Stamp Announcement 11-45: Hanukkah

Stamp Snnouncement 11-45: Hanukkah

On October 14, 2011, in New York, New York, the Postal Service™ will issue a Hanukkah definitive stamp (Forever® priced at 44 cents), in one design in a pressure-sensitive adhesive (PSA) pane of 20 stamps (Item 576400).

With this festive stamp, the U.S. Postal Service® com­memorates Hanukkah, the Jewish Festival of Lights. In 2011, Hanukkah begins on December 20. Bright colors express the joyful spirit of the holiday, and the eight shapes behind the letters that spell out “Hanukkah” symbolize the eight days and nights of the celebration. The second “k” appears on the silhouette of a dreidel, a spinning top that children tra­ditionally play with at Hanukkah. Each of the letters in this design is subtly tilted to mimic the movement of the dreidel as it twirls. Working with art director Ethel Kessler, illustrator Suzanne Kleinwaks created the stamp art.

The stamp will go on sale nationwide October 14, 2011.

Distribution: Item 576400, First Class Mail, Nondenominated Hanukkah (Forever priced at 44 cents), PSA Pane 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 sheet stamp. Distributions are rounded up to the nearest master carton size of 40,000 stamps.

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 576400 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All Post Offices should maintain a sufficient inventory level of this item until the stamp is officially withdrawn from sale.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:

Hanukkah 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 December 14, 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 576461*, First Day Cover, $0.88.

n 576465*, Digital Color Postmark, $1.60.

n 576491*, Ceremony Program, $6.95.

n 576499*, 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:

Hanukkah

Item Number:

576400

Denomination & Type of Issue:

First-Class Mail® Forever Special

Format:

Pane of 20 (1 design)

Series:

Holiday Celebrations

Issue Date & City:

October 14, 2011, New York, NY 10199 (Mega Stamp Show)

Designer:

Suzanne Kleinwaks, Falls Church, VA

Art Director:

Ethel Kessler, Bethesda, MD

Typographer:

Suzanne Kleinwaks, Falls Church, VA

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:

25 million stamps

Paper Type:

Phosphor Tagged, Overall

Adhesive Type:

Pressure-sensitive

Processed at:

Unique Binders, Fredericksburg, VA

Colors:

Cyan, Magenta, Yellow, Black, PMS 877 (Silver)

Stamp Orientation:

Vertical

Image Area (w x h):

0.75 x 1.03 in./19.05 x 26.16 mm

Overall Size (w x h):

0.91 x 1.19 in./23.11 x 30.23 mm

Full Pane Size (w x h):

5.43 x5.64 in./137.92 x 5.64 mm

Plate Size:

200 stamps per revolution

Plate Numbers:

“S” followed by five (5) single digits

Marginal Markings:

Front:

Plate block numbers in four corners

Back:

© 2010 USPS • USPS logo • Plate position diagram • Barcode (576400) in four corners of pane