Scott Catalog numbers:

UX646 (35¢) Flowers and Bee postal card
UY53 (35¢)+(35¢) Flowers and Bee paid reply postal card

From the Postal Bulletin June 25th:
On July 31, 2015, in Clackamas, OR, the U.S. Postal Service® will issue the Fanciful Flowers stamped card, Forever® priced at 39 cents (35-cent postage plus 4-cent surcharge) in one design.

The stamped cards will go on sale nationwide July 31, 2015.

With this attractive stamped card, the U.S. Postal Service features a stylized illustration of flowers and a bee. This fanciful rendering in red, white, and green was inspired by observations of life in a garden. Artist Cathie Bleck used a process similar to woodblock printing to create the stamp art. Ethel Kessler was the art director.

The Fanciful Flowers stamped card will be available in the following formats:

• Single-cut cards (Item 222100)
• Double-reply cards (Item 228100)
• Sheet of 40 cards (Item 228400)

How to Order the First-Day-of-Issue Postmark:
Customers have 60 days to obtain the first-day-of-issue postmark by mail. They may purchase new stamps at their local Post Office, at The Postal Store® website at www.usps.com/shop, or by calling 800-STAMP-24. They should affix the stamps to envelopes of their choice, address the envelopes (to themselves or others), and place them in a larger envelope addressed to

Fanciful Flowers Stamped Cards
Marketing Manager
Portland District Marketing
PO Box 4029
Portland, OR 97208-4029

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 29, 2015.

There are two philatelic products for this stamp issue:

• 222116 Single card with cancellation, $0.51
• 228116 Double-reply card with cancellation, $0.90.

Technical Specifications (single card):

Issue: Fanciful Flowers Stamped Card
Item Number: 222100
Denomination & Type of Issue: Non-denominated Stamped Card
Format: Single-cut Cards
Issue Date & City: July 31, 2015, Clackamas, OR 97015
Art Director: Ethel Kessler, Bethesda, MD
Designer: Ethel Kessler, Bethesda, MD
Typographer: Ethel Kessler, Bethesda, MD
Artist: Cathie Bleck, Cleveland Heights, OH
Modeler: Joseph Sheeran
Manufacturing Process: Offset, Microprint
Printer: Ashton Potter (USA) Ltd. (APU)
Printed at: Williamsville, NY
Press Type: Stevens, Vari-size Security Press
Print Quantity: 3,120,000 stamped cards
Paper Type: Nonphosphored Type III, Block
Adhesive Type: N/A
Processed at: Ashton Potter (USA) Ltd. (APU)
Image 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: 18 cards per revolution
Plate Numbers: N/A
Marginal Markings: © 2015 USPS • Recycling Logo

Technical Specifications (double reply):

Issue: Fanciful Flowers Stamped Card
Item Number: 228100
Denomination & Type of Issue: Non-denominated Stamped Card, Mail-use
Format: Double-reply Cards
Issue Date & City: July 31, 2015, Clackamas, OR 97015
Art Director: Ethel Kessler, Bethesda, MD
Designer: Ethel Kessler, Bethesda, MD
Typographer: Ethel Kessler, Bethesda, MD
Artist: Cathie Bleck, Cleveland Heights, OH
Modeler: Joseph Sheeran
Manufacturing Process: Offset, Microprint
Printer: Ashton Potter (USA) Ltd. (APU)
Printed at: Williamsville, NY
Press Type: Muller A76
Print Quantity: 96,000 double reply cards
Paper Type: Nonphosphored Type III, Block
Adhesive Type: N/A
Processed at: Ashton Potter (USA) Ltd. (APU)
Image 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: 12 cards per revolution
Plate Numbers: N/A
Marginal Markings: © 2015 USPS • Recycling Logo

Technical Specifications (sheet of 40):

Issue: Fanciful Flowers Stamped Card
Item Number: 228400
Denomination & Type of Issue: Non-denominated Stamped Card, Mail-use
Format: Sheet of 40 Cards
Issue Date & City: July 31, 2015, Clackamas, OR 97015
Art Director: Ethel Kessler, Bethesda, MD
Designer: Ethel Kessler, Bethesda, MD
Typographer: Ethel Kessler, Bethesda, MD
Artist: Cathie Bleck, Cleveland Heights, OH
Modeler: Joseph Sheeran
Manufacturing Process: Offset, Microprint
Printer: Ashton Potter (USA) Ltd. (APU)
Printed at: Williamsville, NY
Press Type: Heidelberg Speedmaster
Print Quantity: 2,500 sheets of 40
Paper Type: Nonphosphored Type III, Block
Adhesive Type: N/A
Processed at: Ashton Potter (USA) Ltd. (APU)
Image 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 Numbers: N/A
Marginal Markings: © 2015 USPS • Recycling Logo

From the Postal Bulletin June 11th: The actual first-day city is Clackamas, OR, and this card will be available as a single stamped card, double (reply) card and a sheet. There will not be a Digital Color Postmark.

From the USPS June 3rd:

…the new Fanciful Flowers stamped card, which will be issued July 31. The card features a stylized illustration of flowers and a bee.  This whimsical rendering in red, white and green was inspired by observations of life in a garden. The artist used a process similar to woodblock printing to create the stamp art.  The colored petals and fragrances of flowers attract bees, providing these important flower pollinators with food and other nutrients in the form of energy-producing nectar and protein-rich pollen. This mutually beneficial relationship has facilitated the evolution of flowers and bees alike.  Art director Ethel Kessler designed the stamped card, illustrated by Cathie Bleck.

USPS spokesman Mark Saunders also answered a question from Jay Bigalke of American Philatelist:

Q: Why doesn’t the denomination read “POSTCARD” like the new nondenominated postcard rate stamp just issued?

A: The decision to make the actual stamped card a “Forever” stamped card was made several year ago. As a card is a card it was decided that using “Forever” would cause no confusion for the public. With the Postcard Rate stamp is was necessary to distinguish it to avoid it’s mistaken use as a first-class rate stamp.

July 31st is the first day of the National Topical Stamp Show in Portland, Oregon, and we believe this “stamped card” (postcard) will be issued there.

Scott Catalog numbers:

5009 (49¢) Elvis Presley
a. Imperforate

Updated August 11th: A collector was able to buy three panes of this stamp in Memphis two days before the official first day of issue and, yes, he had them postmarked to show the early sale. The Memphis Commercial Appeal newspaper has the story.

[press release – August 7th]

MEMPHIS — Music fans attending the official First-Day-of-Issue ceremony for the Music Icons: Elvis Presley Forever stamp will hear a new version of Elvis’ inspiring song “If I Can Dream” as they’ve never heard it before.

Priscilla Presley will join Postmaster General Megan Brennan in the official First-Day-of-Issue stamp dedication ceremony at 8 a.m. CST Wed., Aug. 12 at Graceland in Memphis as part of this year’s Elvis Week celebration. Customers can buy the stamps beginning at 12 a.m. Aug. 12 at a mobile Post Office that will be located outside the gate at Graceland. The public is encouraged to tweet about this news using #ElvisForever. The stamps will be available in Post Offices nationwide that day.

The U.S. Postal Service in conjunction with Sony Music’s RCA/Legacy Recordings will release an exclusive CD of 18 Presley hits titled ELVIS PRESLEY FOREVER which includes a new performance of “If I Can Dream” and an additional previously unreleased song. Fans can get ELVIS PRESLEY FOREVER for $9.99 at select Post Offices beginning August 12. Both the CD and the stamps can be pre-ordered here for delivery shortly after Aug. 12.

In early June, Postmaster General Megan Brennan announced that the King of Rock ‘n’ Roll™ will be immortalized on a stamp. The stamp image was previewed in early July. The stamps are part of the Postal Service’s “Music Icons” series, which feature 16 stamps in panes designed to suggest a classic 45 RPM record sleeve.

The Postal Service receives no tax dollars for operating expenses and relies on the sale of postage, products and services to fund its operations.

Updated August 1st: Here are the first day postmarks for this issue:  The DCP measures 2.60″x1.40″. The B&W postmark measures 2.43″x1.02″.

Updated July 9th from the Postal Bulletin:
On August 12, 2015, at Graceland in Memphis, TN, the U.S. Postal Service® will issue the Elvis Presley (Forever® priced at 49 cents) commemorative First-Class Mail® stamp in one design, in a pressure-sensitive adhesive (PSA) pane of 16 stamps (Item #589000). The $7.84 Elvis Presley pane of 16 stamps may not be split, and the stamps may not be sold individually.

The stamp will go on sale nationwide August 12, 2015.

This issuance honors Elvis Presley (1935–1977), the singer, guitarist, musician, and actor who became one of the first true stars of rock and roll. The stamp, part of the Music Icons series, features a 1955 black-and-white photograph of Presley taken by William Speer. Presley’s signature, in gold ink, is featured along the right side of the stamp. A small gold crown, between the words “Forever” and “USA” is a nod to Presley’s nickname, “The King of Rock and Roll™.” The stamp pane resembles the appearance of a vintage 45 rpm record sleeve. One side of the pane includes the stamps and the image of a sliver of a record seeming to peek out of the top of the sleeve with a list of Presley’s number one hit songs bordering the block of stamps. The reverse side includes an image of Presley shot by photographer Alfred Wertheimer and the logo for the Music Icons series. Antonio Alcalá served as the art director and designed the stamp pane with Leslie Badani.

How to Order the First-Day-of-Issue Postmark:
Customers have 60 days to obtain the first-day-of-issue postmark by mail. They may purchase new stamps at their local Post Office, at The Postal Store® website at http://www.usps.com/shop, or by calling 800-STAMP-24. They should affix the stamps to envelopes of their choice, address the envelopes (to themselves or others), and place them in a larger envelope addressed to:

Elvis Presley Stamp
Postmaster
555 South 3rd Street, Rm 7306
Memphis, TN 38101-9998

After applying the first-day-of-issue postmark, the Postal Service will return the envelopes through the mail. There is no charge for the postmark up to a quantity of 50. There is a 5-cent charge for each additional postmark over 50. All orders must be postmarked by October 11, 2015.

There are thirteen philatelic products for this stamp issue:

• 589006 Press Sheet with Die-cut, $70.56 (print quantity 500).
• 589008 Press Sheet without Die-cut, $70.56 (print quantity 1,500).
• 589015 Keepsake (pane of 16 with Digital Color Postmark) $ 9.95.
• 589016 First-Day Cover single $0.93
• 589018 First-Day Cover Full Pane $10.34.
• 589019 Cancelled Full Pane $ 10.34.
• 589021 Digital Color Postmark single $1.64.
• 589023 Framed Art Small $ 19.95.
• 589024 Framed Art $ 39.95.
• 589027 The Forever Elvis Collection Folio $ 24.95.
• 589030 Ceremony Program $6.95.
• 589031 Stamped Deck Card $0.95.
• 589032 Stamped Deck Card with Digital Color Postmark $1.99.

Technical Specifications:

Issue: Elvis Presley Stamp
Item Number: 589000
Denomination & Type of Issue: First-Class Mail® Forever
Format: Pane of 16 (1 design)
Series: Music Icon
Issue Date & City: August 12, 2015, Memphis, TN 38101
Designer: Antonio Alcalá, Alexandria VA and Leslie Badani, Alexandria, VA
Art Director: Antonio Alcalá, Alexandria VA
Typographer: Antonio Alcalá, Alexandria VA
Existing Photo: William Speer
Modeler: Joseph Sheeran
Manufacturing Process: Offset, Microprint —“USPS”
Printer: Ashton Potter (USA) Ltd. (APU)
Printed at: Williamsville, NY
Press Type: Muller A76
Stamps per Pane: 16
Print Quantity: 100 million stamps
Paper Type: Nonphosphored Type III Block Tag applied
Adhesive Type: Pressure-sensitive adhesive
Processed at: Ashton Potter (USA) Ltd. (APU)
Colors: Stamps side: PMS Cool Grey #7, Black, PMS 8383 Gold Cover side: Cyan, Magenta, Yellow, Black PMS 8383 Gold
Stamp Orientation: Square
Image Area (w x h): 1.09 x 1.09 in./27.56 x 27.56 mm
Overall Size (w x h): 1.23 x 1.23 in./31.12 x 31.12 mm
Full Pane Size (w x h): 7.00 x 7.00 in./177.80 x 177.80 mm
Press Sheet Size (w x h): 21.25 x 21.25 in./539.75 x 539.75 mm
Plate Size: 144 stamps per revolution
Plate Numbers: None
Marginal Markings: © 2015 USPS • USPS Logo • Verso text • Proprietary text • Promotional text
• Barcode (589000) in lower right corner of pane
Back: Photo

Updated July 2nd: The stamp design is now available, after leaking out. This is a better quality picture than the one I posted overnight. Also, below what the complete pane of 16 will look like: -0-

The Washington Post wonders if the USPS can recapture the magic of the 1993 Elvis stamps.

Updated June 11th: Although today’s Postal Bulletin has a chart showing August 10th as the first day, the USPS confirms to The Virtual Stamp Club that the first day is August 12th, as previously announced below.

USPS press release, June 3:

[Shown on the right is the design for the back of the pane of stamps. —LdeV]

“Elvis is a natural addition to our Music Icon Series,” said Brennan. “His life and talents are an incredible story. Spanning from his humble beginnings in a Tupelo, Mississippi, two-room house to becoming one of the most legendary performance artists of the 20th Century, Elvis Presley’s works continues to resonate with millions the world over.”

The First-Day-of-Issue dedication ceremony will take place on the morning of Aug. 12 at Graceland in Memphis as part of this year’s Elvis Week celebration. The public is encouraged to tweet about this news using #ElvisForever.

Launched in 2013, the Music Icons series consists of beloved musicians whose blend of sound and way of life broke musical boundaries. The first inductees included Lydia Mendoza, Johnny Cash and Ray Charles. Last year’s inductees were Jimi Hendrix and Janis Joplin.

Elvis Presley is regarded as one of the most significant cultural icons of the 20th century. Known worldwide as “The King of Rock ‘n Roll,” his music and provocative performance style, combined with a singularly potent mix of influences, made him enormously popular and controversial. “The King’s” influence continues to inspire today’s artists, musicians, designers and social influencers.

The Postal Service previously honored Presley on a stamp in 1993. Visit this link for more information.

The Postal Service receives no tax dollars for operating expenses and relies on the sale of postage, products and services to fund its operations.

Updated June 1st: First day postmarks:
Standard 4-bar FIRST DAY OF ISSUE
Digital Color Postmark:

from the Postal Bulletin May 27th:
On June 5, 2015, in McLean, VA, the U.S. Postal Service® will issue the Flannery O’Connor three ounce rate mail-use stamp (Non-denominated priced at 93 cents), in one design, in a pressure-sensitive adhesive (PSA) pane of 20 stamps (Item 118900).

The stamp will go on sale nationwide June 5, 2015.

The 30th stamp in the Literary Arts series honors Flannery O’Connor (1925–1964), who crafted unsettling and darkly comic stories and novels about the potential for enlightenment and grace in what seem like the worst possible moments. The color portrait on this stamp, a watercolor painting completed digitally, is based on a black-and-white photograph taken when O’Connor was a student at the Georgia State College for Women from 1942 to 1945. Surrounding O’Connor are peacock feathers, a symbol often associated with the author. The words “THREE OUNCE” on this stamp indicate its usage value. Like a Forever® stamp, this stamp will always be valid for the rate printed on it. The initial price and value for this stamp is 93 cents. Art director Phil Jordan designed the stamp with artwork by Sam Weber.

How to Order the First-Day-of-Issue Postmark:
Customers have 60 days to obtain the first-day-of-Issue Postmark: by mail. They may purchase new stamps at their local Post Office, at The Postal Store® website at http://www.usps.com/shop, or by calling 800-STAMP-24. They should affix the stamps to envelopes of their choice, address the envelopes (to themselves or others), and place them in a larger envelope addressed to:

93¢ Flannery O’Connor Stamp
McLean Main Post Office
6841 Elm Street
McLean, VA 22101-9998

After applying the first-day-of-Issue Postmark:, the Postal Service will return the envelopes through the mail. There is no charge for the postmark up to a quantity of 50. For more than 50, customers have to pay five cents each. All orders must be postmarked by August 4, 2015.

There are seven philatelic products for the Flannery O’Connor stamp issue:

• 118906, Press Sheet with Die-cut, $111.60 (print quantity 250).
• 118908 Press Sheet without Die-cut, $111.60 (print quantity 500).
• 118910 Digital Color Postmark Keepsake, $20.95.
• 118916 First-Day Cover, $1.37.
• 118921 Digital Color Postmark, $2.08.
• 118931 Stamp Deck Card, $0.95.
• 118932 Stamp Deck Card with Digital Color Postmark, $2.43.

Technical Specifications:

Issue: Flannery O’Connor Stamp
Item Number: 118900
Denomination & Type of Issue: Three Ounce Rate Non-Denominated, Mail-Use
Format: Pane of 20 (1 design)
Series: Literary Arts
Issue Date & City: June 5, 2015, McLean, VA 22101
Designer: Phil Jordan, Falls Church, VA
Art Director: Phil Jordan, Falls Church, VA
Typographer: Phil Jordan, Falls Church, VA
Artist: Sam Weber, Brooklyn, NY
Modeler: Joseph Sheeran
Manufacturing Process: Offset, Microprint
Printer: Ashton Potter (USA) Ltd. (APU)
Printed at: Williamsville, NY
Press Type: Muller A76
Stamps per Pane: 20
Print Quantity: 20 Million stamps
Paper Type: Nonphosphored Type III, Block Tag
Adhesive Type: Pressure-sensitive
Processed at: Ashton Potter (USA) Ltd. (APU)
Colors: Black, Cyan, Magenta, Yellow, PMS 123C Yellow, PMS 696C Burgundy
Stamp Orientation: Horizontal
Image Area (w x h): 1.42 x 0.84 in./36.07 x 21.34 mm
Overall Size (w x h): 1.56 x 0.98 in./39.62 x 24.89 mm
Full Pane Size (w x h): 7.24 x 5.95 in./183.90 x 151.13 mm
Press Sheet Size (w x h): 21.72 x 11.90 in./551.69 x 302.26 mm
Plate Size: 240 stamps per revolution
Plate Numbers: “P” followed by six (6) single digits
Marginal Markings: Front: Plate numbers in four corners of pane 
• Header: Literary Arts 30th in a Series
Back: © 2015 USPS • USPS logo • Plate position diagram • Barcode (118900) in upper right and lower left corners of pane • Promotional text • Verso text

From the USPS May 26th:
The 30th stamp in the Literary Arts series honors Flannery O’Connor (1925–1964), who crafted unsettling and darkly comic stories and novels about the potential for enlightenment and grace in what seem like the worst possible moments. The color portrait on this stamp, a watercolor painting completed digitally, is based on a black-and-white photograph taken when O’Connor was a student at the Georgia State College for Women from 1942 to 1945. Surrounding O’Connor are peacock feathers, a symbol often associated with the author. The words “THREE OUNCE” on this stamp indicate its usage value. These Forever stamps will always be equal in value to the applicable price for the price category printed on them, at the time of use. The 93 cent Forever stamp will be issued June 5 in McLean, VA, at the NAPEX Stamp Show. Art director Phil Jordan of Falls Church, VA, designed the stamp with artwork by Sam Weber of Brooklyn, NY.

From the USPS May 18th:
The 30th stamp in the Literary Arts series honors Flannery O’Connor (1925–1964), who crafted unsettling and darkly comic stories and novels about the potential for enlightenment and grace in what seem like the worst possible moments. The color portrait on this stamp, a watercolor painting completed digitally, is based on a black-and-white photograph taken when O’Connor was a student at the Georgia State College for Women from 1942 to 1945. Surrounding O’Connor are peacock feathers, a symbol often associated with the author. The words “THREE OUNCE” on this stamp indicate its usage value. These Forever stamps will always be equal in value to the applicable price for the price category printed on them, at the time of use. The initial price and value for this stamp is 93 cents. Art director Phil Jordan designed the stamp with artwork by Sam Weber.

The first day of issue will be at the NAPEX stamp show in McLean, Virginia, on June 5th.

From Wikipedia:

Mary Flannery O’Connor (March 25, 1925 – August 3, 1964) was an American writer and essayist. An important voice in American literature, she wrote two novels and 32 short stories, as well as a number of reviews and commentaries. She was a Southern writer who often wrote in a Southern Gothic style and relied heavily on regional settings and grotesque characters. Her writing also reflected her own Roman Catholic faith, and frequently examined questions of morality and ethics.

O’Connor’s The Complete Stories won the 1972 U.S. National Book Award for Fiction and was named the “Best of the National Book Awards” by internet visitors in 2009.

The three-ounce (93¢) stamp subject will be Flannery O’Connor. These new rate change stamps, including the three reprint-designs, will not have denominations, but rather a description of the rate they cover:

Flannery O’Connor: Three Ounce

Eastern Tiger Swallowtail Butterfly: Non-Machineable Surcharge

Yes I Do, Wedding Cake, Vintage Tulip: Two Ounce

Coastal Birds: Postcard

Penguins: Additional Ounce.

The plan is to have all future definitives with these names rather than denominations. The word Forever is not used to avoid confusion by customers.