
• 589210 Digital Color Postmark Keepsake, $14.95
• 589216 First-Day Cover, $1.64
• 589221 Digital Color Postmark, $2.35

Technical Specifications:

Issue: The Moon
Item Number: 589200
Denomination & Type of Issue: Forever International Rate
Format: Pane of 10 (1 design)
Series: N⁄A
Issue Date & City: February 22, 2016, Washington, DC 20066
Designer: Greg Breeding, Charlottesville, VA
Art Director: William J. Gicker, Washington, DC
Existing Photo: Beth Swanson
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: 75 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, PMS Midnight Blue⁄Blue, 1225 Gold
Stamp Orientation: Round
Image Area (w x h): 1.27 x 1.27 in.⁄32.26 x 32.26 mm
Overall Size (w x h): 1.41 x 1.41 in.⁄35.81 x 35.81 mm
Full Pane Size (w x h): 8.50 x 4.50 in.⁄215.90 x 114.30 mm
Press Sheets Size (w x h): 17.00 x 23.50 in.⁄431.80 x 596.90 mm
Plate Size: 100 stamps per revolution
Plate Numbers: “B” followed by six (6) single digits
Marginal Markings:
Front: Plate numbers in four corners of pane
Back: © 2015 USPS • USPS logo • Plate position diagram • Barcode (589200) in upper right and lower left corners of pane plus one Barcode per stamp • Promotional text

Updated January 15th: It now appears this stamp is not likely to be issued in January. In response to a query from The Virtual Stamp Club, the USPS says “FDOI and the possibility of a ceremony is still TBD.” However, the USPS has set dates for the other stamps that were initially tabbed for January.

From the USPS:

FDOI: January in Washington, DC (no ceremony)
Format: Pane of 10
This round stamp features a detailed photograph of the moon. Taken as the full moon rose over Fort Lauderdale, Florida, the image captures the brilliant surface of Earth’s only natural satellite. The selvage features a small tree line silhouetted against the night sky.

The moon has long had considerable impact on mankind. Its gravitational pull creates ocean tides and affects our planet’s motions. A full moon occurs approximately every 29.5 days when the moon is opposite the sun, with Earth between the two. From our planet, the visible surface of the moon appears fully illuminated and larger than anything else in the night sky. Since the rotation and orbit periods of the moon are the same, the same part of the moon is always seen from Earth.

Issued at the $1.20 price, this Global Forever® stamp can be used to mail a one-ounce letter to any country to which First-Class Mail International® service is available.

Art Director: William Gicker
Designer: Greg Breeding