Stamp Services

Stamp Announcement 13-02: Kaleidoscope Flowers Stamp

Stamp Announcement 13-02: Kaleidoscope Flowers Stamp

On January 14, 2013, in Kansas City, Missouri, the Postal Service™ will issue a 46-cent Kaleidoscope Flowers First-Class Mail® stamp in four designs in a pressure-sensitive adhesive (PSA) coil of 3,000 (Item 789300) and a PSA coil of 10,000 (Item 789400).

The stamp will go on sale nationwide January 14, 2013.

Continuing its tradition of beautiful and distinctive floral stamp issuances, the U.S. Postal Service® presents Kaleidoscope Flowers Stamp. This set of four stamps depicts the same graphic flower design, with each stamp featuring one of four different color combinations. Some of the color combinations create the illusion that patterns recede or move forward. Designed by art director Antonio Alcala\u00B4, Kaleidoscope Flowers stamp features the work of graphic artists Petra and Nicole Kapitza.

To learn more about the stories behind the stamps, visit www.beyondtheperf.com.

Distribution: Item 789300, 46-cent First Class Mail Kaleidoscope Flowers PSA Coil of 3,000 ($1,380)

Stamp distribution centers (SDCs) will receive their normal automatic distribution quantity of Kaleidoscope Flowers coils. Distributions are rounded up to the nearest master carton size of 20 coils.

Initial Supply to Post Offices

Stamp Distribution Offices (SDOs)/SDCs will not make any automatic distribution to Post Offices™. Post Offices requiring these items must requisition them from their designated SDO/SDC using PS Form 17, Stamp Requisition/Stamp Return. Post Offices may preorder these stamps 30 days prior to the first-day-of-issue through the eBuy2 SEAM Catalog. For the Hawaii and Puerto Rico offices, the Stamps Service System (SSS) is still valid in January. Post Offices should not sell the stamp prior to first-day-of-issue.

Sales Policy

All Post Offices should maintain a sufficient inventory level of this item until the stamp is officially withdrawn from sale.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.

Distribution: Item 789400, 46-cent First Class Mail Kaleidoscope Flowers PSA Coil of 10,000 ($4,600)

SDCs will receive their normal automatic distribution quantity of Kaleidoscope Flowers coils. Distributions are rounded up to the nearest master carton size of 10 coils.

Initial Supply to Post Offices

SDOs/SDCs will not make any automatic distribution to Post Offices. Post Offices requiring these items must requisition them from their designated SDO/SDC using PS Form 17, Stamp Requisition/Stamp Return. Post Offices may preorder these stamps 30 days prior to first-day-of-issue through the eBuy2 SEAM Catalog. For the Hawaii and Puerto Rico offices, the Stamps Service System (SSS) is still valid in January. Post Offices should not sell the stamp prior to first-day-of-issue.

Sales Policy

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.

How to Order the First Day of Issue Postmark

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/stamps, 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:

Kaleidoscope Flowers Stamp
30 West Pershing Road, #112
Kansas City, MO 64108-9998

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 March 14, 2013.

How to Order First-Day Covers

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

Philatelic Products

There are two philatelic products available for the Kaleidoscope Flowers coil of 10,000:

n 789416*, First-Day Cover Set of 4, $3.60.

n 789421*, Digital Color Postmark Set of 4, $6.44.

Items with an asterisk (*) will use the 128 bar code from Stamp Fulfillment Services. All other philatelic products will continue to use bar code series A, with the exception of the Yearbook and the Guide Book.

 

Issue:

Kaleidoscope Flowers Stamp

Item Number:

789300

Denomination & Type of Issue:

First-Class Mail Rate

Format:

Coil of 3,000 (4 designs)

Series:

N/A

Issue Date & City:

January 14, 2013, Kansas City, MO 64108 (No Ceremony)

Designer:

Antonio Alcala\u00B4, Alexandria, VA

Art Director:

Antonio Alcala\u00B4, Alexandria, VA

Typographer:

Antonio Alcala\u00B4, Alexandria, VA

Artist:

Nicole Kapitza, London

Artist:

Petra Kapitza, London

Modeler:

Donald Woo

Manufacturing Process:

Offset/Microprint “USPS”

Engraver:

N/A

Printer:

Banknote Corporation of America, Inc./SSP

Printed at:

Browns Summit, N.C.

Press Type:

Alprinta, 74

Stamps per Coil:

3,000

Print Quantity:

45 million stamps

Paper Type:

Prehosphored, Type I

Adhesive Type:

Pressure-sensitive

Processed at:

Banknote Corporation, Fredericksburg, VA

Stamp Orientation:

Vertical

Image Area (w x h):

0.78 x 0.85 in./19.81 x 21.59 mm

Overall Size (w x h):

0.87 x 0.98 in./22.09 x 24.89 mm

Colors:

Cyan, Magenta, Yellow, Black, PMS 423 (Gray)

Full Pane Size (w x h):

N/A

Plate Size:

560 stamps per revolution

Plate Numbers:

“S” followed by five (5) single digits

Marginal Markings:

© 2012 • Plate block numbers every 28th stamp

 

Issue:

Kaleidoscope Flowers Stamp

Item Number:

789400

Denomination & Type of Issue:

First-Class Mail Rate

Format:

Coil of 10,000 (4 designs)

Series:

N/A

Issue Date & City:

January 14, 2013, Kansas City, MO 64108 (No Ceremony)

Designer:

Antonio Alcala\u00B4, Alexandria, VA

Art Director:

Antonio Alcala\u00B4, Alexandria, VA

Typographer:

Antonio Alcala\u00B4, Alexandria, VA

Artist:

Nicole Kapitza, London

Artist:

Petra Kapitza, London

Modeler:

Donald Woo

Manufacturing Process:

Offset/Microprint “USPS”

Engraver:

N/A

Printer:

Banknote Corporation of America, Inc./SSP

Printed at:

Browns Summit, N.C.

Press Type:

Alprinta, 74

Stamps per Coil:

10, 000

Print Quantity:

125 million stamps

Paper Type:

Prehosphored, Type I

Adhesive Type:

Pressure-sensitive

Processed at:

Banknote Corporation, Fredericksburg, VA

Stamp Orientation:

Vertical

Image Area (w x h):

0.78 x .85 in./19.81 x 21.59 mm

Overall Size (w x h):

0.87 x .98 in./22.09 x 24.89 mm

Colors:

Cyan, Magenta, Yellow, Black, PMS 423 (Gray)

Full Pane Size (w x h):

N/A

Plate Size:

560 stamps per revolution

Plate Numbers:

“S” followed by five (5) single digits

Marginal Markings:

© 2012 • Plate block numbers every 28th stamp