© 2016 USPS
On May 30, 2016, in New York, NY, the U.S. Postal Service® will issue Honoring Extraordinary Heroism: The Service Cross Medals stamps (Forever® priced at 47 cents) in four designs, in a pressure-sensitive adhesive (PSA) souvenir sheet of 12 stamps (Item 561100). Honoring Extraordinary Heroism: The Service Cross Medals souvenir sheet of 12 stamps may not be split, and the stamps may not be sold individually.
The stamps will go on sale nationwide May 30, 2016.
This issuance continues a Postal Service™ tradition of honoring the bravery and achievements of members of the U.S. Armed Forces. Previous issuances have depicted the highest military decoration for valor in combat: the Medal of Honor. These new stamps recognize the next highest tier of military decorations for valor: the Distinguished Service Cross (Army), Navy Cross (Navy and Marine Corps), Air Force Cross, and Coast Guard Cross. Each stamp consists of a photograph of one of the four medals suspended from a ribbon and shown against a dark blue backdrop. There are a total of 12 stamps on the pane, shown in two rows. These decorations are awarded for acts of extraordinary heroism in which an individual braved enemy fire, made bold decisions, and took selfless actions to rescue or protect fellow service members. Art director Greg Breeding designed the stamps and stamp pane, working with photographs of the medals by Richard Frasier.
Stamp Fulfillment Services will not make an automatic push distribution to Post Offices™. Post Offices may begin ordering stamps prior to the FDOI through SFS Web.
Only the following pictorial postmark is permitted for the Honoring Extraordinary Heroism: The Service Cross Medals stamps. The word “Station” or the abbreviation “STA” is required somewhere in the design, because it will be a temporary station.
To finalize the Honoring Extraordinary Heroism: The Service Cross Medals 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 event 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.
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 http:⁄⁄www.usps.com⁄shop, or by calling 800-782-6724. 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:
Honoring Extraordinary Heroism:
The Service Cross Medals Stamps
Special Events Coordinator
380 West 33rd Street
New York, NY 10199-9998
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. There is a 5-cent charge for each additional postmark over 50. All orders must be postmarked by July 30, 2016.
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:⁄⁄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 for this stamp issue:
n 561106, Press Sheet with Die-cut, $67.68 (print quantity 3,000).
n 561110*, Keepsake (set of 4), $12.95.
n 561116*, First-Day Cover (set of 4), $3.64.
n 561121*, Digital Color Postmark (set of 4), $6.48.
n 561124*, Framed Art, $39.95.
n 561130*, Ceremony Program (random single), $6.95.
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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Honoring Extraordinary Heroism: The Service Cross Medals Stamp
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Item Number:
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561100
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Denomination & Type of Issue:
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First-Class Mail Forever
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Format:
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Souvenir Sheet of 12 (4 designs)
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Series:
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N⁄A
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Issue Date & City:
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May 30, 2016, New York, NY 10199
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Designer:
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Greg Breeding, Charlottesville, VA
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Art Director:
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Greg Breeding, Charlottesville, VA
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Typographer:
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Greg Breeding, Charlottesville, VA
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Photographer:
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Richard Frasier, Vienna, VA
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Modeler:
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Sandra Lane⁄Michelle Finn
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Manufacturing Process:
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Offset, Microprint
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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 Pane:
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12
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Print Quantity:
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20,400,000 stamps
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Paper Type:
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Phosphor Tagged Paper, Block
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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 SC
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Colors:
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Cyan, Magenta, Yellow, Black, PMS 10128⁄Gold
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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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Overall Size (w x h):
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0.98 x 1.56 in.⁄24.89 x 39.62 mm
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Full Pane Size (w x h):
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7.5 x 5.5 in.⁄190.50 x 139.70 mm
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Press Sheets Size (w x h):
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22 x 22.5 in.⁄558.30 x 571.50 mm
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Plate Size:
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144 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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Back:
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© 2016 USPS • USPS logo • Plate position diagram • Barcode (561100) in lower left corner of pane • Promotional text
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— Stamp Services,
Marketing and Sales, 4-28-16
