STAMP ANNOUNCEMENT 06-06

Dr. Jonas Salk Stamp

The Postal ServiceTM will issue a 63-cent Dr. Jonas Salk definitive stamp in one design in a pressure-sensitive adhesive (PSA) pane of 20 stamps (Item 102400), on March 8, 2006, in Washington, DC. The stamp, designed by Richard Sheaff of Scottsdale, Arizona, goes on sale nationwide March 8, 2006.

This issue in the Distinguished Americans series honors Dr. Jonas Salk (1914-1995), who was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 1977 for developing the first safe and effective vaccine against paralytic poliomyelitis.

Illustrator Mark Summers of Waterdown, Canada, created the portrait on the stamp. The artist also created art for previous issues in this series: Joseph W. Stilwell (2000), Claude Pepper (2000), Hattie W. Caraway (2001), Edna Ferber (2002), and Wilma Rudolph (2004).

How to Order First Day of Issue Postmark

Customers have 30 days to obtain the first day of issue postmark by mail. They may purchase new stamps at their local Post OfficeTM, by telephone at 800-STAMP-24, and at the Postal Store Web site at http://www.usps.com/shop. 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:

DR JONAS SALK STAMP
POSTMASTER
SPECIAL CANCELLATIONS
PO BOX 92282
WASHINGTON DC 20090-2282

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 7, 2006.

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
US POSTAL SERVICE
PO BOX 219014
KANSAS CITY MO 64121-9014

Philatelic Products

There are no philatelic products available for this stamp issue.

Distribution: Item 102400, 63-cent Dr. Jonas Salk, PSA Pane of 20 Stamps

Stamp distribution offices (SDOs) will receive two automatic distributions of the Dr. Jonas Salk definitive stamp in PSA panes of 20.

The first distribution of approximately two-thirds the standard automatic distribution quantity for a PSA sheet stamp completed shipment on January 31, 2006. The second distribution, of approximately one-third the standard automatic distribution quantity for a PSA sheet stamp, will complete shipment on February 23, 2006.

Distributions are rounded up to nearest master carton size (40,000 stamps).

Initial Supply to Post Offices

SDOs will not make a subsequent automatic distribution to Post Offices. Post Offices requiring quantities of Item 102400 must order them from their designated SDO using a separate PS Form 17, Stamp Requisition/Stamp Return. SDOs must not distribute stamps to Post Offices before March 3, 2006.

Philatelic Requirement

SDOs will not receive a separate quantity Item 102400 for their authorized philatelic centers. Philatelic centers must be supplied their quantities from the initial automatic distribution made to SDOs.

Additional Supply

Post Offices requiring additional stamps must requisition Item 102400 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.

Following the second distribution to SDOs, the Memphis, Chicago, New York, and San Francisco APDs will each receive 2,880,000 additional stamps; and the Denver APD will receive 1,440,000 additional stamps for fulfilling supplemental orders from SDOs. The Kansas City Stamp Services Center will receive 2,880,000 additional stamps for fulfilling supplemental orders from APDs.

— Stamp Services,
Government Relations, 2-16-06