© 2024 USPS
On January 21, 2025, in Big Sky, MT, the United States Postal Service® will issue the $31.40 Star Cluster Priority Mail Express® stamp, in one design, in a pressure-sensitive adhesive (PSA) pane of four stamps (Item 129400). 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 Express® stamp celebrates America’s continued exploration of deep space with another remarkable image captured by NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope. The stamp features star cluster IC 348, a formation approximately 1,000 light-years from Earth within the constellation Perseus. Hidden within the cloud of celestial dust are tiny, free-floating brown dwarfs — objects too small to be stars but larger than most planets. Studying these brown dwarfs will help scientists explore how star-formation processes operate for very small masses. Art director Greg Breeding designed the stamp with an image provided by NASA (National Aeronautics and Space Administration), ESA (European Space Agency), CSA (Canadian Space Agency), STScI (Space Telescope Science Institute), Kevin Luhman (Penn State University), and Catarina Alves de Oliveira (ESA).
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.
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 – Star Cluster 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.
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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Star Cluster Stamp
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Item Number:
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129400
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Denomination &
Type of Issue:
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$31.40 Priority Mail Express Rate
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Format:
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Pane of 4 (1 design)
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Series:
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N/A
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Issue Date & City:
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January 21, 2025, Big Sky, MT 59716
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Art Director:
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Greg Breeding, Charlottesville, VA
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Designer:
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Greg Breeding, Charlottesville, VA
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Existing Photo:
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NASA, ESA, CSA, STScI, Kevin Luhman (PSU), Catarina Alves de Oliveira (ESA)
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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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Gallus RCS
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Stamps per Pane:
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4
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Print Quantity:
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600,000 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
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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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4.1200 x 3.4500 in. / 104.6480 x 87.6300 mm
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Plate Size:
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80 stamps per revolution
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Plate Number:
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“B” followed by four (4) single digits
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Marginal Markings:
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Front:
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Plate number in two corners
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Back:
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© 2024 USPS • USPS Logo • Four barcodes (129400) • Plate position diagram (10) • Promotional text
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Stamp Services,
Marketing, 1-9-25
