Stamp Services

Stamp Announcement 25-5: Spiral Galaxy Stamp

FDOI

On January 21, 2025, in Big Sky, MT, the United States Postal Service® will issue the $10.10 Spiral Galaxy Priority Mail® stamp, in one design, in a pressure-sensitive adhesive (PSA) pane of four stamps (Item 123000). This stamp will go on sale nationwide January 21, 2025, and must not be sold or canceled before the first-day-of-issue.

This new Priority Mail stamp celebrates America’s continued exploration of deep space with another breathtaking image captured by NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope. The stamp features spiral galaxy NGC 628 located 32 million light-years away from Earth in the constellation Pisces. This image helps researchers update their models of star formation and allows them to better understand the origins of our universe. Art director Greg Breeding designed the stamp, using an image provided by NASA (National Aeronautics and Space Administration), ESA (European Space Agency), CSA (Canadian Space Agency), STScI (Space Telescope Science Institute), Janice Lee (STScI), Thomas Williams (Oxford), and the PHANGS (Physics at High Angular resolution in Nearby GalaxieS) Team.

Availability to Post Offices: Item 123000, $10.10 Spiral Galaxy Priority Mail Pane of Four 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 usps.com/shop. 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 – Spiral Galaxy 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 21, 2025.

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.

 

Issue:

Spiral Galaxy Stamp

Item Number:

123000

Denomination &
Type of Issue:

$10.10 Priority Mail Rate

Format:

Pane of 4 (1 design)

Series:

N/A

Issue Date & City:

January 21, 2025, Big Sky, MT 59716

Art Director:

Greg Breeding, Charlottesville, VA

Designer:

Greg Breeding, Charlottesville, VA

Existing Image:

NASA (National Aeronautics and Space Administration), ESA (European Space Agency), Canadian Space Agency, Space Telescope Science Institute, Janice Lee (Space Telescope Science Institute), Thomas Williams (Oxford), PHANGS Team

Modeler:

Sandra Lane / Michelle Finn

Manufacturing Process:

Offset, Microprint

Printer:

Banknote Corporation of America

Press Type:

Gallus RCS

Stamps per Pane:

4

Print Quantity:

2,400,000 stamps

Paper Type:

Phosphor, Block Tag

Adhesive Type:

Pressure-sensitive

Colors:

Cyan, Magenta, Yellow, Black

Stamp Orientation:

Horizontal

Image Area (w x h):

1.4200 x 1.0850 in. / 36.0680 x
27.5590 mm

Overall Size (w x h):

1.5600 x 1.2250 in. / 39.6240 x
31.1150 mm

Full Pane Size (w x h):

4.1200 x 3.4500 in. / 104.6480 x
87.6300 mm

Plate Size:

80 stamps per revolution

Plate Number:

“B” followed by four (4) single digits

Marginal Markings:

Front:

Plate number in two corners

Back:

© 2024 USPS • USPS Logo • Four barcodes (123000) • Plate position diagram (10) • Promotional text