Updated April 29th: We expressed surprise that this booklet will not be distributed automatically to post offices. “This is correct,” USPS spokesman Mark Saunders tells The Virtual Stamp Club. “There will not be an automatic distribution for Colorful Celebrations. Booklets are not always automatically distributed to post offices and automatic distributions are based on several different factors. Out of eight stamps issues, two stamp issues (Views of Our Planets & National Parks) will be distributed to post offices. Colorful Celebrations will be available for sale at the 2016 World Stamp Show, online at http://usps.com/shop, or by calling 800-782-6724.”

Updated April 29th: The first day postmarks: The DCP measures 2.93” x 1.40” The pictorial measures 2.70” x 1.43”

These stamps will be issued Friday, June 3, at World Stamp Show-NY 2016.

Updated April 29, 2016, from the Postal Bulletin
On June 3, 2016, in New York, NY, the U.S. Postal Service® will issue the Colorful Celebrations stamps (Forever® priced at 47 cents) in 10 designs, in a pressure-sensitive adhesive (PSA) double-sided booklet of 20 stamps (Item 681000).

The stamps will go on sale nationwide June 3, 2016.

Celebrate any festive occasion with Colorful Celebrations, a new stamp issuance from the U.S. Postal Service. This booklet of 20 First-Class Mail® Forever stamps includes 10 digitally created designs with eye-popping patterns that showcase geometric shapes, flowers, and birds. The stamp designs come in one of four colors: blue, orange, purple, and fuchsia. Papel picado, an intricate art form that was developed in Mexico, inspired artist Atzin Gaytan’s digitally made stamp art. The Spanish term papel picado translates to “pierced paper.” Sally Andersen-Bruce designed the stamps. Derry Noyes served as the project’s art director.

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. [Configuration of the booklet pane above]

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:

Colorful Celebrations Stamps
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 August 3, 2016.

There are six philatelic products for this stamp issue:

• 681006, Press Sheet with Die-cut, $75.20 (print quantity 3,000)
• 681010 Keepsake, $11.95
• 681016 First-Day Cover (set of 10), $9.10
• 681021 Digital Color Postmark (set of 10), $16.20
• 681024 Framed Art, $39.95
• 681030 Ceremony Program (random single), $6.95

Technical Specifications:

Issue: Colorful Celebrations Stamp
Item Number: 681000
Denomination & Type of Issue: First-Class Mail Forever
Format: Double-sided Booklet of 20 (10 designs)
Series: N⁄A
Issue Date & City: June 3, 2016, New York, NY 10199
Art Director: Derry Noyes, Washington, DC
Designer: Sally Andersen-Bruce, New Milford, CT
Typographer: Derry Noyes, Washington, DC
Artist: Atzin Gaytan, New Milford, CT
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: 100 million stamps
Paper Type: Phosphor Tagged Paper, Block
Adhesive Type: Pressure-sensitive
Processed at: Banknote Corporation of America, Browns Summit, NC
Stamp Orientation: Horizontal
Image Area (w x h): 1.05 x 0.77 in.⁄26.67 x 19.56 mm
Stamp Size (w x h): 1.19 x 0.91 in.⁄30.22 x 23.11 mm
Booklet Size (w x h): 2.38 x 5.74 in.⁄60.33 x 145.88 mm
Press Sheet Size (w x h): 9.5 x 11.49 in.⁄ 241.3 x 291.74 mm
Colors: Black, PMS Orange, Fuchsia, Blue, Purple
Plate Size: 800 stamps per revolution
Plate Numbers: “B” followed by five (5) single digits
Marginal Markings: • Plate numbers in peel strip area • © 2016 • USPS in peel strip area

Updated April 1, 2016: From the USPS: We want to clarify that these are illustrations inspired by the traditional art of Papel Picado. They are not cut paper themselves and they do not strictly follow the thematic traditions of the Mexican art form.

From the USPS, March 31, 2016: Celebrate any festive occasion with Colorful Celebrations, a new stamp issuance from the U.S. Postal Service®. The booklet of 20 stamps includes 10 vivid, digitally created designs featuring eye-popping patterns that showcase geometric shapes, flowers, and birds.

Papel picado, an intricate art form that was developed in Mexico, served as the inspiration for the stamp art. The Spanish term translates to “pierced paper.” Crafted with sharp tools and layers of tissue paper, papel picado designs often include birds, flowers, and religious iconography. The elaborate decorations are hung during holidays, weddings, birthdays, and other festivities.

Colorful Celebrations 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.