Announced November 20, 2018. The most recent information will appear after the large illustration and the introductory description from the USPS. This issuance celebrates Wild and Scenic Rivers — exceptional American streams that run freely through natural landscapes without man-made alterations. The pane of a dozen different designs features photographs that represent the more than 200 rivers or river segments designated within the Wild and Scenic Rivers System.

First row, left to right: Merced River (Michael Melford, photographer), Owyhee River (Michael Melford, photographer), Koyukuk River (Michael Melford, photographer)

Second row, left to right: Niobrara River (Michael Melford, photographer), Snake River (Tim Palmer, photographer), Flathead River (Tim Palmer, photographer)

Third row, left to right: Missouri River (Bob Wick, staff photographer for Bureau of Land Management), Skagit River (Tim Palmer, photographer), Deschutes River (Bob Wick, BLM, photographer)

Fourth row, left to right: Tlikakila River (Michael Melford, photographer), Ontonagon River (Tim Palmer, photographer), Clarion River (Bob Wick, BLM, photographer). Small type on the bottom of each stamp indicates the name of the river. Michael Melford’s photograph of the Merced River is featured again in the selvage. Art director Derry Noyes designed the pane using existing photographs.

These stamps will be issued May 21, 2019 in Bend OR. The Scott catalogue number is 5381 for the pane of 12:
a. Merced River
b. Owyhee River
c. Koyukuk River
d. Niobrara River
e. Snake River
f. Flathead River
g. Missouri River
h. Skagit River
i. Deschutes River
j. Tlikakila River
k. Ontonagon River
l. Clarion River

Updated April 11th:

On May 21, 2019, in Bend, OR, the U.S. Postal Service® will issue the Wild and Scenic Rivers stamps (Forever® priced at the First-Class Mail® rate) in 12 designs, in a pressure-sensitive adhesive pane of 12 stamps (Item 571500). The stamps will go on sale nationwide May 21, 2019, and must not be sold or canceled before the first-day-of-issue. The Wild and Scenic Rivers pane of 12 stamps may not be split and the stamps may not be sold individually.

This issuance celebrates wild and scenic rivers — exceptional American streams that run freely through natural landscapes without man-made alterations. The pane features photographs that represent the more than 200 rivers or river segments designated within the wild and scenic rivers system:

• First row, left to right: Merced River (Michael Melford, photographer), Owyhee River (Michael Melford, photographer), and Koyukuk River (Michael Melford, photographer).
• Second row, left to right: Niobrara River (Michael Melford, photographer), Snake River (Tim Palmer, photographer), and Flathead River (Tim Palmer, photographer).
• Third row, left to right: Missouri River (Bob Wick, staff photographer for Bureau of Land Management), Skagit River (Tim Palmer, photographer), and Deschutes River (Bob Wick, BLM, photographer)
• Fourth row, left to right: Tlikakila River (Michael Melford, photographer), Ontonagon River (Tim Palmer, photographer), and Clarion River (Bob Wick, BLM, photographer).
  Small type on the bottom of each stamp indicates the name of the river. Michael Melford’s photograph of the Merced River is featured again in the selvage. Art director Derry Noyes designed the pane using existing photographs.

Availability to Post Offices: Item 571500, Wild and Scenic Rivers (Forever Priced at the First-Class Mail Rate) Commemorative Pane of 12 Stamps: Stamp Fulfillment Services will make an automatic push distribution to Post Offices of a quantity to cover approximately 30 days of sales.

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 – Wild and Scenic Rivers 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 September 21, 2019.

Technical Specifications:

Issue: Wild and Scenic Rivers Stamps
Item Number: 571500
Denomination & Type of Issue: First-Class Mail Forever
Format: Pane of 12 (12 designs)
Series: N/A
Issue Date & City: May 21, 2019, Bend, OR 97701
Art Director: Derry Noyes, Washington, DC
Designer: Derry Noyes, Washington, DC
Typographer: Derry Noyes, Washington, DC
Existing Photos: Michael Melford
Existing Photos: Tim Palmer
Existing Photos: Bob Wick
Modeler: Sandra Lane/Michelle Finn
Manufacturing Process: Offset
Printer: Banknote Corporation of America
Press Type: Alprinta 74
Stamps per Pane: 12
Print Quantity: 60,000,000 stamps
Paper Type: Phosphor, Block Tag
Adhesive Type: Pressure-sensitive
Processed at: Banknote Corporation of America
Colors: Cool Gray 11, Cyan, Magenta, Yellow, Black
Stamp Orientation: Horizontal
Image Area (w x h): 1.42 x 1.085 in./ 36.068 x 27.559 mm
Overall Size (w x h): 1.56 x 1.225 in./39.624 x 31.115 mm
Full Pane Size (w x h): 7.87 x 6.38 in./199.898 x 162.052 mm
Press Sheets Size
(w x h): 23.86 x 19.39 in./606.044 x 492.506 mm
Plate Size: 108 stamps per revolution
Plate Numbers: “B” followed by five (5) single digits
Marginal Markings:
Front: Header: Wild and Scenic Rivers • Plate number in bottom right corner of pane
Back: ©2018 USPS • USPS logo • 2 barcodes (571500) • Plate position diagram • Promotional text

Updated April 19th:

[press release]
Spotlighting the Natural Beauty of America’s Wild and Scenic Rivers

What: The U.S. Postal Service issues Wild and Scenic Rivers, stamps that pay tribute to the exceptional streams that run freely through America’s natural landscapes. This pane honors the rivers’ beauty with a dozen Forever stamps, each showcasing a different segment of the Wild and Scenic River System.

The first-day-of-issue event for the Wild and Scenic Rivers Commemorative Forever stamps is free and open to the public. News of the stamp is being shared with the hashtag #WildScenicRiversStamps and #WildRiverStamps.

Who: Joe Corbett, chief financial officer and executive vice president, U.S. Postal
Service

When: Tuesday, May 21, 2019, at 11 a.m. PT

Where: Tumalo State Park
64170 O.B. Riley Road
Bend, OR 97701

Parking: Admission is free with ample parking at the event.

RSVP: Dedication ceremony attendees are encouraged to RSVP at usps.com/wildrivers.

Background: America’s wild and scenic rivers are those deemed remarkable for values including fish and wildlife, geology, recreation and cultural or historical significance. These special streams are allowed to flow freely through natural settings without man-made alterations.

The Wild and Scenic Rivers Act categorizes designated segments as either wild, scenic or recreational. Wild rivers are undammed, unpolluted and generally accessible only by trail. Scenic rivers may be “accessible in places by roads.” Recreational river areas are “readily accessible by road or railroad,” may have some shoreline development and may have been dammed in the past. Designations often result from grassroots action by local citizens.

The Wild and Scenic Rivers system provides clean water, places of beauty and sanctuary and habitats for native wildlife.

Customers may purchase stamps and other philatelic products through the Postal Store at usps.com/shop, by calling 800-STAMP24 (800-782-6724), by mail through USA Philatelic catalog or at Post Office locations nationwide.

Updated May 24th:

These are the first-day postmarks for this issue:The Digital Color Postmark measures 2.88″x1.35″ The B&W pictorial is 2.72″x1.39″