A surprise addition to the stamp program, these souvenir sheets also went on sale August 7th with a first-day city of Las Vegas. They have been selling out in many locations, and also, many unperforated errors have been found — so much so that the second batch brought to APS StampShow/ATA National Topical Stamp Show was delayed so each sheet could be checked.
The Scott Catalogue numbers for this issue:
5306 Sheet of 3 #5306a (Lenticular printing)
a. (50¢) Art of Magic – Rabbit in Hat (Lenticular printing)
b. As #5306, die cutting omitted
From the Postal Bulletin:
On August 7, 2018, in Las Vegas, NV, the U.S. Postal Service® issued The Art of Magic Souvenir Sheet (Forever® priced at the First-Class Mail® rate) in one design, in a pressure-sensitive adhesive sheet of three stamps (Item 565200). The souvenir sheet went on sale August 7, 2018.
The Art of Magic Souvenir Sheet may not be split and the stamps may not be sold individually.
The Postal Service™ celebrates magic, an art form that holds a special place in American history. Each of the three identical stamps on this souvenir sheet features an effect that mimics a classic illusion. By rotating each stamp, customers can see a white rabbit popping out of a black top hat. A version of the stamp without the effect appears in The Art of Magic pane of 20 stamps (Item 476800). Art director Greg Breeding designed the stamp, while Jay Fletcher created the illustration and served as the typographer.
Not Available to Post Offices: Item 565200, The Art of Magic Souvenir Sheet (Forever Priced at the First-Class Mail Rate) of Three Commemorative Stamps
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 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 – The Art of Magic Souvenir Sheet
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 December 7, 2018.
Technical Specifications:
Issue: The Art of Magic Souvenir Sheet
Item Number: 565200
Denomination & Type of Issue: First-Class Mail Forever
Format: Souvenir Sheet of 3 (1 design)
Series: N/A
Issue Date & City: August 7, 2018, Las Vegas, NV 89199
Art Director: Greg Breeding, Charlottesville, VA
Designer: Greg Breeding, Charlottesville, VA
Typographer: Jay Fletcher
Illustrator: Jay Fletcher
Modeler: Sandra Lane/Michelle Finn
Manufacturing Process: Flexo, Lenticular Lamination
Printer: Banknote Corporation of America
Press Type: MPS EF-430
Stamps per Pane: 3
Print Quantity: 1,500,000 stamps
Paper Type: Phosphor Taggged Paper, Block Tag
Adhesive Type: Pressure-sensitive
Processed at: Banknote Corporation of America, Browns Summit, NC
Colors: Black, Pantone 131, Warm Gray 10, Pantone 7596
Stamp Orientation: Vertical
Image Area (w x h): 1.085 x 1.42 in./ 27.559 x 36.068 mm
Overall Size (w x h): 1.225 x 1.56 in./31.115 x 39.624 mm
Full Pane Size (w x h): 5.115 x 3.705 in./129.921 x 94.107 mm
Plate Size: 27 stamps per revolution
Marginal Markings:
Front: Header: The Art of Magic • Footer: United States Postal Service
Back: ©2017 USPS • USPS logo • Barcode (565200) • Plate position diagram • Promotional text
These Can Now be Ordered from Postmaster, Oneco CT 06373-9998 as well as The Caves. No S/H, returned via Priority Mail, NO PLASTIC , ( Check/M.O. Only )
No Online Store ( Via USPS, or At a Stamp Show in CT )
Similar to the Classics Souv. Sheet – 6, They were Only available at The Show,
but USPS didn’t sell them all, so now Any Postmaster can Order & Sell them.
I’ll bet this will be the same with the Sparkling Holiday Souv. Sheet 1. Currently orders for Ho Ho Ho will start on 11 OCT. ( FDoI )
https://store.usps.com/store/product/stamp-collectors/the-art-of-magic-souvenir-sheet-S_565204
As of 14 DEC 2018
Available on USPS.COM for $1.50
Linns has an add going, selling them for $5.00 (RIP-OFF!)
The new White Ace pages just released show three spaces for the Art of Magic Souvenir Sheet. Why? My contention is they are 3 different stamps! Putting the Sheet on a scanner you can see how the three stamps are different from one another. Each stamp shows a different perspective. The left most stamps shows the bunny completely out of the hat, the center bunny almost invisible and the right hand stamp shows the bunny half way out of the hat. Although Scott has chosen to list only one stamp taken from the souvenir sheet as 5306a, while designating 5306b as a sheet of 3 with no perferations. Has this been updated and if so what are the new designated Scott catalog #s?