© 2010 USPS
On August 16, 2012, in Sacramento, California, at the American Philatelic Society Stamp Show, the Postal Service™ will issue the Flags of Our Nation: Set 6 stamps (Forever® priced at 45 cents) in 10 designs in a pressure-sensitive adhesive (PSA) coil of 50 stamps (Item 788600).
The stamp will go on sale nationwide August 16, 2012.
With these 10 new stamp designs, the U.S. Postal Service® completes its Flags of Our Nation series with stamps that feature the flag of the U.S. Virgin Islands, the state flags of Texas, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia, Wisconsin, and Wyoming, and the Stars and Stripes. In addition to the flag, each stamp design includes artwork that provides a “snapshot view” — such as an everyday scene or activity, rare wildlife, perhaps, or a stunning vista — of the state or other area represented by the pictured flag. Art director Howard E. Paine collaborated with artist Tom Engeman on the 60 stamps in this series.
Stamp distribution offices (SDOs) and stamp distribution centers (SDCs) will receive their standard automatic distribution quantity for a PSA coil stamp. Distributions are rounded up to the nearest master carton size of 800 coils.
SDOs/SDCs will make a 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 August 2, 2012.
Post Offices requiring additional quantities of Item 788600 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All Post Offices should maintain a sufficient inventory level of this item until the stamp is officially withdrawn from sale.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:
Flags of Our Nation: Set 6 Stamps
[Information unavailable at time of publication]
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 October 16, 2012.
The Postal Service 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, online at www.usps.com/shop, or by calling 800-782-6724. Customers may request a free catalog by calling 800-782-6724 or writing to:
U.S. Postal Service
Catalog Request
PO Box 219014
Kansas City, MO 64121-9014
There are four philatelic products available for this stamp issue:
n 788663*, First-Day Cover Set of 10, $8.90.
n 788667*, First-Day of Sale Set of 10, $8.90.
n 788668*, Digital Color Postmark Set of 10, $16.00.
n 788691*, Ceremony Program (random single), $6.95.
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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Flags of Our Nation: Set 6
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Item Number:
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788600
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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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Coil of 50 (10 designs)
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Series:
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Flags of Our Nation
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Issue Date & City:
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August 16, 2012, Sacramento, CA 95183 (APS Stamp Show)
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Designer:
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Howard E. Paine, Delaplane, VA
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Art Director:
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Howard E. Paine, Delaplane, VA
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Artist:
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Tom Engeman, Frederick, MD
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Engraver:
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Southern Graphic, Richmond, VA
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Modeler:
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Donald Woo
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Manufacturing Process:
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Gravure
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Printer:
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American Packaging Corp./SSP
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Printed at:
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Columbus, WI
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Press Type:
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Cerutti, 950
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Stamps per Coil:
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50
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Print Quantity:
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250 million stamps
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Paper Type:
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Prephosphored, Type I
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Adhesive Type:
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Pressure-sensitive
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Processed at:
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Unique Binders, Fredericksburg, VA
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Colors:
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Cyan, Magenta, Yellow, Black, Med. Blue, Dark Blue, Red, Green
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Stamp Orientation:
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Horizontal
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Image Area (w x h):
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1.59 x 0.81 in./40.41 x 20.57 mm
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Overall Size (w x h):
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1.74 x 0.96 in./44.20 x 24.38 mm
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Full Pane Size (w x h):
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N/A
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Plate Size:
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760 stamps per revolution
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Plate Numbers:
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“S” followed by eight (8) single digits
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Marginal Markings:
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Front:
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Plate numbers every 20th stamp
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— Stamp Services,
Marketing and Sales, 7-12-12
