U.S. Adds Two 2020 Issues

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[press release]
U.S. Postal Service Reveals Additional Stamps for 2020
U.S. Flag Envelope and Ruth Asawa Coming Soon

WASHINGTON, D.C. — The U.S. Postal Service today announced two new stamp subjects for 2020. Details about the stamp dedication ceremonies and dates these new products will be available to purchase will be announced soon. All images are preliminary and are subject to change prior to printing.

U.S. Flag Stamped EnvelopeA familiar sight on public buildings and private homes alike, the American flag has been portrayed in myriad ways on U.S. postage. This stamped envelope features a graphic design of the flag that evokes a rich sense of history even as it presents a recognizable icon in a fresh, contemporary way. Kit Hinrichs created the artwork for this stamped envelope. Ethel Kessler served as art director. [Further details will be posted here.]

Ruth Asawa
With these stamps, the U.S. Postal Service honors pioneering Japanese American artist Ruth Asawa (1926-2013). Showcasing Asawa’s wire sculptures, the pane includes 20 stamps, with two each of 10 designs, featuring photographs by Dan Bradica and Laurence Cuneo. The selvage features a photograph of Asawa taken by Nat Farbman in 1954 for Life magazine. Ethel Kessler served as art director and designer. [Further details will be posted here.]

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Artist Ruth Asawa (U.S. 2020)

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Announced by the USPS April 3rd, 2020, with no date of issue given: With these stamps, the U.S. Postal Service honors pioneering Japanese American artist Ruth Asawa (1926-2013). Showcasing Asawa’s wire sculptures, the pane includes 20 stamps, with two each of 10 designs, featuring photographs by Dan Bradica and Laurence Cuneo. The selvage features a photograph of Asawa taken by Nat Farbman in 1954 for Life magazine. Ethel Kessler served as art director and designer.

These stamps will be issued Thursday, August 13, in San Francisco, CA.

The stamps may be purchased here. The Scott catalogue numbers for this issue are:

5504 Three Untitled Sculptures from 1958, 1978 and 1959
5505 Untitled Sculpture from 1959
5506 Untitled Sculpture from 1958
5507 Untitled Sculpture from 1955
5508 Untitled Sculpture from 1955, different
5509 Untitled Sculpture from 1980
5510 Untitled Sculpture from 1978
5511 Untitled Sculpture from 1952
5512 Untitled Sculpture from 1954
5513 Six Untitled Sculptures from various years
a. Block of 10, #5504-5513

Further information will appear below the line, with the newest items at the top.

Updated August 6th:
This will have a virtual first day ceremony:

[press release]
U.S. Postal Service Honors Sculptor and Arts Education Advocate Ruth Asawa With Forever Stamps

WHAT: The U.S. Postal Service will dedicate stamps honoring pioneering Japanese American artist Ruth Asawa (1926-2013), who is perhaps best known for her intricate abstract wire sculptures.

News of the stamps is being shared with the hashtag #RuthAsawaStamps.

WHO: Sharon Owens, vice president, Pricing and Costing, U.S. Postal Service

George Takei, trustee, chair emeritus of the board of trustees and founding member, Japanese American National Museum

Jonathan Laib, director, David Zwirner

WHEN: Thursday, Aug. 13, 2020, at 1:30 p.m. EDT

WHERE: The virtual stamp event will be hosted on the U.S. Postal Service’s Facebook and Twitter pages. For more information, visit usps.com/asawastamps.

BACKGROUND: Inspired by natural elements such as plants, snail shells, spiderwebs, insect wings and water droplets, Ruth Asawa transformed industrial material into transparent and seemingly weightless works of art that challenged traditional definitions of sculpture. When shown together, her sculptures can evoke an undersea domain, a magical upside-down world or an environment all their own. A tireless advocate of community-based arts education, she is also acclaimed for her drawings, paintings, prints and large public projects.

Showcasing Asawa’s wire sculptures, this pane features 20 stamps, two each of 10 designs:

  • Installation view, three looped wire sculptures (left to right): Untitled (S.114, Hanging Six-Lobed Continuous Form Within a Form With One Suspended and Two Tied Spheres), circa 1958; Untitled (S.077, Hanging Miniature Seven-Lobed Continuous Form Within a Form), circa 1978; and Untitled (S.036, Hanging Seven-Lobed, Multilayered Interlocking Continuous Form Within a Form, With Spheres in the First, Sixth and Seventh Lobes), 1959
  • Untitled (S.039, Hanging Five Spiraling Columns of Open Windows), 1959
  • Untitled (S.157, Hanging Two-Lobed, Three-Layered Continuous Form Within a Form), circa 1958
  • Untitled (S.250, Hanging Seven-Lobed Continuous Interlocking Form With Four Interior Spheres), circa 1955
  • Untitled (S.055, Hanging Asymmetrical Nine Interlocking Bubbles), circa 1955
  • Untitled (S.018, Hanging Miniature Single-Lobed, Three-Layered Continuous Form Within a Form), circa 1980
  • Untitled (S.306, Hanging Miniature Five Interlocking Double Trumpets), circa 1978
  • Untitled (S.030, Hanging Eight Separate Cones Suspended Through Their Centers), circa 1952
  • Untitled (S.042, Hanging Three-Lobed Continuous Form, With a Sphere in the Second Lobe and an Open Sphere Suspended From the Bottom), 1954
  • Installation view, six looped wire sculptures (left to right): Untitled (S.227, Hanging Five-Lobed Continuous Form With Spheres Suspended in the Second, Fourth and Fifth Lobes), circa 1962; Untitled (S.154, Hanging Nine-Lobed, Single-Layered Continuous Form), circa 1958; Untitled (S.142, Hanging Five-Lobed, Multilayered Continuous Form Within a Form), 1990; Untitled (S.155, Hanging Seven-Lobed, Multilayered Interlocking Continuous Form With a Sphere Suspended in the Top and Fifth Lobes), circa 1958; Untitled (S.065, Hanging Seven-Lobed, Multilayered Continuous Form Within a Form With Spheres in the Second, Third, Fourth and Sixth Lobes), circa 1960-1963; and Untitled (S.143, Hanging Five-Lobed, Multilayered Continuous Form Within a Form), 1996

The selvage features a photograph of Asawa taken by Nat Farbman in 1954 for Life magazine.

Asawa began making sculptures in 1947 and soon discovered that, in addition to single-layered sculptures, she could also create continuous or intersecting surfaces. Sensual and organic, these multilayered yet still transparent works created a dynamic interplay between interior and exterior surfaces.

Since her death in 2013, public and critical appraisal of her work has continued to reach wider audiences, with much-lauded exhibitions and publications organized by major museums and galleries across the country.

Ethel Kessler served as art director and designer for this stamp pane.
The Ruth Asawa stamps are being issued as Forever stamps, which means they will always be equal in value to the current First-Class Mail 1-ounce price.

Updated July 12th:
Here are the first-day postmarks for this issue:The Digital Color Postmark measures 2.49″ x 1.50″ The pictorial postmark measures 2.54″ x 1.04″The “special” postmark other post offices may use for this issue measures 2.19″ x 1.0″

Updated July 3rd, from the Postal Bulletin:

On August 13, 2020, in San Francisco, CA, the United States Postal Service® will issue the Ruth Asawa stamps (Forever® priced at the First-Class Mail® rate) in 10 designs, in a pressure-sensitive adhesive pane of 20 stamps (Item 476300). The stamps will go on sale nationwide August 13, 2020, and must not be sold or canceled before the first-day-of-issue. The Ruth Asawa pane of 20 stamps may not be split and the stamps may not be sold individually.

With these stamps, the Postal Service™ honors pioneering Japanese American artist Ruth Asawa (1926–2013). Showcasing Asawa‘s wire sculptures, the pane includes 20 stamps, two each of 10 designs, featuring photographs by Laurence Cuneo and Dan Bradica for David Zwirner gallery. The selvage features a photograph of Asawa taken by Nat Farbman in 1954 for Life magazine. Ethel Kessler served as art director and designer for this issuance.

Availability to Post Offices: Item 476300, Ruth Asawa (Forever Priced at the First-Class Mail Rate) Pane of 20 Stamps: No automatic distribution.

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 – Ruth Asawa 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 December 13, 2020.

Technical Specifications:

Issue: Ruth Asawa Stamps
Item Number: 476300
Denomination & Type of Issue: First-Class Mail Forever
Format: Pane of 20 (10 designs)
Series: N/A
Issue Date & City: August 13, 2020, San Francisco, CA 94188
Art Director: Ethel Kessler, Bethesda, MD
Designer: Ethel Kessler, Bethesda, MD
Existing Art: Ruth Asawa
Modeler: Sandra Lane/Michelle Finn
Manufacturing Process: Offset
Printer: Banknote Corporation of America
Press Type: Alprinta 74
Stamps per Pane: 20
Print Quantity: 18,000,000 stamps
Paper Type: Phosphor, Block Tag
Adhesive Type: Pressure-sensitive
Processed at: Banknote Corporation of America
Colors: Custom Pantone Black 6, Cyan, Magenta, Yellow, Black
Stamp Orientation: Vertical
Image Area (w x h): 0.84 x 1.42 in./ 21.336 x 36.068 mm
Overall Size (w x h): 0.98 x 1.56 in./24.892 x 39.624 mm
Full Pane Size (w x h): 7.93 x 7.12 in./201.422 x 180.848 mm
Press Sheets Size (w x h): 21.61 x 24.596 in./548.894 x 624.738 mm
Plate Size: 180 stamps per revolution
Plate Numbers: “B” followed by five (5) single digits in two corners
Marginal Markings:
Front: Header: Ruth Asawa — Artist 1926-2013 • Plate number in bottom two corners
Back: ©2020 USPS • USPS logo • 2 barcodes (476300) • Plate position diagram (9) • Promotional text

Atlases (Netherlands 2020)

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[press release, English from Google Translate] [full pane at the bottom]
Stamps Map First Atlases

The Hague, March 24, 2020 – In 2020 it will be 450 years since the very first atlas appeared in print, in Antwerp. Soon more atlases followed, mainly published in the Netherlands. With the issue of the “The first atlases” stamp sheet on March 23, PostNL pays attention to 6 notable publishers, their atlases and their maps.

Scenic from the ground
In 1570 Abraham Ortelius published the first atlas in Antwerp, with the Latin title Theatrum orbis terrarum (literally: the scene of the earth’s soil). Antwerp and Amsterdam were important centers for the atlas. That had everything to do with the prominent position of the Netherlands in international trade and shipping.

Portraits and maps
Next to Abraham Ortelius are Gerard de Jode, Gerard Mercator, Jodocus Hondius, Willem Jansz. Blaeu and Johannes Janssonius on the stamps The first atlases. These publishers from the low countries were responsible for all kinds of beautiful atlases published in the 16th and 17th centuries. The stamps show not only portraits of the 6 publishers, but also maps of the Netherlands from their atlases. All maps shown are from atlases from the Allard Pierson | collection The Collections of the UvA. The portraits were made available by the Rijksmuseum.

Nod in the middle
Because of the legibility, the cards have been placed on the stamp as large as possible. That is why Maud van Rossum, the designer of the stamp sheetlet, left out the page mirror of the atlas page as much as possible. She left only a small border as a frame. The kink in the heart of the page can also still be seen, after all, the map comes from an atlas.

Availability
The stamp sheet The first atlases has 6 different stamps with the international value indication 1, intended for mail up to 20 grams with an international destination. The stamps will be available from March 23 at the post office in the Bruna stores and on the website. The stamps can also be ordered by telephone from the Collect Club customer service on telephone number 088 – 868 99 00. The period of validity is indefinite.

Postzegels brengen eerste atlassen in kaart
Den Haag, 24 maart 2020 – In 2020 is het 450 jaar geleden dat de allereerste atlas in druk verscheen, in Antwerpen. Al snel volgden er meer atlassen, die vooral in de Nederlanden werden uitgegeven. Met de uitgifte op 23 maart van het postzegelvel ‘De eerste atlassen’ besteedt PostNL aandacht aan 6 opmerkelijke uitgevers, hun atlassen en hun kaarten.

Toneel van de aardbodem
In 1570 bracht Abraham Ortelius in Antwerpen de eerste atlas uit, met de Latijnse titel Theatrum orbis terrarum (letterlijk: het toneel van de aardebodem). Antwerpen en Amsterdam waren belangrijke centra voor de atlas. Dat had alles te maken met de vooraanstaande positie van de Nederlanden in de internationale handel en scheepvaart.

Portretten en kaarten
Naast Abraham Ortelius staan Gerard de Jode, Gerard Mercator, Jodocus Hondius, Willem Jansz. Blaeu en Johannes Janssonius op de postzegels De eerste atlassen. Deze uitgevers uit de lage landen waren verantwoordelijk voor allerlei prachtige atlassen die in de 16e en 17e eeuw zijn uitgeven. Op de postzegels zijn niet alleen portretten van de 6 uitgevers te zien, maar ook van kaarten van de Nederlanden uit hun atlassen. Alle afgebeelde kaarten komen uit atlassen uit de collectie Allard Pierson | De Collecties van de UvA. De portretten werden door het Rijksmuseum beschikbaar gesteld.

Knik in het midden
Vanwege de leesbaarheid zijn de kaarten zo groot mogelijk op de postzegel geplaatst. Daarom liet Maud van Rossum, de ontwerper van het postzegelvel, de bladspiegel van de atlaspagina zo veel mogelijk weg. Alleen een klein randje liet zij als omkadering staan. Ook de knik in het hart van de pagina is nog te zien, de kaart komt immers uit een atlas.

Verkrijgbaarheid
Het postzegelvel De eerste atlassen telt 6 verschillende postzegels met de waardeaanduiding internationaal 1, bedoeld voor post tot en met 20 gram met een internationale bestemming. De postzegels zijn vanaf 23 maart verkrijgbaar bij het postkantoor in de Bruna-winkels en via de website. De postzegels zijn ook telefonisch te bestellen bij de klantenservice van Collect Club op telefoonnummer 088 – 868 99 00. De geldigheidstermijn is onbepaald.

Typically Dutch: Sprinkles (Netherlands 2020)

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[press release, English from Google Translate] [full pane illustration at bottom]
New stamps with the favorite toppings of young and old

The Hague, March 24, 2020 – The latest PostNL stamps contain the favorite sandwich spread of young and old in our country: sprinkles. The issue “Typically Dutch – Sprinkles” is the third in this series this year.

Successor to the beautiful Netherlands
The 6 equal stamps have the value indication 1 for mail up to and including 20 grams with a destination within the Netherlands. The sprinkles stamps were designed by graphic designer Edwin van Praet of Total Design. The photos were taken by Scrambled Media. Typically Dutch is the successor to Mooi Nederland, a series that has been published for 15 years.

More than a hundred years old
The oldest site for mentioning sprinkles as a sandwich spread is a Drenthe newspaper from the year 1913. Since then sprinkles are indispensable, but it is only available in the Netherlands, Indonesia, Suriname and Belgium. In other countries, similar products are for sale, but for sprinkling cakes. Different types of sprinkles are available, such as fruit sprinkles, aniseed sprinkles and – most important of course – chocolate sprinkles. According to the Commodities Act Decree on Cocoa and Chocolate, chocolate sprinkles must contain at least 32 percent cocoa.

Pure sprinkles on bread
On the stamps Typically Dutch – sprinkles is a brown sandwich with butter and sprinkles on it, lying on a white plate with a knife and fork on either side. There are also some loose grains of sprinkles on the plate. Designer Van Praet: “Who in the Netherlands has not grown up with sprinkles? I certainly. As a child you first realize how typical Dutch sprinkles are when you go on holiday abroad. There are different types of chocolate sprinkles, but pure is of course the best. And it looks powerful in the photo. Just as the cut bread is the most beautiful bread to photograph in terms of shape. ”

Availability
The stamp sheetlet Typically Dutch – sprinkles has 6 equal stamps with the value indication Netherlands 1, intended for mail up to 20 grams with a destination within the Netherlands. The stamps will be available from March 23, 2020 at the post office in the Bruna stores and through the website. The stamps can also be ordered by telephone from the Collect Club customer service on telephone number 088 – 868 99 00. The period of validity is indefinite.

Nieuwe postzegels met het favoriete broodbeleg van jong en oud

Den Haag, 24 maart 2020 – Op de nieuwste postzegels van PostNL staat het favoriete broodbeleg van jong en oud in ons land: hagelslag. De uitgifte ‘Typisch Nederlands – hagelslag’ is de derde uit deze serie dit jaar.

Opvolger Mooi Nederland
Op de 6 gelijke postzegels staat de waardeaanduiding 1 voor post tot en met 20 gram met een bestemming binnen Nederland. Het ontwerp van de hagelslagpostzegels is van de hand van grafisch ontwerper Edwin van Praet van Total Design. De foto’s zijn gemaakt door Scrambled Media. Typisch Nederlands is de opvolger van Mooi Nederland, een serie die 15 jaar lang is verschenen.

Ruim honderd jaar oud
De oudste vindplaats voor de vermelding van hagelslag als boterhambeleg is een krant uit Drenthe uit het jaar 1913. Sindsdien is hagelslag niet meer weg te denken, maar het ligt alleen in Nederland, Indonesië, Suriname en België in de winkel. In andere landen zijn wel soortgelijke producten te koop, maar dan om taarten mee te bestrooien. Er zijn verschillende soorten hagelslag verkrijgbaar, zoals vruchtenhagel, anijshagel en – de belangrijkste natuurlijk – chocoladehagelslag. Volgens het Warenwetbesluit Cacao en chocolade moet chocoladehagelslag minstens 32 procent cacao bevatten.

Pure hagelslag op knipbrood
Op de postzegels Typisch Nederlands – hagelslag is een bruine boterham afgebeeld met daarop boter en hagelslag, liggend op een wit bord met een mes en vork aan weerszijden. Op het bord liggen ook wat losse korreltjes hagelslag. Ontwerper Van Praet: “Wie in Nederland is er nu niet met hagelslag opgegroeid? Ik zeker. Je beseft als kind voor het eerst hoe typisch Nederlands hagelslag is als je naar het buitenland met vakantie gaat. Er zijn verschillende soorten chocoladehagelslag, maar puur is natuurlijk het lekkerst. En het ziet er krachtig uit op de foto. Net zoals het knipbrood qua vorm het mooiste brood is om te fotograferen.”

Verkrijgbaarheid
Het postzegelvel Typisch Nederlands – hagelslag telt 6 gelijke postzegels met de waardeaanduiding Nederland 1, bedoeld voor post tot en met 20 gram met een bestemming binnen Nederland. De postzegels zijn vanaf 23 maart 2020 verkrijgbaar bij het postkantoor in de Bruna-winkels en via de website. De postzegels zijn ook telefonisch te bestellen bij de klantenservice van Collect Club op telefoonnummer 088 – 868 99 00. De geldigheidstermijn is onbepaald.

Worry USPS Will Be Coronavirus Victim

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U.S. Representative Carolyn Maloney (D-NY) and Gerald Connolly (D-Va.) are worried the U.S. Postal Service “will not survive the summer” because of the coronavirus epidemic, and is calling for billions of dollars from the federal government. She says the postal agency has seen a “drastic” reduction in mail volume, and says the end of the USPS would imperil the delivery of prescription drugs and election ballots.

“Based on a number of briefings and warnings this week about a critical fall-off in mail across the country, it has become clear that the Postal Service will not survive the summer without immediate help from Congress and the White House,” Maloney and Connolly said in a statement Monday night, which you can read here.

The original House emergency funding for the coronavirus epidemic included extra money for the USPS. That may or may not survive in the eventual compromise approved by the House and Senate. However, Maloney and Connoly have also introduced a bill providing $25 billion to the USPS, while requiring it to prioritize medical deliveries.

As of 3 a.m. Wednesday, the U.S. had 55,225 known cases of COVID-19. They include at least 20 postal workers. The U.S. makes no mention in its latest update on the epidemic [March 22, 2020] of any impact on its mail volume. In fact, it boasts, “We are the leading delivery service for online purchases,” while Amazon.com and other mail-order merchants are reporting a surge in business caused by all the stay-at-home orders.

Is Your Mail Dangerous? Probably Not

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The New York Times looked — exhaustively — at that question. While it is impossible to say for certain that the coronavirus cannot be transmitted from the letters, flyers and packages in the mail, especially given possible mutations of the disease and the wide variety of papers and cardboards, it appears not.

David Partenheimer, a spokesman for the Postal Service, noted that the surgeon general, Dr. Jerome M. Adams, along with the Centers for Disease Control and the World Health Organization, has “indicated that there is currently no evidence that COVID-19 is being spread through the mail.”

The NYT article includes the history of quarantines (including the word’s origin) and sequestering the mail to make sure it didn’t carry disease.

“The bottom line is that there is some hypothetical risk of viable viruses surviving on mail,” Dr. James O. Lloyd-Smith of UCLA said. “But given the time periods involved, this seems like a pretty minimal risk to the general public.”

One of the experts interview by the Times simply recommends washing your hands with soap and water after handling your mail. “I want to preserve the good sanitizers for risky things, and hand washing works just as well as spraying,” said Ben Chapman of North Carolina State University.

Lloyd-Smith says he’s more worried about the mail sorters and carriers who are handling the mail as much as 12 hours a day.

Canada Post Changes Due to Coronavirus

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[press release]
Important Changes to Canada’s Postal Service

OTTAWA, March 23, 2020 /CNW/ – Canada Post understands the important role the postal service plays and is committed to serving Canadians while taking action to keep our people and our communities safe. To do so effectively in these challenging times, we will continue to review and quickly adapt our approach with health and safety as our primary goal.

Canada Post has initiated the following changes to our delivery operations and retail postal network:

Changes to our retail Post Office network

Hours of Service: In many post offices operated by Canada Post, we will reduce hours of service, opening one hour later and closing one hour earlier to clean, restock and provide some relief to employees. As well, for the first hour of each day, we will offer priority service to those whom are at a higher risk (the elderly or people with compromised immune systems). Franchise operated post offices will follow the measures put in place by franchise operators.

We are working to keep our post offices open, but some may close due to building closures beyond our control and some smaller locations may close due to personnel reasons. In these cases, we will direct customers to the nearest operating post office.

Social & Physical Distancing: We are asking waiting customers to please space themselves 2 metres (6 feet) apart. We are working on signage and floor decals for larger post offices. For smaller offices, we will look to limit the number of customers. We are also working on clear barriers for the counter to increase safety.

Transactions: We will continue to accept cash, but are encouraging customers to pay by using the “tap” function on their debit or credit cards where possible.

Parcel pick-up: Parcels left at the post-office for pickup will not be returned-to-sender until further notice. We’ve suspended our normal 15-day hold period. We ask that customers who are feeling ill or self-isolating, to please delay their visit to the post office and to pick up their parcel when it’s safe to do so. Further changes to our parcel delivery process are below.

Changes to how we deliver

Parcel Delivery: To eliminate customer interactions at the door, reduce post office customer traffic and support social & physical distancing, we have implemented a Knock, Drop and Go approach. Delivery employees will knock or ring, choose the safest location available to leave the item and then depart for the next address. This change eliminates the need for signatures at the door and greatly reduces the number of parcels sent to our post offices for pick-up.

Items that require Proof of Age, ID or Customs payments will be sent directly from our depots to a retail post office for pick-up with no restrictions on when customers can pick up the item. Customers will receive a Delivery Notice Card in their mail letting them know which post office is holding their item for pickup.

Service guarantees: Our goal is to continue providing timely and reliable service. But to be safe, give our people time and manage potential challenges, we have suspended on On-time Delivery Guarantees for all parcel services, until further notice.

Help with Social Distancing

We please ask you to respect social and physical distancing with our employees who you may see out in the community. This will further support the social distancing initiatives we’ve implemented in our plants, depots and post offices. Like other organizations providing important services, our people are working hard under difficult circumstances.

During delivery: Please give our employees space and avoid opening the door or greeting them personally when they are at the door to deliver, or filling a community mailbox.

In post offices: When in a retail post office, please practise social distancing and the other measures that have been implemented.

While we all support social and physical distancing efforts to keep our communities safe, social interaction from a distance is still very much appreciated by our people. A simple smile and wave through the window to your delivery agent, a supportive thumbs-up to the driver of the Canada Post truck as they go by or patience and a thank you to the person working at the post office all go a very long way these days.

We thank Canadians for their patience and support during this period of significant change. We continue to follow the guidance of the Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC) when it comes to creating new safety measures in our plants, depots, post offices as well as in our communities.

[en Francais]
Changements importants apportés au service postal du Canada

OTTAWA, le 23 mars 2020 /CNW/ – Postes Canada est consciente de l’importance du service postal et s’engage à servir les Canadiens tout en prenant des mesures pour assurer la sécurité de ses employés et de la population. Pour y arriver de manière efficace en ces temps difficiles, nous continuerons d’analyser nos approches et de les adapter rapidement en faisant de la santé et de la sécurité notre objectif principal.

Postes Canada a apporté les changements suivants à ses opérations de livraison et à son réseau de vente au détail :

Changements apportés au réseau de bureaux de poste

Heures de service : Dans de nombreux bureaux de poste exploités par Postes Canada, nous réduirons les heures de service, en ouvrant une heure plus tard et en fermant une heure plus tôt afin de nettoyer les lieux et de réapprovisionner les stocks en plus de donner un certain répit au personnel. De plus, au cours de la première heure de chaque journée, nous offrirons un service prioritaire aux personnes à risque élevé (les aînés ou les personnes dont le système immunitaire est affaibli). Les bureaux de poste franchisés suivront les mesures mises en place par les exploitants.

Nous nous efforçons de garder nos bureaux de poste ouverts, mais certains pourraient fermer en raison de fermetures d’édifices hors de notre contrôle. De plus petits emplacements pourraient aussi fermer pour des raisons liées au personnel. Dans ces cas, nous dirigerons les clients vers le bureau de poste ouvert le plus près.

Mesures d’éloignement physique et social : Nous demandons aux clients dans la file d’attente de se tenir à deux mètres (six pieds) les uns des autres. Nous concevons actuellement des affiches et des autocollants de sol pour les grands bureaux de poste. Pour les petits bureaux, nous chercherons à limiter le nombre de clients. Nous travaillons également à la création de panneaux transparents pour les comptoirs afin d’accroître la sécurité.

Transactions : Nous continuerons d’accepter l’argent comptant, mais nous encourageons les clients à utiliser la fonction de paiement sans contact de leur carte de crédit ou de débit, dans la mesure du possible.

Ramassage de colis : Les colis laissés au bureau de poste aux fins de ramassage ne seront pas renvoyés à l’expéditeur jusqu’à nouvel ordre. Nous avons suspendu notre période de retenue normale de 15 jours. Nous demandons aux clients qui se sentent malades ou qui s’isolent volontairement de retarder leur visite au bureau de poste et de ramasser leur colis lorsqu’il sera sécuritaire de le faire. Vous trouverez ci-dessous d’autres changements apportés à notre procédé de livraison des colis.

Changements apportés à nos méthodes de livraison

Livraison des colis : Afin d’éliminer les interactions avec les clients à la porte, de réduire l’achalandage aux bureaux de poste et d’appuyer les mesures d’éloignement physique et social, nous avons mis en place la politique « Sonner, déposer, quitter ». Les employés de livraison cogneront ou sonneront à la porte, choisiront l’endroit le plus sécuritaire pour déposer l’article, puis se dirigeront à l’adresse suivante. Ce changement élimine les signatures à la porte et réduit considérablement le nombre de colis envoyés à nos bureaux de poste aux fins de ramassage.

Les articles qui nécessitent une preuve d’âge, une pièce d’identité ou la perception de droits de douane seront envoyés directement de nos postes de facteurs à un bureau de poste aux fins de ramassage, sans restriction quant au moment où les clients pourront ramasser leurs articles. Les clients recevront une carte Avis de livraison par la poste qui indique à quel bureau de poste se rendre pour récupérer leurs articles.

Garanties de service : Notre objectif est de continuer à offrir des services rapides et fiables. Cependant, pour assurer notre sécurité, donner du temps à nos employés et gérer les défis potentiels, nous avons suspendu les garanties de livraison à temps pour tous les services des colis jusqu’à nouvel ordre.

Faciliter l’éloignement social

Nous vous demandons de respecter les mesures d’éloignement social et physique si vous croisez nos employés dans votre collectivité. De cette façon, vous appuierez davantage les initiatives d’éloignement social que nous avons mises en œuvre dans nos établissements, nos postes de facteurs et nos bureaux de poste. Comme dans d’autres entreprises qui fournissent des services importants, notre personnel travaille fort dans des circonstances difficiles.

Pendant la livraison : Laissez de l’espace à nos employés et évitez de leur ouvrir la porte ou de les saluer de près lorsqu’ils effectuent des livraisons à la porte ou remplissent une boîte postale communautaire.

Dans les bureaux de poste : Lorsque vous êtes dans un bureau de poste, respectez les mesures d’éloignement social et les autres mesures qui ont été mises en place.

Nous appuyons bien entendu toutes les mesures pour assurer la sécurité de la population, mais l’interaction sociale à bonne distance est toujours très appréciée par nos employés. Sourire et saluer de la main votre agent de livraison, lever le pouce en signe de soutien au conducteur d’un camion de Postes Canada lorsqu’il passe ou faire preuve de patience et remercier la personne qui travaille au bureau de poste sont tous des petits gestes qui encouragent notre personnel.

Nous remercions les Canadiens de leur patience et de leur soutien pendant cette période de changement important. Postes Canada continue de suivre les directives de l’Agence de la santé publique du Canada (ASPC) en ce qui concerne la mise en place de nouvelles mesures de sécurité dans nos établissements, nos postes de facteurs, nos bureaux de poste et nos collectivités.

Anne Frank, 75 Years Later (Netherlands 2020)

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[press release, via Google Translate]
Anne Frank, 75 Years Later

The Hague, March 23, 2020 – The Netherlands will commemorate the end of World War II in 2020, 75 years ago. With 4 gold stamps, PostNL pays attention to events that have left an indelible impression. Both to those who experienced it and to the next generations, to this day.

The Secret Annex
In the series End of World War II, the golden stamp Anne Frank, 1945 – 2020, appeared last Friday. It is 75 years ago that Anne Frank passed away. Thanks to Anne Frank’s diary, published after the war as Het Achterhuis, her name has become synonymous worldwide with the horrors of persecution.

Dear Kitty
The gold stamp contains a passport photo of Anne Frank from May 1942. Anne was 12 years old at the time. At the bottom of the photo you can read the salutation “Dear Kitty”. Kitty is the fictional friend to whom Anne Frank wrote many of her diary letters.

Gold Series
The stamp about Anne Frank is part of the series End of World War II. On January 23, the stamp about Operation Market Garden was already published, the attempt of the Allies in September 1944 to get hold of the bridges over Maas, Waal and Rijn in the Netherlands. The next stamp is about the liberation of the Netherlands. This will be released on May 5. The last stamp issue in the series is on August 15, the day that the Japanese army laid down its weapons in what was then the Dutch East Indies 75 years ago.

Anne Frank Foundation
The issue of the Anne Frank stamp, 1945 – 2020, was established in consultation with the Anne Frank House. This foundation manages the hiding place of Anne – Het Achterhuis – on the Prinsengracht in Amsterdam and brings her life story to the attention worldwide.

Availability
The End of World War II series is available as long as supplies last, only through the website and from the Collect Club customer service on telephone number 088 – 868 99 00. The stamp contains value indication 1, intended for mail up to 20 grams with a destination within the Netherlands. The period of validity is indefinite.

[press release]
Anne Frank, 75 jaar later
Den Haag, 23 maart 2020 – Nederland herdenkt in 2020 het einde van de Tweede Wereldoorlog, 75 jaar geleden. PostNL besteedt met 4 gouden postzegels aandacht aan gebeurtenissen die een onuitwisbare indruk hebben achtergelaten. Zowel op degenen die het meemaakten als op de volgende generaties, tot op de dag van vandaag.

Het Achterhuis
In de serie Einde van de Tweede Wereldoorlog verscheen afgelopen vrijdag de gouden postzegel Anne Frank, 1945 – 2020. Het is dit jaar 75 jaar geleden dat Anne Frank overleed. Dankzij Anne Franks dagboek, na de oorlog uitgegeven als Het Achterhuis, is haar naam wereldwijd synoniem geworden met de verschrikkingen van vervolging.

Lieve Kitty
Op de gouden postzegel staat een paspoortfoto van Anne Frank uit mei 1942. Anne was toen 12 jaar oud. Onderaan de foto is de aanhef ‘Lieve Kitty’ te lezen. Kitty is de fictieve vriendin aan wie Anne Frank veel van haar dagboekbrieven schreef.

Gouden serie
De postzegel over Anne Frank maakt deel uit van de serie Einde van de Tweede Wereldoorlog. Op 23 januari verscheen al de postzegel over de operatie Market Garden, de poging van de geallieerden in september 1944 om in Nederland de bruggen over Maas, Waal en Rijn in handen te krijgen. De volgende postzegel gaat over de bevrijding van Nederland. Deze komt op 5 mei uit. De laatste postzegeluitgifte in de serie is op 15 augustus, de dag dat 75 jaar geleden het Japanse leger in het toenmalig Nederlands-Indië de wapens neerlegde.

Anne Frank Stichting
De uitgifte van de postzegel Anne Frank, 1945 – 2020 is tot stand gekomen in afstemming met de Anne Frank Stichting. Deze stichting beheert de onderduikplek van Anne – Het Achterhuis – aan de Prinsengracht in Amsterdam en brengt haar levensverhaal wereldwijd onder de aandacht.

Verkrijgbaarheid
De serie Einde van de Tweede Wereldoorlog is, zolang de voorraad strekt, uitsluitend verkrijgbaar via de website en bij de klantenservice van Collect Club op telefoonnummer 088 – 868 99 00. Op de postzegel staat waardeaanduiding 1, bedoeld voor post tot en met 20 gram met een bestemming binnen Nederland. De geldigheidstermijn is onbepaald.

Coronavirus Closures, Postponements, Cancellations

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Most major stamp collecting shows in the U.S. in March, if not all, have been postponed or canceled. Many events in April and even May have already been affected.

The international show in Britain this year, London 2020, has been postponed to 2022.

The American Philatelic Society headquarters and the American Philatelic Research Library in Bellefonte, Pa., have been ordered closed, as part of Pennsylvania’s shutdown measures.

U.S. first-day (launch) ceremonies for new issues have been postponed or canceled, although the stamps are still being released and put on sale on schedule.

If you know of other schedule changes, please post them here as “comments.”

Meanwhile, there are many online philatelic activities. The Virtual Stamp Club‘s Facebook group has seen a surge recently in new-member requests. Give a visit for a more unstructured discussion.

Added April 1st: NAPEX 2020, scheduled for June 5-7, has been canceled, because Virginia has banned all public gatherings through June 10th.

Also canceled PIPEX (Pacific Northwest) May 8-10, Plymouth (Michigan) April 25-26, ROPEX (New York State) May 15-16, Rocky Mountain May 22-24, Westpex (California) April 24-26, Wiscopex May 2-3, Gulfpex April 17-18.

Postponed: Philatelic Show (Massachusetts) May 1-3 postponed to July 24-26, St. Louis Stamp Expo May 27-29 to August 14-16.

The APS is maintaining a comprehensive list on its website here.

Added March 27th: Gulfpex 2020, scheduled for April 17-18, has been canceled. It may be rescheduled in October. (Thanks to VSC member Lefty Dundee.)

Added March 23rd:

The U.S. Postal Service has canceled three first-day ceremonies for four stamps:

  • Contemporary Boutonniere and Garden Corsage (April 2, Crestwood, KY)
  • Earth Day (April 18, Denver, CO)
  • American Gardens (May 13, Winterthur, DE)

The stamps will still be issued (put on sale) on the first-day dates, listed above.

“Typically, Postal Service stamp events attract 200 or more attendees,” the USPS said in a press releae. “The Postal Service will try to reschedule the dedications at a later date.”

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The American Philatelic Society is holding twice-daily live chats: •

Canada Post is making changes: “We will reduce hours of service, opening one hour later and closing one hour earlier to clean, restock and provide some relief to employees,” it said in a full press release, which you can find here.

Irish Women (Ireland 2020)

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From the AnPost website:
Pioneering Irish Women
‘N’ Rate Strip of 5 Stamps

Irish women have long been pioneers and innovators both at home and abroad. Amongst the visionaries who encourage the continuation of their successes in a new generation of women in Ireland are:

  • Carmel Snow, pioneering Editor-in-Chief of Harpers Bazaar, was considered the most powerful fashion arbiter in America from the 1930s to the 1950s
  • Maureen O’Hara – actor, whose stellar Hollywood film career, spanning seven decades, led to an honorary Lifetime Academy Award in 2014 aged 94
  • Lilian Bland, who flew Ireland’s first powered biplane
  • Maeve Kyle – the first woman to represent Ireland at the Olympics, when she qualified for the sprints in Melbourne 1956
  • Sarah Purser – artist, in 1923 she became the first female member of the Royal Hibernian Academy

Technical Specifications:

Date of Issue: March 5, 2020
Value & Quantity: N Strip of 5 (238k)
Design: Design HQ
Size: 30mm x 51mm
Paper: TR 102gsm Yellow Green Phosphor PVA gum
Colour: Black with various spot colours
Make-up: Sheetlet of 15
Perforations: 14 x 13.25
Printing Process: Lithography
Printer: Royal Joh. Enschedé

More information here on the AnPost website.