2017 USPS Issues... News? Thoughts? Opinions?

Stamp Announcement 17-32: Disney Villains Stamps




© 2017 USPS
On July 15, 2017, in Anaheim, CA, the U.S. Postal Service® will issue the Disney Villains stamps (Forever® priced at 49 cents), in ten designs, in a pressure-sensitive adhesive (PSA) pane of 20 stamps (Item 475400). The Disney Villains $9.80 pane of 20 stamps may not be split, and the stamps may not be sold individually.

The stamps will go on sale nationwide July 15, 2017.

This issuance celebrates the rich legacy of the Walt Disney Studios Ink & Paint Department with a pane of 20 stamps showcasing 10 classic Disney villains: Maleficent (Sleeping Beauty), Honest John (Pinocchio), Cruella De Vil (One Hundred and One Dalmatians), Captain Hook (Peter Pan), the Queen of Hearts (Alice in Wonderland), Lady Tremaine (Cinderella), Ursula (The Little Mermaid), the Queen (Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs), Gaston (Beauty and the Beast), and Scar (The Lion King). The selvage area features the Queen from Snow White standing in front of an ornate background. The reverse side of the pane includes drawings of the 10 characters and a quote by each one. Art Director Derry Noyes of Washington, DC, working closely with Disney Creative Director David Pacheco and the team at the Walt Disney Studios Ink & Paint Department, designed these stamps using new art created for the issuance.
Philatelic products for this stamp issue are as follows:
475406, Press Sheet with Die-cut, $58.80.
475410*, Digital Color Postmark Keepsake (random cover), $11.95.
475416*, First-Day Cover (set of 10), $9.30.
475421*, Digital Color Postmark (set of 10), $16.40.
475430*, Ceremony Program, $6.95.
475433*, Panel, $17.95.
475466*, Notecards (set of 20), $15.95.


Issue: Disney Villains Stamps
Item Number: 475400
Denomination & Type of Issue: First-Class Mail®, Forever
Format: Pane of 20 (10 designs)
Series: N/A
Issue Date & City: July 15, 2017, Anaheim, CA 92803
Art Director: Derry Noyes, Washington, DC
Designer: Derry Noyes, Washington, DC
Typographer: Derry Noyes, Washington, DC
Artist: Walt Disney Studios Ink & Paint Department
Modeler: Joseph Sheeran
Manufacturing Process: Offset
Printer: Ashton Potter (USA) Ltd. (APU)
Printed at: Williamsville, NY
Press Type: Muller A76
Stamps per Pane: 20
Print Quantity: 60,000,000 stamps
Paper Type: Nonphosphored Type III, Gloss Block Tag
Adhesive Type: Pressure-sensitive
Processed at: Ashton Potter (USA) Ltd. (APU)
Colors: Black, Cyan, Magenta, Yellow, PMS 7687C Purple
Stamp Orientation: Vertical
Image Area (w x h): 1.085 x 1.420 in/27.56 x 36.07 mm
Overall Size (w x h): 1.225 x 1.56 in/31.12 x 39.62 mm
Full Pane Size (w x h): 7.12 x 9.45 in/180.85 x 240.03 mm
Press Sheet Size (w x h): 22.235 x 19.025/564.77 x 483.24 mm
Plate Size: 120 stamps per revolution
Plate Numbers: "P" followed by five (5) digits
Marginal Markings: Front:
Header: DISNEY VILLAINS – from the Walt Disney Studios Ink & Paint Department
Back:
©2017 USPS • USPS Logo • Barcode (475400) • Plate Position Diagram • Promotional Text • Line Drawing and quote for each character • Disney Logo • Disney proprietary information

Stamp Announcement 17-34: Flowers From the Garden Stamps


©2016 USPS

On August 16, 2017, in Sioux Falls, SD, the U.S. Postal Service® will issue the Flowers From the Garden First-Class Mail® stamps (Forever® priced at 49 cents), in four designs, in a pressure-sensitive adhesive (PSA) booklet and coils.

The stamps will go on sale nationwide August 16, 2017.

The Flowers From the Garden stamps will be available in the following formats:
PSA Booklet of 20 (Item 672100).
PSA Coil of 3,000 (Item 755000).
PSA Coil of 10,000 (Item 760100).

Flowers From the Garden stamps feature four different paintings of flowers that come from typical American gardens, each bunch artfully arranged in a container. One stamp features red camellias and yellow forsythia in a yellow pitcher, while another features white peonies and pink tree peonies in a clear vase. An arrangement of white hydrangeas, white and pink roses, green hypericum berries, and purple lisianthus in a white vase graces another stamp, while blue hydrangeas in a blue pot appear on another. Art director Derry Noyes designed the stamps with existing art by Elizabeth Brandon.

Philatelic products for this stamp issue are as follows:
Booklet of 20
672106, Press Sheet with Die-cuts, $78.40.
672110, Digital Color Postmark Keepsake (set of 4), $16.95.
672116, First-Day Cover (set of 4), $3.72.
672121, Digital Color Postmark (set of 4), $6.56.
672124, Framed Art, $29.95.
672130, Ceremony Program, $6.95.

Coil of 10,000
760116, First-Day Cover (set of 4), $3.72.
760121, Digital Color Postmark (set of 4), $6.56.

Issue: Flowers From the Garden Stamps
Item Number: 672100
Denomination & Type of Issue: First-Class Mail, Forever
Format: Double-sided Booklet of 20, (4 designs)
Series: N/A
Issue Date & City: August 16, 2017, Sioux Falls, SD 57104
Art Director: Derry Noyes, Washington, DC
Designer: Derry Noyes, Washington, DC
Typographer: Derry Noyes, Washington, DC
Existing Art: Elizabeth Brandon
Modeler: Sandra Lane/Michelle Finn
Manufacturing Process: Offset, Microprint
Printer: Banknote Corporation of America
Printed at: Browns Summit, NC
Press Type: Alprinta 74
Stamps per Booklet: 20
Print Quantity: 500,000,000 stamps
Paper Type: Phosphor Tagged Paper, Block
Adhesive Type: Pressure-sensitive
Processed at: Banknote Corporation of America, Browns Summit, NC
Stamp Orientation: Vertical
Image Area (w x h): 0.77 x 1.05 in./19.56 x 26.67 mm
Stamp Size (w x h): 0.91 x 1.19 in./23.11 x 30.23 mm
Full Pane Size (w x h): 5.74 x 2.38 in./145.87 x 60.33 mm
Press Sheet Size (w x h): 11.49 x 9.5 in./ 291.74 x 241.30 mm
Colors: Cyan, Magenta, Yellow, Black
Plate Size: 800 stamps per revolution
Plate Numbers: "B" followed by four (4) single digits
Marginal Markings: • Plate numbers in peel strip area •
© 2016 • USPS in peel strip area

Issue: Flowers From the Garden Stamps
Item Number: 755000
Denomination & Type of Issue: First-Class Mail, Forever
Format: Coil of 3,000 (4 designs)
Series: N/A
Issue Date & City: August 16, 2017, Sioux Falls, SD 57104
Art Director: Derry Noyes, Washington, DC
Designer: Derry Noyes, Washington, DC
Typographer: Derry Noyes, Washington, DC
Existing Art: Elizabeth Brandon
Modeler: Sandra Lane/Michelle Finn
Manufacturing Process: Offset, Microprint
Printer: Banknote Corporation of America
Printed at: Browns Summit, NC
Press Type: Alprinta 74
Stamps per Coil: 3,000
Print Quantity: 45,000,000 stamps
Paper Type: Phosphor Tagged Paper, Overall
Adhesive Type: Pressure-sensitive
Processed at: Banknote Corporation of America, Browns Summit, NC
Colors: Cyan, Magenta, Yellow, Black
Stamp Orientation: Vertical
Image Area (w x h): 0.73 x 0.84 in./18.54 x 21.34 mm
Stamp Size (w x h): 0.87 x 0.98 in./22.10 x 24.89 mm
Plate Size: 560 stamps per revolution
Plate Numbers: "B" followed by four (4) single digits
Coil Number Frequency: Plate numbers every 28th stamp below stamp image
Issue: Flowers From the Garden Stamps

Item Number: 760100
Denomination & Type of Issue: First-Class Mail, Forever
Format: Coil of 10,000 (4 designs)
Series: N/A
Issue Date & City: August 16, 2017, Sioux Falls, SD 57104
Art Director: Derry Noyes, Washington, DC
Designer: Derry Noyes, Washington, DC
Typographer: Derry Noyes, Washington, DC
Existing Art: Elizabeth Brandon
Modeler: Sandra Lane/Michelle Finn
Manufacturing Process: Offset, Microprint
Printer: Banknote Corporation of America
Printed at: Browns Summit, NC
Press Type: Alprinta 74
Stamps per Coil: 10,000
Print Quantity: 100,000,000 stamps
Paper Type: Phosphor Tagged Paper, Overall
Adhesive Type: Pressure-sensitive
Processed at: Banknote Corporation of America, Browns Summit, NC
Colors: Cyan, Magenta, Yellow, Black
Stamp Orientation: Vertical
Image Area (w x h): 0.73 x 0.84 in./18.54 x 21.34 mm
Stamp Size (w x h): 0.87 x 0.98 in./22.10 x 24.89 mm
Plate Size: 560 stamps per revolution
Plate Numbers: "B" followed by four (4) single digits
Coil Number Frequency: Plate numbers every 28th stamp below stamp image

I just picked up the Shark stamps. I really like these but then again I appear I like anything blue. They showed me the polinator stamps but I cannot get those until tomorrow or Friday. I always buy two, one to save and one to use. So for me the Sharks rate a 10 plus

Stamp Announcement 17-35: Father Theodore Hesburgh Stamp



© 2016 USPS

On September 1, 2017, in Notre Dame, IN, the U.S. Postal Service® will issue the Father Theodore Hesburgh stamp (Forever® priced at 49 cents), in one design, in a pressure-sensitive adhesive (PSA) pane of 20 stamps (Item 474700) and a PSA coil of 50 stamps (Item 799400).

The stamp will go on sale nationwide September 1, 2017.

The Reverend Father Theodore M. Hesburgh, C.S.C. (1917–2015) is considered one of the most important educational, religious, and civic leaders of the 20th century. The stamp art features an oil-on-panel painting (based on a 1980 photograph) of Father Hesburgh standing on the campus of the University of Notre Dame, where he served as president for 35 years. Father Hesburgh was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 1964 and the Congressional Gold Medal in 2000. Art director Ethel Kessler designed the stamp with original art by Tim O'Brien.

Available to Post Offices: Item 474700, Father Theodore Hesburgh (Forever priced at 49 cents) Commemorative PSA Pane of 20 Stamps


Issue: Father Theodore Hesburgh Stamp
Item Number: 474700
Denomination & Type of Issue: First-Class Mail® Forever
Format: Pane of 20 (1 design)
Series: N/A
Issue Date & City: September 1, 2017, Notre Dame, IN 46556
Art Director: Ethel Kessler, Bethesda, MD
Designer: Ethel Kessler, Bethesda, MD
Typographer: Ethel Kessler, Bethesda, MD
Artist: Tim O'Brien, Brooklyn, NY
Modeler: Joseph Sheeran
Manufacturing Process: Offset, Microprint
Printer: Ashton Potter (USA) Ltd. (APU)
Printed at: Williamsville, NY
Press Type: Muller A76
Stamps per Pane: 20
Print Quantity: 15,000,000 stamps
Paper Type: Nonphosphored Type III, Block Tag applied
Adhesive Type: Pressure-sensitive
Processed at: Ashton Potter (USA) Ltd. (APU)
Colors: Black, Cyan, Magenta, Yellow, PMS 7557c Brown
Stamp Orientation: Vertical
Image Area (w x h): 0.84 x 1.42 in/21.34 x 36.07 mm
Overall Size (w x h): 0.98 x 1.56 in/24.89 x 39.62 mm
Full Pane Size (w x h): 5.92 x 7.50 in/150.37 x 190.50 mm
Press Sheet Size (w x h): 11.84 x 22.75 in/300.74 x 577.85 mm
Plate Size: 240 stamps per revolution
Plate Numbers: "P" followed by five (5) digits
Marginal Markings: Front:
Header: FATHER THEODORE HESBURGH • Plate numbers in two corners of pane
Back:
©2016 USPS • USPS Logo • two barcodes (474700) • Plate Position Diagram • Promotional Text

Issue: Father Theodore Hesburgh Stamp
Item Number: 799400
Denomination & Type of Issue: First-Class Mail Forever
Format: Coil of 50 (1 design)
Series: N/A
Issue Date & City: September 1, 2017, Notre Dame, IN 46556
Art Director: Ethel Kessler, Bethesda, MD
Designer: Ethel Kessler, Bethesda, MD
Typographer: Ethel Kessler, Bethesda, MD
Artist: Tim O'Brien, Brooklyn, NY
Modeler: Joseph Sheeran
Manufacturing Process: Offset, Microprint
Printer: Ashton Potter (USA) Ltd. (APU)
Printed at: Williamsville, NY
Press Type: Muller A76
Stamps per Coil: 50
Print Quantity: 2,000,000 stamps
Paper Type: Nonphosphored Type III, Block Tag Applied
Adhesive Type: Pressure-sensitive
Processed at: Ashton Potter (USA) Ltd. (APU)
Colors: Black, Cyan, Magenta, Yellow, PMS 7557c Brown
Stamp Orientation: Vertical
Image Area (w x h): 0.84 x 1.4482 in/21.34 X 36.78 mm
Stamp Size (w x h): 0.98 x 1.5882 in/24.89 x 40.34 mm
Plate Size: 408 stamps per revolution
Plate Numbers: "P" followed by five (5) single digits
Coil Number Frequency: Plate numbers every 17th stamp below stamp image

Stamp Announcement 17-36: Celebrating African American History and Culture Stamp




© 2016 USPS

On September 24, 2017, in Washington, DC, the U.S. Postal Service® will issue the Celebrating African American History and Culture stamp (Forever® priced at 49 cents) in one design, in a pressure-sensitive adhesive (PSA) pane of 20 stamps (Item 474200).

The stamp will go on sale nationwide September 24, 2017.

This issuance recognizes the richness of the black experience by celebrating the National Museum of African American History and Culture. Occupying a 5-acre site on the National Mall in Washington, D.C., the museum is the 19th Smithsonian museum and the only national museum devoted exclusively to African American life, art, history, and culture. The stamp art is based on a photograph of the museum by Alan Karchmer showing a view of the northwest corner of the building. Text in the upper left corner of the stamp reads "National Museum of African American History and Culture." Art director Antonio Alcalá designed the stamp.

Availability to Post Offices: Item 474200, Celebrating African American History and Culture (Forever priced at 49 cents) Commemorative PSA Pane of 20 Stamps


Issue: Celebrating African American History and Culture Stamp
Item Number: 474200
Denomination & Type of Issue: First-Class Mail® Forever
Format: Pane of 20 (1 design)
Series: N/A
Issue Date & City: September 24, 2017, Washington, DC 20066
Designer: Antonio Alcalà, Alexandria, VA
Art Director: Antonio Alcalà, Alexandria, VA
Typographer: Antonio Alcalà, Alexandria, VA
Existing Photo: Alan Karchmer
Modeler: Sandra Lane/Michelle Finn
Manufacturing Process: Offset, Microprint
Printer: Banknote Corporation of America
Printed at: Browns Summit, NC
Press Type: Alprinta 74
Stamps per Pane: 20
Print Quantity: 15,000,000 stamps
Paper Type: Phosphor Tagged Paper, Block Tag
Adhesive Type: Pressure-sensitive
Processed at: Banknote Corporation of America, Browns Summit NC
Colors: Cyan, Magenta, Yellow, Black
Stamp Orientation: Horizontal
Image Area (w x h): 1.42 x 1.085 in/36.07 x 27.56 mm
Overall Size (w x h): 1.56 x 1.225 in/39.62 x 31.12 mm
Full Pane Size (w x h): 7.24 x 7.50 in/183.90 x 190.5 mm
Press Sheets Size (w x h): 21.72 x 22.50 in/551.69 x 571.5 mm
Plate Size: 180 stamps per revolution
Plate Numbers: "B" followed by four (4) single digits
Marginal Markings: Front:
Header: Celebrating African American History and Culture • Plate numbers in two corners of pane
Back:
© 2016 USPS • USPS logo • Plate position diagram • Barcode (474200) in upper right and lower left corners of pane • Promotional text

Ordered the Disney stamp only and will use other disney stamps for a FDC. The rest I'll use to pay the bills with.

Scott number assignments

5203 (49¢) Sports Balls – Football
5204 (49¢) Sports Balls – Volleyball
5205 (49¢) Sports Balls – Soccer ball
5206 (49¢) Sports Balls – Golf ball
5207 (49¢) Sports Balls – Baseball
5208 (49¢) Sports Balls – Basketball
5209 (49¢) Sports Balls – Tennis ball
5210 (49¢) Sports Balls – Kickball
a. Block of 8, #5203-5210

5211 (49¢) Total Solar Eclipse

Picked up 2 of the new butterfly (pollination) sheets and they are VERY nice. Also grabbed 2 of the new flower booklets. Would have got more but the cost of buying new US stamps is really getting silly...

The last good stamp issue was in 1934.

Stamp Announcement 17-37: The Snowy Day Stamps



© 2016 USPS
On October 4, 2017, in Brooklyn, NY, the U.S. Postal Service® will issue The Snowy Day stamps (Forever® priced at 49 cents) in four designs, in a pressure-sensitive adhesive (PSA) booklet of 20 stamps (Item 676100).

The stamps will go on sale nationwide October 4, 2017.

With these stamps, the U.S. Postal Service showcases Ezra Jack Keats' most beloved story, The Snowy Day. Written and illustrated by the celebrated children's author, it was one of the first prominent 20th-century picture books featuring an African-American child. Each of the four new stamps in this 20-stamp booklet shows a different illustration of the main character, Peter, exploring and playing in his neighborhood while wearing his iconic red snowsuit. Art director Antonio Alcalá designed the stamps.

The images include:
Peter forming a snowball,
Peter sliding down a mountain of snow,
Peter making a snow angel, and
Peter leaving footprints in the snow.

Availability to Post Offices: Item 676100, $9.80
The Snowy Day (Forever priced at 49 cents) Double-sided Booklet of 20 Stamps


Issue: The Snowy Day Stamps
Item Number: 676100
Denomination & Type of Issue: First-Class Mail® Forever
Format: Double-sided Booklet of 20 (4 designs)
Series: N/A
Issue Date & City: October 4, 2017, Brooklyn, NY 11201
Art Director: Antonio Alcalá, Alexandria, VA
Designer: Antonio Alcalá, Alexandria, VA
Typographer: Antonio Alcalá, Alexandria, VA
Artist: Ezra Jack Keats
Modeler: Joseph Sheeran
Manufacturing Process: Offset
Printer: Ashton Potter (USA) Ltd. (APU)
Printed at: Williamsville, NY
Press Type: Muller Martini A76
Stamps per Booklet: 20
Print Quantity: 400,000,000 stamps
Paper Type: Nonphosphored Type III, Overall
Adhesive Type: Pressure-sensitive
Processed at: Ashton Potter (USA) Ltd. (APU)
Stamp Orientation: Vertical
Image Area (w x h): .77 x 1.05 in/19.56 x 26.67 mm
Stamp Size (w x h): .91 x 1.19 in/23.11 x 30.23 mm
Full Booklet Size (w x h): 5.76 x 2.38 in/146.30 x 60.45 mm
Press Sheet Size (w x h): 23.165 x 4.76 in/588.39 x 120.90 mm
Colors: Black, Cyan, Magenta, Yellow
Plate Size: 880 stamps per revolution
Plate Numbers: "P" followed by four (4) single digits
Marginal Markings: Header. "THE SNOWY DAY" 20 First-Class Forever Stamps • Plate numbers in peel strip area • © 2016 • USPS Logo in peel strip area • Barcode

Stamp Announcement 17-38: Christmas Carols Stamps


© 2016 USPS

On October 5, 2017, in New York, NY, the U.S. Postal Service® will issue Christmas Carols stamps (Forever® priced at 49 cents) in four designs, in a pressure-sensitive adhesive (PSA) booklet of 20 stamps (Item 677300).

The stamps will go on sale nationwide October 5, 2017.

In 2017, the U.S. Postal Service celebrates the Christmas season with four new Forever stamps featuring images that illustrate a major theme from four beloved Christmas carols:
"Jingle Bells,"
"Deck the Halls,"
"Silent Night," and
"Jolly Old Saint Nicholas."

Familiar lines from each song highlight the individual stamps. The shades of blue in the background of the stamps evoke the evening scenes from the four carols. This booklet of 20 stamps includes five of each design. The late Howard E. Paine was the art director and artist Steve McCracken created the original art for this project.

Availability to Post Offices: Item 677300, $9.80 Christmas Carols (Forever priced at 49 cents) Double-sided Booklet of 20 Stamps

Issue: Christmas Carols Stamps
Item Number: 677300
Denomination & Type of Issue: First-Class Mail® Forever
Format: Double-sided Booklet of 20 (4 designs)
Series: N/A
Issue Date & City: October 5, 2017, New York, NY 10199
Art Director: Howard E Paine
Designer: Howard E Paine
Typographer: Howard E Paine
Artist: Steve McCracken, Winchester, VA
Modeler: Sandra Lane/Michelle Finn
Manufacturing Process: Offset
Printer: Banknote Corporation of America
Printed at: Browns Summit, NC
Press Type: Alprinta 74
Stamps per Booklet: 20
Print Quantity: 900,000,000 stamps
Paper Type: Phosphor Tagged Paper, Block
Adhesive Type: Pressure-sensitive
Processed at: Banknote Corporation of America, Browns Summit, NC
Stamp Orientation: Horizontal
Image Area (w x h): 1.05 x .77 in/26.67 x 19.56 mm
Stamp Size (w x h): 1.19 x .91 in/30.23 x 23.11 mm
Full Booklet Size (w x h): 2.375 x 5.743 in/60.33 x 145.87 mm
Press Sheet Size (w x h): 9.5 x 11.486 in/241.30 x 291.74 mm
Colors: Cyan, Magenta, Yellow, Black
Plate Size: 800 stamps per revolution
Plate Numbers: "B" followed by four (4) single digits
Marginal Markings: Header "Christmas Carols" 20 First-Class Forever Stamps • Plate numbers in peel strip area • © 2016 • USPS in peel strip area • Barcode

I would like to see the Columbian Exposition series reissued in quantities of 100 each.

Frankly I can't believe the USPS has completely ignored the 100th anniversary of the US entry into WWI. In many ways, WWI was a more important historical event than WWII, but according to the USPS it never happened.

ArtfulHinger, it was that or Have a Ball. The Christmas Carol stamps have a flawed design to me.

I am with TheArtfulHinger. WW1 was an important moment in history, and should have been acknowledged.
The Christmas Carol stamps are not flawed, they are awful as are the Snowy Day stamps. Oh well,

Peter