Announced November 20, 2018. The most recent information will appear after the large illustration and the introductory description from the USPS. The Scott catalogue numbers are also below. 
With this new 2019 stamp, the Postal Service celebrates the American flag, the most recognizable symbol of our nation. The stamp features a U.S. flag, one of several on the flagpoles near the end of Chicago’s Navy Pier, waving in a May breeze. The photograph was taken by art director Antonio Alcalá¡.
December 19th: This stamp will be issued Sunday, January 27th, with a Kansas City MO postmark but no first-day ceremony.
December 21st: Two formats, two printers (four varieties altogether).
On January 27, 2019, in Kansas City, MO, the U.S. Postal Service will issue the U.S. Flag 2019 stamp (Forever priced at the First-Class Mail rate) in one design, in the following formats:
- A pressure-sensitive adhesive (PSA) booklet of 20 stamps (Item 682300) produced by security printers Ashton Potter (USA) Ltd. (APU) and Banknote Corportation of America (BCA), and
- A PSA coil of 100 stamps (Item 740100) produced by security printers APU and BCA.
The stamps will go on sale nationwide January 27, 2019, and must not be sold or cancelled before the first-day-of-issue.
With this new 2019 stamp, the Postal Service celebrates the American flag, the most recognizable symbol of our nation. The stamp features a U.S. flag, one of several on the flagpoles near the end of Chicago’s Navy Pier, waving in a May breeze. The photograph was taken by art director Antonio Alcalá.
Availability to Post Offices:
- Item 682300, U.S. Flag 2019 PSA (Forever Priced at the First-Class Mail Rate) Double-sided Booklet of 20 Stamps: Stamp Fulfillment Services will make an automatic push distribution to Post Offices of a quantity to cover approximately 30 days of sales.
- Item 740100, U.S. Flag 2019 PSA (Forever Priced at the First-Class Mail Rate) Coil of 100 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 – U.S. Flag 2019 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 27, 2019.
Technical Specifications (Ashton Potter booklet):
Issue: U.S. Flag 2019 Stamp
Item Number: 682300
Denomination & Type of Issue: First-Class Mail Forever
Format: Double-sided Booklet of 20 (1 design)
Series: N/A
Issue Date & City: January 27, 2019, Kansas City, MO 64108
Art Director: Antonio Alcalá, Alexandria, VA
Designer: Antonio Alcalá, Alexandria, VA
Typographer: Antonio Alcalá, Alexandria, VA
Photographer: Antonio Alcalá, Alexandria, VA
Modeler: Joseph Sheeran
Manufacturing Process: Offset, Microprint
Printer: Ashton Potter (USA) Ltd. (APU)
Press Type: Muller A76
Stamps per Booklet: 20
Print Quantity: 1,500,000,000 stamps
Paper Type: Nonphosphored Type III, Block Tagged
Adhesive Type: Pressure-sensitive
Processed at: Ashton Potter (USA) Ltd. (APU)
Stamp Orientation: Horizontal
Image Area (w x h): 0.84 x 0.73 in./21.336 x 18.542 mm
Stamp Size (w x h): 0.98 x 0.87 in./24.892 x 22.098 mm
Full Booklet Size (w x h): 1.96 x 5.52 in./49.784 x 140.208 mm
Colors: Black, Cyan, Magenta, Yellow
Plate Size: 1040 stamps per revolution
Plate Numbers: “P” followed by four (4) single digits
Marginal Markings: Header. “20 First-Class Forever Stamps U.S. Flag” • ©2018 USPS in peel strip area • Barcode • Promotional text • Plate number in peel strip area
Technical Specifications (Banknote booklet):
Issue: U.S. Flag 2019 Stamp
Item Number: 682300
Denomination & Type of Issue: First-Class Mail Forever
Format: Double-sided Booklet of 20 (1 design)
Series: N/A
Issue Date & City: January 27, 2019, Kansas City, MO 64108
Art Director: Antonio Alcalá, Alexandria, VA
Designer: Antonio Alcalá, Alexandria, VA
Typographer: Antonio Alcalá, Alexandria, VA
Photographer: Antonio Alcalá, Alexandria, VA
Modeler: Sandra Lane/Michelle Finn
Manufacturing Process: Offset, Microprint
Printer: Banknote Corporation of America
Press Type: Alprinta 74
Stamps per Booklet: 20
Print Quantity: 1,500,000,000
Paper Type: Phosphor Tagged Paper, Block Tagged
Adhesive Type: Pressure-sensitive
Processed at: Banknote Corporation of America
Stamp Orientation: Horizontal
Image Area (w x h): 0.84 x 0.73 in./21.336 x 18.542 mm
Stamp Size (w x h): 0.98 x 0.87 in./24.892 x 22.098 mm
Full Booklet Size (w x h): 1.96 x 5.52 in./49.784 x 140.208 mm
Colors: Cyan, Magenta, Yellow, Black
Plate Size: 960 stamps per revolution
Plate Numbers: “B” followed by four (4) single digits
Marginal Markings: Header. “20 First-Class Forever Stamps U.S. Flag” • ©2018 USPS in peel strip area • Barcode • Promotional text • Plate number in peel strip area
Technical Specifications (Ashton Potter coil):
Issue: U.S. Flag 2019 Stamp
Item Number: 740100
Denomination & Type of Issue: First Class Mail Forever
Format: Coil of 100 (1 design)
Series: N/A
Issue Date & City: January 27, 2019, Kansas City, MO 64108
Art Director: Antonio Alcalá, Alexandria, VA
Designer: Antonio Alcalá, Alexandria, VA
Typographer: Antonio Alcalá, Alexandria, VA
Photographer: Antonio Alcalá, Alexandria, VA
Modeler: Joseph Sheeran
Manufacturing Process: Offset, Microprint
Printer: Ashton Potter (USA) Ltd. (APU)
Press Type: Muller A76
Stamps per Coil: 100
Print Quantity: 1,900,000,000 stamps
Paper Type: Nonphosphored Type III, Block Tag
Adhesive Type: Pressure-sensitive
Processed at: Ashton Potter (USA) Ltd. (APU)
Colors: Black, Cyan, Magenta, Yellow
Stamp Orientation: Horizontal
Image Area (w x h): 0.84 x 0.73 in./21.336 x 18.542 mm
Stamp Size (w x h): 0.98 x 0.87096 in./24.892 x 22.122 mm
Plate Size: 744 stamps per revolution
Plate Numbers: “P” followed by four (4) single digits
Coil Number Frequency: Plate numbers every 31st stamp beside stamp image
Technical Specifications (Banknote coil):
Issue: U.S. Flag 2019 Stamp
Item Number: 740100
Denomination & Type of Issue: First-Class Mail Forever
Format: Coil of 100 (1 design)
Series: N/A
Issue Date & City: January 27, 2019, Kansas City, MO 64108
Art Director: Antonio Alcalá, Alexandria, VA
Designer: Antonio Alcalá, Alexandria, VA
Typographer: Antonio Alcalá, Alexandria, VA
Photographer: Antonio Alcalá, Alexandria, VA
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: 1,900,000,000 stamps
Paper Type: Phosphor Tagged Paper, Overall
Adhesive Type: Pressure-sensitive
Processed at: Banknote Corporation of America
Colors: Cyan, Magenta, Yellow, Black
Stamp Orientation: Horizontal
Image Area (w x h): 0.84 x 0.73 in./21.336 x 18.542 mm
Stamp Size (w x h): 0.96 x 0.871 in./24.384 x 22.123 mm
Plate Size: 744 stamps per revolution
Plate Numbers: “B” followed by four (4) single digits
Coil Number Frequency: Plate numbers every 31st stamp beside stamp image
Updated January 9th:
There is only a B&W pictorial first-day cancel for this issue: 
It measures 2.9″x1.14″.
Updated January 17th:
The first-day postmark design has changed:
The Scott catalogue numbers for this issue are as follows:
5342 (55¢) Flag coil (Ashton-Potter printing), serpentine die cut 11 horiz., microprinted “USPS” at lower flag grommet
5343 (55¢) Flag coil (Banknote printing), serpentine die cut 9½ horiz., microprinted “USPS” to right of sixth red flag stripe
5344 (55¢) Flag booklet stamp (Ashton-Potter printing), serpentine die cut 10¾x11¼ on 2 or 3 sides, microprinted “USPS” at upper left corner of flag
a. Convertible booklet pane of 20
5345 (55¢) Flag booklet stamp (Banknote printing), serpentine die cut 10¾x11¼ on 2 or 3 sides, microprinted “USPS” to right of sixth red flag stripe
a. Convertible booklet pane of 20
From Post Bull 20 DEC USPS # 682304 BK20 B & P versions, 740104 CL-100 B & P versions New rate 55 cents each No images for the cancellation(s). FDoI KC MO JAN 27 Auto-Distrib of Booklets, coils must be ordered.
An AMAZING Quantity: Pane 1.5 BILLION stamps from each, Coil 1.9 BILLION stamps from each. 6.8 BILLION Stamps have been produced by Banknote & Ashton-Potter. Its Sure a Good Thing there is a RailRoad to The Caves! And thats just for this One Stamp. And then there is Automatic Distribution to ALL of the Post Offices Nation-wide, via Registered Mail. The Scale is hard to comprehend.
CURRENT US FLAG ITEM NUMBERS:
682302 – (BCA) BKLT/20 $11.00 **Available for Pre-Order**
682304 – (APU) BKLT/20 $11.00 **Available for Pre-Order**
682316 – FDC .99 CENTS
**740102 – (BCA) COIL/100 $55.00 **Available for Pre-Order**
**740104 – (APU) COIL/100 $55.00 **Available for Pre-Order**
**740116 – FDC .99 CENTS
Pre-Order via 1-800STAMP24 (1-800-782-6724)
As may have been stated earlier, only the xxxx04 versions are available for pre-order on USPS.COM. MAYBE the xxxx16 will show up tomorrow, or monday, on USPS.COM. Otherwise Manually via (800)STAMP24. No xxxx21 for this stamp.
http://s1356.photobucket.com/user/Stamps_1a/media/USFlag_CU_zpsu88kenke.jpg.html?sort=3&o=0
Shows a picture of the Coil stamp. These are turned 90 degrees from many of the coil stamps I’ve seen.
The image shown in the Tech Details is a booklet stamp.
Hello, I recently purchased the 2019 flag stamp booklets, but cannot distinguish between the APU & BCA printings. Do you have any ideas how I can tell which is which? Look forward to your reply. Thank you.
Somewhere on the pane is a 4-digit number, with either a B or P before it. “B” is Banknote Corporation, “P” is Ashton Potter. The same is true with the coil versions: Every 31 stamps is a “plate number” with one of those letters. See “plate numbers” in the Technical Specifications for this or any other recent issue.
http://s1356.photobucket.com/user/Stamps_1a/media/USFlag_PN_zps8mk73evt.jpg.html?sort=3&o=0
Shows a Coil Plate Number for the US Flag 2019 Coil Stamps. P 1111 ( Ashton Potter )
You can buy as many as you want from Maurice Bessette, Postmaster Oneco CT 06373. You do not have to buy a roll of 100. ( I bought 31 )
Both coil and booklet APU stamps have USPS microprinted by the bottom left red stripe (near the pole) while both coil and booklet BCA stamps have USPS microprinted on the right side of the 2nd to the bottom red stripe.
I have not received my order yet. I’m hoping there is at least microprinting of sort, die cut difference or some way to tell individual each printer’s stamps from each other. Plate number markings only distinguish between a limited number of the stamps (a whole booklet or every 31’s stamp in a coil of 100 (that’s 3 out of 100). I’m also disappointed that only one printer is offering the FDC. And the simple B&W cancel at that! I would guess there are very few collectors who try to get FDC and even less who collect DCP for all the varieties. Oh well. I guess we’re lucky to get what we get. The USPS doesn’t really cater to us old purists.
One additional comment. Awhile back I ordered and received the special no gum envelopes so I can have FDC applied by sending them in to KC. Guess that’s one way to get the BCS FDC. But it still doesn’t solve the “No DCP” “since the ain’t got one available”
The Coil stamps from BCA has a microprint of “USPS” next to the bottom right corner of the flag in the white space. I have not found any microprints on the APU versions.
USPS is microprinted on the white trim of the flag on the top left side of the blue field for the APU booklet version. I have not seen the coil version yet.
According to the article this is attached to. The Coil versions of the 2019 Us Flag stamps show contradicting identifiers(using the Scott catalogue number descriptions). It says that the APU stamps are perforated SDC 11 horizontally, with microprinting in the lower left of the flag near grommet, and the BCA issue with SDC9.5 Horiz, with microprinting right of the sixth red stripe. In fact the stamps with SDC11 have the microprinting to the right of the sixth red stripe and the SDC 9.5 have microprinting at the lower left. So how do you list these issues. The perf is the easiest to check, however the perf on the booklet issues is the same so it comes down to the microprinting. I can’t believe this has not beenn discussed in 2 years since the stamp was issued.