{"id":476,"date":"2014-04-09T00:34:02","date_gmt":"2014-04-09T04:34:02","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/virtualstampclub.com\/lloydblog\/?p=476"},"modified":"2014-04-17T06:08:19","modified_gmt":"2014-04-17T10:08:19","slug":"red-white-blue-stamps","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/virtualstampclub.com\/lloydblog\/?p=476","title":{"rendered":"Red, White & Blue Stamps"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"redwhiteblue\"<\/a>First announced in the sales section of USPS.com, this patriotic-design stamp will be issued April 25 in San Francisco, with a first-day ceremony at WESTPEX (which is actually in Burlingame, Calif.) However, this issue was mentioned in my October 2013 preview of the 2014 stamp program<\/a>. It will be issued in coils of 10,000, although collectors can buy quantities as small as 25.<\/p>\n

From the description on shop.usps.com:<\/p>\n

Celebrate America with the Red, White and Blue issuance. Each of the four stamps features a modern interpretation of a flying flag, complete with six red and white wavy stripes and a handful of five-pointed stars. The designs were inspired by 20th-century American ephemera, such as pins and flags.<\/p>\n

Today, the American flag remains a powerful symbol. \u201cIn those broad stripes and bright stars, we see the arc of the American story,\u201d President Barack Obama said in his 2013 Flag Day proclamation, \u201cfrom a handful of colonies to 50 States, united and free.\u201d<\/p>\n

Designed for business use, the Red, White and Blue Forever\u00ae self-adhesive stamps are being issued in a strip of 25, with plate number. These Forever stamps will always be equal in value to the current First-Class Mail\u00ae one-ounce rate.<\/p>\n

Art director Ethel Kessler designed the stamps.<\/p>\n

The text for the Digital Color Postmark FDCs says:<\/p>\n

\"rwbfdc\"<\/a>Show your spirit with this patriotic set, featuring Old Glory with a modern twist. Each of the four First Day Covers (#6 3\/4 envelope) bears a different Red, White and Blue<\/i><\/b> Forever\u00ae stamp and an official First Day of Issue color postmark.<\/p>\n

Inspired by 20th-century American ephemera, the four Red, White and Blue<\/i><\/b> Forever\u00ae stamps each features a flying flag, complete with wavy red and white stripes, a swath of blue, and a handful of five-pointed stars. Playing off the contemporary styling of the stamp, the color postmark design incorporates the stars and stripes in a banner-like formation with the stamp title at its center. Also included are the date and location of stamp issuance.<\/p>\n

And for the “regular” FDCs:<\/p>\n

\"rwbfdc2\"<\/a>National pride is always in style, and with this patriotic set of four First Day Covers, Old Glory gets a modern twist. Each #6 3\/4 envelope bears a different Red, White and Blue<\/i><\/b> Forever\u00ae stamp and an official First Day of Issue postmark.<\/p>\n

Inspired by 20th-century American ephemera, the 2014 Red, White and Blue<\/i><\/b> Forever\u00ae stamps each features a flying flag, complete with wavy red and white stripes, a swath of blue, and a handful of five-pointed stars. The standard four-bar postmark notes the stamp\u2019s official First Day of Issue date and location.<\/p>\n

Added from the April 17th Postal Bulletin:<\/em><\/p>\n

On April 25, 2014, in San Francisco, CA, the U.S. Postal Service will issue the Red, White, and Blue (Forever priced at 49 cents) definitive stamps, in four designs, in pressure-sensitive adhesive (PSA) coils of 10,000 (Item 776500).<\/p>\n

The stamps will go on sale nationwide April 25, 2014.<\/p>\n

To accommodate business use, the Postal Service will issue four Red, White, and Blue self-adhesive Forever stamps in large coils of 10,000. Inspired by 20th-century American ephemera, each stamp features a modern interpretation of a flying flag, complete with wavy stripes and five-pointed stars. Art director Ethel Kessler designed the stamps.<\/p>\n

How to Order the First-Day-of-Issue Postmark:<\/strong><\/span>
\nCustomers have 60 days to obtain the first-day-of-issue postmark by mail. They may purchase new stamps at their local Post Office, at The Postal Store website at www.usps.com\/shop, or by calling 800-STAMP-24. They should affix the stamps to envelopes of their choice, address the envelopes (to themselves or others), and place them in a larger envelope addressed to:<\/p>\n

Red, White, and Blue<\/span><\/strong>
\n Retail Manager<\/span><\/strong>
\n 220 Park Road<\/span><\/strong>
\n Burlingame, CA 94010<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

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. For more than 50, customers have to pay five cents each. All orders must be postmarked by June 24, 2014<\/span><\/strong>.<\/p>\n

There are two philatelic products<\/span><\/strong> for this stamp issue:<\/p>\n