© 2023 USPS
On September 14, 2024, in Washington, DC, the United States Postal Service® will issue the Christmas Madonna and Child stamp (Forever® priced at the First-Class Mail® rate), in one design, in a pressure-sensitive adhesive (PSA) double-sided booklet of 20 stamps (Item 685100). This stamp will go on sale nationwide September 14, 2024, and must not be sold or canceled before the first-day-of-issue.
This Christmas stamp features the serene Madonna and Child from the workshop of the 17th century Italian artist Giovanni Battista Salvi, called “Sassoferrato” (1609–1685). He and his workshop produced many versions of this painting; this one is from the collection of the Indianapolis Museum of Art at Newfields. William Gicker was the art director for the project. Greg Breeding designed the stamp, which will be sold in booklets of 20.
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 will be 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 should also check the amount they will receive on their automatic push distribution.
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 – Christmas Madonna and Child 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 January 14, 2025.
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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Christmas Madonna and Child Stamp
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Item Number:
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685100
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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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Double-Sided Booklet 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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September 14, 2024, Washington, DC 20066
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Art Director:
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William Gicker, Washington, DC
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Designer:
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Greg Breeding, Charlottesville, VA
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Existing Art:
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Workshop of Sassoferrato
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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 Booklet:
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20
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Print Quantity:
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210,000,000 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 871C
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Stamp Orientation:
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Vertical
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Image Area (w x h):
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0.7700 x 1.0500 in. / 19.5580 x
26.6700 mm
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Overall Size (w x h):
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0.9100 x 1.1900 in. / 23.1140 x
30.2260 mm
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Booklet Size (w x h):
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5.7430 x 2.3750 in. / 145.8720 x
60.3250 mm
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Plate Size:
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800 stamps per revolution
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Plate Number:
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“B” followed by five (5) single digits
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Marginal Markings:
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Header: CHRISTMAS Madonna and Child Twenty First-Class Forever Stamps • © 2023 USPS in peel strip area • Barcode • USPS Logo • Artwork courtesy of the Indianapolis Museum of Art at Newfields • Promotional Text • Plate number in peel strip area
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Stamp Services,
Marketing, 8-8-24
