APS Board Meeting: August 8, 2018

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by Lloyd A. de Vries, The Virtual Stamp Club

These notes are not meant to be comprehensive; for more detailed reporting, see Foster Miller’s live blogging from the meeting in The Stamp Collecting Forum. (This link takes you directly to those messages). Unless otherwise attributed, all views and observations are those of the author.

Some highlights — Shows:

StampShow 2022 will be held in Sacramento, Calif. Previously set are 2019 Omaha, 2020 Hartford, Conn., and 2021 in the Chicago area.

The American Topical Association, which is holding its National Topical Stamp Show in conjunction with APS StampShow this weekend in Columbus, Ohio, has asked to do the same next year, in Omaha. I believe the National Model Railroaders Association also will be meeting in conjunction with StampShow next year in Omaha. APS executive director Scott English said at this meeting that the Union Pacific Railroad is a sponsor of StampShow 2019.

2019 is the 150th anniversary of the “driving of the Golden Spike,” the completion of the Transcontinental Railroad, or the ability to take a train from one side of the U.S. to the other. The Central Pacific Railroad headed east from Sacramento; the Union Pacific headed west from Omaha, and UP still exists as a company today.

English is going to Omaha next month to explore other community involvement for the show.

AmeriStamp Expo in Birmingham in February lost $45,000, even more than the most-pessimistic predictions. English hopes StampShow 2018 will make up most of that, but it won’t make up all of it.

English calls this weekend’s joint APS/ATA show “historic.”

“I believe there is no wrong way to get into stamp collecting,” he said.

Finances:

Treasurer Bruce Marsden reports the APS is financially strong. However, it has $4.1 million in “designated funds,” and he recommends the Board take a look at how that money is allocated. For instance, the “insurance fund” (for circuit sales, I believe) has about 10 times as much in it as is ever used.

The APS and American Philatelic Research Library, which owns the American Philatelic Center (“Match Factory”), have an operating agreement dating back to 2005. However, Marsden says most of it has never been followed: There is no lease, no rents collected, no certainty of which organization promotes rentals to outside groups. The operating agreement also predates the completion of the Library facilities. He recommends re-examining this agreement, too.

English does not recommend a dues increase. The APS raised dues by $10 twice in a five-year period, 2003 ($25 to $35) and then again in 2008 ($35 to the present $45). The latter had a strong effect on membership.

The average cost per member is about $40. Dues account for only about 21% of APS revenue. Eliminating the never-financially-successful AmeriStamp Expo winter show will save about $2 per member! No dues pay for American Philatelist, the journal: It is supported by its advertising revenue.

The APS has reduced its debtload by almost $2 million in the three years since English became executive director.

Library:

Chief librarian Scott Tiffney, subject of our current audio feature, says reference request and usage of the APRL is up. Donations of materials to the Library are also up, but he is trying to be more selective so as to speed the inclusion of new materials into the Library. (He talked about this in our interview.) About 37% of the donated materials are added to the Library’s holdings.You can search online for duplicate materials that are for sale.

85% of all issues of American Philatelist, the journal of the APS, are now available online through the Library, and Tiffney expects that to be 100% by late September.

There are also more philatelic exhibits online.

Website:

English said he does not apologize for calling the current APS website, stamps.org, “garbage” in an article that appeared in Linn’s Stamp News. (You can read it here.) He says it was good once, given the state of the art then and what the APS could afford, but it no longer is adequate.

Martin Miller, editor of American Philatelist, is the project manager on revamping the website. You will see changes shortly.

Sales Taxes:

Society attorney Kathleen Yurchak is keeping an eye on South Dakota v. Wayfair, a recent Supreme Court ruling that said states have the right to collect sales taxes from Internet merchants, even if they do not have a physical presence in those states. (Read more in Forbes as well as other publications.) English says there are 5,000 taxing jurisdictions in the U.S.

From my own experience, customers in White Plains, NY, pay city, county and state sales taxes, while those in nearby towns may only pay county and state.

Membership Survey:

All APS members for which the society has e-mail addresses were invited to take the survey, which was written by a professional firm. About 15% did, which is much higher than the usual response to online surveys of 3-4%.

54% of those responding collecting only stamps.
40% collecting stamps and covers.
The other 6% were dealers, advertisers and institutions.

The strongest responses were from the Southeast and Midwest.

77% read every issue.
More than 81% consider it a source of continuing philatelic education for them.
Less than 27% share it. Miller wants to change that: “The recruitment value of ‘AP’ is incalculable.”

Not surprisingly, the interest in online features increases as the age of the member (or, at least, the members’ length of time in the APS) decreases. Some members only do eBay and Facebook online.

85% of AP’s readers read the ads.
60% say they have discovered new dealers through reading American Philatelist.
63% are more likely to support an advertiser over a non-advertiser, that is, whom to patronize or give their business.

The survey respondents overall gave high marks to American Philatelist 3 the highest scores the analysis group had ever seen for an organization!

Miscellany:

There is an eBay seminar at StampShow at 3 p.m. on Friday; I believe someone from eBay HQ will present it. Based on the eBay seminars in the late 1990s at StampShow, this one may be mobbed!

Five dealers are participating in an eBay auction that will close during StampShow. It is a joint project of the APS and American Stamp Dealers Association. We hope to have a report on it after it closes.

Both English and APS president Bob Zeigler are left-handed.

This show marks English’ 3rd anniversary as executive director.

English called the “Stamp Soiree,” a high-donation reception this year being held in the Ohio State Capitol, the “Ziggy Experience.” At that, Zeigler put his head in his hands.

Zeigler will not be attending StampShow this year; his son is getting married this weekend in Seattle.

U.S. Scott Catalogue Update – August 2018

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Click on the issue name to go to the specific page for that issue:

5284 (50¢) Flag Act of 1818, Bicent.

5285 (50¢) Frozen Treats – Green and yellow striped pop at left
5286 (50¢) Frozen Treats – Watermelon-seeded and striped pop at left
5287 (50¢) Frozen Treats – Twin pop at right
5288 (50¢) Frozen Treats – Bitten pop at left
5289 (50¢) Frozen Treats – Sprinkle-topped pops at left and right
5290 (50¢) Frozen Treats – Chocolate, vanilla and strawberry pop at left
5291 (50¢) Frozen Treats – Bitten pop at right
5292 (50¢) Frozen Treats – Sprinkle-topped pop at left
5293 (50¢) Frozen Treats – Chocolate pop at left
5294 (50¢) Frozen Treats – Sprinkle-topped pop at right
a. Block of 10, #5285-5294
b. Convertible booklet pane of 20, 2 each #5285-5294

5295 $1 Head of Statue of Freedom
5296 $2 Head of Statue of Freedom
5297 $5 Head of Statue of Freedom

5298 O Beautiful pane of 20
a. (50¢) Death Valley National Park
b. (50¢) Three Fingers Mountain, Washington
c. (50¢) Double Rainbow Over Kansas Field
d. (50¢) Great Smoky Mountains National Park
e. (50¢) Field of Wheat, Wisconsin
f. (50¢) Plowed Wheat Fields, Washington
g. (50¢) Grasslands Wildlife Management Area, California
h. (50¢) Field of Wheat, Montana
i. (50¢) Yosemite National Park
j. (50¢) Crater Lake National Park
k. (50¢) Monument Valley Navajo Tribal Park
l. (50¢) Maroon Bells, Colorado
m. (50¢) Sunrise Near Orinda, California
n. (50¢) Pigeon Point, Near Pescadero, California
o. (50¢) Edna Valley, California
p. (50¢) Livermore, California
q. (50¢) Napali Coast State Wilderness Park, Hawaii
r. (50¢) Lone Ranch Beach, Oregon
s. (50¢) Canaveral National Seashore, Florida
t. (50¢) Bailey Island, Maine

RW85 $25 Mallards Hunting Permit Stamp, self-adhesive
b. Souvenir sheet of 4
RW85A $25 Mallards Hunting Permit Stamp, self-adhesive, souvenir sheet of 1

250th Anniversary of Captain Cook’s Voyage (UK 2018)

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[press release]
Royal Mail Celebrates 250th Anniversary Of Captain Cook’s Endeavour Voyage With Special Stamps

  • A set of 10 stamps will be issued to mark Captain Cook setting sail in one of the greatest voyages of discovery of all time aboard HM Bark Endeavour
  • The stamps include a selection of the original drawings and paintings of the indigenous peoples, landscapes and flora and fauna, some of which had never been seen before by Europeans
  • The stamps and souvenir products can be pre-ordered now from www.royalmail.com/captaincook and are available from 7,000 Post Offices nationwide from 16 August 2018

Royal Mail is issuing a set of stamps to mark the 250th anniversary of Captain Cook setting sail in one of the greatest voyages of discovery of all time aboard HM Bark Endeavour – with nearly 100 men including astronomers, artists and scientists.

The ten-stamp set, four of which are presented in a miniature sheet, will include a selection of the original drawings and paintings of the indigenous peoples, landscapes of the Pacific and flora and fauna, some of which had never been seen before by Europeans, and which amazed the scientific establishment at the time.

Also featured are Cook himself, natural history artist, Sydney Parkinson and naturalist, Joseph Banks as well as an illustration of a Tahitian Mourner by Tupaia, a Polynesian priest who joined the voyage as a navigator and translator.

During the expedition, Cook and his men initiated the first European contact with Eastern Australia, mapped New Zealand and observed the transit of Venus across the Sun.

The Endeavour returned to the UK on 13 July 1771 after circumnavigating the globe, mapping over 5000 miles of coastline, and on board were 3000 specimens for scientific examination and hundreds of drawings which fascinated the public and amazed the scientific establishment.

Cook’s pursuit of new knowledge and information helped to correct the positions of many Pacific islands which had been incorrectly placed by earlier travellers. Ultimately, Cook’s voyage produced Pacific maps based on accurate information rather than conjecture.

Philip Parker, Royal Mail, said: “Our striking new stamps mark the 250th anniversary of one the most important voyages of discovery of all time. On board the Endeavour were scientists and artists who recorded their findings and the ship brought back thousands of specimens and illustrations which amazed society”.

The stamps and souvenir products can be pre-ordered now from www.royalmail.com/captaincook and are available from 7,000 Post Offices nationwide from 16 August.

The set of 6:

  • Sir Joseph Banks Bt by Sir Joshua Reynolds, Phaethon rubricauda (red-tailed tropicbird) by Sydney Parkinson and Passiflora aurantia (red passion flower) outline drawing by Sydney Parkinson finished by Fred Polydore Nodder
  • Chief Mourner of Tahiti and a scene with a canoe by the artist of the Chief Mourner (Tupaia)
  • Captain James Cook by Nathaniel Dance, Triumph of the Navigators by Robin Brooks
  • Drawings of the observations of the transit of Venus, 1769, by
  • Charles Green and Lieutenant James Cook alongside a photograph of a sextant
  • Clianthus puniceus (scarlet clianthus) by Sydney Parkinson and a portrait of a Maori Chief with full facial moko
  • Volatinia jacarina (blue-black grassquit) by Sydney Parkinson and Sydney Parkinson, self-portrait

The minisheet:

  • A chart exhibiting the discoveries made by Captain James Cook by Lieutenant Roberts
  • Boathouse and canoes on Raiatea, Society Islands
  • An arched rock with a Maori clifftop fort in New Zealand
  • Repairing The Endeavour on the Endeavour River, Australia

Amos Media Produces Train-Stamp Album

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[press release]
Amos Media is proud to offer Rail Transportation, an exciting new item in our popular Scott National Album topical series. This album celebrates the dynamic, rich history of rail transportation, which has been an important part of global life for more than two centuries — moving goods, mail and people around the world. On its pages you will find rail themed stamps from North America, Central America and South America.

Our new Rail Transportation album highlights 349 stamps featuring locomotives of all kinds, including early steam engines, diesel trains, electric trains and trollies, horse drawn streetcars, and more.

To help collectors of all levels, we have included the year of issue and a brief description of each stamp. The full-color illustrations and Scott numbers will help you identify the stamps. The album is printed on sturdy acid-free paper and is formatted to accommodate single stamps. Three blank pages are included, to encourage collectors to display additional stamps and related items. Additional blank pages can be purchased separately.

Whether you are a railroad enthusiast or a connoisseur of beautiful postage stamps, this album is sure to excite and challenge your hobby pursuits.

Our knowledgeable staff is available to help guide you through your collecting journey. Please contact us at supps@amosmedia.com with any questions. Visit us on the web at Amosadvantage.com.

Reef Safari (Australia 2018)

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[press release]
Go on a Reef Safari for Stamp Collecting Month

This August for Stamp Collecting Month, Australia Post is calling on Australians to go on a Reef Safari with the release of five beautiful stamps showcasing some of the diverse and threatened species found on the Great Barrier Reef.

Coinciding with the third International Year of the Reef (IYOR), a campaign by the International Coral Reef Initiative (ICRI), this year’s Stamp Collecting Month asks collectors to take a closer look at how we can preserve this UNESCO World Heritage site.

Jane Cohen, Australia Post General Manager of Consumer, said Stamp Collecting Month is an exciting way for young students to engage in thought-provoking themes.

“In the International Year of the Reef, we’re encouraging children to learn more about the environment and biodiversity of Australia’s Great Barrier Reef through the special Reef Safari stamp issue. The five stamps highlight the beauty and diversity of species living in the largest coral reef system in the world – the Grey Reef Shark, Green Sea Turtle, Nautilus, Olive Sea Snake and Emperor Angelfish,” said Ms Cohen.

“As one of the world’s seven natural wonders and one of our most popular tourist locations, the Great Barrier Reef is home to billions of organisms, corals, and marine life. Sadly, climate change has placed the reef under pressure like never before, and we hope these stamps can highlight the things we can do to make a difference.”

Professor Ove Hoegh-Guldberg, Director of the Global Change Institute and Professor of Marine Science at The University of Queensland, reinforced the need for climate action as well as the importance of educating the community about the threats.

“Urgent protection is needed to save the reef, or Australia and the world risk losing a global treasure that provides enormous economic, social, and environmental benefits to hundreds of millions of people. Time and time again, we are seeing devastating impacts on coral reefs when sea temperatures warm even for short periods. If average global temperatures increase by 1.5 degrees above the pre-industrial period – a point just decades away – many scientists think that most coral reefs will become unviable. We must put the brakes on climate change for the sake of coral reefs,” he said.

The stamps and associated products will be available from 1 August in participating Post Offices, via mail order on 1800 331 794, and online at auspost.com.au/stamps while stocks last.

Online education resources such as lesson plans for primary school classes, information on each species featured, and more can be found at auspost.com.au/scm

700 Years of The Guilder (Netherlands 2018)

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[press release]
The Dutch guilder as a cultural symbol

The Hague, 20 July 2018 The guilder was succeeded by the euro on 1 January 2002, following 700 years of loyal service. On 23 July, PostNL is issuing 10 stamps featuring 10 special guilder coins and guilder notes.

Largest collection in the Netherlands
The coins and notes originate from the National Numismatic Collection (NNC), which is managed by De Nederlandsche Bank. It is the largest collection of coins, paper money, medals and related objects in the Netherlands. The guilder naturally plays an important role in this collection. The history of the Dutch guilder spans over 700 years. The first guilders were used in the Low Countries from the year 1300, at a time when they were still coined in Florence.

The first as well as the last
The stamps feature a golden lily guilder from 1355, one of the first guilders coined in the Netherlands. Other stamps in the issue include the paper emergency coin of Leiden from 1574, the proof coinage of a silver state guilder from 1680, a 1,000-guilder note also called the red back, from 1860, a paper two and a half guilder coin from 1949, the Lieftinck 10-guilder note from 1945 and the last issued 10-guilder note, the kingfisher from 1997.

Numismatic references
The Remarkable money – the Dutch guilder issue was designed by graphic designer Michaël Snitker from Amsterdam. His design includes many references to the history of the Dutch guilder, including the die position of guilder coins and the complex geometrical patterns on guilder notes. Snicker: “We wanted to display the money by telling a story, using exclusive coins and notes from various periods. The National Numismatic Collection includes incredibly beautiful material, a reflection of our country’s rich numismatic history. The Netherlands has a strong tradition of designing coins and banknotes. The role of money as a cultural symbol has been particularly striking in the twentieth century. This also applies to stamps, of course. That is what makes their combination in this issue so special”.

Availability
The Remarkable money – the Dutch guilder sheetlet contains 10 different stamps marked with ‘Nederland 1’, the denomination for items up to 20g in weight destined for delivery in the Netherlands. The stamps are available as of 23 July from the post office counter in Bruna stores and online. The stamps can also be ordered by phone from the Collect Club customer service on telephone number +31 (0)88 – 868 99 00. The validity period is indefinite.

[There’s a lot of detail in this design, so here’s a larger illustration:]

De Fabeltjeskrant Children’s Programme (Netherlands 2018)

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[press release]
De Fabeltjeskrant features on stamps and returns to television

PostNL has issued five new stamps featuring Meneer de Uil (Mister Owl) from De Fabeltjeskrant (The Daily Fable). The stamp sheetlet represents the first in a series of stamps comprising a total of 25 characters from the old children’s programme that was so popular.

New golden frame personal stamp
PostNL is issuing the stamps on the occasion of the introduction of the new golden frame for personal stamps, designed by type designer Martin Majoor from Arnhem. Meneer de Uil was chosen because De Fabeltjeskrant was first broadcast 50 years ago.

Comeback in the cinema and on TV
De Fabeltjeskrant will make a comeback later this year with a brand new animated film in the cinema. The first television episodes will be ready in 2019. The new series will take the form of a digital animation that will resemble the appearance of the former puppet series as closely as possible. The film will provide parents and grandparents with a feast of recognition, also in terms of the voices and characters.

Powerful and muted
The De Fabeltjeskrant 50th anniversary – Meneer de Uil issue will depict the felt puppet from the original series. The background of the sheetlet features the front page of a double-folded edition of De Fabeltjeskrant. The design of the new stamps was produced by graphic designer Sandra Smulders from Gouda. She designed a separate stamp for each of the 25 characters, with their own newspaper and distinctive colours. “Always colours that not only match the character, but that are also consistent with the period in which De Fabeltjeskrant was created”, explains Smulders. “Powerful, but also sober and muted, which conjures up a sense of nostalgia.”

A nod to current events
Stephan van den Eijnden, commercial director Mail at PostNL, has always been a big fan of De Fabeltjeskrant. “With these unique stamps we are also paying tribute to the special character of De Fabeltjeskrant”, Van den Eijnden remarks. “Whole generations of children grew up with it. And in fact whole generations of adults as well, who enjoyed the nod to current events and to the changing society in the Netherlands.”

Availability
The De Fabeltjeskrant 50th anniversary – Meneer de Uil sheetlet contains five personal stamps marked with ‘Nederland 1’, the denomination for items up to 20g in weight destined for delivery in the Netherlands. The stamps are available as of 23 July 2018 from the post office counter in Bruna stores and online. The stamps can also be ordered by phone from the Collect Club customer service on telephone number +31 (0)88 – 868 99 00. The validity period is indefinite.

On Saturday 29 September the Fabeltjesland, a journey through 50 years of De Fabeltjeskrant exhibition opens at LP2 on the Wilhelminapier in Rotterdam.

USPS: Up To 12 Holiday Issues Available In 2018

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The U.S. Postal Service says there may be as many as 12 different issues — a total of 18 different stamps—from which mailers can choose this holiday season. The July 24th USPS press release begins:

U.S. Postal Service Delivers Happy Holidays
New 2018 Forever Stamps

WASHINGTON — The U.S. Postal Service today unveiled four more stamps for the upcoming holiday season, as well as new releases and re-issues from recent years.

On August 28th, the USPS added that there also will be a souvenir sheet for Sparkling Holidays.

Here are the stamps, with links to our pages for each:

Sparkling Holidays (2018)Global PoinsettiaMadonna & Child by BachiaccaKwanzaa 2018Hanukkah 2018 Diwali (2016)Eid Greetings (2016)

The USPS warns that the following are on sale “while supplies last but may not be available in all Post Office locations:”Nativity (2016)Christmas Carols (2017)Florentine Madonna & Child (2016)Kwanzaa (2016)Hanukkah (2016)

Hanukkah (U.S. 2018)

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Updated August 1st: Missed by most of us the first time around is the passing mention in the first sentence: This will be a joint issue with Israel.

The Virtual Stamp Club obtained a copy of the Israeli stamp design on October 9th, and it is virtually the same. Details and illustrations are here.

Announced by the USPS on July 24th:

The Jewish holiday of Hanukkah is celebrated with a new stamp issued jointly with Israel Post. Hanukkah celebrates the rededication of the Temple in Jerusalem in the second century B.C. after it was reclaimed from armies that desecrated the sanctuary. Tradition relates that during the Temple rededication — Hanukkah is the Hebrew word for “dedication” — the sacramental oil needed to light the lamps was enough to burn for only one day; miraculously, it burned for eight days until new oil could be pressed. To commemorate this story, celebrations include the ritual lighting of the hanukiah, the nine-branched menorah used only during Hanukkah. Eight branches hold candles representing each of the eight nights and days of Hanukkah; the ninth, the shamash or “servant,” is used to light the other candles.

The stamp features a Hanukkah menorah created using Jewish folk art papercutting techniques. Artist Tamar Fishman made a pencil sketch of the design, then cut the two-dimensional image on white paper with a fine blade. She chose blue-purple and green papers for the background to highlight the central design. Behind the menorah is a shape reminiscent of an ancient oil jug that represents the heart of the Hanukkah miracle. Additional design elements include dreidels — spinning tops used to play a children’s game during the holiday — and a pomegranate plant with fruit and flowers.

Hanukkah is a family-centered holiday, with celebrations taking place in people’s homes. Games, songs, gifts and food all contribute to making the holiday festive and fun for family and friends.

Hanukkah begins on the 25th of Kislev in the Hebrew calendar, a date that falls in late November or December. In 2018, Hanukkah begins at sundown Dec 2.

Art director Ethel Kessler was the designer. Tamar Fishman created the original art for the stamp.

Updated July 26th:
This stamp will be issued October 16th in Newport, RI, where the first synagogue in America was founded (and still exists).

Updated September 13th:
On October 16, 2018, in Newport, RI, the U.S. Postal Service will issue the Hanukkah 2018 stamp (Forever® priced at the First-Class Mail rate) in one design, in a pressure-sensitive adhesive pane of 20 stamps (Item 565600). The stamp will go on sale nationwide October 16, 2018, and must not be sold or cancelled before the first-day-of-issue.

The U.S. Postal Service and Israel Post join together to celebrate Hanukkah, a joyous Jewish holiday. The stamp features a papercut design of a 9-branch menorah used during the holiday. Drawing on Jewish papercutting traditions, the artist based her design on Hanukkah themes and references from ancient texts. Behind the menorah, the artist cut a design reminiscent of the shape of an ancient oil jug to represent the heart of the Hanukkah miracle. Meant to last one day, the sacred oil burned for eight. On each side of the design are two broken oil jugs and two dreidels — spinning tops used in the modern Hanukkah game. The plant twining along the sides is a pomegranate; both the flowers and the fruit are seen in the twisting branches. Art director Ethel Kessler designed the stamp with original art by Tamar Fishman.

Availability to Post Offices: Item 565600, Hanukkah 2018 (Forever Priced at the First-Class Mail Rate) Commemorative Pane of 20 Stamps

Stamp Fulfillment Services will make an automatic push distribution to Post Offices of a quantity to cover approximately 30 days of sales.

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 – Hanukkah 2018 Stamp
USPS Stamp Fulfillment Services
8300 NE Underground Drive, Suite 300
Kansas City, MO 64144-9900

After applying the first-day-of-issue postmark, the Postal Service™ will return the envelopes through the mail. There is no charge for the postmark up to a quantity of 50. There is a 5-cent charge for each additional postmark over 50. All orders must be postmarked by February 16, 2019.

Technical Specifications:

Issue: Hanukkah 2018 Stamp
Item Number: 565600
Denomination & Type of Issue: First-Class Mail Forever
Format: Pane of 20 (1 design)
Series: Holiday Celebrations
Issue Date & City: October 16, 2018, Newport, RI 02840
Art Director: Ethel Kessler, Bethesda, MD
Designer: Ethel Kessler, Bethesda, MD
Typographer: Ethel Kessler, Bethesda, MD
Artist: Tamar Fishman, Bethesda, MD
Modeler: Sandra Lane/Michelle Finn
Manufacturing Process: Offset, Microprint
Printer: Banknote Corporation of America
Press Type: Alprinta 74
Stamps per Pane: 20
Print Quantity: 12,000,000 stamps
Paper Type: Phosphor Tagged Paper Overall
Adhesive Type: Pressure-sensitive
Processed at: Banknote Corporation of America
Colors: Pantone 316, Cyan, Magenta, Yellow, Black
Stamp Orientation: Vertical
Image Area (w x h): 0.77 x 1.05 in/19.558 x 26.67 mm
Overall Size (w x h): 0.91 x 1.19 in/23.114 x 30.226 mm
Full Pane Size (w x h): 5.425 x 5.875 in/137.795 x 149.225 mm
Press Sheet Size (w x h): 16.275 x 11.75 in/413.39 x 298.45 mm
Plate Size: 240 stamps per revolution
Plate Numbers: “B” followed by five (5) digits
Marginal Markings:
Front: Header: HAPPY HANUKKAH • Footer: Issued Jointly with Israel • Plate numbers in bottom corners
Back: ©2018 USPS • USPS logo • Two barcodes (565600) • Plate position diagram • Promotional text

Added September 17th: Here are the first-day postmarks for this issue:The Digital Color Postmark measures 2.58″x1.41″ The B&W pictorial postmark measures 2.03″x1.43″

Updated October 10th:
USPS Cancellation Services will have the Israeli pictorial postmark (shown on the right) available and advises it measures 1.25″x1.27″. It adds, “The USPS will have the Israel postage available for purchase on or before 10/16/18.” More information from Israel Post can be found here.

[press release]
Postal Service and Israel Post to Jointly Dedicate Hanukkah Stamps

What: The U.S. Postal Service will be issuing a new Hanukkah Forever stamp to celebrate the Jewish holiday. The stamp will be dedicated in conjunction with a new stamp being issued by Israel Post. News about the stamp is being shared with the hashtag #HanukkahStamps

Who: Judge Gary Shapiro, Judicial Officer, U.S. Postal Service

When:
Tuesday, Oct. 16, 2018, 11 a.m., Eastern Daylight Time

Where:
Touro Synagogue
85 Touro Street
Newport, RI 02840

Followers of the U.S. Postal Service’s Facebook page can view the ceremony live atfacebook.com/USPS.

RSVP:
Dedication ceremony attendees are encouraged to RSVP at usps.com/hanukkahstamps to gain entrance to the event.

Background: The new Hanukkah stamp artwork features a menorah created using the techniques of the traditional Jewish folk art of papercutting. Artist Tamar Fishman made a pencil sketch of the design and then with a fine blade, cut the two-dimensional image on white paper. She chose blue-purple and green papers for the background to highlight the central design. Behind the menorah is a shape reminiscent of an ancient oil jug that represents the heart of Hanukkah. Additional design elements include dreidels — spinning tops used to play a children’s game during the holiday — and a pomegranate plant with fruit and flowers.

Art director Ethel Kessler designed the stamp. As a Forever stamp, Hanukkah will always be equal in value to the current First-Class Mail 1-ounce price.

Hanukkah begins on the 25th of Kislev in the Hebrew calendar, a date that falls in late November or December. In 2018, Hanukkah begins at sundown Dec. 2.

Updated October 23rd, from the USPS:
The Israel postage is now on sale. The item number is 801217. It is only being sold in a pane of 15 for $35.00. FDC services should note that the Israeli stamp is larger than the U.S. one.

Kwanzaa (U.S. 2018)

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Announced by the USPS July 24th:

With this new stamp, the Postal Service celebrates Kwanzaa with the seventh stamp since 1997 designed for the annual Pan-African holiday. Kwanzaa takes place over seven days from Dec. 26 to Jan. 1, and brings family, community and culture together for many African-Americans.

The stamp depicts a man, woman and child adorned in a mixture of western and traditional clothing, paying tribute to the holiday’s focus on the contemporary African-American experience, while also drawing on African roots. The family is gathered around a kinara (candleholder), the warm light from seven candles (mishumaa saba) illuminating their faces. Several other important Kwanzaa symbols sit on the table — a few ears of corn (muhindi) and various fruits and vegetables (mazao); the kikombe cha umoja (unity cup); and the mkeka, a straw mat on top of which everything is placed.

Created in 1966 during the height of the Black Freedom Movement, Kwanzaa was conceived as a unifying holiday during initiatives to end racial oppression in the United States. It draws on African traditions, deriving its name from the Swahili phrase “matunda ya kwanza,” meaning “first fruits.” With origins in Africa’s ancient and modern first-harvest festivities, Kwanzaa synthesizes and reimagines many of these communal traditions as a contemporary celebration and reaffirmation of African-American culture.

Artist Floyd Cooper worked with art director Derry Noyes, who designed the stamp.

Updated July 26th:
This stamp will be issued in Raleigh, NC, on October 10th. Ceremony details to be announced.

Updated August 30th:

On October 10, 2018, in Raleigh, NC, the U.S. Postal Service will issue the Kwanzaa 2018 stamp (Forever priced at the First-Class Mail rate) in one design, in a pressure-sensitive adhesive pane of 20 stamps (Item 565800). The stamp will go on sale nationwide October 10, 2018, and must not be sold or canceled before the first-day-of-issue.

With this new stamp, the Postal Service continues its tradition of celebrating Kwanzaa. The annual holiday, which takes place over 7 days from December 26 to January 1, brings family, community, and culture together for many African Americans. The stamp depicts a small family adorned in a mixture of western and traditional clothing, paying tribute to the holiday’s focus on the contemporary African-American experience while also drawing on African roots. They are gathered around a kinara (candleholder), the warm light from the seven candles illuminating their faces. Several other important Kwanzaa symbols sit on the table. Artist Floyd Cooper used a method he calls “oil erasure” — covering an illustrated board in oil paint and then erasing layers of paint to reveal his images — to create this design of familial love and connection. Art director Derry Noyes designed the stamp.

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 – Kwanzaa 2018 Stamp
USPS Stamp Fulfillment Services
8300 NE Underground Drive, Suite 300
Kansas City, MO 64144-9900

After applying the first-day-of-issue postmark, the Postal Service will return the envelopes through the mail. There is no charge for the postmark up to a quantity of 50. There is a 5-cent charge for each additional postmark over 50. All orders must be postmarked by February 10, 2019.

Technical Specifications:

Issue: Kwanzaa 2018 Stamp
Item Number: 565800
Denomination & Type of Issue: First-Class Mail Forever
Format: Pane of 20 (1 design)
Series: N/A
Issue Date & City: October 10, 2018, Raleigh, NC 27676
Art Director: Derry Noyes, Washington, DC
Designer: Derry Noyes, Washington, DC
Typographer: Derry Noyes, Washington, DC
Artist: Floyd Cooper, Easton, PA
Modeler: Sandra Lane/Michelle Finn
Manufacturing Process: Offset, Microprint
Printer: Banknote Corporation of America
Press Type: Alprinta 74
Stamps per Pane: 20
Print Quantity: 15,000,000 stamps
Paper Type: Phosphor Tagged Paper Overall
Adhesive Type: Pressure-sensitive
Processed at: Banknote Corporation of America
Colors: Cyan, Magenta, Yellow, Black
Stamp Orientation: Vertical
Image Area (w x h): 0.77 x 1.05 in/19.558 x 26.67 mm
Overall Size (w x h): 0.91 x 1.19 in/23.114 x 30.226 mm
Full Pane Size (w x h): 5.425 x 5.635 in/137.795 x 143.129 mm
Press Sheet Size (w x h): 16.275 x 11.27 in/413.39 x 286.26 mm
Plate Size: 240 stamps per revolution
Plate Numbers: “B” followed by four (4) digits
Marginal Markings:
Front: Plate numbers in four corners
Back: ©2018 USPS • USPS Logo • Two barcodes (565800) • Plate position diagram • Promotional text

Added September 8th:
Here are the first-day postmarks for this issue:The Digital Color postmark measures 2.92″x1.29″The B&W pictorial measures 2.98″x1.37″

Updated September 20th:

[press release]
Postal Service Dedicating Kwanzaa Forever Stamp

What: The U.S. Postal Service continues its tradition of celebrating Kwanzaa, an annual Pan-African holiday that brings family, community, and culture together for many African Americans. News of the stamp is being shared with the hashtag #KwanzaaStamps.

When: Wednesday, Oct.10, 2018, 11 a.m., Eastern Daylight Time

Where: North Carolina State University
Witherspoon Student Center
African American Cultural Center
2810 Cates Avenue
Raleigh, NC 27606

[According to its website, the Student Center has a 500-seat auditorium. —VSC]

Followers of the U.S. Postal Service’s Facebook page can view the ceremony live at facebook.com/USPS.

Background: With this new stamp design, the U.S. Postal Service continues its tradition of celebrating Kwanzaa, the annual Pan-African holiday, which takes place over seven days from Dec. 26 to Jan. 1 and brings family, community and culture together for many African-Americans.

The stamp art depicts a man, woman and child adorned in a mixture of western and traditional clothing, paying tribute to the holiday’s focus on the contemporary African-American experience while also drawing on African roots. The family is gathered around a kinara (candleholder), the warm light from the seven candles (mishumaa saba) illuminating their faces. Several other important Kwanzaa symbols sit on the table — a few ears of corn (muhindi) and various fruits and vegetables (mazao); the kikombe cha umoja(unity cup); and the mkeka, a straw mat on top of which everything is placed.

Each year, millions of African-Americans gather with friends and family throughout the week of Kwanzaa to honor the holiday’s seven founding principles — unity (Umoja), self-determination (Kujichagulia), collective work and responsibility (Ujima), cooperative economics (Ujamaa), purpose (Nia), creativity (Kuumba) and faith (Imani). Each day of Kwanzaa is dedicated to the focus of one of these seven principles, collectively known as the Nguzo Saba.

Artist Floyd Cooper worked with art director Derry Noyes, who designed the stamp.

This is the seventh stamp design issued by the Postal Service in celebration of Kwanzaa. The first Kwanzaa commemorative stamp was issued in 1997. New designs also were issued in 2004, 2009, 2011, 2013 and 2016.

The Kwanzaa stamp is being issued as a Forever stamp. This Forever stamp will always be equal to the current First-Class Mail 1-ounce price.