Announced November 20, 2018. The most recent information will appear after the large illustration and the introductory description from the USPS. With this stamp, the 32nd in the Literary Arts series, the Postal Service honors poet Walt Whitman (1819—1892) on the bicentennial of his birth. The stamp features a portrait of Whitman based on a photograph taken by Frank Pearsall in 1869. In the background, a hermit thrush sitting on the branch of a lilac bush recalls “When Lilacs Last in the Door-yard Bloom’d,” an elegy for President Abraham Lincoln written by Whitman soon after Lincoln’s assassination on April 14, 1865. Considered by many to be the father of modern American poetry, Whitman broke away from dominant European poetic forms and experimented with free verse and colloquial expressions, writing powerfully about nearly every aspect of 19th-century America. The artist for the stamp was Sam Weber. Art director Greg Breeding designed the stamp. The words “THREE OUNCE” on this stamp indicate its usage value. Like a Forever stamp, this stamp will always be valid for the rate printed on it.

Updated November 3rd:: The Scott catalogue number for this stamp is 5414.

Updated July 28th:
VSC member Ed Centeno says this stamp will be issued September 14th in Huntington, NY (Long Island). See his post below. His news was confirmed by the USPS the next day.

From the Postal Bulletin:

On September 12, 2019, in Huntington Station, NY, the United States Postal Service® will issue the Walt Whitman stamp (Non-denominated priced at the 3-ounce rate) in one design, in a pressure-sensitive adhesive pane of 20 stamps (Item 120300). The stamp will go on sale nationwide September 12, 2019, and must not be sold or cancelled before the first-day-of-issue.

With this stamp, the 32nd issue in the Literary Arts series, the Postal Service™ honors poet Walt Whitman (1819–1892) on the bicentennial of his birth. The stamp features a portrait of Whitman based on a photograph taken by Frank Pearsall in 1869. In the background, a hermit thrush sitting on the branch of a lilac bush recalls “When Lilacs Last in the Door-yard Bloom‘d,” an elegy for President Abraham Lincoln written by Whitman soon after Lincoln‘s assassination on April 14, 1865. Considered by many to be the father of modern American poetry, Whitman broke away from dominant European poetic forms and experimented with free verse and colloquial expressions, writing powerfully about nearly every aspect of 19th-century America. The artist for the stamp was Sam Weber. Art director Greg Breeding designed the stamp. The words “THREE OUNCE” on this stamp indicate its usage value. Like a Forever® stamp, this stamp will always be valid for the rate printed on it.

Initial Supply to Post Offices, Item 120300, Walt Whitman, 3-Ounce Rate, Non-denominated PSA Pane 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 – Walt Whitman 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 January 12, 2020.

Technical Specifications:

Issue: Walt Whitman Stamp
Item Number: 120300
Denomination & Type of Issue: 3-ounce rate, Non-denominated, Mail use
Format: Pane of 20 (one design)
Series: Literary Arts
Issue Date & City: September 12, 2019, Huntington Station, NY 11746
Art Director: Greg Breeding, Charlottesville, VA
Designer: Greg Breeding, Charlottesville, VA
Typographer: Greg Breeding, Charlottesville, VA
Artist: Sam Weber, Brooklyn, NY
Modeler: Joseph Sheeran
Manufacturing Process: Offset, Microprint
Printer: Ashton Potter (USA) Ltd. (APU)
Press Type: Muller A76
Stamps per Pane: 20
Print Quantity: 12,000,000 stamps
Paper Type: Nonphosphored Type III, Block Tag
Adhesive Type: Pressure-sensitive
Processed at: Ashton Potter (USA) Ltd. (APU)
Stamp Orientation: Horizontal
Image Area (w x h): 1.42 x 0.84 in./36.068 x 21.336 mm
Stamp Size (w x h): 1.56 x 0.98 in./39.624 x 24.892 mm
Full Pane Size (w x h): 7.24 x 5.92 in./183.896 x 150.368 mm
Colors: Black, Cyan, Magenta, Yellow, Pantone Black 6 C
Plate Size: 240 stamps per revolution
Plate Number: “P” followed by five (5) single digits
Marginal Markings:
Front: Header: LITERARY ARTS 32nd IN A SERIES • Plate number four corners
Back: ©2018 USPS • USPS logo • two barcodes (120300) • Promotional text • Plate position diagram

Updated August 8th:
Here are the first-day cancels for this issue:The Digital Color Postmark measures 2.96″ x 1.18″ The B&W pictorial postmark measures 2.98″ x 0.74″

The Walt Whitman Birthplace Association is extending an invitation to anyone who wishes to attend the first day ceremony:

Participants:
Master of Ceremonies – WWBA Board President & WWBA Executive Director
Presentation of Colors – New York State Parks Police
National Anthem – HS Student Jennifer Gardner
Dedicating Official – Postmaster General and CEO US Postal Service

Honored Guests –

Timeline/ Run Of Show:
9:00 a.m. Museum Opens to Public
Stamp sales open
10:30 All program participants meet for briefing
10:55 Stamp sales close for Ceremony

11:00 CEREMONY BEGINS
Master of Ceremonies Welcome Address
11:10 Participants to the stage for stamp unveiling

* Stamps revealed on the count of three. Pose for media pictures.

11:15- 11:40: Participants’ Remarks

11:45 CEREMONY ENDS – stamp sales re-open
11:45 – 12:15 p.m. Autograph session – all participants on the program sign programs and philatelic items for attendees
2:00 p.m. USPS Retail Sales end (or when sales cease)

RSVP to director@waltwhitman.org