Musical Instruments from Srpska

KarnetEvropaThe Republic of Srpska (also known as the Bosnian Serb Republic, one of two political entities in Bosnia & Herzegovina) is issuing (April 25th) two stamps featuring musical instruments: The fiddle and the dvojnice. A booklet (whose pane is shown on the right) includes both designs.

Here are the details provided by the Philately Department:

Europa CEPT – National music instruments – on 25. April 2014. There are 2 stamps in set (face values 1,00 KM or 0,51€ and 2,00 KM or 1,02€), booklet which consists of 3 sets (face value 9 KM or 4,60€).

TabakEvropa01Fiddle
Traditional string stringed instrument that is commonly used to accompany epic poems. It is an instrument Dinara area (Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro and Croatia), Serbia appears at Kosovo Serbs and to some extent the Albanians.

Dvojnice
Dvojnice are popular brass instrument from the group labial played with an edge. These are TabakEvropa02actually made up of two tubes of the same length drilled in parallel. Each pipe has a hole of vocal cords and mouthpiece. The holes were drilled to have a pipe with four holes and on the other three.

A better explanation of what a dvojnice is can be found at Stjepan Večković’s Hrvatska Tradicijska Glasbala website. Basically, it’s one mouthpiece, connected to two different recorder-like pipes. One is made from wood, the other from brass.

“Genesis of Philately” at U.S. Museum

[press release]

National Postal Museum to Display Rare Philatelic Gem
“Genesis of Philately” Arrives in the U.S. for the First Time

pennyblack3The Smithsonian’s National Postal Museum will display an extremely rare philatelic item, referred to by stamp experts as the “genesis of philately.” On temporary loan to the museum, the extraordinary and historic postal document will be on display—for nine days only—in the museum’s new William H. Gross Stamp Gallery May 3–11. The May 2, 1840, cover shows the earliest known use of two different philatelic elements: the Penny Black, the world’s first adhesive postage stamp, and the Mulready One Penny letter sheet.

On May 1, 1840, Great Britain issued the world’s first postage stamp: the Penny Black. It revolutionized postal services worldwide. Mulready postal stationery lettersheets were also officially issued on that day. Neither the stamps nor the stationery were valid to prepay postage before that date; however, a few Penny Blacks and Mulready “covers” are known to have passed through the post office before the official date of issuance. The May 2, 1840, cover being displayed at the museum is the only known item carrying both the Penny Black and Mulready One Penny letter sheet.

pennyblack1“The May 2, 1840, cover connects us to the very beginnings of philately and the modern postal system,” said Allen Kane, director of the museum. “We are excited to bring this rare item to the United States for the very first time.”

pennyblack2The National Postal Museum is devoted to presenting the colorful and engaging history of the nation’s mail service and showcasing one of the largest and most comprehensive collections of stamps and philatelic material in the world. It is located at 2 Massachusetts Avenue N.E., Washington, D.C., across from Union Station. The museum is open daily from 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. (closed Dec. 25). For more information about the Smithsonian, call (202) 633-1000 or visit the museum website at www.postalmuseum.si.edu.

Great British Films (2014)

[press release]
uk_films6The Great British Film stamps celebrate six key British movies produced since the Second World War, with the accompanying Miniature Sheet focusing on the work of the General Post Office (GPO) Film Unit, which produced ground-breaking documentaries for the General Post Office in the 1930s. As a whole, this stamp issue takes in landmark films, epics and influential movies that evoke the distinctiveness and quality of British film and story-telling across key genres.

Royal Mail consulted experts, polls by experts, the public and the British Film Institute to arrive at films from the 1940s to the 2000s.

Films featured in the set are:

uk_matterA Matter of Life and Death (1946) has undergone major reassessment in last 20 years. It is genre defying and is a part fantasy and part romance. Starring David Niven in one of his greatest roles, the film tells the story of an RAF pilot who should have died but is caught between two worlds – the real and a kind of afterlife.

Created by Powell and Pressburger, it is technologically very innovative, filmed in both black and white and colour, and was selected as the first Royal Command Film in 1946 attended by the King and Princesses Elizabeth and Margaret. It regularly appears in the top 20 lists of greatest British films of all time. Danny Boyle used an excerpt from the film in his opening ceremony for the 2012 Olympics.

uk_lawrenceLawrence of Arabia (1962) is in most lists of greatest films of all time, by all countries and usually in the top ten. It won seven Academy Awards, four BAFTAs and five Golden Globes. It is regarded as David Lean’s masterpiece and features an impressively powerful performance by the late Peter O’Toole. Sony Pictures marked its 50th anniversary in 2012 with a digitally re-mastered version that has had a theatrical release, again to great reviews. The film has an international following and was selected as the best epic movie ever by the American Film Institute. American director, Steven Spielberg is on record as saying it inspired him to become a filmmaker.

uk_20012001: A Space Odyssey (1968) is the other British film that appears close to the top in the greatest movies lists. Categorised as science fiction it has multiple interpretations and has won generations of fans. It regularly tops lists of the greatest science fiction films of all time and is also the only science fiction film to make the British Film Institute (BFI) poll for ten best movies of all time. It was selected as the best science fiction movie ever by the American Film Institute.

Although American director Stanley Kubrick was a committed anglophile. He moved to the UK in the early 1960s and then made every film in the UK using British crew and studios.

The innovative and hugely influential visual effects, sets and cinematography of 2001 are the work of British technicians and cameramen at Surrey’s Shepperton Studio, with the script co-written by British author Arthur C Clarke (whose short story was the basis for the film). Most observers will say that the images of future space travel have never been bettered and was achieved without the benefits of computer technology. It is widely regarded as a British film.

uk_chariotsChariots of Fire (1981) was the multiple Oscar and BAFTA winning story of two athletes who competed in the 1924 Olympics. It is regarded as one of the greatest sports films of all time, and highly rated by critics and the BFI, who especially believe this to be a key work of Post War British film.

uk_secretsliesSecrets & Lies (1996) this Mike Leigh film is very highly regarded and a fine example of social realism which is a key UK genre. It is Leigh’s most commercially successful film and arguably his most seen, and its performances are regarded as among the best in any film in recent years. Secrets & Lies went on to win two BAFTAs and the coveted Palm d’Or at the Cannes Film Festival, among many other international awards.

uk_benditBend It Like Beckham (2002) although too recent for a fair inclusion in ‘Best of’ lists, Bend it Like Beckham is a well-received British comedy that is immensely popular internationally.

It topped the UK box office on release and broke box-office records in India for a foreign film and became the highest grossing Indian themed film at the US box office. In 2010 it became the first Western made film ever to be screened on North Korean TV!

The film made stars of its lead actors Parminder Nagra and Keira Knightly. Gurinder Chadra’s Bend It Like Beckham is also arguably the best known film by any British woman director.

Miniature Sheet
uk_filmsminiA Miniature of four additional stamps celebrates the rich heritage of the GPO (General Post Office) Film Unit.

In the 1930s the GPO Film Unit produced what are internationally regarded as key works in the documentary genre.

The unit was established initially to explain postal and telephone services, and heighten the reputation of the Post Office, in an era when it was leading the world in technological innovation. Its remit grew as it experimented with new ways of communicating with the public, and it created ground-breaking films by experimenting with sound, animation and images, as well as landmark documentaries using an impressive array of film makers. The films were screened throughout uk_nightmailthe country and had huge popular appeal. It has been said that the public affection for the modern Post Office began with these films.

The immortal Night Mail film is marked with a stamp for the first time, and a stamp for Love on the Wing, a film by director Norman McLaren also marks his centenary in 2014.

Technical details:
Issue date: 13 May 2014
uk_sparetimeNumber of stamps: 3 x 1st Class, 3 x £1.28
Design: Johnson Banks
Stamp format: Landscape
Stamp size: 60mm x 30mm
Printer: International Security Printers
Print process: Lithography
Perforations: 14.5 x 14.5
Number per sheet: 18/36
Phosphor: All over
Gum: PVA

Values:
uk_lovewing1st Class A Matter of Life and Death
1st Class Lawrence of Arabia
1st Class 2001: A Space Odyssey
£1.28 Chariots of Fire
£1.28 Secrets & Lies
£1.28 Bend It Like Beckham

Minisheet Values:
1st Class Night Mail
1st Class Love on the Wing
1st Class Spare Time
1st Class A Colour Box

uk_colourbox

U.S. Specialized Yahoo Group celebrates 10th anniversary

[press release]
U.S. Specialized Yahoo Group celebrates 10th anniversary
On-line stamp collector group thrives on the internet

U.S. Specialized Yahoo Group is celebrating its 10th anniversary in the virtual world all this year.

About the U.S. Specialized Yahoo Group
The group was founded in April 2004 by long-time philatelist Steve B. Davis of Calgary,
Alberta. He founded it after trying to start a local real-world study group for collectors of the
stamps and postal history of the United States. From 3 or 4 members it has grown to over 400 members. In 2007 the group was approved as Affiliate #257 (specialized society) of the
American Philatelic Society, the largest and most respected philatelic society in the world.

Group Description
It is a forum to discuss and network with other collectors. Members are encouraged to engage in the friendly discussion and exchange of information related to U.S. philately. Membership consists of beginners all the way to advanced collectors from all walks of life, and many different countries.

Commercial content, spam or the self-promotion of blogs/websites is not allowed. This is strictly enforced.Those wishing to join need simply sign up on the site and are asked to provide,

  • their areas of interest.
  • names of clubs or societies they are members of
  • their APS membership number if applicable

Requests for membership require moderator approval. This is to screen for spammers.

Contact
To learn more about the group, please contact
Steve B. Davis, Founder & Moderator
stamperdad@yahoo.ca
US_specialized-owner@yahoogroups.com

Group Home Page http://group.yahoo.com/neo/groups/us_specialized

American Philatelic Society (APS) http://stamps.org

Hudson River School

T14-Hudsonhe April 17th Postal Bulletin says these four booklet stamps will be issued Thursday, August 21st in Hartford, Conn. That’s the first day of the American Philatelic Society’s StampShow 2014, also in Hartford. Most if not all of the American Treasures art stamps have been issued at StampShow.

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

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

From the July 24th Postal Bulletin:

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

4. Thomas Moran Stamp
No credits required.

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

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

After applying the first-day-of-issue postmark, the Postal Service will return the envelopes through the mail. There is no charge for the postmark up to a quantity of 50. For more than 50, customers have to pay five cents each. All orders must be postmarked by October 20, 2014.

There are eight philatelic products for this stamp issue:

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

Technical Specifications::

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

First Day Postmark:

hudson_dcp_vsc2.66″ x 1.39″

Hot Rods

HotRods2Two designs in a booklet format, to be issued June 6 in York, Pa., according to the April 17th Postal Bulletin. This is NOT part of the “America On The Road” series that has featured classic autos in five-design booklets. The designs are shown on the right.

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

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

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

Ceremony details, announced May 2nd:

HotRods2The Hot Rods Forever stamps First-Day-of-Issue ceremony will take place during the National Street Rod Association (NSRA) Nationals East Plus Conference in York, PA, on Friday, June 6 at 11 a.m. ET. As the conference is a ticketed event requiring $15 admission, we’d like to extend an opportunity for stamp collectors to attend as special guests – free of charge.

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

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

Further information will be provided upon RSVP.

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

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

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

hotrods_dcp hotrods_bw

From the May 15th Postal Bulletin:

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

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

HotRods2With these two stamps, the U.S. Postal Service celebrates hot rods, the fast, powerful vehicles that thrill-seeking enthusiasts have been modifying for nearly a century. The cars depicted are 1932 Ford “Deuce” roadsters. One stamp features a black ’32 Ford with orange flames running down the car’s body. The other stamp showcases a red ’32 Ford. Art director Derry Noyes designed the stamps, which feature art by John Mattos.

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

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

After applying the first-day-of-issue postmark, the Postal Service will return the envelopes through the mail. There is no charge for the postmark up to a quantity of 50. For more than 50, customers have to pay five cents each. All orders must be postmarked by August 5, 2014.

There are eight philatelic products for this stamp issue:

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

Technical Specifications:

HotRods2Issue: Hot Rods
Item Number: 689200
Denomination & Type of Issue: First-Class Mail Forever
Format: Double-sided Booklet of 20 (2 designs)
Series: N/A
Issue Date & City: June 6, 2014, York, PA 17402
Art Director: Derry Noyes, Washington, DC
Designer: Derry Noyes, Washington, DC
Typographer: Derry Noyes, Washington, DC
Artist: John Mattos, San Francisco, CA
Modeler: CCL Label, Inc.
Manufacturing Process: Gravure
Engraver: WRE
Printer: CCL Label, Inc.
Printed at: Clinton, SC
Press Type: Dia Nippon Kiko (DNK)
Stamps per Booklet: 20
Print Quantity: 100 Million Stamps
Paper Type: Nonphosphored Type III, Overall tagged
Adhesive Type: Pressure sensitive adhesive
Processed at: AVR, Clinton, SC
Stamp Orientation: Horizontal
Image Area (w x h): 0.84 x 0.73 in./21.34 x 18.54 mm
Stamp Size (w x h): 0.98 x 0.87 in./24.89 x 22.09 mm
Full Booklet Size (w x h): 1.96 x 5.5 in./49.78 x 139.7 mm
Press Sheet Size (w x h): 5.5 x 13.72 in./139.7 x 348.49 mm
Colors: Yellow, 1795 Red, Cyan, Black,
Plate Size: 140 stamps per revolution
Plate Numbers: “C” followed by 1111 (4) single digits
Marginal Markings: • Plate numbers • © 2014 USPS • USPS logo • Barcode (689200)

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Nevada Statehood

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

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

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

From the May 1st Postal Bulletin:

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

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

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

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

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

After applying the first-day-of-issue postmark, the Postal Service will return the envelopes through the mail. There is no charge for the postmark up to a quantity of 50. For more than 50, customers have to pay five cents each. All orders must be postmarked by July 28, 2014.

There are nine philatelic products for this stamp issue:

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

 

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

nevada_dcp

Where Dreams Blossom reissue

Announced in the April 17th Postal Bulletin:

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

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

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

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

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

After applying the first-day-of-issue postmark, the Postal Service will return the envelopes through the mail. There is no charge for the postmark up to a quantity of 50. For more than 50, customers have to pay five cents each. All orders must be postmarked by July 1, 2014.

There are four philatelic products for this stamp issue:

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

 

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

Charlton Heston First Day Ceremony In Pictures

From the USPS:

Legendary Hollywood icon and humanitarian Charlton Heston was honored as the 18th inductee into the U.S. Postal Service’s Legends of Hollywood stamp series Friday, April 11, 2014.
Legendary Hollywood icon and humanitarian Charlton Heston, honored as the 18th inductee into the U.S. Postal Service’s Legends of Hollywood stamp series . L to R: -Screen Actors Guild and American Federation of Television and Radio Artists Executive Vi(Above, left to right: Screen Actors Guild and American Federation of Television and Radio Artists Executive Vice President Gabrielle Carteris; former Screen Actors Guild and American Federation of Television and Radio Artists Executive Vice President Ned Vaughn; American Film Institute President Emerita and former U.S. Postal Service Citizens’ Stamp Advisory Committee Chair Jean Picker-Firstenberg; Charlton Heston’s son Fraser Clarke Heston; and Mickey Barnett, Chairman, Board of Governors, USPS.)

The event took place during a first-day-of-issue stamp dedication ceremony at the The Creative Life Chinese Theatre as part of the TCM Classic Film Festival.

Legendary Hollywood icon and humanitarian Charlton Heston, honored as the 18th inductee into the U.S. Postal Service’s Legends of Hollywood stamp series Former Screen Actors Guild and American Federation of Television and Radio Artists Executive Vice“Acting was not Charlton Heston’s whole life,” said U.S. Postal Service Board of Governors Chairman Mickey Barnett in dedicating the stamp (shown at right). “He was never afraid to stand up for his beliefs. In the 1960s, he believed so strongly in civil rights that he marched on Washington with Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., whom he called ‘a 20th century Moses.’ Later, he became a strong supporter of rights for gun owners and served as president of the National Rifle Association. No matter what kind of stand he took, you always knew his beliefs came from a place of true conviction. Beyond winning an Oscar for ‘Ben-Hur,’ he also received the Motion Picture Academy’s Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Award, as well as the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the nation’s highest civilian honor.”

(Legendary Hollywood icon and humanitarian Charlton Heston, honored as the 18th inductee into the U.S. Postal Service’s Legends of Hollywood stamp series .Ben Mankiewicz, Host, Turner Classic Movies (Master of Ceremonies)Ben Mankiewicz, host of Turner Classic Movies, served as Master of Ceremonies. He’s shown on the right here.)

Throughout his seven decade career of more than 70 films, Heston played larger than life roles from U.S. presidents to Ben Hur and Moses. He worked with the Screen Actors Guild to help others in his profession, serving as a board member and later as president from 1965-71. A civil rights advocate, Heston marched with Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., and led the arts contingent to the 1963 March on Washington.

Heston received the Screen Actors Guild Lifetime Achievement Award in 1971. He helped found the American Film Institute and received the prestigious Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Award from the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences in 1978 for his philanthropic efforts. In 1997, Heston was awarded the Kennedy Center Honors, and in 2003, received Legendary Hollywood icon and humanitarian Charlton Heston, honored as the 18th inductee into the U.S. Postal Service’s Legends of Hollywood stamp series .Fraser Clarke Heston, Charlton Heston's son  and his mother, Lydia Heston with the stamp.the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the nation’s highest civilian honor.

“On behalf of my mother, Lydia, my sister, Holly Rochell, and the entire Heston family, I can say enthusiastically how deeply grateful we all are that my father, Charlton, has been honored with a ‘Legends of Hollywood’ postage stamp,” said Fraser Clarke Heston (shown at left with his mother). “In many ways, a nation’s stamps are a cross section of a culture, its ideals and icons, in microcosm.

The Stamp Image
CharlestonHestonDesigned by art director Greg Breeding of Charlottesville, VA, the stamp features a color portrait of the actor by noted movie artist Drew Struzan of Pasadena, CA. The portrait is based on a photograph taken by Heston’s wife, Lydia Clarke Heston. The area outside of the stamps is decorated with an image of the actor from the 1959 movie Ben-Hur. Originally shot in black and white, the photo was later hand-colorized. Heston is shown wearing his costume from the film’s monumental chariot racing scene.

And a few more pictures, most courtesy the USPS and taken by Daniel Afzal of the United States Postal Service:

Legendary Hollywood icon and humanitarian Charlton Heston, honored as the 18th inductee into the U.S. Postal Service’s Legends of Hollywood stamp seriesThe autograph line after the ceremony.

Legendary Hollywood icon and humanitarian Charlton Heston, honored as the 18th inductee into the U.S. Postal Service’s Legends of Hollywood stamp seriesMichael Litvak, stamp collector and president of the Claude C. Ries Chapter of the American First Day Cover Society, servicing FDCs at the event.

kathy_and_friendThe postmarking part of the event was put together by Ries Chapter member Kathy Clements and Alvetia Smith of the USPS, who also organized the rest of the ceremony. (That’s them on the left.)

Ten different postmarks were available (and are shown below; photo courtesy Clements). “The two of us work together to make the events a success for everybody, especially the collectors who buy most of the stamps per capita,” Clements told The VSC.

Our main story on the stamp can be found here. You can click on any of these pictures to see a larger version.

heston_cancels

New Moon FDC Catalogue from AFDCS

AFDCS OFFERS NEW EDITION OF MOON LANDING FIRST DAY COVER CATALOG

The Moon Landing cachet catalog has landed.mooncat300

First issued in 1975, the newly-revised edition of this first day cover catalog for Sc. C76 Moon Landing is now available from the American First Day Cover Society. It may be downloaded in the Marketplace section of the AFDCS website, www.afdcs.org, at $10 for AFDCS members and $12 for non-members. Printed copies are $14 and $16, respectively, and may be ordered online or from AFDCS Sales, Post Office Box 44, Annapolis Junction, MD 20701-0044.

The original edition, by Monte Eiserman and Harry L. Anderson, contained illustrations of 205 FDCs, history of the designing and production of the stamp, the first day activities, plate number information, postmarks, and descriptions of the three first day ceremonies. Over the years, some of that material was cut from subsequent editions, while more illustrations were added.

It has been out of print for at least five years.

The 2014 edition, revised by David S. Zubatsky, restores all the introductory material and adds more information. It also includes all the original black and white illustrations.

“The 1969 First Man on the Moon stamp  is the most iconic space related stamp ever issued,” says stamp designer Chris Calle, whose father Paul designed what became Sc. C76. “As a collector of the C76 issue this is a most welcome catalogue for space collectors worldwide.”

The American First Day Cover Society is the world’s largest not-for-profit organization dedicated to the collecting of FDCs. Each issue of First Days is published in full color and includes articles, columns, Society business, a non-commercial Cover Exchange, and the best collection of FDC advertisements anywhere.

For more information on the AFDCS, visit www.afdcs.org or write to the AFDCS, P.O. Box 16277 Tucson, Arizona 85732-6277, or e-mail afdcs@afdcs.org.