© 2011 USPS
On September 11, 2012, in Greensboro, North Carolina, at the Greensboro Historical Museum, the Postal Service™ will issue the O. Henry commemorative stamp (Forever® priced at 45 cents) in one design in a pressure-sensitive adhesive (PSA) pane of 20 stamps (Item 469900).
The stamp will go on sale nationwide September 11, 2012.
In 2012, the U.S. Postal Service® commemorates the 150th anniversary of the birth of O. Henry (the pen name of William S. Porter) with a stamp in its Literary Arts series. This prolific author wrote nearly 300 tales. By the time of his death, he was the most widely read storyteller in America. In the stamp art, the author’s portrait is set against a background image of the elevated rail in New York City, where many of O. Henry’s stories were set. The portrait is based on a photograph of the author as a young man. Illustrator Cap Pannell worked with art director and stamp designer Ethel Kessler on this stamp art.
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 40,000 stamps.
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 27, 2012.
Post Offices requiring additional quantities of Item 469900 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All Post Offices should maintain a sufficient inventory level of this item until the stamp is officially withdrawn from sale.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:
O. Henry Stamp
Greensboro Main Office
201 N. Murrow Blvd.
Greensboro, NC 27420-9998
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 November 12, 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 six philatelic products available for this stamp issue:
n 469961*, First Day Cover, $0.89.
n 469965*, Digital Color Postmark, $1.60.
n 469984, Uncut Press Sheet, $72.00.
n 469991*, Ceremony Program, $6.95.
n 469997*, Commemorative Panel, $9.95.
n 469999*, Cancellation Keepsake (DCP 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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O. Henry
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Item Number:
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469900
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Denomination & Type of Issue:
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First-Class Mail® Forever Commemorative
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Format:
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Pane of 20 (1 design)
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Series:
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Literary Arts
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Issue Date & City:
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September 11, 2012, Greensboro, NC 27420
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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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Typographer:
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Ethel Kessler, Bethesda, MD
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Artist:
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Cap Pannell, Dallas, TX
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Engraver:
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WRE
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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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20
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Print Quantity:
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20 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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AVR, Clinton, SC
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Colors:
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Yellow, Magenta, Cyan, Black, 5473 (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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1.420 x 0.84 in./36.06 x 21.34 mm
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Overall Size (w x h):
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1.56 x 0.99 in./39.62 x 25.15 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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160 stamps per revolution
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Plate Numbers:
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“V” followed by five (5) single digits
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Marginal Markings:
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Front:
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Header: “LITERARY ARTS” • “28TH IN A SERIES • Plate numbers in four corners of pane
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Back:
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© 2011 USPS • USPS logo • Plate position diagram • Barcode (469900) in upper right and lower left corners of pane • Narrative text on back of each pane about O. Henry’s life • Promotional text
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— Stamp Services,
Marketing and Sales, 8-9-12
