Updated October 2nd: Here are the Scott catalogue numbers:
- 5241 (49¢) Father Ted Hesburgh, serpentine die cut 11
- 5242 (49¢) Father Ted Hesburgh coil stamp, serpentine die cut 9½ horiz.
Updated August 18th:
[USPS press release]
U.S. Postal Service Honoring Father Theodore Hesburgh
Champion of Civil Rights, Other Social Issues and Longtime President of the University of Notre Dame
What:
First-Day-of-Issue dedication ceremony for the Father Theodore Hesburgh Forever stamp. The event is free and open to the public. The U.S. Postal Service will post a video of the event at facebook.com/USPS. Share the news on Twitter and Instagram using the hashtag #FatherHesburgh.
When: Friday, Sept. 1, 2017, 1:00 p.m.
Where:
Purcell Pavilion at the Joyce Center
Notre Dame, IN
Who:
Megan J. Brennan
Postmaster General and Chief Executive Officer
United States Postal Service
The Honorable Condoleezza Rice
66th Secretary of State of the United States
Rev. John I. Jenkins, C.S.C.
President, University of Notre Dame
Rev. Austin I. Collins, C.S.C.
Religious Superior of Holy Cross Priests and Brothers
University of Notre Dame
Rev. Thomas J. O’Hara, C.S.C.
Provincial Superior
Congregation of Holy Cross
Richard “Digger” Phelps
Former Member, Citizens’ Stamp Advisory Committee
Background:
The Rev. Theodore M. Hesburgh, (1917–2015), longtime president of the University of Notre Dame, is considered one of the most important academic, religious and civic leaders of the 20th century.
Appointed to the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights in 1957, Hesburgh helped to compile reports on racial discrimination and the denial of voting rights that resulted in the Omnibus Civil Rights Act of 1964. He was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom the same year, and later founded the Center for Civil and Human Rights at Notre Dame.
A champion of causes ranging from education to immigration reform to the plight of underdeveloped nations, Hesburgh worked with many organizations that reflected his beliefs, including the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching, the National Science Board, the Overseas Development Council, and the Select Committee on Immigration and Refugee Policy. An advocate for limiting nuclear arms, he was the Vatican’s representative to the International Atomic Energy Agency from 1956-1970.
Ordained into the priesthood of the Congregation of Holy Cross in 1943, Hesburgh was appointed to the faculty at Notre Dame in 1945. He became Notre Dame’s 15th president in 1952, a position he held for 35 years, the longest presidential term in the university’s history. Hesburgh spearheaded successful efforts to strengthen the faculty and administration, improve academic standards and increase the university’s endowment.
In 1987, Hesburgh stepped down as Notre Dame’s president, devoting his time in retirement to supporting university initiatives, in particular the Kroc Institute for International Peace Studies and the Kellogg Institute for International Studies, and serving on various boards and presidential commissions.
Hesburgh was awarded the Congressional Gold Medal in 2000, one of many awards and honors received during his lifetime.
Updated August 3rd: Surprise! There will also be a coil version of this stamp! From the Postal Bulletin:
On September 1, 2017, in Notre Dame, IN, the U.S. Postal Service® will issue the Father Theodore Hesburgh stamp (Forever® priced at 49 cents), in one design, in a pressure-sensitive adhesive (PSA) pane of 20 stamps (Item 474700) and a PSA coil of 50 stamps (Item 799400). The stamp will go on sale nationwide September 1, 2017.
The Reverend Father Theodore M. Hesburgh, C.S.C. (1917–2015) is considered one of the most important educational, religious, and civic leaders of the 20th century. The stamp art features an oil-on-panel painting (based on a 1980 photograph) of Father Hesburgh standing on the campus of the University of Notre Dame, where he served as president for 35 years. Father Hesburgh was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 1964 and the Congressional Gold Medal in 2000. Art director Ethel Kessler designed the stamp with original art by Tim O’Brien.
Available to Post Offices: Item 474700, Father Theodore Hesburgh (Forever priced at 49 cents) Commemorative PSA Pane 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.
Not Available to Post Offices: Item 799400, $24.50 Father Theodore Hesburgh (Forever priced at 49 cents) Commemorative PSA Coil of 50 Stamps: Stamp Fulfillment Services will not make an automatic push distribution to Post Offices. These stamp coils will only be available through The Postal Store® website at usps.com/shop or by calling our toll-free number at 800–782-6724.
There is a special postmark that local post offices may use: 
How to Order the First-Day-of-Issue Postmark:
Customers 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 usps.com/shop, or by calling 800-782-6724. 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 – Father Theodore Hesburgh 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 November 1, 2017.
Philatelic products for this stamp issue are as follows:
Pane of 20
- 474706, Press Sheet with Die-cut, $58.80
- 474710 Digital Color Postmark Keepsake, $11.95
- 474716 First-Day Cover, $0.93
- 474721 Digital Color Postmark, $1.64
- 474724 Framed Art, $39.95
- 474730 Ceremony Program, $6.95
- 474733 Panel, $10.95
Coil of 50
- 799416 First-Day Cover, $0.93
- 799421 Digital Color Postmark, $1.64
Technical Specifications:
Issue: Father Theodore Hesburgh Stamp
Item Number: 474700
Denomination & Type of Issue: First-Class Mail® Forever
Format: Pane of 20 (1 design)
Series: N/A
Issue Date & City: September 1, 2017, Notre Dame, IN 46556
Art Director: Ethel Kessler, Bethesda, MD
Designer: Ethel Kessler, Bethesda, MD
Typographer: Ethel Kessler, Bethesda, MD
Artist: Tim O’Brien, Brooklyn, NY
Modeler: Joseph Sheeran
Manufacturing Process: Offset, Microprint
Printer: Ashton Potter (USA) Ltd. (APU)
Printed at: Williamsville, NY
Press Type: Muller A76
Stamps per Pane: 20
Print Quantity: 15,000,000 stamps
Paper Type: Nonphosphored Type III, Block Tag applied
Adhesive Type: Pressure-sensitive
Processed at: Ashton Potter (USA) Ltd. (APU)
Colors: Black, Cyan, Magenta, Yellow, PMS 7557c Brown
Stamp Orientation: Vertical
Image Area (w x h): 0.84 x 1.42 in/21.34 x 36.07 mm
Overall Size (w x h): 0.98 x 1.56 in/24.89 x 39.62 mm
Full Pane Size (w x h): 5.92 x 7.50 in/150.37 x 190.50 mm
Press Sheet Size (w x h): 11.84 x 22.75 in/300.74 x 577.85 mm
Plate Size: 240 stamps per revolution
Plate Numbers: “P” followed by five (5) digits
Marginal Markings:
Front: Header: FATHER THEODORE HESBURGH • Plate numbers in two corners of pane
Back: ©2016 USPS • USPS Logo • two barcodes (474700) • Plate Position Diagram • Promotional Text
Technical Specifications:
Issue: Father Theodore Hesburgh Stamp
Item Number: 799400
Denomination & Type of Issue: First-Class Mail Forever
Format: Coil of 50 (1 design)
Series: N/A
Issue Date & City: September 1, 2017, Notre Dame, IN 46556
Art Director: Ethel Kessler, Bethesda, MD
Designer: Ethel Kessler, Bethesda, MD
Typographer: Ethel Kessler, Bethesda, MD
Artist: Tim O’Brien, Brooklyn, NY
Modeler: Joseph Sheeran
Manufacturing Process: Offset, Microprint
Printer: Ashton Potter (USA) Ltd. (APU)
Printed at: Williamsville, NY
Press Type: Muller A76
Stamps per Coil: 50
Print Quantity: 2,000,000 stamps
Paper Type: Nonphosphored Type III, Block Tag Applied
Adhesive Type: Pressure-sensitive
Processed at: Ashton Potter (USA) Ltd. (APU)
Colors: Black, Cyan, Magenta, Yellow, PMS 7557c Brown
Stamp Orientation: Vertical
Image Area (w x h): 0.84 x 1.4482 in/21.34 X 36.78 mm
Stamp Size (w x h): 0.98 x 1.5882 in/24.89 x 40.34 mm
Plate Size: 408 stamps per revolution
Plate Numbers: “P” followed by five (5) single digits
Coil Number Frequency: Plate numbers every 17th stamp below stamp image
Updated March 13th: The USPS confirms this stamp will be issued Friday, September 1st in South Bend, IN.
Updated August 7th: Here are the first-day postmarks: 
This measures 2.86″ x 1.33″. So does the B&W “hand” (rubber) cancel: 
There is also a “special” postmark that any post office may use: 
It measures 2.95″ x 1.44″.
From the USPS, September 20, 2016:
The Rev. Theodore M. Hesburgh (1917Ð2015) was an important mid-20th century educational, religious and civic leader. The stamp features an oil-on-panel painting of Father Hesburgh standing on the University of Notre Dame campus, where he served as president for 35 years. Appointed to the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights in 1957, Father Hesburgh helped compile reports on racial discrimination and the denial of voting rights that resulted in the Omnibus Civil Rights Act of 1964. A champion of causes ranging from education to immigration reform to the plight of underdeveloped nations, Father Hesburgh worked with many important organizations that reflected his beliefs. Art director Ethel Kessler designed the stamp with original art by Tim O’Brien.
The University of Notre Dame’s Facebook Page the day after the USPS announcement said the stamp would be issued “September 1” (a Friday) but the press release to which it linked only says “next fall.” Friday, September 1 is the start of Labor Day Weekend, which might discourage getting a top USPS official for the first-day ceremony. On the other hand, The Fighting Irish football team hosts the Temple Owls the following day, which might make a trip from Washington more attractive.
from left, Edwin L. Jackson, featured speaker; American Philatelic Society President Mick Zais; USPS Chief Human Resources Officer and Executive VP Jeffrey C. Williamson; and Pledge of Allegiance leader Beatrix Clark.
It measures 2” x 1.5”.
Issue: U.S. Flag Stamp
It measures 2.99″ x 1.39″. The pictorial postmark is: 
It measures 2.63″ x 1.5″.
On July 26, 2017, in Newport, KY, the U.S. Postal Service® will issue the Sharks stamps (Forever® priced at 49 cents), in five designs, in a pressure-sensitive adhesive (PSA) pane of 20 stamps (Item 474500). The Sharks $9.80 pane of 20 stamps may not be split, and the stamps may not be sold individually. The stamps will go on sale nationwide July 26, 2017.
The U.S. Postal Service celebrates these visually striking posters of the Workers Projects Administration (WPA) with stamps featuring 10 outstanding posters from the Library of Congress collection.
Followers of the U.S. Postal Service’s Facebook page can view streaming video of the event at facebook.com/USPS<http://www.facebook.com/USPS>. The public is asked to share the news on Twitter and Instagram using the hashtag #WPAForever.
It measures 2.1” x 1.5”.
What:
The B&W “rubber-composition” (hand) cancel measures 2.30″ x 1.49″.
Customers 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 usps.com/shop, or by calling 800-782-6724. 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 – Celebrating African American History and Culture Stamp
It measures 2.94″ x 1.31″. There is also a “special” postmark that local stations may use: 
It measures 2.98″ x 1.50″.
On January 5, 2017, in Seattle, WA, the U.S. Postal Service will issue the Year of the Rooster First-Class Mail stamp (Forever priced at 47 cents), in one design, in a pressure-sensitive adhesive (PSA) pane of 12 stamps (Item 552000). The Year of the Rooster $5.64 pane of 12 stamps may not be split, and the stamps may not be sold individually.
Only the pictorial postmark shown here is permitted for the Year of the Rooster stamp. The word “Station” or the abbreviation “STA” is required somewhere in the design, because it will be a temporary station.
It measures 3.0″ x 1.5″.
BACKGROUND:
All but two of the issues appear to be what the USPS calls (or has called) “mail-use:” Issues for specific rates (Uncle Sam’s Hat, additional ounces; California Dogface Butterfly, nonmachineable surcharge rate) or will be issued as booklets for the non-collecting mailing public: sharks, flowers, flag, and so on. The John F. Kennedy stamp design is in the definitive format (height/width ratio). [In response to an e-mailed question, the USPS said that the JFK stamp is “a semi-jumbo stamp” with “a similar aspect ratio to our “special” sized stamps, but is proportionally larger.”] The exceptions are Fr. Theodore Hesburgh, although that may be a two-ounce stamp, and the museum.
The United States entered “the War to End All Wars” — World War I — in 1917. Some historians feel this was the point at which the U.S. became a major world power, because the Americans turned the tide in the war. It would be shocking if the USPS does not issue at least one stamp for this historical event, and surprising if not several. (Israel’s 2016 stamp is shown on the left.)
Flowers from the Garden features new stamps with four different paintings of flowers that come from typical American gardens, each bunch artfully arranged. One stamp features red camellias and yellow forsythia in a yellow pitcher, while on another there are white peonies and pink tree peonies in a clear vase. An arrangement of white hydrangeas, white and pink roses, green hypericum berries, and purple lisianthus in a white vase graces another stamp, while blue hydrangeas in a blue pot appear on another. Art director Derry Noyes designed the stamps with existing art by Elizabeth Brandon.
With the release of the new Delicioso Forever stamps, the Postal Service celebrates the influence of Central and South American, Mexican and Caribbean foods on American cuisine. This booklet of 20 stamps features six dishes from an array of Latin American culinary traditions that have found new life and variations in the United States. Each stamp showcases a bright and playful illustration of one of the following dishes: tamales, flan, sancocho, empanadas, chile relleno and ceviche. The names of the six dishes appear in a festive font above each image. Artist John Parra designed the stamps under the direction of Antonio Alcalá.
With the release of Uncle Sam’s Hat in 2017, the Postal Service celebrates one of the country’s most popular patriotic characters. Known especially for his large top hat decorated in varying patterns of stars and stripes, Uncle Sam has represented the bravery and fortitude of the American spirit for more than 150 years. The stamp features eight graphic top hats in Uncle Sam’s signature style. Red and white vertical stripes extend above a blue band with a white star and a gray brim. Beneath each hat is an oval shape representing a face, each in a different shade, meant to suggest the ethnic and racial diversity of the United States. Art director Antonio Alcalá designed the stamp. The words “ADDITIONAL OUNCE” on this stamp indicate its usage value. Like a Forever stamp, this stamp will always be valid for the rate printed on it.
Four new postcard stamps celebrate the wonder of seashells. Each stamp depicts an iconic shell found in North American waters: the alphabet cone, the Pacific calico scallop, the zebra nerite, and the Queen conch, commonly known as the pink conch. The highly stylized stamp art expresses a lighthearted artistic view of shells. Horizontal swaths of white and blue in the background suggest waves washing the shells onto a beach. Art director Greg Breeding designed the stamps. Sergio Baradat created the stamp art.
The California dogface graces the seventh non-machineable butterfly stamp for use on irregularly sized envelopes, such as square greeting cards, invitations or announcements. The stamp is a highly stylized, simplified image of a California dogface (Zerene eurydice) Ñ named for the forewing markings of the male butterfly, which bear a pattern that resembles a poodle head in profile. Greeting card envelopes printed with a silhouette of a butterfly indicate the need for additional postage or the use of a butterfly stamp. Tom Engeman created the stamp andÊ art director Derry Noyes designed it.
The Postal Service celebrates a favorite backyard bird on this Barn Swallow stamped envelope. It features a large illustration of a barn swallow perching and a smaller illustration above it, showing the bird in flight. The barn swallow (Hirundo rustica) originally nested in caves. As man-made structures began to dot the North American landscape, barn swallows adapted by building their mud nests under the eaves of barns, houses and bridges. Barn swallows are acrobatic flyers, and a single bird can catch and consume thousands of insects in one day. Art director William J. Gicker designed the stamp with original art by Matthew Frey.
The National Postal Museum offers a series of public lectures and programs welcoming the National Museum of African American History and Culture to the Smithsonian family! In keeping with the new museum’s location in one of America’s most famous national parks—the National Mall—these programs will feature park rangers and other speakers spotlighting National Park Service sites associated with African American history. Many of these NPS sites are also featured in the National Postal Museum’s current exhibition Trailblazing: 100 Years of Our National Parks, on view until March 25, 2018.
Evening Program
