Stamp Announcement 17-10: Uncle Sam’s Hat Stamp

© 2016 USPS

On February 18, 2017, in Mesa, AZ, the U.S. Postal Service^® will issue the Uncle Sam’s Hat additional ounce rate stamp (Nondenominated priced at 21 cents), in one design, in a pressure-sensitive adhesive (PSA) pane of 20 stamps (Item 119700).

The stamp will go on sale nationwide February 18, 2017.

With the release of Uncle Sam’s Hat in 2017, the U.S. Postal Service celebrates one of our country’s most popular patriotic characters. The stamp features eight graphic top hats in Uncle Sam’s signature style, with red and white vertical stripes above a blue band with a white star and a gray brim. Beneath each hat is an oval shape representing a face, each in a different shade, meant to suggest the ethnic and racial diversity of the United States. Art director Antonio Alcalá designed the stamp. The words “ADDITIONAL OUNCE” on this stamp indicate its usage value. Like a Forever^® stamp, this stamp will always be valid for the rate printed on it.

Availability to Post Offices: Item 119700 Uncle Sam’s Hat Additional Ounce Rate (Nondenominated priced at 21 cents) PSA Pane of 20 Stamps

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.

How to Order the First-Day-of-Issue Postmark

Customers have 60 days to obtain the first-day-of-issue postmark by mail. Each cover must have sufficient postage to meet First-Class Mail^® requirements. They may purchase new stamps at their local Post Office, at The Postal Store^® website at 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:

FDOI – Uncle Sam’s Hat Stamp
USPS Stamp Fulfillment Services
8300 NE Underground Drive, Suite 300
Kansas City, MO 64144-9900

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 April 18, 2017.

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 is one philatelic product for this stamp issue:

n 119716*, First-Day Cover, $1.14.

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.

— Stamp Services, Marketing, 1-19-17