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Philatelic News
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
April 9, 2002
Stamp Release #02-020
U.S. FLAG, ANTIQUE TOYS, WASHINGTON MONUMENTS AMONG DESIGNS PLANNED FOR POSTAGE STAMPS BEARING NEW RATES
Non-Denominated Stamps to be Available Before June 30 Rate Change

non-denominated Flag stampWASHINGTON -The U.S. Postal Service today announced several new postage stamps will be issued in conjunction with the changes in postage rates scheduled for June 30, 2002.

Planned for issuance in mid June are five non-denominated stamps good for the 37-cent First-Class rate: the U.S. Flag stamp and a set of four Antique Toys stamps, depicting a mail wagon, steam locomotive, taxicab and fire engine. Also scheduled for mid June is a 3-cent "make up rate" stamp featuring a star highlighted in red, white and blue. This stamp will help make it convenient for customers to use any remaining 34-cent stamps they may have on hand.

Denominated versions of the U.S. Flag and Antique Toy stamps, all bearing the 37-cent rate, are scheduled to be issued in late July.

3-cent stamp featuring a star highlighted in red, white and blue Stamps and philatelic stationery scheduled for issuance on or soon after the rate change include the Carlsbad Caverns 23-cent stamped card, illustrating a scene inside a cavern in Carlsbad Caverns National Park, New Mexico; the Ribbon Star 37-cent stamped envelope, showing five strands of red, white and blue ribbon forming a white star in the center of the design; the Official Mail 37-cent stamp and stamped envelope; the Jefferson Memorial $3.85 Priority Mail rate stamp; the U.S. Capitol $13.65 Express Mail rate stamp; the Coverlet Eagle 60-cent "second-ounce" rate stamp, depicting an embroidered eagle and shield and the motto "E. PLURIBUS UNUM"; and the Edna Ferber 83-cent "three-ounce" rate stamp, featuring a "scratch board" portrait of the Pulitzer Prize-winning novelist and short-story writer.

Ferber is the fourth honoree in the Distinguished American series. Gen. Joseph W. Stilwell and Claude Pepper were honored in 2000, and Hattie Caraway in 2001.

Further additions to the 2002 U.S. stamp program include a 5-cent American Toleware stamp, illustrating a teapot, and two Love stamps in 37-cent and 60-cent versions, featuring stylized block letters of the word "LOVE," with a heart design serving as the letter "V." The American Toleware stamp will be issued May 31 in McLean, Va. It replaces the 5-cent Circus Wagon stamp issued in 1991. The Love stamps are slated for an August release.

non-denominated Antique Toys stamps

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Tentative Formats for Rate Change and Replacement Stamps and Stationery

Stamp or StationeryDesignerFormat (* = gummed)
U.S. Flag (non-denom.)Terrence W. McCaffreyConvertible booklet of 20
 Double-sided booklet of 20
 Vending booklet of 20
 Pane of 20
 Pane of 100*
 Coil of 100
 ATM sheetlet of 18
U.S. Flag (37¢)Terrence W. McCaffreyConvertible booklets of 10 & 20
 Double-sided booklet of 20
 Vending booklet of 20
 Pane of 20
 Coils of 100, 3,000 & 10,000
 Coils of 100*, 3,000* & 10,000*
Antique Toys (non-denom.)Derry Noyes (photographs by Sally Andersen-Bruce)Convertible booklet of 20
 Vending booklet of 20
Antique Toys (37¢)Derry Noyes (photographs by Sally Andersen-Bruce)Same as non-denom., plus:
 Coil of 100
Star (3¢)Phil JordanPane of 50
 Coil of 10,000*
Jefferson Memorial ($3.85)Derry NoyesPane of 20
U.S. Capitol ($13.65)Derry NoyesPane of 20
Coverlet Eagle (60¢)Richard SheaffPane of 20
Edna Ferber (83¢)Richard Sheaff (illustration by Mark Summers)Pane of 20
Carlsbad Cavern (23¢)Carl Herrman (illustration by Tom Engeman)Stamped card
Ribbon Star (37¢)Terrence W. McCaffreyStamped envelope (6¾, 9, 10)
Official Mail (37¢)Bradbury ThompsonCoil of 100
 Stamped envelope (#10)
+Replacement StampsDesignerFormat
American Toleware (5¢)Derry Noyes (illustration by Lou Nolan)Coil of 10,000*
Love (37-cent)Ethel Kessler (illustration by Michael Osborne)Convertible booklet of 20
Love (60-cent)Ethel Kessler (illustration by Michael Osborne)Pane of 20


 Since 1775, the U.S. Postal Service has connected friends, families, neighbors and businesses by mail. It is an independent federal agency that visits 137 million homes and businesses every day and is the only service provider to deliver to every address in the nation. The Postal Service receives no taxpayer dollars for routine operations, but derives its operating revenues solely from the sale of postage, products and services. With annual revenues of more than $65 billion, it is the world's leading provider of postal services, offering some of the most affordable postage rates in the world. The Postal Service delivers more than 46 percent of the world's mail volume-some 207 billion letters, advertisements, periodicals and packages a year-and serves 7 million customers each day at its 40,000 retail locations nationwide.

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