© 2011 USPS
On January 23, 2012, in San Francisco, California, the Postal Service™ will issue a Lunar New Year: Year of the Dragon stamp (Forever® priced at 45 cents) in one design in a pressure-sensitive adhesive (PSA) pane of 12 stamps (Item 576900).
The Year of the Dragon stamp is the fifth of 12 stamps in the Celebrating Lunar New Year Series. The Year of the Dragon begins on January 23, 2012, and ends on February 9, 2013. The stamp art depicts part of a colorful dragon figure of the sort manipulated by dancers welcoming the New Year. Artist Kam Mak created the eye-popping illustration. Art Director Ethel Kessler incorporated elements from the previous series of Lunar New Year stamps to create continuity between the series.
The stamp will go on sale nationwide January 23, 2012.
Stamp distribution offices (SDOs) and stamp distribution centers (SDCs) will receive their standard automatic distribution quantity for a PSA pane stamp. Distributions are rounded up to the nearest master carton size of 2,000 panes. The Lunar New Year stamp is issued and sold as a pane of 12 ($5.40).
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. For Post Offices that have placed orders, initial supplies to the Post Offices will be shipped as stamps are received at the Stamp Distribution Centers from the stamp printers.
The $5.40 Celebrating Lunar New Year: Year of the Dragon souvenir sheet may not be split, and the stamps may not be sold individually.
Post Offices requiring additional quantities of Item 576900 must requisition them from their designated SDO/SDC after the first day of issue using PS Form 17, Stamp Requisition/Stamp Return.
All Post Offices should maintain a sufficient inventory level of this item until the stamp is officially withdrawn from sale.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, 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:
Lunar New Year: Year of the Dragon Stamp
Postmaster
180 Steuart Street
San Francisco, CA 94105-9992
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 March 23, 2012.
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 ten philatelic products available for this stamp issue:
n 576961*, First Day Cover, $0.89.
n 576962*, First Day Cover Full Pane, $7.90.
n 576964*, Cancelled Full Pane, $7.90.
n 576965*, Digital Color Postmark, $1.60.
n 576984, Uncut Press Sheet, $48.60
n 576991*, Ceremony Program, $6.95.
n 576992*, Stamp Deck Card, $0.92.
n 576993*, Stamp Deck Card w/Digital Color Postmark, $1.95.
n 576994, Notecards, $15.95.
n 576999, Cancellation Keepsake (DCP w/2 Panes), $12.95.
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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Lunar New Year: Year of the Dragon
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Item Number:
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576900
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Denomination & Type of Issue:
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First-Class Mail Forever
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Format:
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Souvenir Sheet of 12 (1design)
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Series:
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Celebrating Lunar New Year
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Issue Date & City:
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January 23, 2012, San Francisco, CA 94188
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Designer
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Ethel Kessler, Bethesda, MD
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Art Director:
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Ethel Kessler, Bethesda, MD
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Artist:
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Kam Mak, Brooklyn, NY
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Typographer:
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Ethel Kessler, Bethesda, MD
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Engraver:
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Trident
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Modeler:
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Avery Dennison, Designed and Engineered Solutions
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Manufacturing Process:
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Gravure
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Printer:
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Avery Dennison (AVR)
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Printed at:
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AVR, Clinton, SC
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Press Type:
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Dia Nippon Kiko (DNK)
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Stamps per Pane:
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12
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Print Quantity:
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72 million stamps
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Paper Type:
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Non-phosphored, Type III, Block
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Adhesive Type:
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Pressure-sensitive
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Processed at:
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AVR, Clinton, SC
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Colors:
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Yellow, Magenta, Cyan, Black, PMS 132 (Brown),
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PMS 279 (Blue), PMS 872(Gold)
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Stamp Orientation:
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Horizontal
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Image Area (w x h):
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1.42 x 0.85 in./36.07 x 21.59 mm
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Overall Size (w x h):
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1.56 x 0.98 in./39.62 x 24.89 mm
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Full Pane Size (w x h):
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7.25 x 5.85 in./184.15 x 148.59 mm
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Plate Size:
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144 stamps per revolution
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Plate Numbers:
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N/A
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Marginal Markings:
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Front:
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Header: “CELEBRATING LUNAR NEW YEAR”
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Back:
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© 2011 USPS • USPS logo • Header: “CELEBRATING LUNAR NEW YEAR” • Paragraph: “Millions of people…for Dragon.” • Barcode 576900 at bottom • Promotional text
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— Stamp Services,
Government Relations and Public Policy, 1-12-12
