Nebraska Statehood (U.S. 2017)

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Updated April 3rd: The Scott Catalogue number for this issue is 5179.

Updated February 20th: Here are some details on the first day ceremony:

Wednesday, March 1, 2017
9:30 a.m. CST
Nebraska State Capitol
Second Floor Rotunda
1445 K Street
Lincoln, NE 68508

Updated February 12th: Here is the Digital Color Postmark for this issue: It measures 2.95” x 1.32″. The B&W first-day cancel for this issue is the standard 4-bar “FIRST DAY OF ISSUE.” Here is the “special” postmark that local post offices may use: It measures 2.9” x 1.3″

Updated February 3rd:
On March 1, 2017, in Lincoln, NE, the U.S. Postal Service« will issue the Nebraska Statehood stamp (Forever« priced at 49 cents), in one design, in a pressure-sensitive adhesive (PSA) pane of 20 stamps (Item 474400).

The stamp will go on sale nationwide March 1, 2017.

This stamp celebrates the 150th anniversary of Nebraska’s statehood. Known for its agricultural bounty, the Cornhusker State became the 37th state of the Union on March 1, 1867. Nebraska photographer Michael Forsberg tucked himself among prairie grasses on the riverbank between the small cities of Grand Island and Kearney to capture the image shown on the stamp. In the photograph, sandhill cranes fly low to scout for sandbars, which provide shelter from nighttime predators during a mid-migratory rest for half a million of these ancient birds. This spectacle along the Platte River is unique to Nebraska. Forsberg captured this image as winter thawed into spring around the year 2000. Art director Derry Noyes designed the stamp using Michael Forsberg’s existing photograph.

Stamp Fulfillment Services will make an automatic push distribution to Post Offices (in Nebraska only) of a quantity to cover approximately 30 days of sales.

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 — Nebraska Statehood Stamp
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 1, 2017.

There are six philatelic products for this stamp issue:

  • 474406, Press Sheet with Die-cut, $58.80
  • 474410 Digital Color Postmark Keepsake, $11.95
  • 474416 First-Day Cover, $0.93
  • 474421 Digital Color Postmark, $1.64
  • 474424 Framed Art, $39.95
  • 474430 Ceremony Program, $6.95

Technical Specifications:

Issue: Nebraska Statehood Stamp
Item Number: 474400
Denomination & Type of Issue: First-Class Mail Forever
Format: Pane of 20 (1 design)
Series: Statehood
Issue Date & City: March 1, 2017, Lincoln, NE 68501
Art Director: Derry Noyes, Washington, DC
Designer: Derry Noyes, Washington, DC
Typographer: Derry Noyes, Washington, DC
Existing Photo: Michael Forsberg
Modeler: Joseph Sheeran
Manufacturing Process: Offset, Microprint — “USPS”
Printer: Ashton Potter (USA) Ltd. (APU)
Printed at: Williamsville, NY
Press Type: Muller A76
Stamps per Pane: 20
Print Quantity: 20,000,000 stamps
Paper Type: Nonphosphored Type III, Block Tag applied
Adhesive Type: Pressure-sensitive
Processed at: Ashton Potter (USA) Ltd. (APU)
Stamp Orientation: Horizontal
Image Area (w x h): 1.42 x .84 in./36.07 x 21.34 mm
Overall Size (w x h): 1.56 x .98 in./39.62 x 24.89 mm
Full Pane Size (w x h): 7.24 x 5.92 in./183.90 x 150.37 mm
Press Sheet Size (w x h): 21.72 x 11.84 in./551.69 x 300.74 mm
Colors: Black, Cyan, Magenta, Yellow
Plate Size: 240 stamps per revolution
Plate Numbers: “P” followed by four (4) digits
Marginal Markings:
Front: Plate numbers in four corners of pane
Back: © 2016 USPS • USPS Logo • Two barcodes (474400) • Plate Position Diagram • Promotional Text

Updated January 5th: This stamp will be issued March 1st in Lincoln, Nebraska.

From the USPS, November 22nd, 2016:

s_nebraska1This stamp celebrates the 150th anniversary of Nebraska statehood. Known for agriculture, the Cornhusker State became the 37th state on March 1, 1867. Nebraska photographer Michael Forsberg set up among prairie grasses on the riverbank between the small cities of Grand Island and Kearney to capture the image shown on the stamp. In the photograph, sandhill cranes fly low to scout for shelter from nighttime predators. This mid-migratory rest for half a million birds along the Platte River is unique to Nebraska. Forsberg captured this image as winter thawed into spring around the year 2000. Art director Derry Noyes designed the stamp using Forsberg existing photograph.

9 thoughts on “Nebraska Statehood (U.S. 2017)”

  1. As a Nebraskan, I was pleased that a photograph by Michael Forsberg featuring the sandhill cranes migration was chosen for the 150th anniversary of Nebraska statehood stamp. Forsberg has been creating amazing photos of the landscapes and wildlife of Nebraska and the Great Plains for many years. Here is a quote from his website that sums up his life’s work:
    “Photography can be a powerful witness to out short-comings, but also to show that beauty and hope still exists in the natural world. It can help communicate to people why something matters. Conservation photography is an active and powerful tool to begin this process, to start the conversation, to call for action. Time is short.” http://www.michaelforsberg.com

  2. From Postal Bulletin 02 FEB USPS # 4744 #10 Keepsake $11.95, #16 FDC 93c, #21 DCP $1.64 The artwork for the FDoI PIC cancel wasn’t in the P.B., probably a B&W version of the DCP ( as usual) Also an Any Post Office Pictorial Cancel for this stamp.

    • 474416 is a 4-bar First Day of Issue cancel, not the one with the sand hill crane.

      • From Post Bulletin 16 MAR If you want the NE Statehood with the crane cancel, send to: Postmaster POB 9998 Lincoln NE 68501-9998. No other addresses for this announced so far. Anyone in NE with info ? ( Omaha ? )

        • I’ve received some of the Special Nebraska Statehood cancels from the PM in Lincoln NE. I asked if they knew of ANY other P.O. in NE that had this cancel, and they said NO. So, Lincoln NE May be It for the B/W Sand Hill Crane cancel.

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