Updated September 3rd: The Scott Catalogue numbers for these stamps are 5098-5099.
Updated June 23rd: These are the item numbers for collectors who want to order quantities of 25.
- 781003 $6.25 Star Quilts (Presort First Class 3K) Strip of 25 w/ Plate No.
- 799903 $6.25 Star Quilts (Presort First Class 10K) Strip of 25 w/ Plate No.
There is a four strip limit
Updated June 10th, from the Postal Bulletin:
The first day of issue is July 6th.
On July 6, 2016, in Washington, DC, the U.S. Postal Service will issue the nondenominated Presorted First-Class Mail (25-cent value) Star Quilts stamps, in two designs, in a pressure-sensitive adhesive (PSA) coil of 3,000 (Item 781000) and 10,000 (Item 799900).
The stamps will go on sale nationwide July 6, 2016.
The U.S. Postal Service issues Star Quilts, two Presorted First-Class Mail stamps for bulk mail use. Each stamp shows a detail from a photograph of one of the two quilts, highlighting the intricate work involved in creating the Lone Star design. Both quilts feature colorful eight-point stars. The quilts were made by Amish quiltmakers. Art director Derry Noyes designed the stamps with existing photographs by John Volk.
Stamp Fulfillment Services will not make an automatic push distribution to Post Offices. Post Offices may order stamps through SFS Web prior to the FDOI. Offices should draw down existing inventory of the Spectrum Eagle stamps (Item 788400, 3k or Item 788500, 10k) prior to ordering the Star Quilts stamps.
How to Order the First-Day-of-Issue Postmark:
Customers have 60 days to obtain the first-day-of-issue postmark by mail. Each cover must have sufficient postage to meet First-Class Mail requirements. They may purchase new stamps at their local Post Office, at The Postal Store website at 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:
Star Quilts Stamps
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 September 6, 2016.
There is one philatelic product for this stamp issue:
799916 First-Day Cover (2 stamps, 1 of each design), $0.94.
Technical Specificiations:
Issue: Star Quilts Stamps
Item Number: 781000
Denomination & Type of Issue: Nondenominated, Presorted First-Class Mail
Format: Coil of 3,000 (2 designs)
Series: N?A
Issue Date & City: July 6, 2016, Washington, DC 20060
Art Director: Derry Noyes, Washington, DC
Designer: Derry Noyes, Washington, DC
Typographer: Derry Noyes, Washington, DC
Existing Photos: John Volk
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 Coil: 3,000
Print Quantity: 150 million stamps
Paper Type: Phosphor Tagged Paper, Overall
Adhesive Type: Pressure-sensitive
Processed at: Banknote Corporation of America, Browns Summit, NC
Colors: Cyan, Magenta, Yellow, Black,
PMS 1795 (Red)
Stamp Orientation: Vertical
Image Area (w x h): 0.73 x 0.84 in.?18.54 x 21.34 mm
Stamp Size (w x h): 0.87 x 0.98 in.?22.10 x 24.89 mm
Plate Size: 560 stamps per revolution
Plate Numbers: ìBî followed by five (5) single digits
Coil Number Frequency: Plate numbers every 28th stamp below stamp image
Technical Specifications:
Issue: Star Quilts Stamps
Item Number: 799900
Denomination & Type of Issue: Nondenominated, Presorted First-Class Mail
Format: Coil of 10,000 (2 designs)
Series: N?A
Issue Date & City: July 6, 2016, Washington, DC 20060
Art Director: Derry Noyes, Washington, DC
Designer: Derry Noyes, Washington, DC
Typographer: Derry Noyes, Washington, DC
Existing Photos: John Volk
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 Coil: 10,000
Print Quantity: 500 million stamps
Paper Type: Phosphor Tagged Paper, Overall
Adhesive Type: Pressure-sensitive
Processed at: Banknote Corporation of America, Browns Summit, NC
Colors: Cyan, Magenta, Yellow, Black,
PMS 1795 (Red)
Stamp Orientation: Vertical
Image Area (w x h): 0.73 x 0.84 in.?18.54 x 21.34 mm
Stamp Size (w x h): 0.87 x 0.98 in.?22.10 x 24.89 mm
Plate Size: 560 stamps per revolution
Plate Numbers: ìBî followed by five (5) single digits
Coil Number Frequency: Plate numbers every 28th stamp below stamp image
From the USPS:
Presorted First-Class (2 designs)
FDOI: Information to come.
Format: Coils of 3,000 and 10,000
With evocative names like Blazing Star, Touching Stars, and Starburst, stars are one of the most popular design motifs for American quilters. The 2016 Presorted First-Class Mail® stamps feature two versions of one of those favorites, the Lone Star pattern.
Each stamp shows a detail from a photograph of one of the two quilts highlighting the intricate work involved in creating the star design. As the name implies, the Lone Star design is one large star that covers the quilt top, created by stitching together many small diamond shaped pieces of fabric.
The Lone Star design has been known by several names, including the Mathematical Star, the Star of the East, and, among Native Americans, the Morning Star. The first dated example that carried the name “Lone Star” is inscribed “1835” and was made in Texas the year before the fall of the Alamo. The quilts featured in the stamp art were made by Amish quilt makers.
Art Director: Derry Noyes
[This seems to imply there will be future “quilts” stamps. —LdeV]
My wife is an avid quilter. She will be overjoyed.
David
I hope this issue USPS will issue strips of 25 or so and NOT 500 as seems the be the case with other definitive issues lately. At least the extra Pears, Grapes and Apples can be use for regular postage – not the case with these!
YES From the Postal Bulletin, 781003 and 799903. ( 3K and 10K coils ) Or, From the Subscription Program of Advance Orders.
The Postmaster ONECO CT says he will have these, and will sell as many as you’d like to buy. ( Strips of 30 probably – Plate numbers every 27 )
The Stamp Shoppe of Minneapolis MN will No Longer receive the Big Coils ( 3K & 10K ) to be split up.
why can they not be used for regular postage even though presort…two stamps would satisfy the rate for first class. Yes in strips of 50 please
Actually, If You Have a Permit, you can take them to Your Post Office, that Issued the Permit, for mailing.
Usually Only Done at Bulk Mailing Facilities. Ask for a “Authorization for Pre-canceled Stamps or Postage Evidencing Systems to Present Presorted Mail in Bulk ( Form 3615 )”
Tell the clerk you’re a Stamp Collector, and ask for the No Fee permit for pre-cancels. These clerks are used to dealing with the mailers who bring items to the Post Office in Truck Loads. ( Printers )
In Postal Bulletin 09 June issue date 6 July Wash DC buy from Maurice Bessette Postmaster Oneco CT 06373
I would love to buy some of these lone star quilt designed stamps. Can I buy some stamps and how much do I have to buy?
The Virtual Stamp Club does not buy or sell stamps; we are an information outlet. These stamps are no longer being sold by the Postal Service, so you’ll have to buy from a dealer, likely at more than face value. Try eBay or someone who is a member of either the APS or ASDA, or both, such as Henry Gitner, http://www.hgitner.com
After Speaking with a clerk at The Stamp Shoppe in Minneapolis MN, They No Longer receive the Big Coils that can be split up and sold to collectors.
So, ONECO CT is your source.
From Linns SEP 3 Scott
5098 ( center white/green/red )
5099 ( center green/blue/purple/red )
a P# strip of 5
The Star Quilts have been reprinted. All production aspects are identical: colors, design, paper, die cutting, the tiny date, the sequence of colors in the plate number, etc. But it’s real easy to tell the originals from the reprint: on the originals, plate number B11111 appears on the “Red Quilt” stamp, Scott 5098. On the reprints, plate number B11111 appears on the “Blue Quilt” stamp, Scott 5099.