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Philatelic News
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
July 12, 2002
Stamp Release #02-044
'Coverlet Eagle' Stamp Issued At Americover Show

The Coverlet Eagle stampOAK BROOK, Ill. - The U.S. Postal Service today issued a new 60-cent definitive stamp featuring a woven coverlet, or bedspread, nearly 150 years old.

The Coverlet Eagle stamp is available at local post offices starting today. It will be available at post offices across the country beginning tomorrow. The stamp meets the new First-Class two-ounce letter rate and is offered in panes of 20 self-adhesive stamps.

Danny Jackson, vice president of the Great Lakes Area for the Postal Service, dedicated the stamp at a first day of issue ceremony kicking off Americover 2002. Americover is the annual convention of the American First Day Cover Society.

Joining Jackson at the ceremony were Thomas L. Foust, president, American First Day Cover Society, and James M. Holmes, district manager, Central Illinois District, Postal Service.

Designed by Richard Sheaff of Scottsdale, Ariz., the Coverlet Eagle stamp features an artistic rendering in watercolor and graphite on paper by Arthur G. Merkley of a detail from a Tyler coverlet made circa 1853 for Calista C. James. Harry Tyler (1801-1858) was a weaver who lived in Jefferson County, N.Y. Merkley's circa 1941 rendering is part of the Index of American Design, a visual record of American material culture that is housed at the National Gallery of Art in Washington, D.C.

The detail from the coverlet is an eagle emblem used by Tyler to sign his work. It resembles the Great Seal of the United States. An eagle with a shield on its breast stands with outspread wings. The eagle holds three arrows in its right talon and two olive branches in its left talon. Facing left, the eagle holds in its beak a banner containing the words E Pluribus Unum. Eighteen stars appear over the eagle's head.

The Coverlet Eagle stamp can be ordered by calling toll free 1 800 STAMP-24. Other rate change stamps are available at the online Postal Store at www.usps.com/shop. Also featured in the Postal Store are "Rate Change Kits" containing rate change stamps in various formats (coils, panes and booklets), along with a handy, wallet-size rate card.

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TECHNICAL DETAILS

Issue: Coverlet Eagle
Item Number: 106000
Denomination & Type of Issue: 60-cent Definitive
Format: Pane of 20 (1 design)
Series: N/A
Issue Date & City: July 12, 2002, Oak Brook, IL 60523
Designer: Richard Sheaff, Scottsdale, AZ
Engraver: N/A
Art Director: Richard Sheaff, Scottsdale, AZ
Typographer: Richard Sheaff, Scottsdale, AZ
Modeler: Joseph Sheeran
Manufacturing Process: Offset
Printer: Ashton Potter USA Ltd. (APU)
Printed at: Williamsville, NY
Press Type: Stevens, Vari-size Security Press
Stamps per Pane: 20
Print Quantity: 100 million stamps
Paper Type: Prephosphored, Type I
Adhesive Type: Pressure Sensitive
Processed at: Ashton Potter (USA) Ltd.
Colors: Black, Cyan, Magenta, Yellow
Stamp Orientation: Horizontal
Image Area (w x h): 0.82 x 0.71 in./20.828 x 18.034 mm
Overall Size (w x h): 0.99 x 0.84 in./25.146 x 21.336 mm
Full Pane Size (w x h): 4.95 x 5.04 in./125.73 x 128.01 mm
Plate Size: 240 stamps per revolution
Plate Numbers: "P" followed by four (4) single digits
Marginal Markings: © 2002 USPS " Plate block (6 positions) " Plate Numbers " Price " Barcodes
Catalog Item Number(s): 106020 Block of 4 - $2.40
106030 Block of 10 - $6.00
106040 Full Pane w/plate no. - $12.00
106061 First Day Cover - $0.98
106093 Full Pane w/First Day Cover - $12.98

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 new stamps at their local Post Office, by telephone at 1 800 STAMP-24, and at the Postal Store at www.usps.com. 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:
COVERLET EAGLE DEFINITIVE STAMP
POSTMASTER
1314 KENSINGTON ST
OAK BROOK IL 60523-9991
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
August 12, 2002.

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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 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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