U.S. Flag (U.S. 2018)

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From the USPS; updates appear after this initial description:

U.S. Flag For more than half a century, U.S. stamps have depicted the American flag in vivid red, white and blue. This eye-catching new issuance continues that tradition with a striking graphic design of a flag with two crisp folds.

From VSC: This stamp will be issued February 9th in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, with a first-day ceremony. The date and location coincide with the American Stamp Dealers Association ASDA Winter Postage Stamp Show.

Updated January 5th from the Postal Bulletin:

On February 9, 2018, in Ft. Lauderdale, FL, the U.S. Postal Service® will issue the U.S. Flag 2018 First-Class Mail® stamp (Forever® priced at 50 cents) in one design, in a pressure-sensitive adhesive (PSA) booklet of 20 stamps (Item 678200) produced by security printers Ashton Potter (USA) Ltd (APU) and Banknote Corporation of America (BCA), and a PSA Coil of 100 stamps (Item 749700) produced by security printers APU and BCA. The stamp will go on sale nationwide February 9, 2018.

For more than half a century, U.S. stamps have depicted the American flag in vivid red, white, and blue. This eye-catching new stamp issue continues that tradition with a striking graphic design of a flag with two crisp folds. Ethel Kessler served as art director for this stamp, which features a digital illustration by Kit Hinrichs.

Item 678200, $10.00 U.S. Flag 2018 First-Class Mail (Forever priced at 50 cents) PSA Double-Sided Booklet of 20 Stamps
Item 749700, $50.00 U.S. Flag 2018 First-Class Mail (Forever priced at 50 cents) PSA Coil of 100 Stamps

Stamp Fulfillment Services (SFS) 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 usps.com/shop, or by phone at 800-782-6724. They must 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 2018 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 April 9, 2018.

Technical Specifications (booklet of 20 APU):

Issue: U.S. Flag 2018 Stamp
Item Number: 678200
Denomination & Type of Issue: First-Class Mail Forever
Format: Double-Sided Booklet of 20 (1 design)
Series: N/A
Issue Date & City: February 9, 2018, Ft. Lauderdale, FL 33310
Art Director: Ethel Kessler, Bethesda, MD
Designer: Kit Hinrichs, San Francisco, CA
Typographer: Kit Hinrichs, San Francisco, CA
Modeler: Joseph Sheeran
Manufacturing Process: Offset, Microprint
Printer: Ashton Potter (USA) Ltd. (APU)
Printed at: Williamsville, NY
Press Type: Muller A76
Stamps per Booklet: 20
Print Quantity: 1,250,000,000 stamps
Paper Type: Nonphosphored Type III, Block Tag applied
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): .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: Black, PMS 2145, PMS 186
Plate Size: 1040 stamps per revolution
Plate Numbers: “P” followed by three (3) single digits
Marginal Markings: Header. “US Flag” Twenty First-Class Forever Stamps • Plate number in peel strip area • © 2017 USPS in peel strip area • Barcode

Technical Specifications (booklet of 20 BCA):

Issue: U.S. Flag 2018 Stamp
Item Number: 678200
Denomination & Type of Issue: First-Class Mail Forever
Format: Double-Sided Booklet of 20 (1 design)
Series: N/A
Issue Date & City: February 9, 2018, Ft. Lauderdale, FL 33310
Art Director: Ethel Kessler, Bethesda, MD
Designer: Kit Hinrichs, San Francisco, CA
Typographer: Kit Hinrichs, San Francisco, CA
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: 1,250,000,000 stamps
Paper Type: Phosphor Tagged Paper, Block Tag applied
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
Full Booklet Size (w x h): 5.52 x 1.96 in./140.21 x 49.78 mm
Colors: PMS 2145 Blue, PMS 186 Red, Black
Plate Size: 960 stamps per revolution
Plate Numbers: “B” followed by three (3) single digits
Marginal Markings: Plate number in peel strip area
• © 2017 USPS in peel strip area
• Promotional text • Barcode

Technical Specifications (Coil of 100 APU):

Issue: U.S. Flag 2018 Stamp
Item Number: 749700
Denomination & Type of Issue: First-Class Mail Forever
Format: Coil of 100 (1 design)
Series: N/A
Issue Date & City: February 9, 2018, Ft. Lauderdale, FL 33310
Art Director: Ethel Kessler, Bethesda, MD
Designer: Kit Hinrichs, San Francisco, CA
Typographer: Kit Hinrichs, San Francisco, CA
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, PMS 2145, PMS 186
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 three (3) single digits
Coil Number Frequency: Plate numbers every 31st stamp below stamp image

Technical Specifications (BNA coil of 100):

Issue: U.S. Flag 2018 Stamp
Item Number: 749700
Denomination & Type of Issue: First-Class Mail Forever
Format: Coil of 100 (1 design)
Series: N/A
Issue Date & City: February 9, 2018, Ft. Lauderdale, FL 33310
Art Director: Ethel Kessler, Bethesda, MD
Designer: Kit Hinrichs, San Francisco, CA
Typographer: Kit Hinrichs, San Francisco, CA
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: PMS 2145 Blue, PMS 186 Red, 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 three (3) single digits
Coil Number Frequency: Plate numbers every 31st stamp below stamp image

Updated January 8th:

There is a pictorial first-day postmark for this issue: It measures 2.95” x .95”.

Updated April 4th:

Here are the Scott catalogue numbers for this issue:

5260 (50¢) Flag coil stamp, serpentine die cut 9½ vert., microprinted “USPS” at left of flag fold on fourth white stripe (Ashton-Potter printing)
5261 (50¢) Flag coil stamp, serpentine die cut 11 vert., microprinted “USPS” at right of flag fold on fifth white stripe (Banknote printing)
5262 (50¢) Flag booklet stamp, serpentine die cut 11¼x10¾ on 2 or 3 sides, microprinted “USPS” at left of flag fold on fourth red stripe (Ashton-Potter printing)
a. Convertible booklet pane of 20
5263 (50¢) Flag booklet stamp, serpentine die cut 11¼x10¾ on 2 or 3 sides, microprinted “USPS” at right of flag fold on fifth white stripe (Banknote printing)
a. Convertible booklet pane of 20

13 thoughts on “U.S. Flag (U.S. 2018)”

  1. It seems none of these will be on automatic distribution ( Push ). “P” and “B” Plate & Coil numbers. No cancellation artwork broadcast yet.

    • From APR 19 Linns Scott# Coil 5260 & 5261, Booklet 5262 & 5263. The different printers put the micro-print in different places.
      Don’t ask me why a variation you can’t see gets a new scott number…

      • From Linns
        5260 (50c) Flag coil stamp, serpentine die cut 9½ vert., microprinted “USPS” at left of flag fold on fourth white stripe (Ashton-Potter printing)

        5261 (50c) Flag coil stamp, serpentine die cut 11 vert., microprinted “USPS” at right of flag fold on fifth white stripe (Banknote printing)

        5262 (50c) Flag booklet stamp, serpentine die cut 11¼x10¾ on 2 or 3 sides, microprinted “USPS” at left of flag fold on fourth red stripe (Ashton-Potter printing)
        a. Convertible booklet pane of 20

        5263 (50c) Flag booklet stamp, serpentine die cut 11¼x10¾ on 2 or 3 sides, microprinted “USPS” at right of flag fold on fifth white stripe (Banknote printing)
        a. Convertible booklet pane of 20

  2. Thanks for the Scott info. Am I the only one who finds this design weird, and not in the good way?

  3. Does anyone know how to buy all the variations? Even at USPS.com, there are only one for booklet and one for coil. Does it mean we can only visit post office by chance and buy them from stamp dealers with higher price.
    Regards!

    • If we have all the order numbers in our grid (U.S. 2018 Stamp Program) http://www.virtualstampclub.com/2018usnew.html then you should be able to call the 800 number and specify which products (order numbers) you want. I think they’re all there in the grid. Click on “USPS Order Numbers” on the right for this issue.

      • Just tried on-line and via the 800 number. The agent reported that it is not possible to order the APU issue as there is no number in their system corresponding to 678200. In my experience, this does happen with the item is out of stock.

        • If you want to PAY Mystic Stamp Co. has all 4 varieties available both used and new. $$$ + S/H $$$

          • Mystic has extended itself (its money) to obtain a quantity of all four varieties, both used and new, and hold them until someone wants them. It is entitled to make a profit on that investment.

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