Stamp Services

Stamp Announcement 23-20: Endangered Species Stamps

©2022 USPS

On May 19, 2023, in Wall, SD, the United States Postal Service^® will issue the Endangered Species stamps (Forever^® priced at the First-Class Mail^® rate) in 20 designs, in a pressure-sensitive adhesive (PSA) pane of 20 stamps (Item 483800). These stamps will go on sale nationwide May 19, 2023, and must not be sold or canceled before the first-day-of-issue. The Endangered Species commemorative pane of 20 stamps must not be split and the stamps must not be sold individually.

Featuring 20 different endangered animals, these 20 stamps pay tribute to the Endangered Species Act and mark the 50th anniversary of the legislation. The stamp art showcases photographs of endangered animals found within the 50 states and American territories and possessions, as well as two North American species living near U.S. borders. The images are among more than 13,000 in photographer Joel Sartore’s “Photo Ark,” his project to document as many animal species as possible. Art director Derry Noyes designed the stamps with Sartore‘s existing photographs.

Availability to Post Offices: Item 483800, Endangered Species (Forever Priced at the First-Class Mail Rate), Pane of 20 Stamps

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.

How to Order the First-Day of Issue Postmark

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 – Endangered Species 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 September 19, 2023.

How to Order First-Day Covers

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.

— Stamp Services,
Marketing, 4-20-23