Stamp Announcement 14-12: Wedding Cake Stamp

Stamp Announcement 14-12: Wedding Cake Stamp

© 2009 USPS

On February 22, 2014, in Mesa, Arizona, the U.S. Postal Service® will issue the Wedding Cake, 70-cent definitive stamp, in one design in a pressure-sensitive adhesive (PSA) pane of 20 stamps (Item 587500).

The stamp will go on sale nationwide February 22, 2014.

The Wedding Cake issuance, first introduced in 2009 and sold at the two-ounce stamp rate, accommodates the heavier weight of an invitation, as well as other mailings such as oversize cards or small gifts that require extra postage. The stamp art features a photograph taken by Reneeu00B4 Comet of a three-tier wedding cake topped with white flowers. Art director Ethel Kessler designed the stamp.

To learn more about the stories behind the stamps, visit http://uspsstamps.com.

Distribution: Item 587500, 70-cent Wedding Stamp Definitive PSA Pane of 20 Stamps

Stamp Distribution Offices (SDOs) and Stamp Distribution Centers (SDCs) will receive their standard automatic distribution quantity for a PSA pane of 20 stamps. Distributions for panes are rounded up to the nearest master carton size of 40,000 stamps.

Initial Supply to Post Offices

There will be no automatic distribution of these stamps to Post Offices™, and the availability of these stamps for individual Post Offices to order from their normal SDC/SDO could be two to three weeks after the first-day-of-issue. Offices will be notified when these stamps are available to order through eBuy2.

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://usps.com/shop, or by calling 800-STAMP-24. 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:

Wedding Cake StampPostmasterMain Post Office135 N. Center StreetMesa, AZ 85201-9998

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. For more than 50, customers have to pay five cents each. All orders must be postmarked by April 23, 2014.

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 ServiceCatalog RequestPO Box 219014Kansas City, MO 64121-9014

Philatelic Products

There are five philatelic products available for this stamp issue:

n 587510*, Keepsake (Pane and DCP Set), $15.95.

n 587516*, First-Day Cover, $1.14.

n 587521*, Digital Color Postmark, $1.85.

n 587531*, Stamp Deck Card, $0.95.

n 587532*, Stamp Deck Card w/DCP, $2.20.

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:

Wedding Cake Stamp

Item Number:

587500

Denomination & Type of Issue:

70-cent Definitive

Format:

Pane of 20 (1 design)

Series:

Weddings

Issue Date & City:

February 22, 2014, Mesa, AZ 85201

Art Director:

Ethel Kessler, Bethesda, MD

Designer:

Ethel Kessler, Bethesda, MD

Typographer:

Ethel Kessler, Bethesda, MD

Photographer:

Reneeu00B4 Comet, Washington, DC

Modeler:

Donald Woo

Manufacturing Process:

Offset/Microprint “USPS”

Engraver:

N/A

Printer:

Banknote Corporation of America, Inc./SSP

Printed at:

Browns Summit, NC

Press Type:

Alprinta, 74

Stamps per Pane:

20

Print Quantity:

30 million stamps

Paper Type:

Phosphor Tagged, Overall

Adhesive Type:

Pressure-sensitive

Processed at:

Banknote Corporation of America, Browns Summit, NC

Stamp Orientation:

Vertical

Image Area (w x h):

0.7553 x 0.8667 in./19.18 x 22.01 mm

Stamp Size (w x h):

0.91 x 1.19 in./23.11 x 30.22 mm

Pane Size (w x h):

5.425 x 5.635 in./137.80 x 143.13 mm

Colors:

Cyan, Magenta, Yellow, Black, PMS 874, PMS 9 (Warm Gray)

Plate Size:

200 stamps per revolution

Plate Numbers:

“S” followed by six (6) single digits

Marginal Markings:

Front:

Plate numbers in four corners of pane

Back:

© 2008 USPS • USPS logo • Plate position diagram • Barcode (587500) In upper right and lower left hand corners of pane • Promotional text

— Stamp Services, Marketing and Sales, 2-6-14