©2020 USPS
On July 14, 2021, in Washington, DC, the United States Postal Service® will issue the Mystery Message stamp (Forever® priced at the First-Class Mail® rate) in one design, in a pressure-sensitive adhesive (PSA) pane of 20 stamps (Item 480700). This stamp will go on sale nationwide July 14, 2021, and must not be sold or canceled before the first-day-of-issue.
The new Mystery Message stamp is designed to put your sleuthing skills to the test! Featuring bright colors and interesting shapes, the stamp design is a visual riddle spelling out a difficult-to-discern message. Each colorful square contains a letter in an interesting pattern. The patterns, though seemingly random, were carefully placed so that when put all together, the message reads, “More Than Meets the Eye!” The reverse side of the pane provides the solution. Art director Antonio Alcalá designed the stamp.
Stamp Fulfillment Services will not make an automatic push distribution to Post Offices. Post Offices may begin ordering stamps before the first-day-of-issue through SFS Web at sfsweb.usps.gov.
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 – Mystery Message 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 November 14, 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.
Issue:
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Mystery Message Stamp
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Item Number:
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480700
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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 (1 design)
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Series:
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N/A
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Issue Date & City:
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July 14, 2021, Washington, DC 20066
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Art Director:
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Antonio Alcalá, Alexandria, VA
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Designer:
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Antonio Alcalá, Alexandria, VA
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Modeler:
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Sandra Lane / Michelle Finn
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Manufacturing Process:
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Flexographic, Offset, Microprint
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Printer:
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Banknote Corporation of America
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Press Type:
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Gallus RCS
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Stamps per Pane:
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20
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Print Quantity:
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20,000,000 stamps
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Paper Type:
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Phosphor, Block Tag
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Adhesive Type:
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Pressure-sensitive
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Colors:
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Cyan, Magenta, Yellow, Gray PMS Cool Gray 5C
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Stamp Orientation:
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Vertical
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Image Area (w x h):
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1.085 x 1.085 in. / 27.559 x 27.559 mm
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Overall Size (w x h):
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1.225 x 1.225 in. / 31.115 x 31.115 mm
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Full Pane Size (w x h):
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5.8375 x 7.12 in. / 148.272 x 180.848 mm
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Press Sheets Size (w x h):
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14.24 x 23.35 in. / 361.696 X 593.09 mm
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Plate Size:
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160 stamps per revolution
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Plate Number:
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“B” followed by four (4) single digits in bottom two corners
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Marginal Markings:
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Front:
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Header: Mystery Message • Plate number in bottom two corners
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Back:
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©2020 USPS • USPS logo • 2 barcodes (480700) • Plate position diagram (8) • Promotional text • “More Than Meets The Eye!”
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— Stamp Services,
Marketing, 6-17-21
