© 2013 USPS
On November 11, 2013 in Washington, DC, the Postal Service™ will issue Medal of Honor (Forever® First-Class Mail priced at 46 cents) stamps in two designs in a pressure-sensitive adhesive (PSA) prestige folio of 20 stamps (Item 581000).
The stamps will go on sale nationwide November 11, 2013.
For this special issuance, the U.S. Postal Service® introduces a new format, the prestige folio. The first side of this four-page design highlights historical photographs of the last living recipients of the Medal of Honor from World War II. Sadly, two of the recipients, Senator Daniel K. Inouye and Vernon McGarity, died before the stamps could be issued. Their photographs are still included, as they were among the last representatives of a remarkable group. The 12 photographs surround two Forever stamps. One stamp features a photograph of the Navy version of the Medal of Honor; the other stamp features a photograph of the Army version of the Medal of Honor. The two center pages list the names of all 464 recipients of the Medal of Honor from World War II. A short piece of text and a key to the names of the recipients pictured in the cover photos are included on the second page. The remaining 18 stamps are found on the back page. Art director Antonio Alcalá designed the stamps and the new format, working with photographs of the medals by Richard Frasier.
To learn more about the stories behind the stamps, visit www.beyondtheperf.com.
Stamp distribution offices (SDOs) and stamp distribution centers (SDCs) will receive their standard automatic distribution quantity for a PSA pane of 20 stamps. Distributions are rounded up to the nearest master carton size of 1,000 panes. The stamps will be shipped and sold as a pane (folded) of 20 ($9.20).
SDOs/SDCs will make a subsequent automatic distribution to all Post Offices™ of a quantity to cover approximately 45 days of sales. Post Offices may preorder these stamps 30 days prior to first-day-of-issue through the eBuy2 SEAM Catalog. However, offices should first check the website to determine the amount they will receive on their automatic push prior to placing a preorder, http://topkkssgsht/sites/SDCReports/Lists/StampAutomatics/default.aspx
. 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All Post Offices should maintain a sufficient inventory level of this item until the stamp is officially withdrawn from sale.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, 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:
Medal of Honor 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 up to a quantity of 50. For more than 50, customers have to pay five cents each. All orders must be postmarked by January 11, 2014.
Only the following pictorial postmark is permitted for Medal of Honor stamps. The word “Station” or the abbreviation “STA” is required somewhere in the design, because it will be a temporary station.
To finalize Medal of Honor stamps pictorial postmark art, insert the date, city, state and ZIP™ Code of the physical location of your event adjacent to the stamp image. Overall dimensions of the pictorial postmark must not exceed 4 inches horizontally by 2 inches vertically. Collectors prefer the dimensions 3 1/2 inches by 1.
The Postal Service must make all special postmarks known to collectors through advance publicity in the Postal Bulletin. Therefore, all special dedication cancellations must be reported to Stamp Services four weeks before the events using PS Form 413, Pictorial Postmark Announcement/Report. To get a copy of the form, go to http://blue.usps.gov/formmgmt/forms/ps413.pdf.
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 are eight philatelic products available for this stamp issue:
n 581006, Press Sheet with Die Cuts, $27.60
(print quantity of 2,500).
n 581008, Press Sheet without Die Cuts, $27.60
(print quantity of 2,500).
n 581010*, Keepsake (Prestige Folio and Digital Color Postmark Set of 2), $12.95.
n 581016*, First-Day Cover Set of 2, $1.80.
n 581021*, Digital Color Postmark Set of 2, $3.22.
n 581030*, Ceremony Program (Random Stamp), $6.95.
n 581031*, Stamp Deck Card, $0.95.
n 587032*, Stamp Deck Card w/DCP (random single), $1.96.
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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Medal of Honor Stamps
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Item Number:
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581000
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Denomination & Type of Issue:
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First-Class Forever Commemorative
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Format:
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Prestige Folio of 20 (2 designs)
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Series:
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N/A
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Issue Date & City:
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November 11, 2013, Washington, DC 20066
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Art Director:
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Antonio Alcalá, Alexandria, VA
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Designer:
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Antonio Alcalá, Alexandria, VA
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Typographer:
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Antonio Alcalá, Alexandria, VA
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Photographer:
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Richard Frasier, Vienna, 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
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Printed at:
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Browns Summit, NC
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Press Type:
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Alprinta, 74
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Stamps per Folio:
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20
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Print Quantity:
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81 million 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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Banknote Corporation of America, Browns Summit, NC
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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 1.42 in./21.34 x 36.07 mm
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Stamp Size (w x h):
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0.98 x 1.56 in./24.89 x 39.62 mm
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Pane Size (w x h):
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Colors:
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Cyan, Magenta, Yellow, Black, Metallic Gold, Gray
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Plate Size:
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54 stamps per revolution
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Plate Numbers:
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N/A
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Marginal Markings:
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Front:
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N/A
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Inside Front & Inside:
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Back Covers:
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Header: “MEDAL OF HONOR/ UNITED STATES OF AMERICA/ WORLD WAR II RECIPIENTS”
• Verso text
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Back Cover:
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Quote: “For conspicuous … the call of duty” • © 2013 USPS • USPS logo Barcode (581000) in left hand corner of pane • Promotional text
• Plate block numbers at left and right bottom corners of pane • Plate position diagram
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— Stamp Services,
Marketing and Sales, 10-17-13
