WPA Posters (U.S. 2017)

Updated February 22nd: More details on the first day ceremony:

[USPS media advisory]
Postal Service Celebrates Posters of the Work Projects Administration
First-Day-of-Issue Ceremony at Franklin D. Roosevelt Presidential Library, March 7

What:
The U.S. Postal Service celebrates these visually striking posters of the Workers Projects Administration (WPA) with stamps featuring 10 outstanding posters from the Library of Congress collection.
Each stamp features a vibrant example of the posters conceived and printed in workshops across the nation under the WPA, a broad-reaching program that provided millions of jobs during the Great Depression.

Who:

  • Megan J. Brennan, Postmaster General and Chief Executive Officer, U.S. Postal Service
  • Paul Sparrow, director, Franklin D. Roosevelt Presidential Library and Museum
  • Anthony Musso, author and historian
  • David B. Roosevelt, grandson of Franklin and Eleanor Roosevelt

When:
Tuesday, March 7, 2017, 11:00 a.m.

Where:
Franklin D. Roosevelt Presidential Library and Museum
4079 Albany Post Road
Hyde Park, NY 12538

Background:
The WPA Posters stamps are being issued as Forever stamps in 10 designs, in a pressure-sensitive adhesive booklet of 20 stamps. Forever stamps are always equal in value to the current First-Class Mail 1-ounce price.

Antonio Alcalá served as the art director of the project and designed the stamps with Maribel O. Gray.

The booklet features designs originally created to support the civic-minded ideals of former president Franklin D. Roosevelt’s New Deal Program.

Formed in 1935 as the Works Progress Administration, renamed the Work Projects Administration in 1939, the WPA lasted until 1943. By then, the function of its Federal Art Program Poster Division had been fully absorbed into the World War II effort.

During the Depression, the project employed 5,000 artists nationwide, who designed and printed some two million posters from approximately 35,000 designs. At the project’s height, cities in 18 states had Poster Project offices.

Most of their work was printed by silkscreen, an economical medium that saw significant innovation at the hands of Poster Division artists. The posters featured on these stamps are from the Prints & Photographs Division of the Library of Congress, which houses the largest collection of WPA posters.

Followers of the U.S. Postal Service’s Facebook page can view streaming video of the event at facebook.com/USPS<http://www.facebook.com/USPS>. The public is asked to share the news on Twitter and Instagram using the hashtag #WPAForever.

Updated February 20th: Some details on the first day ceremony:

Tuesday, March 7, 2017
11:00 a.m. EST
Franklin D. Roosevelt Presidential Library and Museum
4079 Albany Post Road
Hyde Park, NY 12538

Updated February 17th: Here is the Digital Color Postmark for this issue: It measures 2.1” x 1.5”.

Updated February 3rd:
On March 7, 2017, in Hyde Park, NY, the U.S. Postal Service« will issue the WPA Posters stamps (Forever priced at 49 cents), in 10 designs, in a pressure-sensitive adhesive (PSA) booklet of 20 stamps (Item 674600).

The stamps will go on sale nationwide March 7, 2017.

The U.S. Postal Service celebrates posters of the Work Projects Administration, striking and utilitarian artwork created during the Depression by the Poster Division of the WPA Federal Art Project. This booklet features 20 stamps of 10 different designs originally created to support the civic-minded ideals of Franklin D. Roosevelt’s New Deal Program. Each stamp features a vibrant example of the posters conceived and printed in workshops across the nation under the WPA, a broad-reaching program that provided millions of jobs during the Great Depression. Poster images are from Library of Congress, Prints and Photographs Division, WPA Poster Collection. Antonio Alcalá served as the art director of the project and designed the stamps with Maribel O. Gray.

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:

FDOI — WPA Posters Stamps
USPS Stamp Fulfillment Services
8300 NE Underground Drive, Suite 300
Kansas City, MO 64144-9900

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 May 7, 2017.

There are six philatelic products for this stamp issue:

  • 674606 Press Sheet with Die-cut, $78.40
  • 674610 Digital Color Postmark Keepsake (random DCP), $11.95
  • 674616 First-Day Cover (set of 10), $9.30
  • 674621 Digital Color Postmark (set of 10), $16.40
  • 674624 Framed Art, $39.95
  • 674630 Ceremony Program, $6.95

Technical Specifications:

Issue: WPA Posters Stamps
Item Number: 674600
Denomination & Type of Issue: First-Class Mail Forever
Format: Double-Sided Booklet of 20 (10 designs)
Series: N/A
Issue Date & City: March 7, 2017, Hyde Park, NY 12538
Art Director: Antonio Alcalá, Alexandria, VA
Designer: Antonio Alcalá, Alexandria, VA
Designer: Maribel O. Gray, Alexandria, VA
Typographer: Antonio Alcalá, Alexandria, VA
Modeler: Joseph Sheeran
Manufacturing Process: Offset
Printer: Ashton Potter (USA) Ltd. (APU)
Printed at: Williamsville , NY
Press Type: Muller A76
Stamps per Booklet: 20
Print Quantity: 100,000,000 stamps
Paper Type: Nonphosphored Type III, Overall
Adhesive Type: Pressure-sensitive
Processed at: Ashton Potter (USA) Ltd. (APU)
Stamp Orientation: Vertical
Image Area (w x h): 0.84 x 1.42 in./21.34 x 36.07 mm
Stamp Size (w x h): 0.98 x 1.56 in./24.89 x 39.62 mm
Full Booklet Size (w x h): 6.18 x 3.12 in./156.97 x 79.25 mm
Press Sheet Size (w x h): 25.095 x 6.24 in./637.41 x 158.50 mm
Colors: Black, Cyan, Magenta, Yellow
Plate Size: 640 stamps per revolution
Plate Numbers: “P” followed by four (4) single digits
Marginal Markings: Cover: “WPA POSTERS” “DESIGNS FROM THE WORK PROJECTS ADMINISTRATION” • Twenty First-Class Forever Stamps • Plate number in peel strip area • ⌐ 2016 USPS • USPS Logo in peel strip area • Barcode

Updated January 5th: These stamps will be issued March 7th in Hyde Park, NY (home of Franklin Delano Roosevelt).

From the USPS, September 20, 2016:

s_wpapostersThe Postal Service celebrates posters of the Work Projects Administration (WPA), striking and utilitarian artworks created by the Poster Division of the WPA Federal Art Project. Each stamp features a vibrant example of the posters conceived and printed in workshops across the nation under the WPA, a broad-reaching program that provided millions of jobs during the Great Depression. Formed in 1935 as the Works Progress Administration and renamed the Work Projects Administration in 1939, the WPA lasted until 1943. Poster images are from Library of Congress, Prints & Photographs Division, WPA Poster Collection. Antonio Alcalá served as the art director and designed the stamps with Maribel O. Gray.

5 thoughts on “WPA Posters (U.S. 2017)

  1. From Postal Bulletin 02 FEB USPS # 6746 Sold ONLY in Booklets of 20.
    #10 Keepsake ( Single Random DCP ) $11.95, #16 FDoI-10 $9.30, #21 DCP-10 $16.40 No Images for the PIC/DCP. ( 2 weeks like last time… )

    • Scott Numbers ( May 15th edition of Linns )
      See America 5180
      Work Pays 5181
      Field Day 5182
      Puerto Rico 5183
      Muni Airport 5184
      Trade Zone 5185
      Zoo 5186
      Work with Care 5187
      Ntl Parks 5188
      Hiking 5189

  2. Glad to see that actual WPA poster artwork is being used and not some present-day/modern interpretation!

    These look GREAT ! ! !

    Can’t wait to get them !

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