The Scott catalogue numbers for this issue are 5285-5294. Click here to see each stamp’s assignment.
Last updated May 25th:
On June 20, 2018, in Austin, TX, the U.S. Postal Service will issue the Frozen Treats stamps (Forever priced at the First-Class Mail rate) in 10 designs, in a pressure-sensitive adhesive, double-sided booklet of 20 stamps (Item 681700). The stamps will go on sale nationwide June 20, 2018.
Frozen Treats stamps feature frosty, colorful pops on a stick in a variety of shapes and flavors. This booklet of 20 scratch-and-sniff stamps showcases whimsical watercolor illustrations in 10 different designs. The stamps are printed with a coating that evokes a sweet summer scent. Art directors Antonio Alcalá and Leslie Badani designed the stamps with original art by Margaret Berg.
Availability to Post Offices: Item 681700 Frozen Treats, (Forever Priced at the First-Class Mail Rate) Double-sided Booklet of 20 Stamps: Stamp Fulfillment Services will not make an automatic push distribution to Post Offices.
How to Order the First-Day-of-Issue Postmark:
Customers have 120 days to obtain the first-day-of-issue postmark by mail. They may purchase new stamps at their local Post Office or at the Postal Store website at usps.com/shop. 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 – Frozen Treats 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 October 20, 2018.
No locally produced items are authorized. Only merchandise that has been approved and assigned an item number by Headquarters Retail Marketing may be produced and sold.
Technical Specifications:
Issue: Frozen Treats Stamps
Item Number: 681700
Denomination & Type of Issue: First-Class Mail Forever
Format: Double-sided Booklet of 20
(10 designs)
Series: N/A
Issue Date & City: June 20, 2018, Austin, TX 78710
Art Director: Antonio Alcalá, Alexandria, VA
Designer: Antonio Alcalá, Alexandria, VA
Designer: Leslie Badani, Alexandria, VA
Typographer: Antonio Alcalá, Alexandria, VA
Typographer: Leslie Badani, Alexandria, VA
Artist: Margaret Berg, Santa Monica, CA
Modeler: Joseph Sheeran
Manufacturing Process: Offset, Flexographic
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, 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
Press Sheet Size (w x h): 22.455 x 3.92 in./ 570.36 x 99.57 mm
Colors: Black, Cyan, Magenta Yellow
Plate Size: 1040 stamps per revolution
Plate Numbers: “P” followed by four (4) single digits
Marginal Markings: Header. “FROZEN TREATS Scratch and Sniff” Twenty First-Class Forever Stamps • Plate number in peel strip area • ©2017 USPS in peel strip area
Last updated May 21st:
[press release]
U.S. Postal Service’s First Scratch-and-Sniff Stamps Evoke a Sweet Summer Scent
WASHINGTON — The U.S. Postal Service’s first scratch-and-sniff stamps will add the sweet scent of summer to letters of love, friendship, party invitations and other mailings when the Postal Service introduces the Frozen Treats Forever stamps June 20 in Austin, TX.
The stamps can be pre-ordered at this link soon for delivery shortly after the June 20 issuance.
The first-day-of-issue dedication ceremony, free and open to the public, will take place at 6 p.m. CDT at Austin’s Thinkery Children’s Museum. Followers of the U.S. Postal Service’s Facebook page can view the ceremony live at facebook.com/USPS. Share the news using the hashtag #FrozenTreatsStamps.
The stamps feature illustrations of frosty, colorful, icy pops on a stick. Today, Americans love cool, refreshing ice pops on a hot summer day. The tasty, sweet confections come in a variety of shapes and flavors.
Ice pops are made by large manufacturers, home cooks and artisanal shops. In recent years, frozen treats containing fresh fruit such as kiwi, watermelon, blueberries, oranges and strawberries have become more common. In addition, flavors such as chocolate, root beer and cola are also popular. Some frozen treats even have two sticks, making them perfect for sharing.
This booklet of 20 stamps showcases the work of Margaret Berg of Santa Monica, CA, depicting whimsical watercolor illustrations of frozen treats. Each of the 10 stamp designs includes two different treats. The words “FOREVER” and “USA” appear along the bottom of each stamp.
Art director Antonio Alcalá of Alexandria, VA, designed the stamps with Leslie Badani of Alexandria, VA.
Frozen Treats is being issued as First-Class Mail Forever stamps which will always be equal in value to the current First-Class Mail one-ounce price.
Stamp ideas welcome
The public is encouraged to submit stamp suggestions. Visit the Citizens’ Stamp Advisory Committee website for details on the stamp selection process and instructions for submitting suggestions in writing. Due to the time required for research and approval, ideas for stamp subjects should be received at least three years prior to the proposed release. Each submission should include pertinent historical information and important dates associated with the subject.
Initial announcement from the USPS:
Frozen Treats Frozen Treats features frosty, colorful icy pops on a stick. The tasty, sweet confections come in a variety of shapes and flavors.
From the USPS, updated May 8th:
U.S. Postal Service to Issue Frozen Treats Forever Stamps
What: First-day-of-issue stamp dedication ceremony for the Frozen Treats Forever stamps. The event is free and open to the public. Please RSVP at usps.com/frozentreats. Share the news of the stamps using the hashtag #FrozenTreatsStamps. When: Wednesday, June 20, at 6 p.m.
Where:
Thinkery Children’s Museum
Event Courtyard
1830 Simond Ave.
Austin, TX 78723
Parking is available at nearby Alamo Parking. Tickets will be validated at the Thinkery Children’s Museum admission entrance.
Background: Cool off with Frozen Treats, a U.S. Postal Service Forever stamp issuance featuring frosty, colorful, icy pops on a stick. The tasty, sweet confections come in a variety of shapes and flavors.
Today, Americans love cool, refreshing ice pops on a hot summer day. Modern frozen treats are available in many varieties. Ice pops are made by large manufacturers, home cooks, and artisanal shops. In recent years, frozen treats containing fresh fruit such as kiwi, watermelon, blueberries, oranges, and strawberries have become more common. In addition, flavors such as chocolate, root beer, and cola are also popular. Some frozen treats even have two sticks, making them perfect for sharing.
This booklet of 20 stamps showcases Margaret Berg’s whimsical watercolor illustrations of frozen treats. Each of the 10 stamp designs include two different treats. The words “FOREVER” and “USA” appear along the bottom of every stamp.
Updated June 12th:
Here are the first-day postmarks for this issue: 
The Digital Color Postmark measures 2.48 x 1.45 inches.
The Black-and-White pictorial measures 2.80 x 1.16 inches.
Awful…just awful. And embarrassing.
If they were indeed going to “Honor” frozen treats, why not at least show a real Pop Sickle, Fudge Sickle, Eskimo Pie, etc. in their respective wrappers to bring back memories of the REAL frozen treats. I don’t recall ever eating anything that looked like what these stamps represent.
This is an excellent point. If varieties, real or otherwise, of these are not being honoured one wonders the rationale for the issue in the way it is being characterised, and with the approach being taken I’m not at all sure why there are so many varieties.
This design for a US stamp might be the most insignificant design since The Simpsons design of 2009 and is almost as boring as the From Me To You design of 2015.
This is a worthless issue. It means nothing historically and has no cultural value. Its the USPS is just trying to suck money out of collectors with meaningless issues
To be Issued 20 June in Austin TX. How fast will they melt? ( I’d ask what they will taste like, but they will be PSA not WAG … )
From USPS Store BK-20 681704 $10.00
No cancellation images yet.
The MAY 24 Postal Bulletin has the images for the PIC & DCP, But No List of USPS Item Numbers for the philatelic items. Also a bold-face note about no Locally Produced items being authorized, only item approved by HQ, and with a USPS Item number, are authorized.
USPS Item 681704 PSA BK-20 No Auto-distrib. $ for #16-10 $9.40 ?, $ for #21-10 $16.50 ? Price for Keepsake & others ?
Also, supposedly Scratch & Sniff stamps… More than one scent?
From the Thinkery website.
The stamps will be dedicated by the Postal Service’s Vice President Lou Grossman. USPS retail, cancellations, and autographs immediately following ceremony, along with free frozen treats provided by Steel City Pops!
Admission is by donation, with a suggested $1-dollar donation.
Please note, these are scratch-and-sniff stamps. Guests with scent sensitivities may be affected during the stamp ceremony.
Thinkery is committed to keeping the museum clean and safe for our visitors. We will conduct our usual deep cleaning of the entire museum after the event.
More information about the Frozen Treats Stamp can be found on USPS’ website here.
Can adults visit the museum without children?
We want visitors of all ages to enjoy Thinkery! Adults unaccompanied by children must leave a photo ID at Admissions for the duration of their visit. We request that adults unaccompanied by children respect other visitors’ experiences and refrain from interacting with visitors and children they do not know. Unaccompanied guests may photograph Thinkery exhibits, but are not allowed to photograph other visitors and children. Visitors unaccompanied by children must sign an acknowledgment form that confirms they have read our guidelines and policies.
How much info are they going to keep from the ID you have to leave at the desk?
A new item added to stamp announcements, instead of the Philatelic items numbers/prices:
No locally produced items are authorized. Only merchandise that has been approved and assigned an item number by Headquarters Retail Marketing may be produced and sold.
Mr Bessette, Postmaster 1104 Plainfield Pike, Oneco CT 06373 already has these, and can ship on the first-day date.
From Linns 20 AUG Scott 5285-5294 Not lined up with the images that have been broadcast. For the images here:
5286 5287 5288 5289 5285
5291 5292 5293 5294 5290
This is the look of the millennial generation . . They never seem to see what actually was but instead attempt to persuade people of how things should be!
I have a gnawing fear that these stamps are so bad that very few used varieties will be kept and thus become rarities and extremely hard to find. I may buy a book and use them to mail and empty envelope back to myself. Any other thoughts?
These are fun, colorful designs I think the average stamp buyer will enjoy using on their letters, invitations, etc., but they’re not so good for stamp collectors. Though I do take comfort in the fact that “frozen treats” were a big part of a lot of our childhoods so I’m going to think of them more as a nod to that. Plus putting something frozen on a stick was pretty innovative at the time of invention (early 1900s), and we’re still enjoying them today so I guess that would be where USPS thought they’d be significant. Way too many stamps for this topic if you ask me, though. As far as classic stamps go, at least we have the Airmail and Statue of Freedom stamps to look forward to!
These are scratch and sniff using a Ben and Jerry’s font. I think they will be a hit. although maybe not for serious collectors. We should try to keep in mind that not all stamps are created for collectors some are intended to actually get people to use the mail!
I often wonder why some folks seem only to post negative comments for practically every stamp issued. Maybe you should think before you post. If you don’t have anything nice to say, then don’t say anything at all instead of infecting this site with hate! If you don’t like a stamp, then don’t buy any.
You are absolutely correct in stating that if we dislike a particular stamp we don’t have to buy it, but because our hobby is stamp collecting many wish to fill vacancies in our collection rather than create vacancies on purpose. And while there may be comments you considered negative, they were directed at inanimate stamps. Your negative comment seems directed at people. Your opinion about those who post here is different than the opinions expressed about a stamp, its design, or how that design might have missed the intent of the issue. It is in the wide spectrum of comments and opinions that I learn the most about the many issues being released.
Huh. I really like the bright colors of these a lot. Am guessing they didn’t use images of brand-name frozen treats because of copyright issues. More for me, then, suckas!! 🙂
I agreed with this comment until I saw the “Hot Wheels” name brand stamps being issued. If they could work something out with Hot Wheels/Matel I would think they could have done the same with name brand frozen confectionary treats such as what I posted earlier in this discussion.
great thanks