© 2011 USPS
On October 1, 2012, in Washington, DC, the Postal Service™ will issue Earthscapes commemorative stamps (Forever® stamp, priced at 45 cents) in 15 designs in a pressure-sensitive adhesive (PSA) pane of 15 stamps (Item 470100).
The stamps will go on sale nationwide October 1, 2012.
The U.S. Postal Service® celebrates the beauty and diversity of America’s landscapes as seen from above with the issuance of Earthscapes. The stamp pane features 15 stamps in three rows of five. The top row shows five examples of natural earthscapes. The middle row focuses on a wide range of agricultural earthscapes. The bottom row shows urban earthscapes. The images, captured by satellites or taken from aircraft, were chosen to showcase designs or patterns and geographic diversity. Art director Howard E. Paine designed the stamp pane.
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 30,000 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 September 17, 2012.
Post Offices requiring additional quantities of Item 470100 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All Post Offices should maintain a sufficient inventory level of this item until the stamp is officially withdrawn from sale.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:
Earthscapes Commemorative Stamps
Special Cancellations
PO Box 92282
Washington, DC 20090-2282
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 2, 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 11 philatelic products available for this stamp issue:
n 470162*, First-Day Cover (Full Pane), $9.25.
n 470163*, First-Day Cover Set of 15, $13.35.
n 470164*, First-Day Cancelled (Full Pane), $9.25.
n 470168*, Digital Color Postmark Set of 15, $24.00.
n 470177, Jigsaw Puzzle, $17.95.
n 470184, Uncut Press Sheet (without die cut), $60.75.
(Print Quantity of 2,500)
n 470191*, Ceremony Program (random single), $6.95.
n 470192*, Stamp Deck Card, $0.95.
n 470194*, Stamp Deck Card w/DCP (random single), $1.95.
n 470197*, Commemorative Stamp Panel, $16.95.
n 470199*, Cancellation Keepsake (random DCP
w/Pane), $8.95.
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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Earthscapes
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Item Number:
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470100
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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 15 (15 designs)
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Series:
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N/A
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Issue Date & City:
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October 1, 2012, Washington, DC 20066
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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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Typographer:
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Howard E. Paine, Delaplane, VA
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Modeler:
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Donald Woo
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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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Banknote Corporation of America, Inc./SSP
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Printed at:
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Browns Summit, NC
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Press Type:
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Man Roland, 300
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Stamps per Pane:
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15
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Print Quantity:
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39,999,990 stamps
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Paper Type:
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Phosphor Tagged
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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, PMS 2728 (Blue)
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Stamp Orientation:
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Square
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Image Area (w x h):
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1.07 x 1.07 in./27.18 x 27.18 mm
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Overall Size (w x h):
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1.224 x 1.224 in./31.09 x 31.09 mm
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Full Pane Size (w x h):
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7.25 x 5.51 in./184.15 x 139.95 mm
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Plate Size:
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135 stamps per revolution
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Plate Numbers:
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“S” followed by five (5) single digits
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Marginal Markings:
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Front:
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Header: “EARTHSCAPES” • Plate block numbers in four corners of pane
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Back:
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Header: “EARTHSCAPES” • Verso text • © 2011 USPS • USPS logo
• Plate position diagram • Barcode (470100) in lower left and upper right corners of pane • Promotional text
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— Stamp Services,
Marketing and Sales, 9-6-12
[D]
