© 2023 USPS
On May 15, 2024, in Yosemite National Park, CA, the United States Postal Service® will issue the Ansel Adams stamps (Forever® priced at the First-Class Mail® rate) in 16 designs, in a pressure-sensitive adhesive (PSA) pane of 16 stamps (Item 485000). These stamps will go on sale nationwide May 15, 2024, and must not be sold or canceled before the first-day-of-issue. The Ansel Adams commemorative pane of 16 stamps must not be split and the stamps must not be sold individually.
This stamp issuance honors Ansel Adams (1902–1984), one of the most influential artists of the 20th century, best known for his awe-inspiring black-and-white photographs of the American landscape. These 16 stamps feature some of Adams’ most famous images in his signature “straight photography” style, an approach defined by its precision and directness. Art director Derry Noyes designed the stamps using existing photographs.
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 Ansel Adams stamps. 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 Ansel Adams stamps 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 four 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 – Ansel Adams 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 15, 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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Ansel Adams Stamps
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Item Number:
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485000
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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 16 (16 designs)
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Series:
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N/A
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Issue Date & City:
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May 15, 2024, Yosemite National Park, CA 95389
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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 Photos:
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Ansel Adams
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Modeler:
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Sandra Lane / Michelle Finn
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Manufacturing Process:
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Offset
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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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16
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Print Quantity:
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20,000,000
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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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Black
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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 1.0850 in. / 36.0680 x
27.5590 mm
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Overall Size (w x h):
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1.5600 x 1.2250 in. / 39.6240 x
31.1150 mm
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Full Pane Size (w x h):
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7.2400 x 7.4100 in. / 183.8960 x
188.2140 mm
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Press Sheets Size (w x h):
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21.7200 x 22.2300 in. / 551.6880 x
564.6420 mm
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Plate Size:
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144 stamps per revolution
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Plate Number:
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“B” followed by one (1) single digit
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Marginal Markings:
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Front:
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Header: ANSEL ADAMS • photographer, 1902 – 1984 • Plate number in bottom two corners
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Back:
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Ansel Adams photographs © The Ansel Adams Publishing Rights Trust • © 2023 USPS • USPS logo • Two barcodes (485000) • Plate position diagram (9) • Promotional text
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—Stamp Services,
Marketing, 4-4-24
