Category Archives: 2021 New Issues

King Arthur (UK 2021)

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[press release]  [click on illustrations for larger versions]
Royal Mail Issues Special Stamps That Tell The Story Of The Legend Of King Arthur

  • 10 stamps depict key moments in the legend of King Arthur and his knights, stories which have been re-imagined countless times
  • Stories of King Arthur have captivated people for a millennium and a half, with its sword in the stone, knights of the round table, quest for the Holy Grail and the wizard Merlin
  • At least 50 films, and hundreds of novels, have been produced about the story
  • Each of the images is an original illustration by concept artist, Jaime Jones
  • They are available from 16 March at www.royalmail.com/kingarthur, by phone on 03457 641641 and 7,000 Post Offices across the UK

Royal Mail has revealed images of 10 stamps, issued 16 March, that tell the story of the Legend of King Arthur.

The images, all original illustrations by concept artist, Jaime Jones, depict key moments in the life of King Arthur – brought to life with Jones’ unique style, creativity and attention to detail.

The Legend of King Arthur is one of the most enduring stories of all time. Though his tale is rooted in the fifth and sixth centuries, it has captivated people for a millennium and a half, with its sword in the stone, knights of the round table and the wizard Merlin. At least 50 films and hundreds of novels have been produced about the story, which over centuries has come to symbolise part of British identity.

Even for those who have never read an account of King Arthur and the Knights of the Round Table, the legend is rich in meaning, often representing high ideals and a golden age. There are magical elements: the wizard Merlin, the mysterious Lady or Ladies of the Lake and the sword Excalibur.

While many aspects of the legend are familiar – the doomed love between Guinevere and Lancelot, Arthur’s betrayal by Mordred, and the demise of the Round Table – what is less well known is that Arthur was neither a king nor English in the original legends. Nor were the characters, symbols or objects associated with the stories there from the start.

It is a reinvented Arthur, however, who has inspired many retellings. Arthur is everywhere in modern culture, providing a common point of reference for many of our experiences. The legends might claim that Arthur will come back again; it seems, however, that Arthur never left.

Philip Parker, Royal Mail, said: “These atmospheric illustrations bring to life the timeless stories of the King and the Knights of the Round Table. With its themes of magic, chivalry and quests, the enduring legend of King Arthur has entranced for centuries and will continue to do so.”

The stamps will be on sale from 16 March 2021. The full set of 10 stamps, available in a Presentation Pack, retails at £13.65 and will be available at www.royalmail.com/kingarthur, by phone on 03457 641 641 and in 7,000 Post Offices across the UK.

Stamp by Stamp:

Merlin holds baby Arthur, the future king, whose origins remain shrouded in mystery, and in Merlin’s power, until Arthur is revealed to be Uther Pendragon’s rightful son and heir.

Arthur’s birthright to the crown of England, according to later romance traditions, is confirmed when he pulls out the sword in view of the Archbishop of Canterbury and the whole court.

Arthur’s famed sword, Excalibur, is the gift of the Lady of the Lake, and a symbol of his tutelage by Merlin and his mission in the world. Destined for greatness, Arthur excels in all human virtues.

Despite Merlin’s warnings, Arthur chooses Guinevere as his wife. Her dowry, Thomas Malory tells us, is the Round Table, which Arthur will use to builda fellowship of knights united around the values of loyalty and equality.

Arthur’s nephew and chief counsellor, Sir Gawain, here swings his axe to chop off the head of the Green Knight, whose deadly Christmas game of blows startles Arthur’s court and challenges its values.

Around the Round Table, knights from Europe and all nations in the British Isles share the same values of loyalty and unite as equals to protect the weak and defend the realm.

Emblematic since Arthur Rackham’s illustrations dating from the early 20th century, Lancelot’s slaying of the dragon shows God’s grace granted to Lancelot in the fight with the Devil/darkness, despite Lancelot’s own sins.

Sir Galahad, the pure knight, is the epitome of perfection among Round Table knights, and the opposite of his father, Lancelot. His unique success

in the Grail Quest reveals the moral failures of Arthurian chivalry.
Arthur and Mordred meet one last time in battle, fulfilling their destiny: Arthur’s, to be mortally wounded by his own son, and Mordred’s, to commit the sin of patricide and treason.

The wounded Arthur departs for Avalon on a barge driven by three queens. This represents hope for the king’s return, and the agency of women in healing and in preserving his memory and stories.

Crabapple Blossoms (Canada 2021)

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Issue date: March 1, 2021

From Details magazine:

The sweet fragrance of a crabapple tree in bloom is one of the most pleasant reminders that spring is, quite literally, in the air. The blossoms depicted on this year’s flower stamp issue pay tribute to two Canadian-bred varieties.

The pretty bright-pink flower of Malus ‘Rosseau’ was introduced in 1928 by the Central Experimental Farm’s pioneering ornamental plant breeder, Isabella Preston. The delicate white bloom of Malus ‘Maybride’ is a dwarf cultivar bred by Preston’s successors, Daniel Foster Cameron and Dexter Reid Sampson.

While the scented blossoms are much welcomed in the spring, the trees, common to many Canadian yards and gardens, are often grown for the jams and jellies that can be made from the small, somewhat sour fruit. Serious foodies also note that crabapple wood is excellent for smoking meats and cheeses.

Designed by Sputnik Design Partners Inc., with illustration by Marie-Élaine Cusson and photography by Mark Olson, the booklet, souvenir sheet and Official First Day Cover were printed by Canadian Bank Note and the coils by the Lowe-Martin Group.

Updated March 1st: Day of Issue press release

[press release]
Stamps showcase crabapple blossoms with Canadian origins
Renowned Canadian plant breeder and her successors behind these two cultivarsClick on picture above for a larger version

OTTAWA – Today, Canada Post released the latest in its popular flower series, a two-stamp issue showcasing the blossoms of crabapple tree cultivars with a Canadian distinction, the Malus ‘Rosseau’ and Malus ‘Maybride’.

The pretty pink flower of the Malus ‘Rosseau’, bred by renowned ornamental plant breeder Isabella Preston, was first introduced at the Central Experimental Farm in Ottawa in 1928. The delicate white bloom of Malus ‘Maybride’, a dwarf cultivar bred by Preston’s successors Daniel Foster Cameron and Dexter Reid Sampson, was first made available to the public in 1973.

Canada is home to several wild species and hundreds of cultivars of crabapple trees, which like apple trees belong to the rose family. Gardeners plant crabapple trees for their fruit, their hardiness and their spectacular, fragrant blossoms. While sour to the taste, the tree’s fruit makes excellent jams and its wood is often used for smoking meat and cheese. Crabapples are also an important food source for mammals, birds and insects.

Introduced in 2005, the annual flower stamp issue has long been a bestseller and is often used on wedding stationery, including invitations. This year’s stamps were designed by Sputnik Design Partners Inc. of Toronto and feature photographs by Mark Olson, with background line illustrations by Marie-Élaine Cusson.

The stamps are sold in a booklet of 10 – five each of the two designs – and in a convenient coil of 50, offering 25 of each design. A two-stamp souvenir sheet is available for collectors, along with strips of four and 10 stamps from the coil. The Official First Day Cover of the combo is cancelled in Apple Hill, Ontario. The booklet, souvenir sheet and Official First Day Cover were printed by Canadian Bank Note and the coil by Lowe-Martin.

Stamps and collectibles are available at canadapost.ca [direct link] and postal outlets across Canada.

Canada Post has produced a 15-second video for this issue:

[en Francais]
Deux timbres illustrent des fleurs de pommetier du Canada
Une pionnière en hybridation des plantes et ses successeurs sont à l’origine des deux cultivars illustrés

OTTAWA – Aujourd’hui, Postes Canada a lancé sa plus récente émission de la série consacrée aux fleurs, un jeu de deux timbres illustrant des fleurs de cultivars de pommetiers propres au Canada, le Malus ‘Rosseau’ et le Malus ‘Maybride’.

La jolie fleur rose du Malus ‘Rosseau’ a d’abord été introduite à la Ferme expérimentale centrale d’Ottawa en 1928 par Isabelle Preston, spécialiste de l’hybridation des plantes ornementales. La délicate fleur blanche du Malus ‘Maybride’, un cultivar nain produit par les successeurs d’Isabella Preston, Daniel Foster Cameron et Dexter Reid Sampson, a été offerte au public pour la première fois en 1973.

Au Canada, il existe plusieurs espèces sauvages et des centaines de cultivars de pommetiers qui, tout comme les pommiers, appartiennent à la famille des rosiers. Les jardiniers les plantent pour leurs fruits, leur rusticité et leurs superbes fleurs parfumées. Bien que suret au goût, le fruit du pommetier produit d’excellentes confitures et autres conserves. Le bois est souvent utilisé pour fumer la viande et les fromages. Le fruit du pommetier est aussi une source importante de nourriture pour plusieurs mammifères, oiseaux et insectes.

Introduite en 2005, l’émission de timbres annuelle consacrée aux fleurs connaît toujours un grand succès et les vignettes sont souvent utilisées sur les faire-part, notamment pour les mariages. Les timbres de cette année ont été conçus par Sputnik Design Partners Inc. de Toronto avec les photographies de Mark Olson et les illustrations au trait en arrière-plan de Marie-Élaine Cusson.

Les timbres se vendent en carnet de dix, cinq de chacun des deux motifs, et en rouleau pratique de 50, soit 25 de chaque motif. Les collectionneurs peuvent se procurer un bloc-feuillet de deux timbres ainsi que des bandes de quatre et de dix timbres de rouleau. Le pli Premier Jour officiel combine les deux timbres et porte la mention « Apple Hill, Ontario ». Le carnet, le bloc-feuillet et le pli Premier Jour officiel ont été imprimés par Canadian Bank Note et les rouleaux par Lowe-Martin.

Les timbres et autres articles de collection sont en vente à postescanada.ca et dans les comptoirs postaux partout au pays.

Snow Mammals (Canada 2021)

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[press release]
Snow mammals that turn white in winter featured on new stamps
Issue date: 16 FebruarySNOW LAKE, MANITOBA – The beauty and diversity of Canada’s wildlife take centre stage in a new set of stamps issued today by Canada Post. Snow Mammals features five animals found in Canada that are uniquely adapted to surviving in our snowy climate because their otherwise dark coats turn white in winter.

These stamps feature the ermine, snowshoe hare, Arctic fox, northern collared lemming and Peary Caribou – two predators and three prey – whose camouflage makes them difficult to spot in their natural habitats, especially at this time of year. The Arctic fox and ermine are stealthy hunters that often rely on the element of surprise to sneak up on their next meal. The snowshoe hare and northern collared lemming (dietary staples of many carnivores) and Peary caribou try to blend into the background to escape detection.

These five are among only 19 species of mammals worldwide – and 12 in Canada – that undergo a change in coat colour as the result of a complex physiological process influenced by changes in daylight hours. Moulting is a gradual, twice-yearly process that starts around the time of the first snowfall and reverses in the warmer months, beginning around the time of the spring melt.

About the Stamps
Designed by Adrian Horvath, these stamps showcase an animal in its winter coat and habitat. Each photograph is the work of a Canadian photographer. Robert Postma captured the Ermine; Michelle Valberg the snowshoe hare; Dennis Fast the Arctic fox; Mathilde Poirier the northern collared lemming; and Paul Loewen the Peary caribou.

In the lower left-hand corner of each stamp, visible only under ultraviolet (black) light, is a set of the animal’s tracks as they would appear in fresh snow [right].

Printed by Canadian Bank Note, these Permanent™ domestic rate stamps are available in a booklet of 10, affixed to an Official First Day Cover, and as a souvenir sheet.

[en Francais]
Des mammifères des neiges illustrés sur de nouveaux timbres

SNOW LAKE, MANITOBA – La beauté et la diversité des espèces sauvages du Canada en mettent plein la vue dans un nouveau jeu de timbres émis aujourd’hui par Postes Canada. Les timbres consacrés aux mammifères des neiges mettent en vedette cinq animaux du Canada qui ont la capacité unique de s’adapter à nos hivers en changeant la couleur de leur pelage au gré des saisons.

Ces timbres illustrent l’hermine, le lièvre d’Amérique, le renard arctique, le lemming variable et le caribou de Peary, deux prédateurs et trois proies qui, grâce à leur camouflage, sont difficiles à repérer dans leur habitat naturel, surtout en cette période de l’année. Le renard arctique et l’hermine sont des chasseurs discrets qui ont souvent recours à la surprise pour attaquer leur victime. Le lièvre d’Amérique et le lemming variable, aliments de base de nombreux carnivores, ainsi que le caribou de Peary tentent de se fondre dans la nature pour éviter d’être détectés.

Ces 5 animaux sont au nombre des 19 espèces de mammifères dans le monde, dont 12 au Canada, qui changent de couleur grâce à un processus physiologique complexe influencé par une sensibilité à la durée du jour. Leur pelage commence graduellement à blanchir après la première neige. Ce processus s’inverse au printemps.

À propos des timbres
Conçus par Adrian Horvath, ces timbres illustrent un animal au pelage blanc dans son habitat. Chaque photo est l’œuvre d’un photographe canadien. La photo de l’hermine a été prise par Robert Postma; celle du lièvre d’Amérique, par Michelle Valberg; le renard arctique, par Dennis Fast; le lemming variable, par Mathilde Poirier; et le caribou de Peary, par Paul Loewen.

Dans le coin inférieur gauche de chaque vignette se cachent les traces laissées par l’animal dans la nouvelle neige, visibles seulement sous une lumière ultraviolette (lumière noire).

Imprimés par Canadian Bank Note, les timbres PermanentsMC au tarif du régime intérieur sont offerts en carnets de 10, sur un bloc-feuillet et sur un pli Premier Jour officiel du bloc-feuillet.

Les timbres et les articles de collection sont disponibles en ligne à postescanada.ca/achat. Above: The souvenir sheet. (Click for a larger image)Above: The booklet pane. (Click for a larger image) Above: The Official first day cover for the souvenir sheet. (Click for a larger image)

Only Fools And Horses (UK 2021)

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[press release] [click any picture for a larger version]
Lovely Jubbly..!
Royal Mail Reveals Images of Only Fools And Horses Stamps Issued To Mark 40th Anniversary Of Popular TV Series

[Click for a larger version]

  • Eight stamps feature classic Only Fools and Horses scenes and one-liners
  • A further four stamps presented in a miniature sheet include the four main Trotter characters as individual stamps: Del Boy, Rodney, Grandad and Uncle Albert with a catchphrase for each
  • Written and created by John Sullivan, the programme ran for 64 episodes from 1981 to 2003 and at its peak was watched by 24.3 million people
  • The impact of Only Fools and Horses on the life of the nation is demonstrated by many of the show’s catchphrases and words having entered common usage – in 2003 ‘lovely jubbly’ was listed in the Oxford English Dictionary
  • The stamps and a range of collectibles are available for pre-order at www.royalmail.com/onlyfoolsandhorses,by phone on 03457 641641 and 7,000 Post Offices across the UK
  • The full set of 12 stamps, available in a Presentation Pack, retails at £16.20
  • The stamps go on general sale from 16 February 2021

Royal Mail, in partnership with BBC Studios, today revealed 12 stamp images marking the 40th anniversary year of the popular TV comedy series, Only Fools and Horses.

Eight stamps feature classic Only Fools and Horses scenes and one-liners, while a further four stamps, presented in a miniature sheet, depict the main Trotter family characters as individual stamps; Del Boy, Rodney, Grandad and Uncle Albert with a catchphrase for each.The show follows the exploits of wheeler-dealer Del Trotter, his hapless younger brother, Rodney, their Grandad and later their Uncle Albert.

Written and created by John Sullivan, the show ran for 64 episodes from 1981 to 2003, and at its peak was watched by 24.3 million people. It now has a regular slot on Gold and is a firm favourite with viewers – consistently one of the most-watched shows on the UKTV-owned channel.

When Sullivan first mentioned his idea for a comedy series in which the main character was a fly-pitcher who’d sell anything to make a quick profit, the BBC turned it down flat.

Sullivan’s series, originally entitled, Readies, was set in a modern, vibrant and multiracial London, very different to the kind of forelock-tugging London that was often depicted in films and on TV at the time.

Refusing to give up, Sullivan continued to write and eventually presented his script to BBC Comedy Department boss, John Howard Davies. The Trotters – self-styled entrepreneur Derek Trotter (Del Boy to his friends), his put-upon younger brother, Rodney, and their crusty old Grandad – came to life on the page.

Only Fools and Horses got off to a slow start, but it took off after series two was repeated and, by 1985, it was such a success that it had earned a feature-length Christmas episode: ‘To Hull and Back’. From then on, Only Fools became a regular Christmas Day highlight for millions of people, from all walks of life.

In 1989, the length of each episode increased from 30 to 50 minutes, giving John Sullivan space to expand his stories. He even received letters from pub landlords telling him their pubs were deserted on Sunday evenings because so many people were at home watching the show.

The impact of Only Fools on the life of the nation is demonstrated by many of the show’s catchphrases and words having entered common usage. In 2003, the most popular of these, ‘lovely jubbly’, was listed in the Oxford English Dictionary.

As offers of other work flooded in for the show’s two main stars, it became increasingly difficult to schedule the filming of new episodes and, in 1996, three ‘final’ episodes were recorded. However, in 2001, such was the demand from the public, the team was persuaded back for three more episodes, shown over consecutive years.

Philip Parker, Royal Mail, said: “The superb writing, comic one liners and the warmth and idiosyncrasies of its characters made Only Fools and Horses one of the most loved TV comedies of all time. We celebrate 40 years of the Trotters’ wheeling and dealing, with new stamps revisiting some of the show’s classic moments.

The full set of stamps, available in a Presentation Pack, retails at £16.20 and along with a range of collectibles, are available to pre-order at www.royalmail.com/onlyfoolsandhorses, by phone on 03457 641 641 and in 7,000 Post Offices across the UK. The stamps will be on sale from 16 February 2021.

Stamp by stamp:

Episode: ‘A Losing Streak’
Del Risks it all in a game of cards with Boycie, but he has a trick up his sleeve

Episode: ‘Sleeping Dogs Lie’
The Trotters agree to look after Boycie and Marlene’s beloved dog, Duke, but soon regret it when the Great Dane falls ill.

Episode: ‘Yuppy Love’
Sharp-suited Del is keen to make an impression with the yuppies in the wine bar … which is exactly what he does

Episode: ‘A Touch of Glass’
Del and Rodney are poised to catch a priceless chandelier – unfortunately it’s not the one Grandad is unscrewing from the ceiling…

Episode: ‘The Jolly Boys’ Outing’
The Nag’s Head regulars’ annual beano to Margate goes with a bang – and Trigger loses his dolphin

Episode: ‘The Unlucky Winner Is…’
Rodney wins a holiday in a painting competition he hadn’t even entered – and membership of the Groovy Gang

Episode: ‘Three Men, a Woman and a Baby’
Del and Raquel await the birth of their first child. Rodney, however, is worried about what might actually arrive

Episode: ‘Time on Our Hands’
Raquel’s Dad spots something of value in the Trotters’ lock-up and this time Del and Rodney really do become millionaires

Products:
Stamps — AS6800 — £10.20
Miniature Sheet — MZ161 — £5.10
Stamp Set Pack — AS6800E — £10.50
Miniature Sheet Pack — MZ161A — £5.40
First Class Stamps Pack — AS6800F — £7.10
Presentation Pack — AP486 — £16.20
First Day Cover – Stamps — AF469 — £12.90
First Day Cover – Minisheet — MF157 — £6.80
First Day Cover – PSB pane — HF094 — £6.00
Stamp Souvenir Cover — AW179 — £12.90
Stamp Sheet Souvenir Cover — AW180 — £6.80
First Day Envelope — AE424 — £0.30
Postcards — AQ302 — £5.85
Collectors Sheet — AT124 — £9.60
Prestige Stamp Book — YB095 — £21.70
Limited Edition Prestige Stamp Book — YB096 — £54.99
Retail Stamp Book — UB441 — £5.10
Scripts Souvenir Folder — AW181 — £24.99
Medal Cover — AM081 — £19.99
Silver Medal Cover — AM082 — £99.99
Del Boy Gold Stamp — AS6800G — £49.99
Framed Stamps and Miniature Sheet — N3247 — £49.99
Framed Collectors Sheet — N3248 — £29.99
Boycie Framed Print Signed by John Challis — N3249 — £99.99
Del Boy Framed Print Signed by David Jason — N3250 — £239.99
Bundle (Pres Pack + PSB + Medal Cover) — PK163 — £47.89
Press Sheet — PZ051 — £78.55

The stamps include Del Boy’s fall through the bar in Yuppy Love and the Chandelier scene in A Touch of Glass both frequently voted among the funniest TV moments of all time.

Technical details – StampsNumber of stamps: Eight
Value of Stamps: 4 x 1st, 4 x £1.70
Design: Interabang
Acknowledgements: BBC and ONLY FOOLS AND HORSES (word marks and logos) are trade marks of the British Broadcasting Corporation and are used under licence. BBC logo © BBC 1996. Only Fools And Horses logo © BBC 1981. Series created and written by John Sullivan. Licensed by BBC Studios.
Stamp Format: Landscape
Number per sheet: 30/60
Stamp Size: 50mm x 30mm
Printer: International Security Printers
Print Process: Lithography
Perforations: 14 x 14
Phosphor: Bars as appropriate
Gum: PVA

Miniature Sheet
• Includes the four main Trotter characters as individual stamps; Del Boy, Rodney, Grandad and Uncle Albert with a quote for each
• Perforated against a background featuring Del and Rodney with the unmistakable Trotters Independent Trading yellow three-wheeled vanTechnical details – Miniature Sheet
Number of stamps: Four
Value of Stamps: 2 x 1st, 2 x £1.70
Design: Interabang
Acknowledgements: BBC and ONLY FOOLS AND HORSES (word marks and logos) are trade marks of the British Broadcasting Corporation and are used under licence. BBC logo © BBC 1996. Only Fools And Horses logo © BBC 1981. Series created and written by John Sullivan. Licensed by BBC Studios.
Stamp Format : Landscape
Stamp Size: 41mm x 30mm
Miniature Sheet Size: 192 x 74mm
Printer : International Security Printers
Print Process: Lithography
Perforations: 14.5 x 14
Phosphor: Bars as appropriate
Gum: PVA

Star Wars Droids (U.S. 2021)

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These stamps will be issued Tuesday, May 4th. 10 different Digital Color Postmarks!

[press release; announced January 26th]
New ‘Star Wars’ Stamps Are Coming This Spring
Collect All 10 Character-Inspired Stamps Featuring Beloved Droids

WASHINGTON, DC — The first characters fans meet in the first “Star Wars” film, “Star Wars: A New Hope,” are droids — namely C-3PO and R2-D2 — and droids have continued to play pivotal roles throughout the “Star Wars” galaxy. With 10 dazzling new character-inspired stamps, the Postal Service salutes beloved droids from the “Star Wars” galaxy and the imagination that brings these technological marvels to the screen.

Representing more than four decades of innovation and storytelling, the droids featured in this pane of 20 stamps are IG-11, R2-D2, K-2SO, D-O, L3-37, BB-8, C-3PO, a GNK (or Gonk) power droid, 2-1B surgical droid and C1-10P, commonly known as “Chopper.”

The characters are shown against backgrounds representing settings of memorable adventures. The selvage features a passageway from the floating Cloud City above the planet Bespin, introduced in “Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back.”

These set of droids are a nod to Lucasfilm’s, as well as its parent company, Disney’s, commitment to science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) learning and the continued collaboration between “Star Wars: Force for Change” and global pre-K-12 nonprofit organization “FIRST” (For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology).

“Star Wars: Force for Change” and “FIRST” have joined forces to expand access to STEM learning to more young people around the world, and to help them envision a brighter, more inclusive future.

Lucasfilm, the studio that created the “Star Wars” franchise, is celebrating its 50th anniversary in 2021.

Greg Breeding was the designer of the stamps and pane. William Gicker was the art director.

Additional details about the new “Star Wars” droids-inspired stamp collection, including the issue date, will be announced later this year.Additional information about this issue will be posted below the line, with the most recent at the top. You can click on the 10- and 20-stamp pictures for bigger versions.

Updated April 5th

Here are the first-day postmarks for this issue:This DCP measures 2.89″ x 1.45″

This DCP measures 2.91″ x 1.29″This DCP measures 2.75″ x 1.48″This DCP measures 2.88″ x 1.40″This DCP measures 2.90″ x 1.41″This DCP measures 2.98″ x 1.33″This DCP measures 2.87″ x 1.30″

This DCP measures 2.85″ x 1.48″ This DCP measures 2.81″ x 1.40″ This DCP measures 2.94″ x 1.30″ The pictorial for this issue measures 2.75″ x 1.35″ The “special” postmark for cities other than Nicasio on days other than the first-day, measures 2.82″ x 1.06″

From Celia Rodriguez at USPS Cancellation Services: “There are is (1) B/W Rubber FDOI pictorial, (1) B/W Rubber FDOI bullseye, (1) Metal Killerbar FDOI, and (10) DCP FDOI pictorials available for this issue. You may request any combination of postmarks [except the “special”] for this issue to go with any of the 10 stamp designs.”

Updated March 25th, from the Postal Bulletin:

On May 4, 2021, in Nicasio, CA, the United States Postal Service® will issue the Star Wars Droids stamps (Forever® priced at the First-Class Mail® rate) in 10 designs, in a pressure-sensitive adhesive (PSA) pane of 20 stamps (Item 577600). These stamps will go on sale nationwide May 4, 2021, and must not be sold or canceled before the first-day-of-issue. The Star Wars Droids commemorative pane of 20 stamps may not be split and the stamps may not be sold individually.

With 10 dazzling new stamps, the Postal Service salutes Star Wars Droids and the imagination that brings these helpful, technological marvels to the screen. Representing more than four decades of innovation and storytelling, the droids featured are:

  • IG-11,
  • R2-D2,
  • K-2SO,
  • D-O,
  • L3-37,
  • BB-8,
  • C-3PO,
  • Gonk Droid,
  • 2-1B Droid, and
  • Chopper.

The characters are shown against backgrounds representing settings of memorable adventures. The selvage features a passageway in the floating Cloud City, introduced in Star Wars: Episode V—The Empire Strikes Back. Greg Breeding was the designer of the stamps and pane. William Gicker was the art director.

Item 577600, Star Wars Droids PSA Pane of 20 Stamps

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 – Star Wars Droids 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 September 4, 2021.

Technical Specifications:

Issue: Star Wars Droids Stamps
Item Number: 577600
Denomination &Type of Issue: First-Class Mail Forever
Format: Pane of 20 (10 designs)
Series: N/A
Issue Date & City: May 4, 2021, Nicasio, CA 94946
Art Director: William Gicker, Washington, DC
Designer: Greg Breeding, Charlottesville, VA
Modeler: Sandra Lane/Michelle Finn
Manufacturing Process: Offset, Flexographic
Printer: Banknote Corporation of America
Press Type: Gallus RCS
Stamps per Pane: 20
Print Quantity: 60,000,000 stamps
Paper Type: Phosphor, Block Tag
Adhesive Type: Pressure-sensitive
Colors: Black, Cyan, Magenta, Yellow, PMS Cool Gray 7C
Stamp Orientation: Vertical
Image Area 1 (w x h): 0.84 x 1.7102 in./ 21.336 x 43.439 mm
Stamp Size 1 (w x h): 0.98 x 1.8502 in./ 24.892 x 46.995 mm
Image Area 2 (w x h): 0.84 x 1.2747 in./ 21.336 x 32.377 mm
Stamp Size 2 (w x h): 0.98 x 1.414 in./ 24.892 x 35.915 mm
Full Pane Size (w x h): 6.45 x 8.87 in./163.83 x 225.298 mm
Plate Size: 80 stamps per revolution
Plate Numbers: “B” followed by five (5) single digits in bottom two corners
Marginal Markings:
Front: Header: Star Wars™ Droids • Plate number in bottom two corners
Back: Star Wars elements: © & ™ Lucasfilm Ltd. • ©2021 USPS • USPS logo • 2 barcodes (577600) • Plate position diagram (4) • Promotional text

Updated March 4th:

[press release]
May the 4th Be With You
New Droids Stamps Celebrate STEM Education; Available May 4

WHAT: Technology plays a prominent role in the “Star Wars” films, most notably with the droids. The U.S. Postal Service will recognize the loveable machines from the “Star Wars” galaxy with 10 dazzling new character-inspired Forever stamps.

These droids are a nod to the commitment of Lucasfilm and its parent company, Disney, to science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) learning and the continued collaboration between the “Star Wars: Force for Change” philanthropic initiative and global pre-K-12 nonprofit organization FIRST (For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology).

Greg Breeding was the designer of the stamps and pane. William Gicker was the art director.

News of the stamps is being shared with the hashtags #StarWarsDroidsStamps and #DroidsStamps

WHO: Isaac Cronkhite, Chief Logistics and Processing Operations Officer and Executive Vice President, U.S. Postal Service

Disney/Lucasfilm representative(s) to be determined

WHEN: Tuesday, May 4, 2021, at 11 a.m. Eastern Time/8 a.m. Pacific Time

WHERE: A virtual dedication ceremony will be posted on the Postal Service’s Facebook and Twitter pages.

Please visit usps.com/starwarsdroidsstamps for details.

A pictorial postmark of the designated first-day-of-issue city, Nicasio, CA, will be available at usps.com/shopstamps.

BACKGROUND: “Star Wars” droids — the beloved mechanical characters from a galaxy far, far away — are adored worldwide for their relatable, funny, quirky and sometimes emotional personalities. And they have entertained and inspired fans for more than four decades.

“Star Wars: Force for Change” and FIRST are working together to expand access to STEM learning to inspire more young people around the world, and to help them envision a brighter, more inclusive future.

Featured in a pane of 20 stamps, and arranged in staggered, horizontal rows, the stamps vary in size and depict 10 of the more well-known droids in the “Star Wars” universe — IG-11, R2-D2, K-2SO, D-O, L3-37, BB-8, a 2-1B surgical droid, a GNK (or Gonk) power droid, C-3P0 and C1-10P, otherwise known as Chopper.

Lucasfilm, the studio that created the “Star Wars” franchise, is celebrating its 50th anniversary in 2021.

The “Star Wars” droids-inspired stamps are being issued as Forever stamps, which will always be equal in value to the current First-Class Mail 1-ounce price.

Preorders for the Droids Forever stamps can be made online at usps.com/stamps and by phone at 800-STAMP24 (800-782-6724), beginning April 5.

Customers may purchase stamps and other philatelic products through the Postal Store at usps.com/shopstamps, by calling 800-STAMP24 (800-782-6724), by mail through USA Philatelic, or at Post Office locations nationwide.

From The Virtual Stamp Club:
Nicasio, Calif., the first-day city, is located about an hour northwest of San Francisco, or 25 miles as the crow flies.

The town’s ZIP code is 94946.

Wikipedia does not list any Lucasfilm- or Star Wars-related films that were shot in Nicasio, and the only notable resident mentioned is the late Jerry Garcia, who would not have been likely to attend the first-day ceremony even if it weren’t going to be a virtual one. George Lucas does live somewhere in the same county, Marin County. Internet Movie Database (IMDB) says he lives in San Anselmo, about 10 miles away.

Black History: Pioneering Settlements (Canada 2021)

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From Details philatelic catalogue, mid-January:

Issue date January 22, 2021
Willow Grove, NB, and Amber Valley, AB

Settlers faced immense challenges forging a new life in the rugged Canadian wilderness. But few were as harsh as those endured by many early Black settlers who fled the United States in the early 19th and early 20th centuries to escape the cruelty of enslavement and racial discrimination.

These stamps – the 13th issue in our Black History Month series – tell the stories of two Black communities nearly one hundred years and thousands of kilometres apart. Both rose from hardship to survive and grow for a time and served as stepping stones for the success of future generations of Black Canadians.

In 1817, a group of Black refugees from the War of 1812 – most of them formerly enslaved – founded the tiny settlement of Willow Grove, New Brunswick. They received licences to live on land that turned out to be of poor farming quality, and when they tried to support themselves temporarily in nearby Saint John, they were met with racist restrictions.

Nearly a century later, Amber Valley, Alberta, was established by 30 Black families who had journeyed from the American South to flee the escalating violence and segregation laws. They faced many of the same challenges as Willow Grove: bone-chilling winters, inhospitable land and the racial discrimination they had hoped to leave behind. Through perseverance and hard work, both communities overcame many obstacles. They actively challenged racial discrimination and built schools, churches and other community organizations. Amber Valley became a vibrant community whose baseball team was famous throughout the province, while the opening of Willow Grove Baptist Church in 1878 anchored the growing community of Willow Grove.

Although their populations eventually declined as subsequent generations pursued education and employment elsewhere, there is no doubt that these Black settlers and their descendants have enriched Canada’s economic and social fabric.

Designed by Lara Minja of Lime Design Inc. and illustrated by Rick Jacobson, this issue features depictions based on archival photos of community members, maps of the two locations and images of the seafaring ship and covered wagons that carried the settlers to their new homes.

Post-issuance press release, added January 27th:

[press release]
Early communities honoured in 13th Black History Month series
Stamps tell of the struggle and strength of two Black Canadian settlements

SAINT JOHN, NB and ATHABASCA, AB – The challenges faced by two waves of Black immigrants from the United States in the early 19th and early 20th centuries come to light in a pair of stamps issued this month by Canada Post. These stamps – the 13th issue in our Black History Month series – celebrate the hope and perseverance of the Black pioneers who founded Willow Grove, New Brunswick, and Amber Valley, Alberta.

About the Communities
Willow Grove was founded in 1817 by Black refugees. Most had been enslaved African Americans who were offered their freedom and land in exchange for supporting the British in the War of 1812. They were issued licences to live on land that turned out to be of poor farming quality and received little assistance. When they tried to support themselves temporarily in nearby Saint John, they were met with racist restrictions. But the residents fought for their rights and formed a thriving community.

The Black settlers who founded Amber Valley around 1910 had journeyed from the American south to escape escalating violenceand segregation laws. Seeking a better life for their families, they carved a living from the dense bush and muskeg but continued to endure ongoing racial discrimination, including government measures that prevented other people of African descent from settling in Canada. The residents, however, were determined to succeed, and the community they built flourished.

Although separated by nearly a hundred years, the two communities experienced similar hardships and triumphs, and both served as stepping stones for the success of future generations of Black Canadians.

About the Stamps
Designed by Lara Minja of Lime Design Inc. and illustrated by Rick Jacobson, these stamps feature illustrations based on archivalphotos of community members, maps showing the location of each settlement, and images of the different means of transportation that carried the pioneers to their new life in Canada.

Printed by Lowe-Martin, this issue includes a booklet of 10 Permanent™ stamps featuring both designs and two Official First Day Covers – one for each stamp.

Stamps and collectibles are available at canadapost.ca/shop.

[en Francais]
Hommage aux premières communautés dans le 13e volet de la série consacrée au Mois de l’histoire des Noirs
Les timbres illustrent le courage de deux groupes d’immigrants noirs au Canada

SAINT JOHN, NB et ATHABASCA, AB, le 27 janv. 2021 /CNW/ – Les difficultés auxquelles ont fait face deux groupes d’immigrants noirs en provenance des États-Unis au début du 19e et du 20e siècle sont illustrées sur une paire de timbres émis ce mois-ci par Postes Canada. Le 13e volet de la série sur le Mois de l’histoire des Noirs rend hommage à l’espoir et à la persévérance des pionniers noirs qui ont fondé Willow Grove, au Nouveau-Brunswick, et Amber Valley, en Alberta.

À propos des communautés
Willow Grove est fondée en 1817 par des réfugiés noirs. La plupart d’entre eux sont d’anciens esclaves afro-américains à qui on offre la liberté et des terres pour avoir combattu les Britanniques pendant la guerre de 1812. Ils reçoivent des permis pour vivre, avec peu de soutien, sur des terres qui s’avèrent peu cultivables. Lorsqu’ils tentent de subvenir temporairement à leurs besoins à Saint John, qui se trouve à proximité, ils se heurtent à des restrictions racistes. Mais les résidants défendent leurs droits et forment une communauté florissante.

Les pionniers noirs qui ont fondé Amber Valley vers 1910 atteignent le Nord après avoir échappé aux lois racistes et à la violence du sud des États-Unis. Remplis d’espoir pour leur famille, ils parviennent à gagner leur vie au cœur d’une végétation dense et marécageuse, mais continuent à subir une discrimination raciale, notamment les mesures gouvernementales qui empêchent d’autres personnes d’origine africaine de s’établir au Canada. Grâce à la persévérance et au travail acharné de ses résidants, Amber Valley devient toutefois une communauté florissante.

Malgré le siècle qui les sépare, les deux communautés surmontent des obstacles et remportent des victoires similaires, et contribuent toutes les deux au succès des Canadiens noirs des générations futures.

À propos des timbres
Conçus par Lara Minja, de Lime Design inc., et illustrés par Rick Jacobson, ces timbres s’appuient sur des photos d’archive des membres des deux communautés, sur des cartes de leurs emplacements respectifs et sur des images des différents moyens de transport utilisés par les pionniers pour voyager vers leur nouvelle vie au Canada.
Imprimée par Lowe-Martin, cette série comprend un carnet de 10 timbres PermanentsMC de chaque motif et deux plis Premier Jour officiels, un pour chaque vignette.

Les timbres et les articles de collection sont disponibles en ligne à postescanada.ca/achat.

N’hésitez pas à utiliser les images, les entrevues et les renseignements qui se trouvent dans nos courtes vidéos pour les médias sociaux (Willow Grove, Amber Valley), la publication En détail et le Magazine de Postes Canada.

Canada’s 2021 Stamp Programme

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Pre-New Year’s Overview story is here.

Updated November 22nd, subject to change. Canada Post announced in late September that “other stamps originally slated for release in September will now be issued later this fall.” Not all of the information here is confirmed by Canada Post.

January 15
January 22
February 16
March 1
March 7
April 8
April 15
April 22
April 29
June 7
June 29
July 21
September 20
Oct 8
October 14
October 19
October 20
October 21
October 29
November 1
November 1
November 8
November 18
November 25		 Lunar New Year
Black History Settlements
Snow Mammals
Crabapple Blossoms
Concordia University of Edmonton env.
Junos awards anniversary
Discovery of Insulin
Eid
Legends of Canadian Ballet
Prime Minister John Turner
Schooner Bluenose
Stan Rogers
Community Foundation
Editorial Cartoonists
Christopher Plummer
Diwali
Royal Canadian Horse Artillery env.
Valour Road WWI Heroes
Remembrance Poppy
Christmas Angels
Christmas Characters
Hanukkah
Buffy Sainte-Marie
Margaret Atwood

Canada Post’s 2022 stamp programme preview

Britain’s Strengths, Accomplishments (UK 2021)

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[press release]
ROYAL MAIL REVEALS IMAGES OF SPECIAL STAMPS THAT CELEBRATE THE UNITED KINGDOM’S STRENGTHS AND ACCOMPLISHMENTS

    • Four stamps celebrate some of the United Kingdom’s greatest strengths and accomplishments
    • Sporting achievement, technological innovation, creative industries and a strong sense of community spirit are all represented
    • The four stamps are printed within a miniature sheet in a colourful interpretation of the Union Flag
    • Royal Mail has a rich history of celebrating national accomplishments with issues such as: British Explorers; Women of Distinction; Eminent Britons; British Humanitarians; Great Britons; and Inventive Britain
    • The stamps will be on general sale on 26 January 2021
    • The full set of four stamps, available in a Presentation Pack, retails at £6.00
      They will be available at www.royalmail.com/ukacelebration, by phone on 03457 641641 and 7,000 Post Offices across the UK

Royal Mail today reveals images of four Special Stamps to be issued in celebration of the United Kingdom’s greatest strengths and accomplishments. The stamps explore just some of the ways in which Britain leads the way. From sporting achievement to technological innovation, and from creative excellence to our strong sense of community spirit, the UK excels in a host of different ways. The four stamps are printed within a miniature sheet in a colourful interpretation of the Union Flag.

Sport:
Britain is a proud and passionate sporting nation. It is the birthplace of football and cricket, and, in 1948, hosted the first organised competition for disabled athletes. The UK has also produced 10 Formula 1 champions – more than any other country.

Industry and Innovation:
Elsewhere, in the fields of science and technology, Britain stands tall. For example, DNA fingerprinting was perfected in the UK and Britain played a central role in the sequencing of the first draft of the human genome. The UK is a leading light in the digital technology sector, which contributes around £149 billion per year to the economy. The country is also a world leading centre for financial services.

Creative industries:
In the creative industries too, the UK is a world leader. Britain is renowned for the originality and quality of its contemporary music, with the music industry worth around £5.2 billion annually. The UK has also become one of the world’s leading centres for film and TV production. In the sphere of architecture, cities around the world are being reshaped by British architects. And in the field of literature, British writers are world-renowned.

Community spirit:
Equally as significant is the UK’s long-held sense of community spirit. British people have often come together in celebration, in remembrance and also in hope during times of uncertainty. Indeed, street parties, parades and celebrations for royal anniversaries, major sporting occasions and other national and local events have characterised the British way of life for centuries.

Royal Mail has a rich history of celebrating national accomplishments with issues such as: British Explorers; Women of Distinction; Eminent Britons; British Humanitarians; Great Britons; and Inventive Britain.

Philip Parker, Royal Mail, said: “There are so many great things about the UK, not least our contribution to the wider world. This stamp issue pays tribute to just a few of the things for which the UK is best known – sporting achievement, technological innovation, creative industries and a strong sense of community spirit. These colourful stamps are a celebration of these islands and the people who call them home”.

The stamps will be on sale from 26 January 2021. The full set of four stamps, available in a Presentation Pack, retails at £6.00 and will be available at www.royalmail.com/ukacelebration, by phone on 03457 641 641 and in 7,000 Post Offices across the UK.

Technical Details:
Number of stamps: 4
Value of Stamps: 2 x 1st
2 x £1.70
Design: hat-trick design
Acknowledgements: background image – illustration of Union flag by hat-trick design; Great Sport stamp – wheelchair athlete composite image © David Madison/Getty Images and © Image Source/Getty Images; cricket ball © Bootzilla/Getty Images; playing football © Sumetee Theesungnern/EyeEm/Getty Images; racing car © CAIA Image/Science Photo Library; Great Community stamp – Virgin London Marathon 2011 © Oli Scarff/Getty Images; hands making heart shape © martin-dm/Getty Images; nurse reassuring patient © Science Photo Library; rainbow illustration by Daisy James © Royal Mail Group Limited 2021; Great Industry and Innovation stamp – 3D illustration rendering of binary code © MR.Cole_Photographer/Getty Images; carbon fibre material © DaveAlan/Getty Images; 3D illustration of DNA molecules © Design Cells/Getty Images; London skyline composite image © Gary Yeowell/Getty Images and © Davy Larkins/EyeEm/Getty Images; Great Creativity stamp – microphone stand silhouette © ilbusca/Getty Images; office building glass façade © Musketeer/Getty Images; book pages, photograph by Joe Howat © Royal Mail Group Limited 2021; TV studio composite image © AskinTulayOver/Getty Images and © rasslava/Getty Images
Stamp Format: landscape
Stamp Size: 60mm x 30mm
Printer: International Security Printers
Print Process: Lithography
Perforations: 14.5 x 14.5
Phosphor: All over
Gum: PVA

Federal Duck Stamp (U.S. 2021)

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The design of the 2021-22 stamp will not be released until the date of issue. However, a version was in the USPS Postal Bulletin:Updated August 2nd:
Here are the Scott catalogue numbers for this issue:
RW88, and RW88A for the souvenir sheet of 1

Updated June 20th:
Here is the first-day cancel:It measures 3.3″ x 1.1″

Updated June 3 from the Postal Bulletin:
On June 25, 2021, in Spanish Fort, AL, the U.S. Department of the Interior will issue the $25 Migratory Bird Hunting and Conservation stamp for the 2021–2022 waterfowl hunting season. The pressure-sensitive adhesive (PSA) stamp will go on sale nationwide June 25, 2021, and is valid through June 30, 2022.

No distribution at all of Item 336600, 2021–2022 $25.00 Migratory Bird Hunting and Conservation Stamp, PSA Pane of 20. It will only be available through Stamp Fulfillment Services and Amplex Corporation.

Technical Specifications (pane of 1):

Issue: Migratory Bird Hunting and Conservation Stamp
Item Number: 336500
Denomination &Type of Issue: $25.00, Special
Format: Pane of 1 (1 design)
Series: Federal Duck
Issue Date & City: June 25, 2021, Spanish Fort, AL 36527
Art Director: Suzanne Fellows, FWS
Artist: Richard Clifton
Modeler: Joseph Sheeran
Manufacturing Process: Flexographic, Offset, Microprint “FWS”
Printer: Ashton Potter (USA) Ltd. (APU)
Press Type: Muller A76
Stamps per Pane: 1
Print Quantity: 2,406,000 stamps
Paper Type: Nonphosphored Type III
Adhesive Type: Pressure-sensitive
Processed at: Ashton Potter (USA) Ltd. (APU)
Colors: Black, Cyan, Magenta, Yellow, Invisible Fluorescent
Stamp Orientation: Horizontal
Image Area (w x h): 1.762 x 1.289 in./44.755 x 32.741 mm
Overall Size (w x h): 1.89 x 1.417 in./48.006 x 35.992 mm
Full Pane Size (w x h): 6.125 x 2.625 in./155.575 x 66.675 mm
Plate Size: 36 stamps per revolution
Plate Numbers: N/A
Marginal Markings:
Front: Selvage Text: 2021–2022 Migratory Bird Hunting and Conservation Stamp • U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service • Celebrate Our Waterfowl and Hunting Heritage • informative text • Artist: Richard Clifton, Lesser Scaup© • If applicable, sign your stamp.
Back: Verso-text • Ordering information • Barcode • U.S. Department of the Interior logo • U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service logo

Technical Specifications (pane of 20):

Issue: Migratory Bird Hunting and Conservation Stamp
Item Number: 336600
Denomination & Type of Issue: $25.00, Special
Format: Pane of 20 (1 design)
Series: Federal Duck
Issue Date & City: June 25, 2021, Spanish Fort, AL 36527
Art Director: Suzanne Fellows, FWS
Artist: Richard Clifton
Modeler: Joseph Sheeran
Manufacturing Process: Flexographic, Offset, Microprint “FWS”
Printer: Ashton Potter (USA) Ltd. (APU)
Press Type: Muller A76
Stamps per Pane: 20
Print Quantity: 60,000 stamps
Paper Type: Nonphosphored Type III
Adhesive Type: Pressure-sensitive
Processed at: Ashton Potter (USA) Ltd. (APU)
Colors: Black, Cyan, Magenta, Yellow, Invisible Fluorescent
Stamp Orientation: Horizontal
Image Area (w x h): 1.762 x 1.289 in./44.755 x 32.741 mm
Overall Size (w x h): 1.89 x 1.417 in./48.006 x 35.992 mm
Full Pane Size (w x h): 8.25 x 8.25 in./209.55 x 209.55 mm
Plate Size: 180 stamps per revolution
Plate Numbers: “P” followed by five (5) single digits
Marginal Markings:
Front: Selvage Text: “Artist: Richard Clifton” (4 positions) • “Department of the Interior 20 x $25.00” (2 positions) • Silhouetted Image of duck printed in Black, Cyan, Magenta, Yellow, Invisible Fluorescent (2 positions) • Plate number (4 positions)
Back: Verso-text behind each stamp • Barcodes (4 positions)Updated May 20th:
The Fish & Wildlife Service tells The Virtual Stamp Club the stamp will be issued Friday, June 25th, with a first-day city of Spanish Fort, Alabama. A first-day ceremony may or may not be held; plans are still “fluid.”

From earlier:

[press release; no picture available]
Delaware Artist Richard Clifton Wins 2020 Federal Duck Stamp Art Contest
Federal Duck Stamp Supports Wildlife Conservation

After two days of competition, Richard Clifton of Milford, Delaware, emerged as the winner of the 2020 Federal Duck Stamp Art Contest with his painting of a single lesser scaup drake. The announcement was made via live stream at the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Headquarters in Falls Church, Virginia.

Clifton’s acrylic painting will be made into the 2021-2022 Federal Migratory Bird Hunting and Conservation Stamp, or “Duck Stamp”, which will go on sale in late June 2021. The Service produces the Federal Duck Stamp, which sells for $25 and raises approximately $40 million in sales each year. These funds support critical conservation to protect wetland habitats in the National Wildlife Refuge System for the benefit of wildlife and the enjoyment of people.

This year, the Migratory Bird Conservation Commission, chaired by U.S. Secretary of the Interior David L. Bernhardt, approved the allocation of more than $48 million from the fund, made up partly of Duck Stamp dollars, to support the acquisition of lands from willing sellers for the Refuge System. The new areas provide additional access to the public to some of the most spectacular places available for hunting, fishing, birdwatching, hiking and other outdoor activities.

“Hunters and anglers are the backbone of American conservation, and the Duck Stamp is one of the many ways they contribute to conserving America’s waterfowl and wetlands throughout the country,” said Secretary Bernhardt. “I encourage everyone, including those who do not hunt, to buy a Duck Stamp as it makes a real impact in conserving wildlife species and wetlands habitat.”

Since it was first established in 1934, sales of the Duck Stamp to hunters, bird watchers, outdoor enthusiasts and collectors have raised more than $1 billion to conserve over six million acres of habitat for birds and other wildlife and provide countless opportunities for hunting and other wildlife-oriented recreation on our public lands.

“For more than 80 years, millions of waterfowl hunters have made a difference in protecting our nation’s birds and their habitats,” said Aurelia Skipwith, Director of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. “The Trump Administration has prioritized protecting our wildlife and their habitats and provided access to some of the most spectacular places available for hunting, fishing, birdwatching, hiking and other outdoor activities.”

Waterfowl hunters age 16 and older are required to purchase and carry the current Federal Duck Stamp. Many non-hunters, including birdwatchers, conservationists, stamp collectors and others also purchase the stamp in support of habitat conservation. Additionally, a current Federal Duck Stamp can be used for free admission to any national wildlife refuge that charges an entry fee.

This is Clifton’s second Federal Duck Stamp Contest win. His art previously appeared on the 2007-2008 Federal Duck Stamp.

In addition to Clifton, James Hautman of Chaska, Minnesota, placed second with his acrylic painting of a flock of lesser scaup, and Joseph Hautman of Plymouth, Minnesota, took third place with his acrylic painting of a flock of lesser scaup.

This 2020 contest now has a permanent theme of “celebrating our waterfowl hunting heritage” and it will be mandatory that each entry include an appropriate waterfowl hunting scene and/or accessory. Of 138 entries submitted to this year’s competition, seven entries made it to the final round of judging. Eligible species for this year’s Federal Duck Stamp Contest were the gadwall, brant, cinnamon teal, lesser scaup and red-breasted merganser. View the online gallery of the 2020 Federal Duck Stamp Art Contest entries.

The judges for this year’s Federal Duck Stamp Contest were: Donnie Satchell, conservation partner and artist; Jane Lawson, conservation partner and artist; Eric Morris, conservation partner; Scott Penegar, artist; and Paul Wait, conservation partner.

“The Duck Stamp is one of the most successful conservation programs ever created. I am so proud to be a part of this annual tradition that combines the best of talented artwork from around the country with habitat conservation,” said Jerome Ford, Assistant Director for the Service’s Migratory Bird Program. “As the only federally regulated and sponsored art contest, competing artists offer their time and talent to capture the beauty of waterfowl and the tradition of waterfowl hunting.”

You can contribute to conservation and America’s great outdoors tradition by buying Federal Duck Stamps at many national wildlife refuges, sporting goods stores and other retailers, through the U.S. Postal Service, or online at http://www.fws.gov/birds/get-involved/duck-stamp/buy-duck-stamp.php.

Mallard Postcard (U.S. 2021)

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Announced on January 15th:

This new stamped card for 2021 features an illustration of a mallard drake (Anas platyrhynchos) from preexisting artwork by illustrator and designer Dugald Stermer (1936-2011). The full-body, left-facing profile was created in pencil and watercolor. Art director Ethel Kessler designed the stamped card.

Additional information will appear below the line, with the latest at the top

Updated July 5th:
Here are the Scott catalogue numbers for this issue:
UX648 36¢ postal card
UY55 (36¢+ 36¢) Mallard Duck paid reply postal card

Updated May 28th:
There is only one first-day postmark available for this issue, other than the Circular Date Stamp (CDS):No specific size is given by Cancellation Services, but the “Killer Bar” FDOI postmark usually measures about 3.25″ x by 1″. The CDS (the “dial” portion of this postmark) is about 1-inch in diameter.

Updated May 7th:
On June 1, 2021, in Fargo, ND, the United States Postal Service® will issue the Mallard Forever® stamped card priced at 40 cents (36-cent postage plus 4-cent surcharge) in one design. These stamped cards will go on sale nationwide June 1, 2021, and must not be sold or canceled before the first-day-of-issue.

The Postal Service™ issues a new stamped card for 2021 featuring an illustration of a mallard drake (Anas platyrhynchos) from pre-existing artwork by famed illustrator and designer Dugald Stermer (1936–2011). The full-body, left-facing profile was created in pencil and watercolor. Art director Ethel Kessler designed the stamped card.

The Mallard stamped card will be available in the following formats:

  • Single-cut cards (Item 250600).
  • Double-reply cards (Item 250700).
  • Sheet of 40 cards (Item 250800).

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 – Mallard Stamped Card
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 October 1, 2021.

Technical Specifications:

Issue: Mallard Stamped Card
Item Number: 250600
Denomination & Type of Issue: Forever Stamped Card Rate
Format: Single-cut Card
Series: N/A
Issue Date & City: June 1, 2021, Fargo, ND 58102
Art Director: Ethel Kessler, Bethesda, MD
Designer: Ethel Kessler, Bethesda, MD
Existing Art: Dugald Stermer
Modeler: Joseph Sheeran
Manufacturing Process: Offset, Microprint
Printer: Ashton Potter (USA) Ltd. (APU)
Press Type: Heidelberg Speedmaster
Print Quantity: 3,480,000 stamped cards
Paper Type: Nonphosphored Type III, Block Tag
Adhesive Type: N/A
Stamp Orientation: Horizontal
Card Size (w x h): 5.5 x 3.5 in./139.70 x 88.90 mm
Colors: Black, Cyan, Magenta, Yellow
Plate Size: 40 cards per revolution
Plate Number: N/A
Marginal Markings: ©2021 USPS, Recycling logo

Technical Specifications:

Issue: Mallard Stamped Card
Item Number: 250700
Denomination & Type of Issue: Forever Stamped Card Rate
Format: Double-reply Card
Series: N/A
Issue Date & City: June 1, 2021, Fargo, ND 58102
Art Director: Ethel Kessler, Bethesda, MD
Designer: Ethel Kessler, Bethesda, MD
Existing Art: Dugald Stermer
Modeler: Joseph Sheeran
Manufacturing Process: Offset, Microprint
Printer: Ashton Potter (USA) Ltd. (APU)
Press Type: Heidelberg Speedmaster
Print Quantity: 50,000 Double-cut Cards
Paper Type: Nonphosphored Type III, Block Tag
Adhesive Type: N/A
Stamp Orientation: Horizontal
Card Size (w x h): 5.5 x 7.0 in./139.70 x 177.80 mm
Colors: Black, Cyan, Magenta, Yellow
Plate Size: 20 cards per revolution
Plate Number: N/A
Marginal Markings: ©2021 USPS, Recycling logo

Technical Specifications:

Issue: Mallard Stamped Card
Item Number: 250800
Denomination & Type of Issue: Forever Stamped Card Rate
Format: Sheet of 40 Cards
Series: N/A
Issue Date & City: June 1, 2021, Fargo, ND 58102
Art Director: Ethel Kessler, Bethesda, MD
Designer: Ethel Kessler, Bethesda, MD
Existing Art: Dugald Stermer
Modeler: Joseph Sheeran
Manufacturing Process: Offset, Microprint
Printer: Ashton Potter (USA) Ltd. (APU)
Press Type: Heidelberg Speedmaster
Print Quantity: 1,000 sheets of 40 cards
Paper Type: Nonphosphored Type III, Block Tag
Adhesive Type: N/A
Stamp Orientation: Horizontal
Card Size (w x h): 5.5 x 3.5 in./139.70 x 88.90 mm
Colors: Black, Cyan, Magenta, Yellow
Plate Size: 40 cards per revolution
Plate Number: N/A
Marginal Markings: ©2021 USPS, Recycling logo

Updated April 30th:
In reply to an inquiry from The Virtual Stamp Club, the USPS says this will be issued as a single card, a double reply card, and in sheets of 40.

Updated March 17th:
This postcard will be issued June 1. The first day city is Fargo, ND, but no ceremony will be held.