©2020 USPS
On June 3, 2021, in Los Angeles, CA, the United States Postal Service® will issue the Go for Broke: Japanese American Soldiers of WWII stamp (Forever® priced at the First-Class Mail® rate) in one design, in a pressure-sensitive adhesive (PSA) pane of 20 stamps (Item 480500). This stamp will go on sale nationwide June 3, 2021, and must not be sold or canceled before the first-day-of-issue.
With this commemorative stamp issuance, the Postal Service™ recognizes the contributions of Japanese American soldiers, some 33,000 altogether, who served in the U.S. Army during World War II. The stamp, made to resemble an engraving, was printed in the intaglio print method. The image is based on a photograph taken in 1944, in France, of a member of the 442nd Regimental Combat Team, whose motto was “Go for Broke.” The stamp was designed by art director Antonio Alcalá.
Stamp Fulfillment Services will not make an automatic push distribution to Post Offices. Post Offices may begin ordering the stamps before the first-day-of-issue through SFS Web at sfsweb.usps.gov.
Only the following pictorial postmark is permitted for the Go for Broke: Japanese American Soldiers of WWII stamp. The word “Station” or the abbreviation “STA” is required somewhere in the design because it will be a temporary station. Use of any image other than the following special pictorial image is prohibited.
To finalize the Go for Broke: Japanese American Soldiers of WWII stamp pictorial postmark art, insert the date, city, state, and ZIP Code™ of the physical location of your event adjacent to the stamp image. Overall dimensions of the pictorial postmark must not exceed 4 inches (horizontally) by 2 inches (vertically). Collectors prefer the dimensions 3-1/2 inches by 1 inch.
The Postal Service must make all special postmarks known to collectors through advance publicity in the Postal Bulletin. Therefore, all special dedication cancellations must be reported to Stamp Services 4 weeks before the event using PS Form 413, Pictorial Postmark Announcement/Report. To get a copy of the form, go to blue.usps.gov/formmgmt/forms/ps413.pdf.
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 – Go for Broke: Japanese American
Soldiers of WWII 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 October 3, 2021.
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 catalog and online at usps.com/shop. Customers may register to receive a free USA Philatelic catalog 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, 5-6-21
