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Philatelic News
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
May 6, 2002
Stamp Release #02-027
New Series Debuts With American Toleware
Definitive Postage Stamp
Definitive Postage Stamp
WASHINGTON - A unique 19th Century American craft design will be featured on a new definitive postage stamp that will be issued by the United States Postal Service.The public is invited to the first day of issue ceremony which will be held on May 31, 2002 at 11 a.m. at the NAPEX 2002 Stamp Show, McLean Hilton in McLean, Va. The American Toleware stamp will be available in coils of 10,000 in McLean starting May 31, and at post offices across the country beginning the following day.
"This stamp is the first in a new series for us," said Terry McCaffrey, Manager of Stamp Development for the Postal Service, who will dedicate the stamp. "The American Design series will feature American arts and crafts. This stamp beautifully illustrates American toleware, a colorful type of unique American art."
The new 5-cent definitive stamp features a painted detail of a toleware coffeepot from the Winterthur Museum in Delaware.
Curators at Winterthur believe it was manufactured in Philadelphia between 1850 and 1875.
Toleware is japanned (varnished) or painted tinware fashioned into a variety of household objects, including teapots, coffeepots, cups, trays and candlesticks, which are decorated with motifs such as fruits and flowers. Typically these designs, in colors such as deep red, green and pumpkin yellow, are either hand-painted or stenciled onto a black background of asphaltum mixed with varnish. Asphaltum is a naturally occurring tar-like substance. Produced primarily in New England and Pennsylvania, American Toleware was especially popular during the 19th century.
The American Toleware stamp features artist Lou Nolan's painted detail of a black toleware coffeepot decorated with red flowers, a purple forget-me-not, and yellow, green and orange leaves. Definitives are regular issues of postage stamps usually sold over long periods of time.
Nolan's previous projects for the Postal Service include four stamps in the Transportation series (School Bus, Dog Sled, Milk Wagon and Popcorn Wagon); the Certified Public Accountants stamp (1987); the Bill of Rights stamp (1989); the Christmas Pull Toys stamp (1992) and the Christmas Stocking stamp (1994).
Nolan is a native of Washington, D.C., and studied fine art at the Corcoran School of Art. He graduated from Parsons School of Design in 1952. After working as a book designer and illustrator in New York, he returned to his hometown and began a freelance career. Before retiring in 1995, Nolan had created designs for NASA, the Smithsonian Institution, each branch of the U.S. Armed Forces, and many federal agencies. His work has been honored by the Art Directors Club of New York and "Print" magazine. He won gold and silver medals from the Art Directors Club of Metropolitan Washington.
Derry Noyes, of Washington, D.C., was the designer and art director for this stamp.
All current stamps and other philatelic products, as well as a free comprehensive catalog, are available by calling toll free 1 800 STAMP-24. In addition, a selection of current stamps and gift items are available online at the Postal Store.
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TECHNICAL DETAILS
Issue: American Toleware
Item Number: 778100
Denomination & Type of Issue: 5-cent Definitive Special
Format: Coil of 10,000 (1 design)
Series: American Design
Issue Date & City: May 31, 2002, McLean, VA 22101
Illustrator: Lou Nolan, McLean, VA
Designer: Derry Noyes, Washington, DC
Art Director: Derry Noyes, Washington, DC
Typographer: Derry Noyes, Washington, DC
Modeler: Donald H. Woo
Manufacturing Process: Gravure
Engraver: Armotek Industries
Printer: Sennett Security Products (SSP)
Printed at: American Packaging Corporation, Columbus, WI
Press Type: Rotomec, 3000
Stamps per coil: 10,000
Print Quantity: 300 million stamps
Paper Type: Nonphosphored Type III
Gum Type: Water activated
Processed at: Unique Binders, Fredericksburg, VA
Colors: Magenta, Yellow, Cyan, Black, PMS 7536 (Dark gray), PMS 454 (Light gray), PMS 7504 (Light brown)
Stamp Orientation: Vertical
Image Area (w x h): 0.72 x 0.810 in./18.28 x 20.57 mm
Overall Size (w x h): 0.87 x 0.960 in./22.09 x 24.38 mm
Full Pane Size (w x h): N/A
Plate Size: 616 stamps per revolution
Plate Numbers: "S" followed by seven (7) single digits (every 14 stamps)
Marginal Markings: N/A
Catalog Item Number(s): 778120 Strip of 5 - $0.25
778130 Strip of 25 w/plate no. - $1.25
778140 Full coil of 10,000 - $500.00
778162 First Day Cancellation - $0.56
HOW TO ORDER THE FIRST DAY OF ISSUE POSTMARK
Customers have 30 days to obtain the first day of issue postmark by mail. They may purchase the new stamps at their local post office, affix the stamps to envelopes of their choice, address the envelopes (to themselves or others), and place them in a larger envelope addressed to: AMERICAN TOLEWARE DEFINITIVE POSTAGE STAMP, POSTMASTER, 6841 ELM STREET McLEAN VA 22101-9991. 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. All orders must be postmarked by July 1, 2002.
Stamp Fulfillment Services also offers first day covers for new stamp issues and postal 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. Customers may request a free catalog by writing to: INFORMATION FULFILLMENT, DEPT 6270, US POSTAL SERVICE, PO BOX 219014, KANSAS CITY MO 64121-9014, or by calling 1 800 STAMP-24.
First day covers remain on sale for at least one year after the stamp's issuance.
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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 U.S. 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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