Philately

STAMP ANNOUNCEMENT 07-02

Henry Wadsworth Longfellow Stamp

The Postal ServiceTM will issue a 39-cent, Henry Wadsworth Longfellow commemorative stamp in one design in a pressure-sensitive adhesive (PSA) pane of 20 stamps (Item 460900), on March 15, 2007, at the American Stamp Dealers Association Mega Show at Madison Square Garden, in New York, New York. The stamp designed by Howard E. Paine of Delaplane, Virginia, will also go on sale nationwide on March 15, 2007.

With this 23rd stamp in the Literary Arts series, the Postal Service commemorates the 200th anniversary of the birth of Henry Wadsworth Longfellow (1807-1882). Considered the "uncrowned poet laureate" of 19th century America, Longfellow rooted his poetry in European traditions and forms while often working with uniquely American subject matter. Widely read during his lifetime, Longfellow wrote more than 400 poems; today he is especially remembered for narrative poems such as Paul Revere's Ride and The Song of Hiawatha.

The stamp art by Kazuhiko Sano of Mill Valley, California, features a portrait of Longfellow based on a photograph made circa 1876. Background art evokes scenes from Paul Revere's Ride.

How to Order 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 OfficeTM, by telephone at 800-STAMP-24, or at The Postal Store® Web site at 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:

HENRY WADSWORTH LONGFELLOW 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 May 14, 2007.

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 two philatelic products available for this stamp issue:

• Item 460961: First Day Cover, $0.77.

• Item 460993: Cancellation Keepsake, $8.57.

Distribution: Item 460900, 39-cent Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, PSA Pane of 20 Stamps

Stamp distribution offices (SDOs) will receive approximately 25 to 30 percent of their full standard automatic distribution quantity for a PSA sheet stamp. Distributions are rounded up to the nearest master carton size (40,000 stamps).

Initial Supply to Post Offices

SDOs will make a subsequent automatic distribution to Post Offices of one-fourth their full standard automatic distribution quantity using PS Form 17, Stamp Requisition/Stamp Return. SDOs must not distribute stamps to Post Offices before March 9, 2007.

Additional Supply

Post Offices requiring additional stamps must requisition Item 460900 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 New York APD will receive 1,800,000 additional stamps; the Chicago and Memphis APDs will each receive 1,200,000 additional stamps; the San Francisco APD will receive 1,040,000 additional stamps; and the Denver APD will receive 320,000 additional stamps.

Sales Policy

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.

— Stamp Services,
Government Relations, 2-15-07