© 2013 USPS
On October 1, 2013, in Weston, Missouri, the Postal Service™ will issue the Snowflakes presorted standard non-denominated stamp (priced @ 10 cents) in five designs in a pressure-sensitive adhesive (PSA) coil of 10,000 stamps (Item 789800).
The stamp will go on sale nationwide October 1, 2013.
This holiday season, the U.S. Postal Service® will issue five festive snowflake stamps in the Presorted Standard price (10 cents) for bulk mail users. Each stamp features a photograph of a different snowflake, set against a background of colors that fade from white at the bottom to icy blues and purples at the top. To photograph these snowflakes, fallen snowflakes were rapidly transferred from a cardboard collecting surface to a glass slide and inserted into a high-resolution microscope. Photographs were made with a digital camera attached to the microscope. William J. Gicker was the art director for the stamp issue. Jennifer Arnold designed the stamps using existing photographs by Kenneth Libbrecht, a professor at the California Institute of Technology.
To learn more about the stories behind the stamps, visit http://www.beyondtheperf.com.
Stamp distribution offices (SDOs) and stamp distribution centers (SDCs) will receive their normal automatic distribution quantity for a PSA coil of 10,000. Distributions are rounded up to the nearest master carton size of 10 coils.
SDOs/SDCs will NOT make an 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. Once the SDCs have received their distribution of this item (estimated September 25, 2013), Post Offices will be able to preorder these stamps through the eBuy2 SEAM Catalog. Post Offices should not sell the stamp prior to first-day-of-issue.
All Post Offices should maintain a sufficient inventory level of this item until the stamp is officially withdrawn from sale.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 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:
Snowflakes (Presorted Standard) Stamp
Postmaster
18205 Library Drive
Weston, MO 64098-9998
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 up to a quantity of 50. For more than 50, customers have to pay five cents each. All orders must be postmarked by December 1, 2013.
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 http://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 is one philatelic product available for this stamp issue:
n 789816*, First-Day Covers, Set of 5, $5.00.
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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Snowflakes
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Item Number:
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789800
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Denomination & Type of Issue:
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Presorted Standard (Non-denominated)
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Format:
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Coil of 10,000 (5 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, 2013, Weston, MO 64098 (No Ceremony)
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Art Director:
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William J. Gicker, Washington, DC
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Designer:
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Jennifer Arnold, Washington, DC
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Existing Photos:
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Kenneth G. Libbrecht
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Engraver:
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WRE
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Modeler:
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CCL Label, Inc.
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Manufacturing Process:
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Gravure
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Printer:
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CCL Label, Inc.
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Printed at:
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Clinton, SC
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Press Type:
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Dia Nippon Kiko (DNK)
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Stamps per Coil:
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10,000
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Print Quantity:
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500 million stamps
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Paper Type:
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Nonphosphored, Type III
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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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Cyan, Magenta, Yellow, Black, Powder Blue (628), Light Purple (2706), Light Blue (2707), Dark Purple (7671)
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Stamp Orientation:
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Vertical
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Image Area (w x h):
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0.84 x 0.73 in./21.34 x 18.54 mm
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Stamp Size (w x h):
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0.98 x 0.87 in./24.89 x 22.09 mm
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Plate Size:
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300 stamps per revolution
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Plate Numbers:
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“C” followed by eight (8) single digits
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Coil Number Frequency:
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Plate block numbers centered every 30th stamp below stamp image
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— Stamp Services,
Marketing and Sales, 9-5-13
