July 28th: Here is the design for this issue.

This stamp will be issued September 13th at Fort McHenry in Baltimore, in conjunction with the Anniversary Festival there. (See the Friends of Fort McHenry website, which says in part, “Events crescendo on September 13 with a star-studded patriotic concert and extraordinary fireworks display over Fort McHenry and the Baltimore harbor.” There is no mention on that page of the stamp, nor on other sites’ pages about the 10-day festival.

The first-day ceremony will be held at 11:00 a.m., the USPS tells us. (added June 12th: The National Park Service expects huge crowds, about 20,000 people, on September 13th. Plan accordingly; mass transit? The ceremony will be held inside the Fort itself.)

This is the second or third stamp this year honoring the bicentennial of “The Star-Spangled Banner,” depending on how you count. A “Star-Spangled Banner” definitive, also featuring Fort McHenry, was issued January 28th (http://virtualstampclub.com/lloydblog/?p=170) with an additional varieties on March 3rd. (This is also obviously the year for stamps named “Spangled,” because the Butterfly Greeting Card stamp subject was the Great Spangled Frtillary!)

From my article in October about the partial program preview: “We weren’t shown the design for the Wqr of 1812 stamp, but the subject will be the Battle of Fort McHenry. It includes soldiers manning a cannon, the “Star-Spangled Banner” in the background, colored by “the rockets’ red glare. A portrait of the fort’s commander by Rembrandt Peale is on the back.”

From USPSstamps.com, July 28th:

The War of 1812, sometimes called “the forgotten conflict,” was a two-and-a-half-year confrontation with Great Britain that brought the United States to the verge of bankruptcy and disunion. With this 2014 issuance, the U.S. Postal Service continues its commemoration of the bicentennial of a war that ultimately helped forge our national identity and gave us our national anthem, “The Star-Spangled Banner.”

The stamp’s subject for the third year of the war is the bombardment of Fort McHenry in Baltimore, Maryland, in September 1814. Using mixed media, stamp artist Greg Harlin, a specialist in historical paintings, depicts the battle from the vantage point of a group of soldiers manning a cannon in defense of Fort McHenry. The stamp art also gives prominence to “the rockets’ red glare” that Maryland native Francis Scott Key wrote about in “The Star-Spangled Banner.”

A portrait by Rembrandt Peale of the fort’s commander, George Armistead, appears on the reverse of the stamp sheet (courtesy of the Maryland Historical Society). The selvage engraving on the front of the sheet is a black and white version of a painting by Percy Moran depicting Key aboard the ship from which he witnessed the battle. The stamp sheet includes verso text and selvage text.

For some 25 hours beginning on the morning of September 13, a squadron of the Royal Navy fired more than 1,500 rounds of shells and rockets at Fort McHenry, which was designed to protect Baltimore from attacks by sea. Key witnessed this massive display of firepower from the deck of an American flag-of-truce vessel, where he had just completed negotiations with the British for the release of an American prisoner.

On the morning of September 14, Key realized the bombardment had been a failure when he saw the British squadron withdrawing downriver. He was moved to write “The Defence of Fort McHenry” to the tune of an old English song, and it quickly gained wider recognition under the title “The Star-Spangled Banner.”

Greg Breeding served as art director and designer for the stamp.

The War of 1812: Fort McHenry stamp is being issued as a Forever stamp in self-adhesive sheets of 20. This Forever stamp will always be equal in value to the current First-Class Mail one-ounce rate.

From the Postal Bulletin of August 21st:

On September 13, 2014, in Baltimore, MD at the Anniversary Festival at Fort McHenry, the U.S. Postal Service® will issue The War of 1812: Fort McHenry (Forever® priced at 49 cents) commemorative First-Class Mail® stamp, in one design, in a pressure-sensitive adhesive (PSA) pane of 20 stamps (Item 588200). The $9.80 The War of 1812: Fort McHenry pane may not be split, and the stamps may not be sold individually.

The stamp will go on sale nationwide September 13, 2014.

In 2014, the Postal Service continues its commemoration of the War of 1812, a conflict with Great Britain that many Americans viewed as the nation’s “Second War of Independence.” The stamp subject is the bombardment of Fort McHenry in Baltimore, MD, in September 1814. Illustrated with mixed media by noted historical painter Greg Harlin, the stamp art depicts the battle from the vantage point of a group of soldiers manning a cannon in defense of the fort. The stamp art also gives prominence to “the rockets’ red glare” that Francis Scott Key wrote about in “The Star-Spangled Banner.” A portrait by Rembrandt Peale of the fort’s commander, George Armistead, appears on the reverse of the stamp pane (courtesy of the Maryland Historical Society). The selvage engraving on the front of the pane is a black and white version of a painting by Percy Moran depicting Key aboard the ship from which he witnessed the battle. The stamp pane includes verso text and selvage text. Art director Greg Breeding designed the stamp and pane.

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 http://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:

War of 1812: Ft. McHenry
Postmaster
900 E. Fayette Street
Baltimore, MD 21233-9998

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 November 12, 2014.

There are 11 philatelic products for this stamp issue:

• 588206, Press Sheet w/Die cuts, $49.00 (print quantity 1,000).
• 588208, Press Sheet w/o Die cuts, $49.00 (print quantity 1,500).
• 588210, Keepsake w/Digital Color Postmark, $11.95.
• 588216, First-Day Cover, $0.93.
• 588218, Full Pane First-Day Cover, $12.30.
• 588219, Cancelled Full Pane, $12.30.
• 588221, Digital Color Postmark, $1.64.
• 588224, Framed Art, $39.95.
• 588230, Ceremony Program, $6.95.
• 588231, Stamp Deck Card, $0.95.
• 588232, Stamp Deck Card w/Digital Color Postmark, $1.99.

Technical Specifications:

Issue: The War of 1812: Fort McHenry Stamp
Item Number: 588200
Denomination & Type of Issue: First-Class Mail Forever Commemorative
Format: Souvenir Sheet of 20 (1 design)
Series: War of 1812
Issue Date & City: September 13, 2014, Baltimore, 
MD 21233
Designer: Greg Breeding, Charlottesville, VA
Art Director: Greg Breeding, Charlottesville, VA
Typographer: Greg Breeding, Charlottesville, VA
Artist: Greg Harlin, Annapolis, MD
Engraver: WRE/ColorTech
Modeler: CCL Label, Inc.
Manufacturing Process: Gravure
Printer: CCL Label, Inc.
Printed at: Clinton, SC 29325
Press Type: Dia Nippon Kiko (DNK)
Stamps per Pane: 20
Print Quantity: 30 million stamps
Paper Type: USPS-P-1238, Phosphor Tagged Paper, Block, Nonphosphored Type III
Adhesive Type: Pressure-sensitive adhesive
Processed at: CCL Label, Inc., Clinton, SC
Colors: Yellow, Magenta, Cyan, Tan 7535, Black
Stamp Orientation: Horizontal
Image Area (w x h): 1.42 x 1.09 in./36.07 x 27.56 mm
Overall Size (w x h): 1.56 x 1.23 in./39.62 x 31.12 mm
Full Pane Size (w x h): 10.25 x 7.25 in./260.35 x 184.15 mm
Press Sheet Size (w x h): 10.25 x 36.25 in./260.00 x 921.00
Plate Size: 100 stamps per revolution
Plate Numbers: N/A
Marginal Markings: Front: Side Header: The War of 1812: Fort McHenry • Descriptive text
Back: © 2014 USPS • USPS logo • Plate position diagram in lower right corner • Barcode (588200) in lower left corner • Promotional text Portrait of George Armistead • Descriptive text

The first-day postmarks:

The black-and-white postmark measures 2.87″ x 1.18″The Digital Color Postmark measures 2.81″ x 1.31″

As a collector of new-issue U.S. first day covers and a journalist who covers U.S. stamps, it’s important for me to know what stamps are being issued by the U.S. Postal Service. Sometimes, I know more about new issues than the clerks in the post offices.

Here are some of the more amusing things I’ve overheard in recent months — at several post offices, I hasten to add, not just one.

Upon seeing Songbirds used for postage on one of my “first-class flats,” a fill-in clerk said, “Oh, those are pretty. What country are they from?”

At another post office recently, I asked for a specific recent issue.

“I don’t have that, but I do have the Clown stamps.”

Trying to be amusing, I replied, “No, thanks, I don’t need the clowns, nor the acrobats or the tigers.”

“We don’t have the acrobat or tiger stamps.”

“Yes, you do. They’re on that same Circus [Posters] sheet with the clowns.”

“Oh.”

And this one had nothing to do with new issues, but the other day, I heard a clerk tell the same customer, within a few minutes, “I haven’t done one of these in years” and (sarcastically) “I guess you know my job better than I do.”

Sometimes, yes.

It “could be a reality,” USPS director of Stamp Services Susan McGowan told Rolling Stone for a March 14 article on the Jimi Hendrix stamp. And McGowan says Lennon’s nationality shouldn’t be an issue.

“We do try to focus on people who are American or things that are American, but we also focus on subjects and themes that truly changed American culture,” she says. “The Beatles and John Lennon had a huge impact on our country and culture.”

The April 17th Postal Bulletin says these four booklet stamps will be issued Thursday, August 21st in Hartford, Conn. That’s the first day of the American Philatelic Society’s StampShow 2014, also in Hartford. Most if not all of the American Treasures art stamps have been issued at StampShow.

Designs added May 24th. That also gives us the names of the artists: Thomas Moran, Asher B. Duran, Frederic Edwin Church, and Thomas Cole.

The Wikipedia article on this mid-1800s style of art is here.

From the July 24th Postal Bulletin:

On August 21, 2014, in Hartford, CT, the U.S. Postal Service will issue the Hudson River School stamps (Forever First-Class Mail priced at 49 cents), in four designs, in a pressure-sensitive adhesive (PSA) pane of 20 stamps (Item 689500).

The stamps will go on sale nationwide August 21, 2014.

This 12th issuance in the American Treasures series features details of paintings by four renowned artists of the Hudson River School.

Inspired by the stunning natural beauty of New York state, this loose-knit school of painters flourished from the mid-1830s to the mid-1870s and gave America its first major school of art. The paintings on these stamps are: Distant View of Niagara Falls by Thomas Cole (1801–1848); Summer Afternoon by Asher B. Durand (1796–1886); Sunset by Frederic Edwin Church (1826–1900); and Grand Canyon by Thomas Moran (1837–1926). The designer and art director for these stamps was Derry Noyes.

Each one of the Hudson River School stamps must be shown in its entirety with the perforations. None of the stamps may be cropped or modified in any way and must be used only as a whole image.

1. Frederic Edwin Church Stamp:
The following credit is required for philatelic products and marketing materials: Church, Frederic Edwin (1826–1900). Sunset,1856. Oil on canvas. Original 1870s-style frame. 37-3/4 x 49-3/4 in.(framed). Proctor Collection, PC.21, Munson-Williams-Proctor Arts Institute, Utica, NY, U.S.A. Photo Credit: Munson-Williams-Proctor Arts Institute/Art Resource, NY.

2. Thomas Cole Stamp:
The following credit is required on philatelic products (the caption and credit line may be given on a hangtag). For Internet use, the caption and credit line should appear in immediate proximity of the image or in a “Sources of Illustrations” section and MUST include a link to the AIC’s website.
http://www.artic.edu/aic: Thomas Cole, American, 1801-1848, Distant View of Niagara Falls, 1830, Oil on panel, 47.9 x 60.6 cm (18-7/8 x 23-7/8 in.), Friends of American Art Collection, 1946.396, The Art Institute of Chicago. Photography © The Art Institute of Chicago.

3. Asher B. Durand Stamp
The following credit is required for philatelic products and marketing materials: Durand, Asher Brown (1796–1886). Summer Afternoon, 1865, Oil on canvas, 22-1/2 x 35 in. (57.2 x 88.9 cm). Bequest of Maria DeWitt Jesup, from the collection of her husband, Morris K. Jesup, 1914 (15.30.60), The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY, U.S.A. Image copyright © The Metropolitan Museum of Art. Image source: Art Resource, NY.

4. Thomas Moran Stamp
No credits required.

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 http://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:

Hudson River School
Hartford Post Office
MOWU
141 Weston Street
Hartford, CT 06101-9998

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 October 20, 2014.

There are eight philatelic products for this stamp issue:

• 689506 Press Sheet w/Die cut, $39.20 (quantity printed 1,000).
• 689508 Press Sheet w/o Die cut, $39.20 (quantity printed 1,500).
• 689510 Digital Color Postmark Keepsake (set of 4), $16.95.
• 689516 First-Day Cover (Set of 4), $3.72.
• 689521 Digital Color Postmark (Set of 4), $6.56.
• 689524 Framed Art, $39.95.
• 689530 Ceremony Program, $6.95.
• 689531 Stamped Deck Card, $0.95.

Technical Specifications::

• Issue: Hudson River School stamps
• Item Number: 689500
• Denomination & Type of Issue: First-Class Mail Forever
• Format: Double-sided Booklet of 20 (4 designs)
• Series: American Treasures
• Issue Date & City: August 21, 2014 Hartford, CT
• Art Director: Derry Noyes, Washington, DC
• Designer: Derry Noyes, Washington, DC
• Typographer: Derry Noyes, Washington, DC
• Existing Art: Thomas Cole, Frederic E. Church, Thomas Moran, Asher B. Durand
• Modeler: CCL Label, Inc.
• Manufacturing Process: Gravure
• Engraver: WRE
• Printer: CCL Label, Inc.
• Printed at: Clinton, SC
• Press Type: Dia Nippon Kiko, (DNK)
• Stamps per Booklet: 20
• Print Quantity: 100 Million Stamps
• Paper Type: Phosphor Tagged Paper, Overall, Block
• Adhesive Type: Pressure-sensitive adhesive
• Processed at: AVR, Clinton, SC
• Stamp Orientation: Horizontal
• Image Area (w x h): 1.42 x 0.84 in./36.07 x 21.34 mm
• Stamp Size (w x h): 1.56 x 0.98 in./39.62 x 24.89 mm
• Full Booklet Size (w x h): 3.12 x 6.13 in./79.25 x 155.58 mm
• Press Sheet Size (w x h): 6.13 x 12.48 in./155.70 x 316.99 mm
• Colors: Yellow, Magenta, Cyan, Black
• Plate Size: 80 stamps per revolution
• Plate Numbers: “C” followed by 1111 (4) single digits
• Marginal Markings: • Plate numbers in peel strip area • © 2014 • USPS Logo •Title • Barcode (689500)

First Day Postmark:

2.66″ x 1.39″

Two designs in a booklet format, to be issued June 6 in York, Pa., according to the April 17th Postal Bulletin. This is NOT part of the “America On The Road” series that has featured classic autos in five-design booklets. The designs are shown on the right.

Digital Color Postmark and Pictorial first-day cancels added May 15th.
Technical Specifications and other Postal Bulletin information added May 16th.

The date coincides with the Street Rod Nationals East Plus at the York Expo Center: “East’s largest outdoor street rod show. More than 4,000 street rods, customs, muscle cars and specialty vehicles. Manufacturers exhibits, arts & crafts, model car contest, vintage parts swap meet, streets of rods, NSRA Super Prize program, parade, NSRA Safety Inspections, live entertainment, good food & more. Total family event. 19,000 attendees expected.” Street Rod Nationals East Plus is sponsored by the National Street Rod Association, and admission is $60-70! [However, the USPS announced on May 2nd that it has arranged for free admission to the first-day ceremony. See below.]

The date also coincides with the first day of NAPEX 2014, the World Series of Philately stamp show in the Washington, DC, area, about 90 minutes away.

Ceremony details, announced May 2nd:

The Hot Rods Forever stamps First-Day-of-Issue ceremony will take place during the National Street Rod Association (NSRA) Nationals East Plus Conference in York, PA, on Friday, June 6 at 11 a.m. ET. As the conference is a ticketed event requiring $15 admission, we’d like to extend an opportunity for stamp collectors to attend as special guests – free of charge.

A limited number of complimentary tickets will be provided on a first-come, first-served basis. One ticket per request please.

Please see event details below and RSVP no later than June 3 to NationalEvents@usps.gov or 1-866-268-3243.

Further information will be provided upon RSVP.

WHEN: Friday, June 6, 11:00 AM ET

WHAT: “First-day-of-issue Ceremony for the limited-edition Hot Rods Forever® stamps

WHERE: “National Street Rod Association Nationals East Plus Conference
(Outdoor commercial exhibit – USPS Booth)
York Expo Center & Fairgrounds
334 Carlisle Ave.
York, PA 17404

From the May 15th Postal Bulletin:

On June 6, 2014, in York, Pennsylvania, the U.S. Postal Service® will issue the Hot Rods 49-cent Forever® stamps, in two designs, in a pressure sensitive adhesive (PSA) booklet of 20 stamps (Item 689200).

The stamps will go on sale nationwide June 6, 2014.

With these two stamps, the U.S. Postal Service celebrates hot rods, the fast, powerful vehicles that thrill-seeking enthusiasts have been modifying for nearly a century. The cars depicted are 1932 Ford “Deuce” roadsters. One stamp features a black ’32 Ford with orange flames running down the car’s body. The other stamp showcases a red ’32 Ford. Art director Derry Noyes designed the stamps, which feature art by John Mattos.

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 http://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:

Hot Rods Stamps
Postmaster
3435 Concord Rd
York, PA 17402-9998

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 August 5, 2014.

There are eight philatelic products for this stamp issue:

• 689206 Press Sheet w/Die cut, $68.60 (print quantity 1,000).
• 689208 Press Sheet w/o Die cut, $68.60 (print quantity 1,500).
• 689210 Keepsake w/Digital Color Postmark (Set of 2), $13.95.
• 689216 First-Day Cover (Set of 2), $1.86.
• 689221 Digital Color Postmark (Set of 2), $3.28.
• 689224 Framed Art, $19.95.
• 689230 Ceremony Program, $6.95.
• 689231 Stamp Deck Card, $0.95.

Technical Specifications:

Issue: Hot Rods
Item Number: 689200
Denomination & Type of Issue: First-Class Mail Forever
Format: Double-sided Booklet of 20 (2 designs)
Series: N/A
Issue Date & City: June 6, 2014, York, PA 17402
Art Director: Derry Noyes, Washington, DC
Designer: Derry Noyes, Washington, DC
Typographer: Derry Noyes, Washington, DC
Artist: John Mattos, San Francisco, CA
Modeler: CCL Label, Inc.
Manufacturing Process: Gravure
Engraver: WRE
Printer: CCL Label, Inc.
Printed at: Clinton, SC
Press Type: Dia Nippon Kiko (DNK)
Stamps per Booklet: 20
Print Quantity: 100 Million Stamps
Paper Type: Nonphosphored Type III, Overall tagged
Adhesive Type: Pressure sensitive adhesive
Processed at: AVR, Clinton, SC
Stamp Orientation: Horizontal
Image Area (w x h): 0.84 x 0.73 in./21.34 x 18.54 mm
Stamp Size (w x h): 0.98 x 0.87 in./24.89 x 22.09 mm
Full Booklet Size (w x h): 1.96 x 5.5 in./49.78 x 139.7 mm
Press Sheet Size (w x h): 5.5 x 13.72 in./139.7 x 348.49 mm
Colors: Yellow, 1795 Red, Cyan, Black,
Plate Size: 140 stamps per revolution
Plate Numbers: “C” followed by 1111 (4) single digits
Marginal Markings: • Plate numbers • © 2014 USPS • USPS logo • Barcode (689200)

June 7th: The USPS press release after the first day ceremony was essentially the same, but starts off a little differently:

YORK, PA — Today, the U.S. Postal Service celebrates the fast, powerful vehicles thrill-seeking enthusiasts have been modifying for nearly a century by dedicating the limited-edition Hot Rods Forever Stamps. The stamps depict two 1932 Ford “Deuce” roadsters — a black ’32 Ford with orange flames running down the car’s body — and a red ’32 Ford.

The first-day-of-issue dedication ceremony took place at the National Street Rod Association (NSRA) Street Rod Nationals East Plus at the York Expo Center in York, PA. Available in booklets of 20 stamps, customers may purchase the stamps at usps.com/stamps, at 800-STAMP24 (800-782-6724), at Post Offices nationwide and on eBay at ebay.com/stamps.

“These Hot Rods stamps mark the beginning of America’s fascination with customizing fast cars,” said Postmaster General Patrick Donahoe in dedicating the stamps. “And they’re just as popular today as they were decades ago. Just like the cars they celebrate, these stamps are timeless in that they’re good for mailing First-Class letters anytime in the future.”

Joining Donahoe in dedicating the stamps were “Car Crazy TV” host Barry Meguiar and NSRA Special Events Director Jerry Kennedy.

“With an estimated 12 million hot rodders in America today, I applaud the Postal Service for recognizing that Hot Rods will forever be a symbol of our American culture,” said Meguiar.

Designed by Derry Noyes of Washington, DC, the two stamps were digitally created by artist John Mattos of San Francisco.

The hot rod culture is vibrant today, with monthlies like Hot Rod magazine and organizations like the National Street Rod Association (NSRA) helping keep the flame alive.

Although the actual statehood sesquicentennial anniversary is October 31st, the April 17th Postal Bulletin says it will be issued May 29th in Las Vegas. (Confirmed by the May 1 Bulletin; details below.) The design is shown here.

Digital Color Postmark first-day cancel added May 15th.

The stamp ceremony is the only event listed on the Nevada 150 website for May 29th.

From the May 1st Postal Bulletin:

On May 29, 2014, in Las Vegas, Nevada, the U.S. Postal Service will issue the Nevada Statehood 49-cent Forever Commemorative stamp, in one design, in a pressure-sensitive adhesive (PSA) pane of 20 stamps (Item 472200).

The stamp will go on sale nationwide May 29, 2014.

This stamp celebrates the 150th anniversary of Nevada statehood. Nevada became the 36th state on October 31, 1864. The stamp art depicts a close-up view of an area in Fire Canyon, part of Valley of Fire, Nevada’s oldest state park. The painting is an oil-on-Masonite panel. Captured by Nevada artist Ron Spears at dawn, the sandstone formations glow in shades of brilliant reds and yellows — a result of various quantities of iron in the rock, highlighted by deep purple and blue shadows. Art director Antonio Alcalá designed the stamp.

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 http://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:

Nevada Statehood
USPS Customer Relations Coordinator
1001 East Sunset Road, Rm 1030
Las Vegas, NV 89199-9998

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 July 28, 2014.

There are nine philatelic products for this stamp issue:

• 472206, Press Sheet w/Die cut, $117.60 (print quantity 2,500).
• 472208, Press Sheet w/o Die cut, $117.60 (print quantity 2,500).
• 472210, Keepsake w/Digital Color Postmark, $11.95.
• 472216, First-Day Cover, $0.93.
• 472221, Digital Color Postmark, $1.64.
• 472224, Framed Art, $39.95.
• 472230, Ceremony Program, $6.95.
• 472231, Stamp Deck Card, $0.95.
• 472232, Stamp Deck Card w/Digital Color Postmark, $1.99.

Technical Specifications:
Issue: Nevada Statehood Stamp
Item Number: 472200
Denomination & Type of Issue: First-Class Mail Forever Commemorative
Format: Pane of 20 (1 design)
Series: Statehood
Issue Date & City: May 29, 2014, Las Vegas, NV 89199
Designer: Antonio Alcalá, Alexandria. VA
Art Director: Antonio Alcalá, Alexandria. VA
Typographer: Antonio Alcalá, Alexandria. VA
Artist: Ron Spears, Reno NV
Engraver: N/A
Modeler: Donald Woo
Manufacturing Process: Offset/Microprint
Printer: Banknote Corporation of America/SSP
Printed at: Browns Summit, NC
Press Type: Alaprinta 74
Stamps per Pane: 20
Print Quantity: 35 million stamps
Paper Type: Overall Phosphor Tagged Paper
Adhesive Type: Pressure sensitive adhesive
Processed at: Banknote Corporation of America, Browns Summit SC
Colors: Cyan, Magenta, yellow, Black, PMS 651, Cool Gray 1
Stamp Orientation: Horizontal
Image Area (w x h): 1.42 x 0.82 in./36.07 x 20.83 mm
Overall Size (w x h): 1.56 x 0.98 in./183.90 x 150.37 mm
Full Pane Size (w x h): 7.24 x 5.92 in./181.36 x 146.81 mm
Press Sheets Size (w x h): 23.68 x 21.72 in./601.47 x 551.69 mm
Plate Size: 240 stamps per revolution
Plate Numbers: “S” followed by 111111 (6) single digits
Marginal Markings:
Front: Plate numbers in four corners of pane
Back: © 2014 USPS • USPS logo • Plate position diagram • Barcode (472200) in upper right and lower left corners of pane

Announced in the April 17th Postal Bulletin:

On May 2, 2014, in Acton, MA, the U.S. Postal Service will reissue the Where Dreams Blossom First-Class Forever stamp, in one design, in a pressure-sensitive adhesive (PSA) pane of 20 stamps (Item 579900).

The stamp will go on sale nationwide May 2, 2014.

With a splash of color and a beautiful bouquet, the Where Dreams Blossom stamp, first issued in 2013, adds a fun and contemporary flair to all kinds of correspondence. Where Dreams Blossom is perfect for any occasion or use, including save-the-date notices, response cards, and thank-you notes. It can also be used for cards and letters sent to celebrate other joyous moments and to deliver comfort and encouragement. The stamp art highlights a stylized bouquet of flowers similar to the design of the two-ounce Yes, I Do wedding stamp first issued in 2013. The stamp artwork was designed by Michael Osborne under the direction of Ethel Kessler.

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 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:

Where Dreams Blossom
Postmaster
Acton Post Office
7 Post Office Square
Acton, MA 01720-9998

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 July 1, 2014.

There are four philatelic products for this stamp issue:

• 519910, Keepsake (pane of 20 and Digital Color Postmark), $11.95.
• 519916, First-Day Cover, $0.93.
• 519921, Digital Color Postmark, $1.64.
• 519932, Stamp Deck Card w/Digital Color Postmark, $1.99.

Technical Specifications:
Issue: Where Dreams Blossom Stamp
Item Number: 579900
Denomination & Type of Issue: First-Class Mail Forever
Format: Pane of 20 (1 design)
Series: N/A
Issue Date & City: May 2, 2014, Acton, MA 01720
Art Director: Ethel Kessler, Bethesda, MD
Designer: Michael Osborne, San Francisco, CA
Typographer: Michael Osborne, San Francisco, CA
Artist: Michael Osborne, San Francisco, CA
Modeler: Donald Woo
Manufacturing Process: Offset/Microprint “USPS”
Engraver: N/A
Printer: Banknote Corporation of America, Inc./SSP
Printed at: Browns Summit, NC
Press Type: Alprinta, 74
Stamps per Pane: 20
Print Quantity: 50 million stamps
Paper Type: Phosphor Tagged, Overall
Adhesive Type: Pressure-sensitive adhesive
Processed at: Banknote Corporation of America, Browns Summit, NC
Stamp Orientation: Horizontal
Image Area (w x h): 0.75 x 1.03 in./19.05 x 26.16 mm
Stamp Size (w x h): 0.91 x 1.19 in./23.11 x 30.23 mm
Pane Size (w x h): 5.43 x 5.64 in./137.79 x 143.00 mm
Colors: Gold, Lt. Green, Orange, Pink, Blue, Red, Dk. Green, Purple, Warm Gray
Plate Size: 160 stamps per revolution
Plate Numbers: “S” followed by nine (9) single digits
Marginal Markings:
Front: Plate numbers in four corners of pane
Back: © 2012 USPS • USPS Logo • Plate position diagram • Barcode (579900) in upper right and lower left hand corners of pane • Promotional text

Rumored for awhile, Linn’s Stamp News now reports these 8 stamps will be issued May 5 at a Ringling Brothers-Barnum & Bailey Circus facility in Sarasota, Fla. VSC does not have independent confirmation, but Jay Bigalke of Linn’s is usually right. Neither Linn’s nor we have an illustration at this time. (April 10).

This issue was confirmed in the April 17th Postal Bulletin, and some details (but just one stamp’s design) provided: We picked up a second later that day, but www.linns.com has all 8.

On May 5, 2014, in Sarasota, FL, the U.S. Postal Service will issue Vintage Circus Posters Commemorative stamps, in eight designs, in a pressure-sensitive adhesive (PSA) pane of 16 stamps (Item 472100).

The stamps will go on sale nationwide May 5, 2014.

With this issuance the U.S. Postal Service celebrates the large, colorful pieces of early 20th-century circus poster art that showcased eye-catching imagery of stunts, performers, and animals. This pane of 16 self-adhesive stamps features reproductions of eight vintage circus posters; each stamp features one poster. The pane’s verso text includes a brief discussion of the history and purpose of circus posters. The selvage features an image of a circus entrance shot by photographer Edward J. Kelty in 1937. Art director Greg Breeding worked on the stamp pane with designer Jennifer Arnold.

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 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:

Vintage Circus Posters
Postmaster
1661 Ringling Boulevard
Sarasota, FL 34230-9998

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 July 4, 2014.

(The USPS is also allowing post offices to use this special cancellation, if they so choose:)

There are eleven philatelic products available for this stamp issue:

• 472106, Press sheet w/Die Cuts, $47.04 (print quantity of 2,500).
• 472108, Press Sheet w/o Die Cuts, $47.04 (print quantity of 2,500).
• 472110, Keepsake (Pane of 16, 1 random single Digital Color Postmark), $9.95.
• 472116, First-Day Cover (set of 8), $7.44.
• 472118, Full Pane First-Day Cover, $10.34.
• 472119, Cancelled Full Pane, $10.34.
• 472121, Digital Color Postmark (set of 8), $13.12.
• 472124, Framed Art, $39.95.
• 472130, Ceremony Program random single, $6.95.
• 472131, Stamp Deck Card random single, $0.95.
• 472132, Stamp Deck Card with Digital Color Postmark, $1.99.

Technical Specifications:
Issue: Vintage Circus Posters Stamps
Item Number: 472100
Denomination & Type of Issue: First-Class Mail Forever Commemerative
Format: Pane of 16 (8 designs)
Series: N/A
Issue Date & City: May 5, 2014, Sarasota, FL 34230
Designer: Jennifer Arnold, Washington, DC
Art Director: Greg Breeding, Charlottesville, VA
Typographer: Jennifer Arnold, Washington, DC
Engraver: N/A
Modeler: Donald Woo
Manufacturing Process: Offset Microprint “USPS”
Printer: Banknote Corporation of America
Printed at: Browns Summit, NC
Press Type: Alprinta 74
Stamps per Pane: 16
Print Quantity: 60 million stamps
Paper Type: Overall Phosphor Tagged
Adhesive Type: Pressure-sensitive adhesive
Processed at: Banknote Corporation of America, Browns Summit SC
Colors: Cyan, Magenta, Yellow, Black
Stamp Orientation: Horizontal and Vertical
Image Area (w x h): 1.85 x 1.32 in./46.95 x 33.56 mm
Image Area (w x h): 0.98 x 1.32 in./24.91 x 33.56 mm
Overall Size (w x h): 2.00 x 1.46 in./50.76 x 37.11 mm
Overall Size (w x h): 1.12 x 1.46 in./28.47 x 37.11 mm
Full Pane Size (w x h): 7.75 x 9.25 in./196.85 x234.95 mm
Press Sheets Size (w x h): 23.5 x 18.63 in
Plate Size: 96 stamps per revolution
Marginal Markings:
Back: © 2014 USPS • USPS logo • Plate position diagram • Barcode (472100) lower left corner of pane • Promotional text • Verso Text

USPS Media Advisory, April 17th:

U.S. Postal Service is Bringing Wonder and Amusement to Town with New Limited-Edition Vintage Circus Posters Forever® Stamps

Stamps Featuring Clowns, Wire Dancers and Other Amazing Circus Acts to be Unveiled led by Ringling Bros. Ringmaster and Clowns

WHAT: Ladies and Gentlemen, Children of all Ages… Step right up and share the magic of the circus as the United States Postal Service releases the new, limited-edition Vintage Circus Posters Forever® stamps. Since the early 20th century, the circus has brought together Americans of all ages and walks of life to watch the amazing acts and let imaginations soar.

Back in the day, companies like the Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey would use posters with eye-catching imagery of stunts, performers, and animals as a vehicle to attract people to come watch the circus. And, now, the United States Postal Service is paying tribute to the history of these vintage works of art. These eight stamps were inspired by original circus posters which are now part of the Tibbals Digital Collection at The Ringling Museum.

The interactive first-day-of-issue ceremony will feature a Ringling Bros. ringmaster, clowns, as well as a concert by the Ringling Bros. bell wagon, which will be the first time it has been seen, or heard, in Sarasota in 30 years. The event is free and open to the public.

WHO: Ellen Williams, Member, Board of Governors, U.S. Postal Service
Nicole Feld, Executive Vice President, Feld Entertainment
Steven High, Executive Director, The Ringling Museum
Ringling Bros. Ringmaster and Clowns

WHEN: 11 a.m. EST, Monday, May 5, 2014

WHERE: The Ringling Museum – Ca’ d’Zan 5401 Bay Shore Road, Sarasota, FL 34243

*Parking available at the parking lot near the Ca’ d’Zan

BACKGROUND:
The U.S. Postal Service honors the “Best of America” by introducing limited-edition stamps that celebrate various American passions, including the circus. The Vintage Circus Posters Forever® stamps pay tribute to the wonder and amusement of the circus which Americans have been celebrating since the early 20th century.

The new limited-edition stamps, designed by Jennifer Arnold, celebrate the eye-catching pieces of art used in the early 20th century to announce when the circus was coming to town, giving audiences a taste of what awaited under the big top. The design for each of the eight (8) stamps is modeled off of unique posters which were used in the early 20th century as informational advertisements to garner excitement and attendance for the circus. These stamps showcase majestic elephants, fierce tigers and colorful clowns, in addition to the iconic acts such as acrobatic gymnasts, graceful wire dancers and daring stuntmen. These posters are now part of the Tibbals Digital Collection at the Ringling Museum.

Here’s the complete front of the pane:

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. It will be issued in coils of 10,000, although collectors can buy quantities as small as 25.

From the description on shop.usps.com:

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.

Today, the American flag remains a powerful symbol. “In those broad stripes and bright stars, we see the arc of the American story,” President Barack Obama said in his 2013 Flag Day proclamation, “from a handful of colonies to 50 States, united and free.”

Designed for business use, the Red, White and Blue Forever® 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® one-ounce rate.

Art director Ethel Kessler designed the stamps.

The text for the Digital Color Postmark FDCs says:

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 Forever® stamp and an official First Day of Issue color postmark.

Inspired by 20th-century American ephemera, the four Red, White and Blue Forever® 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.

And for the “regular” FDCs:

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 Forever® stamp and an official First Day of Issue postmark.

Inspired by 20th-century American ephemera, the 2014 Red, White and Blue Forever® 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’s official First Day of Issue date and location.

Added from the April 17th Postal Bulletin:

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).

The stamps will go on sale nationwide April 25, 2014.

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.

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 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:

Red, White, and Blue
Retail Manager
220 Park Road
Burlingame, CA 94010

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.

There are two philatelic products for this stamp issue:

• 776516, First-Day Cover set of 4, $3.72.
• 776521, Digital Color Postmark set of 4, $6.56.

Technical Specifications:
Issue: Red, White, and Blue Stamps
Item Number: 776500
Denomination & Type of Issue: First-Class Mail Forever
Format: Coil of 10,000 (4 designs)
Series: N/A
Issue Date & City: April 25, 2014, San Francisco, CA 94188
Art Director: Ethel Kessler, Bethesda, MD
Designer: Ethel Kessler, Bethesda, MD
Typographer: Greg Berger, Manassas, VA
Engraver: WRE
Modeler: CCL Label, Inc.
Manufacturing Process: Gravure
Printer: CCL Label, Inc.
Printed at: Clinton, SC
Press Type: Dia Nippon Kiko (DNK)
Stamps per Coil: 10,000
Print Quantity: 150 Million
Paper Type: Nonphosphored, Type III; Phosphor Tagged Overall
Adhesive Type: Pressure-sensitive adhesive
Processed at: AVR, Clinton, SC
Colors: Red, Blue
Stamp Orientation: Vertical
Image Area (w x h): 0.73 x 0.84 in./18.54 x 21.34 mm
Stamp Size (w x h): 0.87 x 0.98 in./22.09 x 24.89 mm
Plate Size: 320 stamps per revolution
Plate Numbers: “C” followed by 11 (2) single digits
Coil Number Frequency: Plate numbers every 32nd stamp below stamp image • Coil Back Number Frequency every 10th stamp

On March 17, 2014, in Liberty, Missouri, the U.S. Postal Service will issue A Flag for All Seasons First-Class Mail stamps (Forever priced at 49 cents), in four designs, in a pressure-sensitive adhesive (PSA) booklet of 20 stamps (Item 688400).

A Flag for All Seasons, first introduced in 2013, features four different stamp designs. Each stamp shows an American flag, viewed from below, flying from a pole at full staff against a background of trees that evoke one of the four seasons of the year. Artist Laura Stutzman worked with art director and stamp designer Phil Jordan on this stamp art.

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 pu rchase 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:

A Flag for All Seasons Stamp
Cancellations Unit
PO Box 449992
Kansas City, MO 64144-9992

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 post marked by May 16, 2014.

There is one philatelic product for this stamp issue: 688418, First-Day Cover set of 4, $3.72

Technical Specifications:

Issue: A Flag for All Seasons Stamp
Item Number: 688400
Denomination & Type of Issue: First-Class Mail Forever
Format: Double-sided Booklet of 20 (4 designs)
Series: N/A
Issue Date & City: March 17, 2014, Liberty, MO 64068
Art Director: Phil Jordan
Designer: Phil Jordan
Typographer: Phil Jordan
Artist: Laura Stutzman
Modeler: Donald Woo
Manufacturing Process: Offset/Microprint “USPS”
Engraver: N/A
Printer: Banknote Corporation of America
Printed at: Browns Summit, NC
Press Type: Alprinta, 74
Stamps per Booklet: 20
Print Quantity: 2.2 billion stamps
Paper Type: Phosphor Type II
Adhesive Type: Pressure-sensitive
Processed at: Banknote Corporation of America, Browns Summit, NC
Stamp Orientation: Vertical
Image Area (w x h): 0.71 x 0.82 in./18.03 x 20.82 mm
Stamp Size (w x h): 0.87 x 0.98 in./22.10 x 24.89 mm
Full Booklet Size (w x h): 5.52 x 1.96 in./140.21 x 49.78 mm
Colors: Cyan, Magenta, Yellow, Black
Plate Size: 576 stamps per revolution
Plate Numbers: “S” followed by four (4) single digits
Marginal Markings: © 2013 • USPS in peel strip area • Plate numbers in peel strip area