Stamp Announcement 11-44: Madonna of the Candelabra by Raphael

Stamp Snnouncement 11-44: Madonna of the Candelabra by Raphael

On October 13, 2011, in New York, New York, the Postal Service™ will issue a Madonna of the Candelabra by Raphael definitive stamp (Forever® priced at 44 cents), in one design in a pressure-sensitive adhesive (PSA) double-sided booklet of 20 stamps (Item 679500).

The 2011 Christmas stamp features a detail from a work by the Italian master Raphael, entitled Madonna of the Can­delabra. This tondo (circular painting), oil on panel, dates to around 1513 and is now in the collection of the Walters Art Museum in Baltimore, Maryland. Richard Sheaff served as art director for this issuance.

The stamp will go on sale nationwide October 13, 2011.

Distribution: Item 679500, First Class Mail, Nondenominated Madonna of the Candelabra by Raphael (Forever priced at 44 cents), PSA Double-sided Booklet of 20 Stamps

Stamp distribution offices (SDOs) and stamp distribu­tion centers (SDCs) will receive approximately 25 percent of their standard automatic distribution quantity for a PSA booklet stamp. Distributions are rounded up to the nearest master carton size of 4,000 booklets.

Initial Supply to Post Offices

SDOs/SDCs will make subsequent automatic distribu­tion to Post Offices of a quantity to cover approximately 45 days of sales. Distribution quantities for the automatic dis­tribution will be posted, by finance number and unit ID, on the Asset Management SDC webpage at http://blue.usps.gov/purchase/assetmgnt/am_sdchome.htm. SDOs/SDCs must not distribute this commemorative sheet to Post Offices before September 29, 2011.

Additional Supply

Post Offices requiring additional quantities of Item 679500 must requisition them from their designated SDO/SDC after the first day of issue using PS Form 17, Stamp Requisition/Stamp Return. SDOs requiring additional semi­postal stamps must order them from the appropriate SDC using PS Form 17.

Sales Policy

All Post Offices should maintain a sufficient inventory level of this item until the stamp is officially withdrawn from sale. If supplies run low, Post Offices must reorder addi­tional quantities using their normal ordering procedures.

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™ facility, 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:

Madonna of the Candelabra by Raphael Stamp
Postmaster
421 Eighth 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 December13, 2011.

How to Order First Day Covers

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

Philatelic Products

There are four philatelic products available for this stamp issue:

n 679561*, First Day Cover, $0.88.

n 679565*, Digital Color Postmark, $1.60.

n 679591*, Ceremony Program, $6.95.

n 679599*, Cancellation Keepsake (Digital Color Post­mark w/Pane), $10.95.

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:

Madonna of the Candelabra by Raphael

Item Number:

679500

Denomination & Type of Issue:

Nondenominated First-Class Mail®

Format:

Doubled-sided Booklet (1 design)

Series:

Holiday Celebrations

Issue Date & City:

October 13, 2011, New York, NY 10199 (Mega Stamp Show)

Designer:

Richard Sheaff, Scottsdale, AZ

Art Director:

Richard Sheaff, Scottsdale, AZ

Typographer:

Richard Sheaff, Scottsdale, AZ

Existing Art:

Raphael Sanzio

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 Booklet:

20

Print Quantity:

600 million stamps

Paper Type:

Phosphor Tagged, Overall

Adhesive Type:

Pressure-sensitive

Processed at:

Unique Binders, Fredericksburg, VA

Stamp Orientation:

Vertical

Image Area (w x h):

0.71 x 1.03 in./19.05 x 26.16 mm

Stamp Size (w x h):

0.91 x 1.19 in./23.11 x 30.22 mm

Booklet Size (w x h):

5.74 x 2.38 in./145.80 x 60.45 mm

Colors:

PMS 8003 (Gold), Cyan, Magenta, Yellow, Black

Plate Size:

526 stamps per revolution

Plate Numbers:

“S” followed by five (5) single digits

Marginal Markings:

Front Cover:

Header: “CHRISTMAS” • Twenty Self-adhesive Stamps • Barcode (679500) • © 2010 USPS • Plate numbers in peel strip area