USPS Stamp Announcement 16-42: Nativity Stamp

Stamp Announcement 16-42: Nativity Stamp



©2015 USPS

On November 3, 2016, in Washington DC, the U.S. Postal Service® will issue the Nativity stamp (Forever® priced at 47 cents), in one design, in a pressure-sensitive adhesive (PSA) booklet of 20 stamps (Item 681200).
The stamp will go on sale nationwide November 3, 2016.

The Postal Service™ celebrates Christmas with a new stamp featuring a traditional Nativity scene. The stamp art depicts a peaceful yet powerful image of the Holy Family silhouetted against a dawn sky. The baby Jesus lies in a straw-filled manger in the center of the picture with Mary kneeling to the right and Joseph standing to the left, holding a lantern. A bright star shines over the scene. The Gospel of Luke relates how Mary and Joseph traveled to Bethlehem to register for the census decreed by the Roman emperor. The Gospel says: "And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn." Art director Greg Breeding designed the stamp with original art by Nancy Stahl.

Initial Supply to Post Offices: Item 681200, $9.40 Nativity First-Class Mail (Forever priced at 47 cents) PSA Booklet of 20 Stamps

Stamp Fulfillment Services will not make an automatic push distribution to Post Offices™. Post Offices may begin ordering stamps prior to the FDOI through SFS Web.

How to Order the First-Day-of-Issue Postmark

Customers have 60 days to obtain the first-day-of-issue postmark by mail. They may purchase new stamps at their local Post Office, at The Postal Store®website at http://www.usps.com/shop, or by calling 800-782-6724. They should affix the stamps to envelopes of their choice, address the envelopes (to themselves or others), and place them in a larger envelope addressed to:

Nativity Stamp
Stamp Fulfillment Services
Cancellation Services
8300 NE Underground Drive, Pillar 210
Kansas City, MO 64144-9998

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 3, 2017.

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 quarterly USA Philatelic catalog, online at http://usps.com/shop, or by calling 800-782-6724. Customers may request a free catalog by calling 800-782-6724 or writing to:

U.S. Postal Service
Catalog Request
PO Box 219014
Kansas City, MO 64121-9014
Philatelic Products

There are seven philatelic products for this stamp issue:
681206, Press Sheet with Die-cut, $75.20.
681210*, Digital Color Postmark Keepsake, $11.95.
681216*, First-Day Cover, $0.91.
681221*, Digital Color Postmark, $1.62.
681224*, Framed Art, $19.95.
681230*, Ceremony Program, $6.95.
681266*, Notecards (set of 10), $15.95.

Items with an asterisk (*) will use the 128 barcode from Stamp Fulfillment Services. All other philatelic products will continue to use barcode series A, with the exception of the Yearbook and the Guide Book.


Issue: Nativity Stamp
Item Number: 681200
Denomination & Type of Issue: First-Class Mail Forever
Format: Double-sided Booklet of 20 (1 design)
Series: Holiday Celebrations
Issue Date & City: November 3, 2016, Washington DC 20066
Art Director: Greg Breeding, Charlottesville, VA
Designer: Greg Breeding, Charlottesville, VA
Typographer: Greg Breeding, Charlottesville, VA
Artist: Nancy Stahl, New York, NY
Modeler: Joseph Sheeran
Manufacturing Process: Offset, Microprint
Printer: Ashton Potter (USA) Ltd. (APU)
Printed at: Williamsville, NY
Press Type: Muller A76
Stamps per Booklet: 20
Print Quantity: 400,000,000 stamps
Paper Type: Nonphosphored Type III, Block Tag applied
Adhesive Type: Pressure-sensitive
Processed at: Ashton Potter (USA) Ltd. (APU)
Colors: Cyan, Magenta, Yellow, Black, PMS 8520 Gold
Stamp Orientation: Vertical
Image Area (w x h): 0.77 x 1.05 in.#8260;19.56 x 26.67 mm
Stamp Size (w x h): 0.91 x 1.19 in.#8260;23.11x 30.23 mm
Full Booklet Size (w x h): 5.76 x 2.38 in.#8260;146.30 x 60.45 mm
Press Sheet Size (w x h): 23.29 x 4.76 in.#8260;591.57 x 120.90 mm
Plate Size: 880 stamps per revolution
Plate Numbers: "P" followed by five (5) single digits
Marginal Markings: Header. "Nativity" • Twenty First-Class Forever Stamps • Barcode "015645 68120" • Plate numbers in peel strip area • © 2015 • USPS in peel strip area • Promotional Text in peel strip area