These stamps were announced August 15th. The issue date and first-day city were announced a week later: Saturday, September 29th, in Fort Worth TX at a race. See below.
The Scott catalogue numbers for this issue are:
5321 (50¢) Hot Wheels – Purple Passion
5322 (50¢) Hot Wheels – Rocket-Bye-Baby
5323 (50¢) Hot Wheels – Rigor Motor
5324 (50¢) Hot Wheels – Rodger Dodger
5325 (50¢) Hot Wheels – Mach Speeder
5326 (50¢) Hot Wheels – Twin Mill
5327 (50¢) Hot Wheels – Bone Shaker
5328 (50¢) Hot Wheels – HW40
5329 (50¢) Hot Wheels – Deora II
5330 (50¢) Hot Wheels – Sharkruiser
[press release]
U.S. Postal Service to Release Hot Wheels 50th Anniversary Forever Stamps
10 Designs Pay Homage to the Iconic Hot Wheels Cars
WASHINGTON — In celebration of Hot Wheels’ 50th anniversary, the U.S. Postal Service will issue 20 Forever stamps showcasing some of the most outrageous car designs from Hot Wheels.
For the first time, Hot Wheels car designs will grace the face of Forever stamps for fans of all ages to enjoy. Arranged in diagonal rows, the 20 stamps showcase photographer Len Rizzi’s images of 10 Hot Wheels cars — two of each design — speeding along a bright orange track.
Each stamp features the name of the vehicle shown in one of the top corners and the words “USA” and “Forever” in one of the bottom corners. The iconic Hot Wheels logo appears in the top right corner of the pane. The back of the pane displays the Hot Wheels 50th anniversary logo. The stamps will be dedicated during a first-day-of-issue ceremony on a date and location to be announced soon.
The miniature Hot Wheels depicted are:
Top row (left to right):
- The aptly named Purple Passion (1990), a super sleek metallic purple and green model. The car remains a favorite of collectors.
- Equipped with a roof-mounted rocket, the Rocket-Bye-Baby (1971) is one of the most aggressive racers in Hot Wheels history.
- Perfect for Halloween, the spooky Rigor Motor (1994) is a coffin-shaped hot rod that is powered by a huge engine adorned with two skulls.
- A spectacularly powerful version of a classic muscle car, the Rodger Dodger (1974) has a giant engine bursting out of its hood.
- With a twin turbo V6 hybrid engine and wide front air intakes built to look like a predatory fish, the Mach Speeder (2018) is a true 21st-century racer.
Bottom row (left to right):
- The Twin Mill (1969) is one of the most iconic Hot Wheels cars of all-time. The speed machine features dual big-block engines.
- The distinctive Bone Shaker (2006) is a hot rod with a fierce-looking skull for a grille. The car has a massive short-block engine made to rattle your bones.
- The HW40 (2008), a car introduced to celebrate the 40th anniversary of Hot Wheels, features a jet turbine engine. The space-age vehicle features a futuristic glass hood.
- The original surfboard-toting Deora (1968) was included in the first Hot Wheels line. The souped up Deora II, showcased on the stamp, came out in 2000.
- The Sharkruiser (1987) is a carnivore on wheels. The completely unique design features fins, a tail, a sharp-toothed grille, and a roaring V8 engine.
William J. Gicker was the project’s art director. Greg Breeding designed the stamps and was the typographer.
Hot Wheels History
Hot Wheels was born when Mattel co-founder Elliot Handler challenged his design team, which included a General Motors car designer and a rocket scientist to create a toy car that was cooler and performed better than anything on the market. Mattel soon introduced its iconic orange tracks, which provided children unlimited ways to test out stunts and racing skills. The Hot Wheels toy line expanded rapidly. Since the inception of Hot Wheels, Mattel has produced thousands of varieties of cars. In 2011, Hot Wheels was inducted into the National Toy Hall of Fame. Today, children and their parents still love racing the eye-poppin’, colorful, lightning-fast cars.
The Postal Service receives no tax dollars for operating expenses and relies on the sale of postage, products and services to fund its operations.
[press release August 23rd]
Iconic Hot Wheels Rev up on Forever Stamps
10 Hot Car Designs Mark 50th Anniversary
What:
In celebration of Hot Wheels’ 50th anniversary, the U.S. Postal Service will issue a pane of 20 Forever stamps showcasing 10 of the most outrageous Hot Wheel car designs during a first-day-of-issue dedication ceremony at the Goodguys 26th Summit Racing Lone Star Nationals in Fort Worth, TX.
News on the stamps is being shared with the hashtags #HotWheelsStamps or #HotWheels50.
When: 10 a.m. CDT, Saturday, Sept. 29
Where:
Texas Motor Speedway
3545 Lone Star Circle
Fort Worth, TX 76177
Followers of the U.S. Postal Service’s Facebook page can view the ceremony live at facebook.com/USPS.
Background:
For the first time, Hot Wheels car designs will grace the face of Forever stamps for fans of all ages to enjoy. Arranged in diagonal rows, the 20 stamps showcase photographer Len Rizzi’s images of 10 Hot Wheels cars — two of each design — speeding along a bright orange track.
Hot Wheels was born when Mattel co-founder Elliot Handler challenged his design team, which included a General Motors car designer and a rocket scientist, to create a toy car that was cooler and performed better than anything on the market. Mattel soon introduced its iconic orange tracks, which provided children unlimited ways to test out stunts and racing skills. The Hot Wheels toy line expanded rapidly. Since the inception of Hot Wheels, Mattel has produced thousands of varieties of cars. In 2011, Hot Wheels was inducted into the National Toy Hall of Fame. Today, children and their parents still love racing the eye-poppin’, colorful, lightning-fast cars.
Updated August 30th:
On September 29, 2018, in Fort Worth, TX, the U.S. Postal Service will issue the Hot Wheels stamps (Forever priced at the First-Class Mail rate) in 10 designs, in a pressure-sensitive adhesive pane of 20 stamps (Item 569000). The stamps will go on sale nationwide September 29, 2018, and must not be sold or canceled before the first-day-of-issue. The Hot Wheels pane of 20 stamps may not be split and the stamps may not be sold individually.
This issuance celebrates Hot Wheels, the iconic die-cast cars that for the last 50 years have ignited the imaginations of generations of children around the world. Arranged in diagonal rows, the 20 stamps showcase photographer Len Rizzi’s images of 10 Hot Wheels cars — two of each design — speeding along a bright orange track. Each stamp features the name of the vehicle shown as follows:
- First row, left to right: Purple Passion, Rocket-Bye-Baby, Rigor Motor, Rodger Dodger, and Mach Speeder.
- Second row, left to right: Twin Mill, Bone Shaker, HW 40, Deora II, and Sharkruiser.
The iconic, curvy Hot Wheels logo appears in the top right corner of the pane. The back of the pane displays the Hot Wheels 50th anniversary logo. William J. Gicker served as art director. Greg Breeding designed the stamps and was the typographer.
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 – Hot Wheels 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 January 29, 2019.
Technical Specifications:
Issue: Hot Wheels Stamps
Item Number: 569000
Denomination & Type of Issue: First-Class Mail Forever
Format: Pane of 20 (10 designs)
Series: N/A
Issue Date & City: September 29, 2018, Fort Worth, TX 76161
Art Director: William J. Gicker, Washington, DC
Designer: Greg Breeding, Charlottesville, VA
Typographer: Greg Breeding, Charlottesville, VA
Photographer: Len Rizzi, Bethesda, MD
Modeler: Sandra Lane/Michelle Finn
Manufacturing Process: Offset
Printer: Banknote Corporation of America
Press Type: Alprinta 74
Stamps per Pane: 20
Print Quantity: 100,000,000 stamps
Paper Type: Phosphor, Block Tag
Adhesive Type: Pressure-sensitive
Processed at: Banknote Corporation of America
Colors: Pantone Orange 021, Cyan, Magenta, Yellow, Black
Stamp Orientation: Horizontal
Image Area (w x h): 1.42 x 0.84 in./ 36.068 x 21.336 mm
Overall Size (w x h): 1.56 x 0.98 in./39.624 x 24.892 mm
Full Pane Size (w x h): 9.125 x 6.435 in./231.775 x 163.449 mm
Press Sheets Size (w x h): 18.25 x 25.74 in./463.55 x 653.8 mm
Plate Size: 160 stamps per revolution
Plate Numbers: “B” followed by five (5) single digits
Marginal Markings:
Front: Header: Hot Wheels logo • Plate number in bottom two corners of pane
Back: ©2018 USPS • USPS logo • Hot Wheels 50 year logo • 2 barcodes (569000) • Plate position diagram • Promotional text
Added September 8th:
Here are the first-day postmarks for this issue:
The Digital Color postmark measures 2.82″x1.25″
The B&W pictorial measures 2.36″x1.38″
The “special” postmark for use by local post offices measures 2.89″x1.22″
I understand flowers and “pretty” stamps for women to use because they do all the time, but who is going to use this stamp the most? Are men going to jump on this sheet to mail out everything? I get that it’s Americana, but I just don’t see it doing great in sales, of course, I’m probably wrong…
Nope..the car buff guys/gals will scoop these up. I know I want a sheet of them for my collection.
As the male head of our family, one of my jobs is all the bookkeeping and mailing bills, etc. When I need stamps, I’m the one going to the PO and picking out stamps I like (The National Parks were great). I’ll definitely buy several of these sheets. As a Matchbox diecast car collector, I’m a little jealous but this is close enough. LOL
My husband pays all bills by sending his checks through the mail. I should buy him some of these to use…he’s using 2016 Christmas stamps he bought this past May! hahaha
What I find interesting is not one of these stamps depicts a 1968 “Original 16” release. If you are honoring the 50th anniversary, wouldn’t it make sense to include one of the original cars? Maybe licensing is an issue with auto manufacturers or custom car creators and their estates. Hot Wheels collectors may take an interest… or not.
As well as not having any of the Originail 16, they were also not released on the 50th Anniv, which had big ceremonies by Mattel. ( July 2018 ) Oh well…
I don’t know how far in advance these designs are approved but it just seems like this issue is being released very quickly compared to others. The USPS has made a good choice of venue and event for the FDOI ceremony.
Wee too far of a drive for me…
There’s an interesting trend. Coca Cola Santa for Christmas… Mattel Hot Wheels… I’m not opposed to sponsorship, and its a reasonable way to fund the postal service. I wonder if there was a sponsorship involved.
Every year there needs to be a reasonable selection for the purists who only want stamps relating to historical events and then lots of fun stamps for everyone else especially non stamp collectors who might buy them to use and/or to hoard! The idea is to sell stamps that deliver the mail. We longtime collectors know that stamps aren’t issued to please us because we are only a very small portion of the revenue derived from the sale of stamps.
In the last few months I’ve noticed a lot of complaining and bitching on Facebook about unnecessary stamps. If you don’t like a certain stamp, then you don’t need to post a negative tirade. Stamp collecting is supposed to be a fun hobby. You buy and collect what you like.
That being said, I totally agree with Kevin. I did not know about the “original 16” cars for the 50th anniversary stamps. That’s the fault of Mattel or possibly the stamp designer. Who knows! An oversite that should have been corrected. Question is who decided which cars to use?
I hope your rant on “purists” wasn’t directed at my post. I don’t care what stamps come out and enjoy some of the fun stamps. I simply was trying to see who the targeted audience might be.
No Mary, it wasn’t directed at you. Just a general comment. Bottom line is that stamp collecting should always be treasured as a very fun hobby. I’ve been a simple collector since age 10. A few months ago I celebrated my 70th birthday. I collect for FUN!
I collect for fun as well. With the USPS’ financial situation I would expect them to issue stamps that will be a good seller (with collectors or public). Mr. Rogers was a home run for them as well as the Solar Eclipse last year…
Hot Wheels… well, we’ll see
Michael, I agree with most of what you said. But I think the USPS relies on collectors for a stream of revenue knowing that many of the stamps will never be used. It is a win-win for the post office. Non-collectors rarely buy stamps. They have free texting, free calling, Facebook, email, online bill payments and probably other services I am unaware of. Fun stamps are fine, but I think postal authorities should be mindful of serious collectors also.
Start your engines. USPS will issue its Hot Wheels stamps Saturday, Sept. 29.
The stamps, which the organization announced last week, will be dedicated at the Goodguys 26th Summit Racing Lone Star Nationals in Fort Worth, TX.
From the AUG 30 Postal Bull: USPS# 5690 #04 Pn 20 $10 a FDoI PIC & DCP as well as an ANY CITY Hot Wheels Cancel. Due to a Current Trend in Wash DC USPS, the item numbers / prices for these were not broadcast. Supposedly release on/after FDoI. ( When USPS.COM gets a round tuit )
PROJECTED PRICES: #16 FDoI – 10 $9.40 #21 DCP – 10 $16.50
OPINION: As the USPS Item number is PRINTED ON THE BACK of the pane of stamps, along with a Bar-Code, and this number was assigned BEFORE or AS the Stamps were PRINTED – AKA Press Deadline, why can’t the USPS make this info available to the Stamp Media, to expedite Stamp Orders? ( Or do they LIKE having someone Look Through All The Stamps at a post office, so the line backs up out the door ? Makes them look busy? )
Yup, Same Numbers/prices as predicted. Why do they bother keeping info like this secret?
Did anyone note where we need to RSVP to attend the event? TMS is about 37 minutes west of my house so I will be there – cachets in hand! Thanks.
In the USPS Postal bulletin it indicated that to submit envelopes for Digital Color FDC postmarks the envelopes should be #6 no gum, 9/16 side seams and 80# paper. I question the 80# paper part as the ones used for their FDC seems much lighter than 80# paper. Not withstanding the 80# paper requirement, where can one obtain the no gum, 9/16 side seem, #6 blank envelopes?
First, I don’t think USPS Cancellation Services takes those rules that strictly.
However, many FDC servicers obtain their no-gum high-quality envelopes from Karl Zurn of the Universal Ship Cancellation Society, says AFDCS Sales chairman Foster Miller. They may be ordered online at: https://www.uscs.org/online-store/cover-supplies/ USCS has an ad on page 25 of the September-October 2018 issue of First Days.
Thank you very much. They’re on there way.
Can anyone tell me what the plate block format is for the hot wheels issue? Is it the ten horizontal stamps at the bottom of the sheet, i.e., with 2 plate numbers on it?
From Scott Publishing’s new issues editor: “There is no plate block listed for the Hot Wheels stamps, just the full pane of 20. If the pane had a standard layout of columns and rows there would have been a plate block listed, but cutting off the bottom 10 stamps in the staggered fashioned required to achieve that just doesn’t fly. “