U.S. Flag (U.S. 2017)

Updated March 11th: The Scott catalogue numbers for this issue are

    • 5158 coil stamp (Banknote printing), serpentine die cut 11 vert.
    • 5159 coil stamp (Ashton-Potter printing), serpentine die cut 9½ vert.
    • 5160 booklet stamp (Banknote printing), microprinted “USPS” on right end of fourth red stripe, serpentine die cut 11¼x10¾ on 2 or 3 sides
    • 5160a. Booklet pane of 10
    • 5160b. Booklet pane of 20
    • 5161 booklet stamp (Ashton-Potter printing), microprinted “USPS” on right end of second white stripe, serpentine die cut 11¼x10¾ on 2 or 3 sides
    • 5161a. Booklet pane of 20
    • 5162 ATM booklet stamp (Ashton-Potter printing), microprinted “USPS” on left end of second white stripe near blue field, serpentine die cut 11¼x10¾ on 2, 3 or 4sides
    • 5162a. Booklet pane of 18

Updated January 27th: The unveiling of the stamp design at the first-day ceremony during Southeastern Stamp Expo: from left, Edwin L. Jackson, featured speaker; American Philatelic Society President Mick Zais; USPS Chief Human Resources Officer and Executive VP Jeffrey C. Williamson; and Pledge of Allegiance leader Beatrix Clark.

Updated January 27th: Here is the pictorial first day postmark for this issue: It measures 2” x 1.5”.

Updated January 18th:
Technical Specifications:

Issue: U.S. Flag Stamp
Item Number: 564400
Denomination & Type of Issue: First-Class Mail® Forever
Format: ATM Sheetlet of 18 stamps (1 design)
Series: N/A
Issue Date & City: January 27, 2017, Norcross, GA 30071
Designer: Greg Breeding, Charlottesville, VA
Typographer: Greg Breeding, Charlottesville, VA
Existing Photo: Tom Grill
Modeler: Joseph Sheeran
Manufacturing Process: Offset, Microprint
Printer: Ashton Potter (USA) Ltd. (APU)
Printed at: Williamsvile, NY
Print Quantity: 109,080,000 stamps
Adhesive Type: Pressure-sensitive
Processed at: Ashton Potter (USA) Ltd.
Press Type: Muller Martini A76
Stamps per Sheetlet: 18
Paper Type: Nonphosphored Type III
Colors Stamp Side: Black, Cyan, Magenta, Yellow
Colors Cover Side: Black, Cyan, Magenta, Yellow
Stamp Orientation: Vertical
Image Area (w x h): 0.73 x 0.84 in/18.54 x 21.34 mm
Overall Size (w x h): 0.87 x 0.98 in/22.10 x 24.89 mm
Booklet Size (w x h): 2.61 x 6.125 in/66.29 x 155.58 mm
Plate Size: 720 stamps per revolution
Plate Numbers: “P” followed by four (4) single digits
Marginal Markings:
Cover Side: Header: “U.S. Flag”, “Eighteen First-Class Forever® stamps” • Barcode (564400) • USPS logo • Promotional text
Stamp Side: Plate block number in peel strip

Updated January 6th: The January 5th Postal Bulletin adds: Item 564400, $8.82 U.S. Flag ATM Sheetlet of 18 stamps, will not be available for ordering through SFS Web.

Updated December 22nd from the Postal Bulletin:

On January 27, 2017, in Norcross, GA, the U.S. Postal Service will issue the U.S. Flag First-Class Mail stamp (Forever priced at 49 cents), in one design. The formats available are a pressure-sensitive adhesive (PSA) booklet of 10 stamps (Item 674700) produced by security printer Banknote Corporation of America (BCA), a PSA booklet of 20 stamps (Item 672000) produced by security printers BCA and Ashton Potter (USA) Ltd. (APU), a PSA coil of 100 stamps (Item 749800) produced by security printers BCA and APU, and a PSA Automated teller machine (ATM) sheetlet of 18 stamps (Item 564400).

The stamp will go on sale nationwide January 27, 2017.

With the new U.S. Flag stamp, the Postal Service™ continues its tradition of celebrating patriotism with one of the most recognizable symbols of our nation. The stamp, sold in booklets of 10 and 20, coils of 100, and an ATM sheetlet of 18, features a detail from a photograph of the billowing Stars and Stripes. Terrence W. McCaffrey was the art director of the project and Greg Breeding designed the stamp with an existing photograph of the flag taken by Tom Grill.

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.

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-U.S. Flag
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 March 27, 2017.

There are two philatelic products for the booklet of 20:
• 672016 First-Day Cover, $0.93.
• 672030 Ceremony Program, $6.95.

There is one philatelic product for the coil of 100:
• 749816 First-Day Cover, $0.93.

There are no philatelic products for the booklet of 10.

Technical Specifications:

Issue: U.S. Flag Stamp
Item Number: 672000
Denomination & Type of Issue: First-Class Mail Forever
Format: Double-Sided Booklet of 20 (1 design)
Series: N/A
Issue Date & City: January 27, 2017, Norcross, GA 30071
Art Director: Terrence W. McCaffrey,New Braunfels, TX
Designer: Greg Breeding, Charlottesville, VA
Typographer: Greg Breeding, Charlottesville, VA
Existing Photo: Tom Grill
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: 1,750,000,000
Paper Type: Phosphor Tagged Paper, Block
Adhesive Type: Pressure-sensitive
Processed at: Banknote Corporation of America, Browns Summit, NC
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
Booklet Size (w x h): 5.52 x 1.96 in./140.21 x 49.78 mm
Colors: Cyan, Magenta, Yellow, Black
Plate Size: 960 stamps per revolution
Plate Numbers: “B” followed by four (4) single digits
Marginal Markings: • Plate number in peel strip area• © 2016 USPS in peel strip area • Promotional text • USPS Logo • Barcode

Technical Specifications:

Issue: U.S. Flag Stamp
Item Number: 672000
Denomination & Type of Issue: First-Class Mail Forever
Format: Booklet of 20 (1 design)
Series: N/A
Issue Date & City: January 27, 2017, Norcross, GA 30071
Art Director: Terrence W. McCaffrey,New Braunfels, TX
Designer: Greg Breeding, Charlottesville, VA
Typographer: Greg Breeding, Charlottesville, VA
Existing Photo: Tom Grill
Modeler: Joseph Sheeran
Manufacturing Process: Offset, Microprint
Printer: Ashton Potter (USA) Ltd. (APU)
Printed at: Williamsville , NY
Press Type: Muller Martini A76
Stamps per Booklet: 20
Print Quantity: 1,750,000,000 stamps
Paper Type: Nonphosphored Type III, Block Tag
Adhesive Type: Pressure-sensitive
Processed at: Ashton Potter (USA) Ltd. (APU)
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
Full Booklet Size (w x h): 5.52 x 1.96 in./140.21 x 49.78 mm
Colors: Cyan, Magenta, Yellow, Black
Plate Size: 1040 stamps per revolution
Plate Numbers: “P” followed by four (4) single digits
Marginal Markings: Header. “U.S. Flag” Twenty First-Class Forever Stamps• Plate numbers in peel strip area • © 2016 USPS in peel strip area

Technical Specifications:

Issue: U.S. Flag Stamp
Item Number: 749800
Denomination & Type of Issue: First-Class Mail Forever
Format: Coil of 100 (1 design)
Series: N/A
Issue Date & City: January 27, 2017, Norcross, GA 30071
Art Director: Terrence W. McCaffrey, New Braunfels, TX
Designer: Greg Breeding, Charlottesville, VA
Typographer: Greg Breeding, Charlottesville, VA
Existing Photo: Tom Grill
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: 100
Print Quantity: 2,000,000,000 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
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: 744 stamps per revolution
Plate Numbers: “B” followed by four (4) single digits
Coil Number Frequency: Plate numbers every 31st stamp below stamp image

Technical Specifications:

Issue: U.S. Flag Stamp
Item Number: 749800
Denomination & Type of Issue: First-Class Mail Forever
Format: Coil of 100 (1 design)
Series: N/A
Issue Date & City: January 27, 2017, Norcross, GA 30071
Art Director: Terrence W. McCaffrey, New Braunfels, TX
Designer: Greg Breeding, Charlottesville, VA
Typographer: Greg Breeding, Charlottesville, VA
Existing Photo: Tom Grill
Modeler: Joseph Sheeran
Manufacturing Process: Offset, Microprint
Printer: Ashton Potter (USA) Ltd. (APU)
Printed at: Williamsville, NY
Press Type: Muller A76
Stamps per Coil: 100
Print Quantity: 2,000,000,000 stamps
Paper Type: Nonphosphored Type III, Block Tag
Adhesive Type: Pressure-sensitive
Processed at: Ashton Potter (USA) Ltd. (APU)
Colors: Black, Cyan, Magenta, Yellow
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): 0.8709 x 0.98 in./22.12 x 24.89 mm
Plate Size: 744 stamps per revolution
Plate Numbers: “P” followed by four (4) single digits
Coil Number Frequency: Plate numbers every 31st stamp below stamp image

Technical Specifications:

Issue: U.S. Flag Stamp
Item Number: 674700
Denomination & Type of Issue: First-Class Mail Forever
Format: Single-Sided Booklet of 10 (1 design)
Series: N/A
Issue Date & City: January 27, 2017, Norcross, GA 30071
Art Director: Terrence W. McCaffrey, New Braunfels, TX
Designer: Greg Breeding, Charlottesville, VA
Typographer: Greg Breeding, Charlottesville, VA
Existing Photo: Tom Grill
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: 10
Print Quantity: 100,000,000 stamps
Paper Type: Phosphor Tagged Paper, Block
Adhesive Type: Pressure-sensitive
Processed at: Banknote Corporation of America, Browns Summit, NC
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
Booklet Size (w x h): 5.316 x 1.74 in./135.03 x 44.20 mm
Colors: Cyan, Magenta, Yellow, Black
Plate Size: 560 stamps per revolution
Plate Numbers: “B” followed by four (4) single digits
Marginal Markings: • Plate number in peel strip area • © 2016 USPS in peel strip area • Promotional text • USPS Logo • Barcode • Verso: U.S. Flag, 10 First-Class Forever Stamps

Technical details for the ATM Sheetlet of 18 stamps will appear in a future edition of the Postal Bulletin.

Updated December 21st, 2016: USPS press release:

U.S. Flag Forever Stamp To be Dedicated at Atlanta Area Stamp Show
WHAT: First Day of Issue ceremony for the U.S. Flag Forever Stamp

WHO:

      • USPS Chief Human Resources Officer and Executive Vice President Jeff Williamson
      • American Philatelic Society President Mick Zais, Brigadier General, U.S. Army (ret.).
      • USPS Director of Stamp Services Mary-Anne Penner

WHEN: Fri., Jan. 27 at 11 a.m.

WHERE:

Southeastern Stamp Expo, American Philatelic Society Stamp Show
Hilton Atlanta Northeast
5993 Peachtree Industrial Blvd.
Norcross, GA 30092

BACKGROUND: With the new U.S. Flag stamp, the Postal Service continues its tradition of celebrating patriotism with one of the most recognizable symbols of our nation. The stamp, sold in booklets of 10 and 20 and coils, features a detail from a photograph of the billowing Stars and Stripes. Terrence W. McCaffrey was the art director of the project and Greg Breeding of Charlottesville, VA, designed the stamp with an existing photograph of the flag taken by Tom Grill of New York. The credit line “© Tom Grill/Corbis” should appear in profile text associated with the stamp in accordance with standard practice.

From the USPS, September 20, 2016:

s_us2017flagWith the new U.S. Flag stamp, the Postal Service continues its tradition of celebrating patriotism with one of the most recognizable symbols of the nation. The stamp features a detail from a photograph of the billowing Stars and Stripes. Terrence W. McCaffrey was the art director and Greg Breeding designed the stamp with an existing photograph of the flag taken by Tom Grill.

12 thoughts on “U.S. Flag (U.S. 2017)

  1. From Postal Bulletin 22 DEC
    Issued at 49c rate No Automatic Distribution, Post Offices Must Order
    B/W Pictorial Cancel, No DCP
    Booklet 10 674704 $4.90
    Booklet 20 672004 $9.80 FDC #16 93 cents B/W PIC
    Coil 100 749804 $49 FDC #16 93 cents B/W PIC
    ATM Pane 18 564404 $8.82

  2. I was informed today by SFC the flag coils of 100 item #s are
    AP (Ashton Potter) 749802
    SSP (Bank Note) 749804

  3. Lynn’s came out this last week end with cat. #’s etal for these new flag stamps. One thing that is missing is the die cut information for the APU booklet of 20. I can measure it and probably be close but does anyone know the official measurements?

    • Best I can tell is they are the same for both APU and SSP. Sort of answers why they have it listed the way they do.

  4. Dear Sir: I am looking for a U S Flag Stamp Club–if one does exist. Could you help me please,I am 😯 ,with Alz +2 crainotomies-could you help me please,

    Thank you very much,Bill Stahl

    • I don’t know of one, nor is one listed as a “specialty society” on the American Philatelic Society website. The closest I found was the American Topical Association’s Americana Unit. Dennis Dengel is the contact dennisdengel@verizon.net and its website is http://www.americanaunit.org/ Its focus is “the study of those stamps from around the world that depict some aspect of “AMERICANA”. It could be U.S. Presidents, The U.S. Flag, The Statue of Liberty…”

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