©2022 USPS
On May 5, 2023, in Manchester, NH, the United States Postal Service® will issue the Tomie dePaola stamp (Forever® priced at the First-Class Mail® rate) in one design, in a pressure-sensitive adhesive (PSA) pane of 20 stamps (Item 483600). This stamp will go on sale nationwide May 5, 2023, and must not be sold or canceled before the first-day-of-issue.
This stamp honors prolific children’s book author and illustrator Tomie dePaola (1934–2020), whose extraordinarily varied body of work encompasses folktales and legends, informational books, religious and holiday stories, and touching autobiographical tales. The stamp art features a detail from the cover of Strega Nona (1975), the Caldecott Honor-winning first book in the series. The story focuses on Strega Nona, “Grandma Witch,” who uses magic to help with matters of the heart and to cure her neighbors’ ills. The cover shows Strega Nona carrying her magic pasta pot. Art director Derry Noyes designed the stamp with Tomie dePaola‘s original art.
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 Tomie dePaola 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 Tomie dePaola 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 store.usps.com/store/home. 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 – Tomie dePaola 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 September 5, 2023.
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 store.usps.com/store/home. 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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Tomie dePaola Stamp
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Item Number:
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483600
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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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May 5, 2023, Manchester, NH, 03103
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Art Director:
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Derry Noyes, Washington, DC
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Designer:
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Derry Noyes, Washington, DC
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Existing Art:
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Tomie dePaola
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Modeler:
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Ty Schroeder
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Manufacturing Process:
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Offset, Microprint
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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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22,000,000 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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Black, Cyan, Magenta, Yellow, Pantone 7584C, Pantone 624C
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Stamp Orientation:
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Horizontal
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Image Area (w x h):
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1.42 x 1.085 in / 36.068 x 27.559 mm
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Overall Size (w x h):
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1.56 x 1.225 in / 39.624 x 31.115 mm
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Full Pane Size (w x h):
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7.24 x 7.90 in / 183.896 x 200.66 mm
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Press Sheets Size (w x h):
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22.75 x 27 in / 577.85 x 685.80 mm
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Plate Size:
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180 stamps per revolution
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Plate Number:
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“P” followed by six (6) single digits in two corners
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Marginal Markings:
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Front:
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Header: Tomie • Plate number in bottom 2 corners
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Back:
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©2022 USPS • USPS logo • Two barcodes (483600) • Plate position diagram (9) • Promotional text
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— Stamp Services,
Marketing, 3-23-23
