© 2023 USPS
On January 31, 2024, in New York, NY, the United States Postal Service® will issue the Constance Baker Motley stamp (Forever® priced at the First-Class Mail® rate) in one design, in a pressure-sensitive adhesive (PSA) pane of 20 stamps (Item 484400). This stamp will go on sale nationwide, January 31, 2024, and must not be sold or canceled before the first-day-of-issue.
The 47th stamp in the Black Heritage series honors civil rights pioneer Constance Baker Motley (1921–2005), the first African-American woman known to have argued a case before the United States Supreme Court and the first to serve as a federal judge. The stamp features a portrait of Motley based on a photograph from the Associated Press. The stenciled circular shapes around the head suggest royalty, and the heavy brushstrokes and scratches provide added textures to the acrylic on canvas work. Stenciled curlicues embellish the lower background and continue onto Motley’s black dress. Art director Derry Noyes designed the stamp with original art by Charly Palmer.
Stamp Fulfillment Services will make an automatic push distribution to Post Offices of a quantity to cover approximately 30 days of sales. Distribution quantities for the automatic push distribution are available by logging on to SFS Web at sfsweb.usps.gov/sfsweb. Post Offices may begin ordering stamps before the first-day-of-issue through SFS Web; offices must also check the amount they will receive on their automatic push distribution.
Only the following pictorial postmark is permitted for the Constance Baker Motley 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 Constance Baker Motley 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 – Constance Baker Motley 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 May 31, 2024.
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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Constance Baker Motley Stamp
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Item Number:
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484400
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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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Black Heritage
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Issue Date & City:
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January 31, 2024, New York, NY 10199
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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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Artist:
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Charly Palmer, Atlanta, GA
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Modeler:
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Joseph Sheeran
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Manufacturing Process:
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Offset, Microprint
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Printer:
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Ashton Potter
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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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35,000,000
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Paper Type:
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Nonphosphored Type III, Block Tag Applied
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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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0.8400 x 1.4200 in. / 21.3360 x 36.0680 mm
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Overall Size (w x h):
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0.9800 x 1.5600 in. / 24.8920 x 39.6240 mm
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Full Pane Size (w x h):
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6.0000 x 8.5000 in. / 152.4000 x 215.9000 mm
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Press Sheets Size (w x h):
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12.0000 x 25.7500 in. / 304.8000 x 654.0500 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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Header: Black Heritage, Celebrating Constance Baker Motley, 47th in a Series • Plate number in bottom two corners
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Back:
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© 2023 USPS • USPS logo • Two barcodes (484400) • Plate position diagram (6) • Promotional text
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— Stamp Services,
Marketing, 12-28-23
