Stamp Announcement 18-23: Dragons Stamps

©2018 USPS

On August 9, 2018, in Columbus, OH, the U.S. Postal Service^® will issue the Dragons stamps (Forever^® priced at the First-Class Mail^® rate) in four designs, in a pressure-sensitive adhesive pane of 16 stamps (Item 477500). The stamps will go on sale nationwide August 9, 2018. The Dragons pane of 16 stamps may not be split and the stamps may not be sold individually.

The U.S. Postal Service celebrates dragons, the high-flying, fire-breathing mythological creatures that have roamed our imaginations for millennia. Each of the stamps showcases one of four dragons:

n A green fire-breathing dragon towering over a medieval–inspired castle;

n A purple dragon with orange wings and sharp black armor on its back snaking around a white castle;

n A black dragon with green wings and green armor on its back swooping past a ship on the sea; and

n A wingless orange dragon weaving its way around a pagoda.

Each of the stamps and the header feature orange foiled highlights that add a fire-like glint. At the top of the pane, “Dragons” appears alongside a black fire-breathing dragon. The stamps are digital illustrations created by artist Don Clark of Invisible Creature studio, while Greg Breeding served as art director.

Availability to Post Offices: Item 477500, Dragons (Forever priced at the First-Class Mail rate) Commemorative Pane of 16 Stamps

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 in their automatic push distribution.

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

Customers have 120 days to obtain the first-day-of-issue postmark by mail. They may purchase new stamps at their local Post Office or at The Postal Store^® website at usps.com/shop. 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 – Dragons 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 December 9, 2018.

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 USA Philatelic publication and online at usps.com/shop. Customers may register to receive a free USA Philatelic publication online at usps.com/philatelic.

Locally produced items are not authorized. Only merchandise that has been approved and assigned an item number by Headquarters Retail Marketing may be produced and sold.

— Stamp Services, Marketing, 7-5-18