© 2010 USPS
On October 14, 2011, in New York, New York, the Postal Service™ will issue a Kwanzaa definitive stamp (Forever® priced at 44 cents), in one design in a pressure-sensitive adhesive (PSA) pane of 20 stamps (Item 576500).
With this colorful new stamp design, the U.S. Postal Service® celebrates Kwanzaa, a holiday that takes place over 7 days beginning each year on December 26 and ending January 1. Kwanzaa draws on African traditions and takes its name from the phrase for “first fruits” in Swahili, a widely spoken African language. The bold colors in the stamp art represent the colors of the Kwanzaa flag — green for growth, red for blood, and black for the African people. Art director Derry Noyes worked with artist Daniel Minter to create this stamp design.
The stamp will go on sale nationwide October 14, 2011.
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.
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.
Post Offices requiring additional quantities of Item 576500 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.
All Post Offices should maintain a sufficient inventory level of this item until the stamp is officially withdrawn from sale.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.
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:
Kwanzaa 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.
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
There are four philatelic products available for this stamp issue:
n 576561*, First Day Cover, $0.88.
n 576565*, Digital Color Postmark, $1.60.
n 576591*, Ceremony Program, $6.95.
n 576599*, 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:
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Kwanzaa
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Item Number:
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576500
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Denomination & Type of Issue:
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First-Class Mail® Forever Special
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Format:
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Pane of 20 (one design)
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Series:
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Holiday Celebrations
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Issue Date & City:
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October 14, 2011, New York, NY 10199 (Mega Stamp Show)
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Designer:
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Derry Noyes, Washington, DC
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Art Director:
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Derry Noyes, Washington, DC
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Typographer:
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Derry Noyes, Washington, DC
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Artist:
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Daniel Minter, Portland, ME
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Modeler:
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Joseph Sheeran
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Manufacturing Process:
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Offset/Microprint “USPS”
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Engraver:
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N/A
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Printer:
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Ashton Potter (USA) Ltd. (APU)
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Printed at:
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Williamsville, NY
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Press Type:
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Mueller Martini, A76
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Stamps per Pane:
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20
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Print Quantity:
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35 million stamps
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Paper Type:
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Nonphosphored, Type III
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Adhesive Type:
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Pressure-sensitive
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Processed at:
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Ashton Potter (USA) Ltd. (APU)
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Stamp Orientation:
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Vertical
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Image Area (w x h):
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0.77 x 1.105 in./19.56 x 28.07 mm
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Overall Size (w x h):
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0.91 x 1.19 in./23.11 x 30.23 mm
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Full Pane Size (w x h):
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5.55 x 5.76 in./140.97 x 146.30 mm
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Colors:
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Black, Cyan, Magenta, Yellow
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Plate Size:
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320 stamps per revolution
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Plate Numbers:
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“P” followed by four (4) single digits
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Marginal Markings:
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Front:
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Plate numbers in four corners of pane
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Back:
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© 2010 USPS • Plate position diagram • USPS logo • Barcode (576500) in upper right and lower left corners of pane
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— Stamp Services,
Government Relations and Public Policy, 9-8-11
