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<\/a>The fourth of 12 stamps in the latest Lunar New Year stamp series celebrates the Year of the Rabbit. Calling to mind the elaborately decorated masks used in the dragon or lion dances often performed in Lunar New Year parades, this three-dimensional mask depicting a rabbit is a contemporary take on the long tradition of paper-cut folk art crafts created during this auspicious time of year. The rabbit mask design incorporates colors and patterns with symbolic meaning. Art director Antonio Alcal\u00e1 designed the stamp and pane with original art by Camille Chew.<\/p>\nNew information will appear below the line, with the most recent at the top.<\/p>\n
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Updated December 28th<\/sup>:<\/strong><\/span> Updated December 13th<\/sup>:<\/strong><\/span> What:<\/strong><\/span> The U.S. Postal Service will commemorate the Lunar New Year in San Francisco with the unveiling of the Year of the Rabbit Forever stamp.<\/p>\n The first-day-of-issue event for the stamp is free and open to the public. News of the stamp is being shared with the hashtags #LunarNewYear and #LunarNewYearRabbit.<\/p>\n Who:<\/strong><\/span> Derek Kan, governor, U.S. Postal Service Board of Governors<\/p>\n London N. Breed, mayor, San Francisco<\/p>\n Fiona Ma, state treasurer, California<\/p>\n Jay Xu, director, Asian Art Museum<\/p>\n When:<\/strong> <\/span>Thursday, Jan. 12, 2023, at 11 a.m. PST<\/p>\n Where:<\/strong> <\/span>Asian Art Museum RSVP:<\/strong> <\/span>Dedication ceremony attendees are encouraged to RSVP at: usps.com\/lunarnewyearrabbit.<\/p>\n Background:<\/strong> <\/span>The Postal Service will issue the latest Lunar New Year stamp celebrating the Year of the Rabbit. This stamp design calls to mind the elaborately decorated masks used in the dragon or lion dances often performed in Lunar New Year parades. This three-dimensional mask depicting a rabbit is a contemporary take on the long tradition of paper-cut folk art crafts created during this auspicious time of year. The rabbit mask design incorporates colors and patterns with symbolic meaning.<\/p>\n Art director Antonio Alcal\u00e1 designed the stamp and the pane with original art by Camille Chew.<\/p>\n The Year of the Rabbit stamp is being issued in panes of 20. It will always be equal in value to the current First-Class Mail 1-ounce price.<\/p>\n Lunar New Year is one of the most important holidays of the year for many Asian communities around the world and is primarily celebrated by people of Chinese, Korean, Vietnamese, Tibetan, Mongolian, Malaysian and Filipino heritage. Across these varied cultures, many traditions exist for ringing in a new year of good luck and prosperity.<\/p>\n Updated December 5th<\/sup> from the Postal<\/span> Bulletin<\/em>:<\/strong><\/span> In 2023, the Postal Service\u2122 will issue the fourth of 12 stamps in its latest Lunar New Year series. The Year of the Rabbit begins January 22, 2023, and ends on February 9, 2024. Calling to mind the elaborately decorated masks used in the dragon or lion dances often performed in Lunar New Year parades, this 3-dimensional mask depicting a rabbit is a contemporary take on the long tradition of paper-cut folk-art crafts created during this auspicious time of year. Simplified illustrations of the 12 zodiac animals form columns on the left and right sides of the stamp pane. Art director Antonio Alcal\u00e1 designed this stamp issuance with original artwork by Camille Chew.<\/p>\n Availability to Post Offices: Item 482800, Lunar New Year: Year of the Rabbit (Forever Priced at the First-Class Mail Rate) PSA Pane of 20 Stamps<\/p>\n No automatic distribution<\/p>\n How to Order the First-Day-of-Issue Postmark:<\/strong><\/span> FDOI \u2013 Lunar New Year: Year of the Rabbit Stamp<\/span><\/strong> 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 May 12, 2023.<\/p>\n Technical Specifications:<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n Issue: Lunar New Year: Year of the Rabbit Stamp Updated November<\/span> 30th<\/sup>:<\/strong><\/span> Announced by the USPS on October 24, 2022. The fourth of 12 stamps in the latest Lunar New Year stamp series celebrates the Year of the Rabbit. Calling to mind the elaborately decorated masks used in the dragon or lion … Continue reading
\nHere are the first-day postmarks for this issue:<\/a>The Digital Color Postmark measures 2.95″ x 1.43″<\/a>The Pictorial Postmark measures 2.61″ x 1.22″<\/p>\n
\n[ceremony details] [click on any of the pictures for larger versions]<\/em><\/span>
\nUSPS Gets Festive<\/span> With a Lunar New Year Stamp<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n
\n200 Larkin Street
\nSan Francisco, CA 94102<\/p>\n
\nOn January 12, 2023, in San Francisco, CA, the United States Postal Service\u00ae will issue the Lunar New Year: Year of the Rabbit stamp (Forever\u00ae priced at the First-Class Mail\u00ae <\/a>rate) in one design, in a pressure-sensitive adhesive (PSA) pane of 20 stamps (Item 482800). This stamp will go on sale nationwide January 12, 2023, and must not be sold or canceled before the first-day-of-issue. The Lunar New Year: Year of the Rabbit commemorative pane of 20 stamps must not be split and the stamps must not be sold individually.<\/p>\n
\nCustomers have 120 days to obtain the first-day-of-issue postmark by mail. They may purchase new stamps at their local Post Office\u2122 or at The Postal Store\u00ae website at store.usps.com\/store\/home. They must affix the stamps to envelopes of their choice, address the envelopes (to themselves or others), and place them in a larger envelope <\/a>addressed to:<\/p>\n
\nUSPS Stamp Fulfillment Services<\/span><\/strong>
\n8300 NE Underground Drive, Suite 300<\/span><\/strong>
\nKansas City, MO 64144-9900<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n
\nItem Number: 482800
\nDenomination & Type of Issue: First-Class Mail Forever
\nFormat: Pane of 20 (1 design)
\nSeries: Lunar New Year
\nIssue Date & City: January 12, 2023, San Francisco, CA, 94188
\nArt Director: Antonio Alcal\u00e1, Alexandria, VA
\nDesigner: Antonio Alcal\u00e1, Alexandria, VA
\nArtist: Camille Chew, Providence, RI
\nModeler: Sandra Lane\/Michelle Finn
\nManufacturing Process: Offset, Foil Stamping, Flexographic, Microprint
\n<\/a>Printer: Banknote Corporation of America
\nPress Type: Gallus RCS
\nStamps per Pane: 20
\nPrint Quantity: 22,000,000 stamps
\nPaper Type: Phosphor, Block Tag
\nAdhesive Type: Pressure-sensitive
\nColors: Cyan, Magenta, Yellow, Black, Pantone 7579 Orange, Pantone 7563 Light Brown, Gold Foil Luxor MTS 413, Teal Foil Luxor MHC 327
\nStamp Orientation: Vertical
\nImage Area (w x h): 0.84 x 1.42 in \/ 21.336 x 36.068 mm
\nOverall Size (w x h): 0.98 x 1.56 in \/ 24.892 x 39.624 mm
\nFull Pane Size (w x h): 7.25 x 8.50 in \/ 184.15 x 215.90 mm
\nPress Sheets Size (w x h): 14.50 x 19.50 in.\/368.30 x 495.30 mm
\nPlate Size: 80 stamps per revolution
\nPlate Number: \u201cB\u201d followed by six (6) single digits in two corners
\nMarginal Markings:
\nFront: Header: Lunar New Year: Year of the Rabbit \u2022 Plate number in bottom two corners
\nBack: \u00a92022 USPS \u2022 USPS logo \u2022 Two barcodes (482800) \u2022 Plate position diagram (4) \u2022 Promotional text<\/p>\n
\nThis stamp will be issued Thursday, January 12, in San Francisco.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"