©2022 USPS
On April 8, 2022, in Chicago, IL, the United States Postal Service® will issue the Shel Silverstein stamp (Forever® priced at the First-Class Mail® rate) in one design, in a pressure-sensitive adhesive (PSA) pane of 20 stamps (Item 481900). This stamp will go on sale nationwide April 8, 2022, and must not be sold or canceled before the first-day-of-issue.
This issuance honors Shel Silverstein (1930–1999), one of the 20th century’s most imaginative authors and illustrators. The stamp features Silverstein’s drawing of a boy catching an apple, a version of which appears on the cover of his picture book The Giving Tree, a story about a friendship between a motherly tree and a boy. Art director Derry Noyes 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/sfsweb.
Only the following pictorial postmark is permitted for the Shel Silverstein 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 Shel Silverstein 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 – Shel Silverstein 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 August 8, 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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Shel Silverstein Stamp
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Item Number:
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481900
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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
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Series:
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N/A
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Issue Date & City:
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April 8, 2022, Chicago, IL 60607
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Art Director:
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Derry Noyes, Washington, DC 20008
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Designer:
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Derry Noyes, Washington, DC 20008
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Typographer:
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Derry Noyes, Washington, DC 20008
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Artist:
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Shel Silverstein
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Modeler:
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Joseph Sheeran
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Manufacturing Process:
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Offset
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Printer:
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Ashton Potter (USA) Ltd. (APU)
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Press Type:
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Muller A76
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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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Nonphosphored Type III, Block Tagged
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Adhesive Type:
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Pressure-sensitive
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Colors:
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Pantone 360 C, Black 6 C, 364 C, 186 C
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Stamp Orientation:
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Vertical
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Image Area (w x h):
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0.84 x 1.42 in/21.336 x 36.068 mm
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Overall Size (w x h):
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0.98 x 1.56 in/24.892 x 39.624 mm
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Full Pane Size (w x h):
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5.92 x 7.24 in/150.368 x 183.896 mm
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Press Sheet Size (w x h):
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22.75 x 27.00 in/577.85 x 685.80 mm
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Plate Size:
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240 stamps per revolution
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Plate Number:
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“P” followed by four (4) single digits
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Marginal Markings:
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Front:
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Plate number in 4 corners
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Back:
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©2022 USPS • USPS logo • Two barcodes (481900) • USPS logo • Promotional text • Plate position diagram (6)
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— Stamp Services,
Marketing, 2-24-22
