© 2023 USPS
On February 6, 2024, in Chicago, IL, the United States Postal Service® will issue the Saul Bellow stamp (priced at the Non-denominated, 3-ounce Mail Rate) in one design, in a pressure-sensitive adhesive (PSA) pane of 20 stamps (Item 122900). This stamp will go on sale nationwide, February 6, 2024, and must not be sold or canceled before the first-day-of-issue.
The 34th stamp in the Literary Arts series honors novelist Saul Bellow (1915–2005). Winner of three National Book Awards, a Pulitzer Prize, and the Nobel Prize, Bellow is widely regarded as one of the greatest authors of the 20th century. The stamp art is a pen and ink and watercolor portrait of Bellow based on photographs from 1982. In the background is a street scene in Chicago, where he lived most of his life. Art director Ethel Kessler designed the stamp with original art by Joe Ciardiello.
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 pictorial postmark shown here is permitted for the Saul Bellow 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 Saul Bellow 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. Each cover must have sufficient postage to meet First-Class Mail® requirements. 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 – Saul Bellow 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 June 6, 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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Saul Bellow Stamp
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Item Number:
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122900
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Denomination &
Type of Issue:
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3-ounce Rate, Non-denominated, Mail Use
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Format:
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Pane of 20 (1 design)
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Series:
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Literary Arts
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Issue Date & City:
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February 6, 2024, Chicago, IL 60607
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Art Director:
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Ethel Kessler, Bethesda, MD
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Designer:
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Ethel Kessler, Bethesda, MD
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Illustrator:
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Joe Ciardiello, Milford, NJ
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Modeler:
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Sandra Lane / Michelle Finn
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Manufacturing Process:
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Offset, Microprint
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Printer:
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Banknote Corporation of America
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Press Type:
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Alprinta 74
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Stamps per Pane:
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20
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Print Quantity:
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8,000,000 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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Cyan, Magenta, Yellow, Black, PMS 259C
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Stamp Orientation:
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Horizontal
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Image Area (w x h):
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1.4200 x 0.8400 in. / 36.0680 x 21.3360 mm
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Overall Size (w x h):
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1.5600 x 0.9800 in. / 39.6240 x 24.8920 mm
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Full Pane Size (w x h):
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7.2400 x 5.9200 in. / 183.8960 x 150.3680 mm
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Plate Size:
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240 stamps per revolution
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Plate Numbers:
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“B” followed by five (5) single digits in four corners
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Marginal Markings:
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Front:
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Plate number in four corners
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Back:
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© 2023 USPS • USPS logo • Two barcodes (122900) • Plate position diagram (6) • Promotional text
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— Stamp Services,
Marketing, 12-28-23
