© 2016 USPS
On August 11, 2017, in Independence, OH, the U.S. Postal Service® will issue the Azulillo stamped card Forever® priced at 38 cents (34-cent postage + 4-cent surcharge) in one design.
The U.S. Postal Service issues the Azulillo stamped card for 2017 featuring an illustration of a Chilean blue crocus (Tecophilaea cyanocrocus) from pre-existing artwork by famed illustrator and designer Dugald Stermer (1936-2011). His penciled calligraphy under the flower indicates one of its common names, azulillo, which loosely translated from Spanish means “little blue thing,” with its botanical name above. Art director Ethel Kessler designed the stamped card.
The Azulillo stamped card will be available in the following formats:
n Single-cut cards (Item 250000).
n Double-reply cards (Item 250400).
n Sheet of 40 cards (Item 250500).
Stamp Fulfillment Services will not make an automatic push distribution to Post Offices™. Post Offices may begin ordering the stamped cards before the first-day-of-issue through SFS Web at sfsweb.usps.gov.
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 must 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 – Azulillo Stamped Card
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 October 11, 2017.
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 the stamped cards are as follows:
Single-cut
n 250016*, First-Day Cover, $0.50.
Double-reply
n 250416*, First-Day Cover, $0.88.
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:
|
Azulillo Stamped Card
|
Item Number:
|
250000
|
Denomination & Type of Issue:
|
Forever Stamped Card Rate
|
Format:
|
Single-cut Card
|
Series:
|
N/A
|
Issue Date & City:
|
August 11, 2017, Independence, OH 44131
|
Art Director:
|
Ethel Kessler, Bethesda, MD
|
Designer:
|
Ethel Kessler, Bethesda, MD
|
Typographer:
|
Ethel Kessler, Bethesda, MD
|
Existing Art:
|
Dugald Stermer
|
Modeler:
|
Joseph Sheeran
|
Manufacturing Process:
|
Offset, Microprint
|
Printer:
|
Ashton Potter (USA) Ltd. (APU)
|
Printed at:
|
Williamsville, NY
|
Press Type:
|
Heidelberg, Speedmaster
|
Print Quantity:
|
3,840,000 stamped cards
|
Paper Type:
|
Nonphosphored Type III, Block Tag applied
|
Adhesive Type:
|
N/A
|
Processed at:
|
Ashton Potter (USA) Ltd. (APU)
|
Colors:
|
Black, Cyan, Magenta, Yellow
|
Image Orientation:
|
Horizontal
|
Card Size (w x h):
|
5.5 x 3.5 in/139.70 x 88.90 mm
|
Plate Size:
|
40 cards per revolution
|
Plate Numbers:
|
N/A
|
Marginal Markings:
|
©2016 USPS • Recycling Logo
|
Issue:
|
Azulillo Stamped Card
|
Item Number:
|
250400
|
Denomination & Type of Issue:
|
Forever Stamped Card Rate
|
Format:
|
Double-reply Card
|
Series:
|
N/A
|
Issue Date & City:
|
August 11, 2017, Independence, OH 44131
|
Art Director:
|
Ethel Kessler, Bethesda, MD
|
Designer:
|
Ethel Kessler, Bethesda, MD
|
Typographer:
|
Ethel Kessler, Bethesda, MD
|
Existing Art:
|
Dugald Stermer
|
Modeler:
|
Joseph Sheeran
|
Manufacturing Process:
|
Offset, Microprint
|
Printer:
|
Ashton Potter (USA) Ltd. (APU)
|
Printed at:
|
Williamsville, NY
|
Press Type:
|
Muller A76
|
Print Quantity:
|
288,000 double-cut cards
|
Paper Type:
|
Nonphosphored Type III, Block Tag applied
|
Adhesive Type:
|
N/A
|
Processed at:
|
Ashton Potter (USA) Ltd. (APU)
|
Colors:
|
Black, Cyan, Magenta, Yellow
|
Image Orientation:
|
Horizontal
|
Card Size (w x h):
|
5.5 x 7.0 in/139.70 x 177.80 mm
|
Plate Size:
|
12 cards per revolution
|
Plate Numbers:
|
N/A
|
Marginal Markings:
|
©2016 USPS • Recycling Logo
|
Issue:
|
Azulillo Stamped Card
|
Item Number:
|
250500
|
Denomination & Type of Issue:
|
Forever Stamped Card Rate
|
Format:
|
Sheet of 40 Cards
|
Series:
|
N/A
|
Issue Date & City:
|
August 11, 2017, Independence, OH 44131
|
Art Director:
|
Ethel Kessler, Bethesda, MD
|
Designer:
|
Ethel Kessler, Bethesda, MD
|
Typographer:
|
Ethel Kessler, Bethesda, MD
|
Existing Art:
|
Dugald Stermer
|
Modeler:
|
Joseph Sheeran
|
Manufacturing Process:
|
Offset, Microprint
|
Printer:
|
Ashton Potter (USA) Ltd. (APU)
|
Printed at:
|
Williamsville, NY
|
Press Type:
|
Heidelberg, Speedmaster
|
Print Quantity:
|
4,000 sheets of 40 cards
|
Paper Type:
|
Nonphosphored Type III, Block Tag applied
|
Adhesive Type:
|
N/A
|
Processed at:
|
Ashton Potter (USA) Ltd. (APU)
|
Colors:
|
Black, Cyan, Magenta, Yellow
|
Image Orientation:
|
Horizontal
|
Card Size (w x h):
|
5.5 x 3.5 in/139.70 x 88.90 mm
|
Plate Size:
|
40 cards per revolution
|
Plate Numbers:
|
N/A
|
Marginal Markings:
|
©2016 USPS • Recycling Logo
|
— Stamp Services, Marketing, 7-6-17
