© 2016 USPS
On July 26, 2017, in Newport, KY, the U.S. Postal Service® will issue the Sharks stamps (Forever® priced at 49 cents), in five designs, in a pressure-sensitive adhesive (PSA) pane of 20 stamps (Item 474500). The Sharks $9.80 pane of 20 stamps may not be split, and the stamps may not be sold individually. The stamps will go on sale nationwide July 26, 2017.
This issuance celebrates the wonder of sharks with a pane of 20 stamps featuring realistic images of five species that inhabit American waters:
n The mako shark, represented here by a shortfin mako (Isurus oxyrinchus);
n The whale shark (Rhincodon typus);
n The thresher shark, here a pelagic thresher (Alopias pelagicus);
n The hammerhead shark, this one a scalloped hammerhead (Sphyrna lewini); and
n The great white shark (Carcharodon carcharias).
On the selvage, the stamp image of the great white shark is repeated at the top of the pane. The background blue color deepens in shade as one looks down the pane, evoking inky ocean waters barely penetrated by sunlight. Art director Derry Noyes designed the stamp pane with original artwork by Sam Weber.
Stamp Fulfillment Services will make an automatic push distribution to Post Offices™ of a quantity to cover approximately 30 days of sales. Distribution quantities for the automatic push distribution are available by logging on to SFS Web at sfsweb.usps.gov. Post Offices may begin ordering stamps on the first-day-of-issue through SFS Web; offices must also check the amount they will receive on their automatic push distribution.
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 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 – Sharks Stamps
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 September 26, 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, online at usps.com/shop, or by calling 800-782-6724. Customers may request a free issue of USA Philatelic at usps.com/philatelic, by calling 800-782-6724, or by writing to:
U.S. Postal Service
USA Philatelic Request
PO Box 219014
Kansas City, MO 64121-9014
Philatelic products for this stamp issue are as follows:
n 474506, Press Sheet with Die-cut, $88.20.
n 474510*, Digital Color Postmark Keepsake (set of 5), $18.95.
n 474516*, First-Day Cover (set of 5), $4.65.
n 474521*, Digital Color Postmark (set of 5), $8.20.
n 474524*, Framed Art, $29.95.
n 474527*, Folio, $18.95.
n 474530*, Ceremony Program, $6.95.
n 474533*, Panel, $10.95.
n 474534*, Stamp Ceremony Memento, $21.95.
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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Sharks Stamps
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Item Number:
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474500
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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 (5 designs)
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Series:
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N/A
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Issue Date & City:
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July 26, 2017, Newport, KY 41071
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Designer:
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Derry Noyes, Washington, DC
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Art Director:
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Derry Noyes, Washington, DC
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Typographer:
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Derry Noyes, Washington, DC
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Artist:
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Sam Weber, Brooklyn, NY
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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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40,000,000 stamps
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Paper Type:
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Phosphor Tagged Paper, Block Tag
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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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Colors:
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Cyan, Magenta, Yellow, Black
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Stamp Orientation:
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Horizontal
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Image Area (w x h):
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1.42 x 0.84 in/36.07 x 21.34 mm
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Overall Size (w x h):
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1.56 x 0.98 in/39.62 x 24.89 mm
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Full Pane Size (w x h):
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7.24 x 8.00 in/183.90 x 203.20 mm
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Press Sheets Size (w x h):
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21.97 x 24.25 in/558.04 x 615.95 mm
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Plate Size:
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180 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 two corners of pane
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Back:
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© 2016 USPS • USPS logo • Plate position diagram • Barcode (474500) in lower right and lower left corners of pane • Promotional text
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— Stamp Services,
Marketing, 6-22-17
