Announced October 23, 2023:

This issuance encourages the protection of sea turtles, one of the oldest groups of animals on Earth. These ancient mariners can migrate long distances, sometimes crossing entire oceans. The pane of 18 stamps features close-up photographs of six species — the loggerhead, leatherback, hawksbill, Kemp’s ridley, olive ridley and green sea turtle — that depend on U.S. coastal waters for foraging and migratory habitats during various stages of their life. All six are listed and protected under the Endangered Species Act. Derry Noyes, an art director for USPS, designed the stamps and stamp pane using existing images.

Further information will be posted below the line, with the newest information at the top.

Updated May 2^nd:
On June 11, 2024, in Corpus Christi, TX, the United States Postal Service® will issue the Protect Sea Turtles stamps (Forever® priced at the First-Class Mail® rate) in six designs, in a pressure-sensitive adhesive (PSA) pane of 18 stamps (Item 581300). These stamps will go on sale nationwide June 11, 2024, and must not be sold or canceled before the first-day-of-issue.

The Postal Service™ celebrates the protection of sea turtles with six new stamps, featuring species dependent on U.S. coastal waters for foraging and migratory habitats during various stages of their lives. All six turtles are listed and protected under the Endangered Species Act. The stamps showcase photographs of a Kemp‘s ridley, a leatherback, an olive ridley, a green sea turtle, a loggerhead, and a hawksbill. The selvage features another hawksbill sea turtle. Art director Derry Noyes designed the pane using existing photographs.

Pane of 18, Item 581300, 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 store.usps.com/store/home. 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 – Protect Sea Turtles 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 October 11, 2024.

Technical Specifications:

Issue: Protect Sea Turtles Stamps
Item Number: 581300
Denomination & Type of Issue: First-Class Mail Forever
Format: Pane of 18 (6 designs)
Series: N/A
Issue Date & City: June 11, 2024, Corpus Christi, TX 78401
Art Director: Derry Noyes, Washington, DC
Designer: Derry Noyes, Washington, DC
Existing Photo: Rowan Byrne
Existing Photo: Claudio Contreras
Existing Photo: David B. Fleetham
Existing Photo: Doug Perrine
Existing Photo: James D. Watt (deceased)
Existing Photo: Solvin Zankl
Existing Photo: Reinhard Dirscherl
Modeler: Joseph Sheeran
Manufacturing Process: Offset
Printer: Ashton Potter (USA) Ltd. (APU)
Press Type: Muller A76
Stamps per Pane: 18
Print Quantity: 27,000,000
Paper Type: Nonphosphored Type III, Block Tagged
Adhesive Type: Pressure-sensitive
Colors: Cyan, Magenta, Yellow, Black
Stamp Orientation: Horizontal
Image Area (w x h): 1.4200 x 0.8400 in. / 36.0680 x 21.3360 mm
Overall Size (w x h): 1.5600 x 0.9800 in. / 39.6240 x 24.8920 mm
Full Pane Size (w x h): 6.3800 x 8.3000 in. / 162.0520 x 210.8200 mm
Press Sheet Size (w x h): 12.8900 x 25.1500 in. / 638.8100 x 327.2790 mm
Plate Size: 216 stamps per revolution
Plate Number: “P” followed by four (4) single digits in bottom two corners
Marginal Markings:
Front: Header: PROTECT SEA TURTLES • KEMP’S RIDLEY • GREEN • LEATHERBACK • LOGGERHEAD • HAWKSBILL • OLIVE RIDLEY • Plate number in bottom two corners
Back: © 2023 USPS • USPS logo • Two barcodes (581300) • Plate position diagram (6) • Promotional text

Here are the first day postmarks for this issue:The Dig
The Digital Color Postmark for this issue measures 2.87″ x 1.43″The Pictorial Postmark measures 2.36″ x 1.14″

Updated April 17^th:
These stamps will be available online for pre-ordering on May 11. USPS collectibles have been added to the U.S. 2024 Stamp Program listing for this issue (“USPS Order Numbers“).

Updated February 23^rd:
These stamps will be issued June 11 in Corpus Christi, TX. The Texas State Aquarium, one of the largest in the country, is located there, and among its exhibits is Tortuga Cay: Visitors can view the rehabilitated and unreleasable sea turtles above and below the water at this exhibit. Tortuga Cay includes three green sea turtles (Squirt, Pickles, and Crush), one Kemp’s ridley sea turtle (Daisy), one hawksbill sea turtle (Hemingway), and a loggerhead sea turtle (Tiki).