On February 21, 2009, in New York, New York, the Postal Service™ will issue a 42-cent, Civil Rights Pioneers commemorative stamp in six designs in a pressure-sensitive (PSA) souvenir sheet of six stamps (Item 573900). The stamp, designed by Greg Berger of Bethesda, Maryland, goes on sale nationwide February 21, 2009.
With these stamps, the U.S. Postal Service® honors 12 leaders of the struggle for African-American civil rights. These visionary men and women energized a movement that spanned generations. Art director Ethel Kessler and stamp designer Greg Berger, both of Bethesda, Maryland, chose to approach this project through photographic montage. Paring two pioneers on each stamp was a way of intensifying the montage effect.
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:
Civil Rights Pioneers Stamp
Postmaster
421 Eight Ave., Rm. 2029B
New York, NY 10199-9998
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. All orders must be postmarked by April 22, 2009.
Stamp Fulfillment Services also offers first day covers for new stamp issues and Postal Service stationery items postmarked with the official first day of issue cancellation. Each item has an individual catalog number and is offered in the quarterly USA Philatelic catalog. Customers may request a free catalog by calling 800-STAMP-24 or writing to:
Information Fulfillment
Dept. 6270
U.S. Postal Service
PO Box 219014
Kansas City, MO 64121-9014
The Civil Rights Pioneers Diary Page with souvenir sheet (Item 573976, $8.95) comes with a souvenir sheet of six Civil Rights Pioneers stamps. With these stamps and cultural diary page, the Postal Service honors 12 leaders in the struggle for African-American civil rights.
There are five other philatelic products available for this stamp issue:
n 573962*, First Day Cover, Full Sheet, $5.02.
n 573964*, Cancelled Full Sheet, $5.02.
n 573991*, Ceremony Program, $6.95.
n 573993*, First Day Cover Keepsake (Full pane w/cover), $7.54.
n 573998, Civil Rights CDP & Ex/African Am. Cultural Diary, $39.50.
Items with an asterisk (*) will use the 128 barcode from Stamp Fulfillment Services. All other philatelic products will continue to use barcode series A, with the exception of the Yearbook and the Guide Book.
Issue:
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Civil Rights Pioneers
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Item Number:
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573900
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Denomination &
Type of Issue:
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42-cent Commemorative
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Format:
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Souvenir Sheet of 6 (6 designs)
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Issue Date & City:
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February 21, 2009,
New York, NY 10199
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Designer:
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Greg Berger, Bethesda, MD
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Art Director:
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Ethel Kessler, Bethesda, MD
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Typographer:
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Ethel Kessler, Bethesda, MD
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Engraver:
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Keating
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Modeler:
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Avery Dennison, SPD
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Manufacturing Process:
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Gravure
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Printer:
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Avery Dennison (AVR)
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Printed at:
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AVR, Clinton, SC
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Press Type:
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Dia Nippon Kiko (DNK)
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Stamps per Pane:
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6
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Print Quantity:
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24 million stamps
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Paper Type:
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Non-phosphored, Type III
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Adhesive Type:
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Pressure-sensitive
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Processed at:
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AVR, Clinton, SC
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Colors:
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Yellow, Magenta, Cyan, Black,
PMS 875 (Gold)
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Stamp Orientation:
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Horizontal
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Image Area (w x h):
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1.42 x 1.085 in./36.07 x 27.56 mm
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Overall Size (w x h):
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1.560 x 1.225 in./39.62 x 31.12 mm
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Full Pane Size (w x h):
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7.25 x 6.25 in./184.15 x 158.75 mm
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Plate Size:
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48 stamps per revolution
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Plate Numbers:
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N/A
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Marginal Markings:
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Front:
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Header: “CIVIL RIGHTS
PIONEERS” • Paragraph: “The
courage…spanned generations”
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Back:
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© 2008 USPS • USPS logo • Price:
“.42 x 6 = $2.52” • Header:
“CIVIL RIGHTS PIONEERS”
• Paragraph: “With these…civil
rights.” • Twelve names and
short bio on each person who
appears on stamp • Barcode
573900 in lower right-hand
corner
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Stamp distribution offices (SDOs) will receive approximately 20 percent of their full standard automatic distribution quantity for a PSA pane stamp. Distributions are rounded to the nearest master carton size (12,000 stamps/2,000 souvenir sheets).
SDOs will make a subsequent automatic distribution to Post Offices of approximately 15 percent of their full standard automatic distribution quantity using PS Form 17, Stamp Requisition/Stamp Return. SDOs must not distribute stamps to Post Offices before February 13, 2009.
Post Offices requiring additional stamps must requisition Item 573900 from their designated SDO using PS Form 17. SDOs requiring additional stamps must order them from the appropriate accountable paper depository (APD) using PS Form 17.
For fulfilling supplemental orders from SDOs, the Chicago, New York, Memphis, and San Francisco APDs will receive additional stamps.
All Post Offices must acquire and maintain a supply of each new commemorative stamp as long as customer demand exists, until inventory is depleted, or until the stamp is officially withdrawn from sale. If supplies run low, Post Offices must reorder additional quantities using their normal ordering procedures. The $2.52 Civil Rights Pioneers Souvenir Pane may not be split and stamps may not be sold individually.
— Stamp Services,
Government Relations, 1-29-09
