©2015 USPS
On October 1, 2016, in Charleston, SC, the U.S. Postal Service® will issue the Kwanzaa stamp (Forever® priced at 47 cents), in one design, in a pressure-sensitive adhesive (PSA) pane of 20 stamps (Item 556600).
The stamp will go on sale nationwide October 1, 2016.
This bright and colorful new stamp design celebrates the annual non-religious holiday of Kwanzaa, which takes place over seven days from December 26 to January 1. December 26, 2016, marks the 50th anniversary of this widely celebrated holiday. Kwanzaa derives its name from the phrase “first fruits” in Swahili. The holiday honors African-American family, community, and culture. The stamp art features a young African-American woman as the embodiment of Africa. She wears a lavender dress with a collar of African design that also appears in her earring. A large purple bowl overflows with fruits and vegetables, symbolizing the abundance of African first harvest celebrations. Artist Synthia Saint James worked with art director Greg Breeding, who designed the stamp.
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.
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:
Kwanzaa Stamp
Stamp Fulfillment Services
Cancellation Services
8300 NE Underground Drive, Pillar 210
Kansas City, MO 64144-9998
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 December 1, 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 556606, Press Sheet with Die-cut, $75.20.
n 556610*, Digital Color Postmark Keepsake, $11.95.
n 556616*, First-Day Cover, $0.91.
n 556621*, Digital Color Postmark, $1.62.
n 556624*, Framed Art, $19.95.
n 556630*, Ceremony Program, $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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Kwanzaa Stamp
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Item Number:
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556600
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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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Pane of 20 (1 design)
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Series:
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Holiday Celebrations
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Issue Date & City:
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October 1, 2016, Charleston, SC 29403
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Art Director:
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Greg Breeding, Charlottesville, VA
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Designer:
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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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Artist:
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Synthia Saint James,
Los Angeles, CA
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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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20
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Print Quantity:
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15 million stamps
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Paper Type:
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Phosphor Tagged Paper, Overall
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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
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Stamp Orientation:
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Vertical
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Image Area (w x h):
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0.77 x 1.05 in.⁄19.56 x 26.67 mm
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Overall Size (w x h):
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0.91 x 1.19 in.⁄23.11 x 30.22 mm
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Full Pane Size (w x h):
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5.43 x 5.64 in.⁄317.79 x 143.12 mm
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Press Sheets Size (w x h):
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10.85 x 22.54 in.⁄275.59 x 572.52 mm
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Plate Size:
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320 stamps per revolution
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Plate Numbers:
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“B” followed by four (4) single digits
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Marginal Markings:
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Front:
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Plate numbers in four corners of pane
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Back:
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© 2015 USPS • USPS logo • Plate position diagram • Barcode (556600) in upper right and lower left corners of pane • Promotional text
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— Stamp Services,
Marketing and Sales, 9-1-16
