©2020 USPS
On September 24, 2021, in Topeka, KS, the United States Postal Service® will issue the Message Monsters stamps (Forever® priced at the First-Class Mail® rate) in four designs, in a pressure-sensitive adhesive (PSA) pane of 20 stamps (Item 481300). These stamps will go on sale nationwide September 24, 2021, and must not be sold or canceled before the first-day-of-issue. The Message Monsters pane of 20 stamps may not be split and the stamps may not be sold individually.
The four designs on this new pane of 20 stamps invite interactivity with dozens of self-adhesive accessories that personalize these comical characters for delighted recipients. Decorations include hearts, hats, voice balloons, flowers, and thought bubbles. Art director Antonio Alcalá designed the pane with new illustrations by Elise Gravel.
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 – Message Monsters 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 January 24, 2022.
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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Message Monsters Stamps
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Item Number:
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481300
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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 (4 designs)
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Series:
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N/A
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Issue Date & City:
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September 24, 2021, Topeka, KS 66603
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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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Artist:
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Elise Gravel, Montreal, Quebec
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Modeler:
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Sandra Lane/Michelle Finn
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Manufacturing Process:
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Offset
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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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18,000,000 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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Black, Cyan, Magenta, Yellow
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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 1.42 in./ 27.559 x 36.068 mm
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Overall Size (w x h):
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1.225 x 1.56 in./31.115 x 39.624 mm
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Full Pane Size (w x h):
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7.75 x 8.19 in./196.85 x 208.026 mm
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Press Sheets Size (w x h):
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14.5 x 18.25 in./368.3 x 463.55 mm
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Plate Size:
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60 stamps per revolution
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Plate Number:
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“B” followed by four (4) single digits in two corners
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Marginal Markings:
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Front:
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Header: Message Monsters • Plate number in bottom two corners
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Back:
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©2020 USPS • USPS logo • 2 barcodes (481300) • Plate position diagram (3) • Promotional text
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— Stamp Services, Marketing, 8-12-21
