Philatelic News
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
July 23, 2002
Stamp Release #02-046
'LOVE IS IN THE MAIL' STARTING AUGUST 16
Not One, But Two Stamps Will Debut In Atlantic City
WASHINGTON - Hearts across America will be set a-flutter by two new additions to the Love stamp series to be issued by the U.S. Postal Service. The stamps will debut Aug.16 during the American Philatelic Society (APS) STAMPSHOW 2002, which runs from Aug.15-18.
The Love stamps will be dedicated at a noon first day of issue ceremony on Aug. 16, held in conjunction with the APS STAMPSHOW 2002, at the Atlantic City Convention Center Hotel, One Ocean Way, Atlantic City NJ 08401.
The Love stamps will be available at the ceremony and at Atlantic City post offices starting Aug.16. The stamps will be available at post offices across the country beginning Aug. 17.
Although APS STAMPSHOW 2002 encourages registration, the stamp show, as well as the stamp ceremony, will be free and open to the public. The ceremony will take place at in room 402.
"The Love stamps are traditionally some of the most beautiful and appreciated stamps in the Postal Service's commemorative stamp program," said John F. Walsh, presidentially appointed member of the Postal Service Board of Governors and the dedicating official.
"Since 1973, stamps depicting swans, victorian lace or modern art have announced marriages, births, graduations, and delivered congratulations over the years. Whatever the design, from the moment they are spied on the outside of the envelope, these miniature works of art foretell good news," Walsh said.
Scheduled to join Walsh at the ceremony are Peter McCann, president, American Philatelic Society; Jackson Taylor, president, American Stamp Dealers Association; and Michael Osborne, designer of the 2002 Love stamps.
The first Love stamp was issued by the Postal Service in 1973 with a denomination of 8 cents and an iconic design by pop artist Robert Indiana. Since that time, Love stamps have featured a wide range of subjects, including flowers, animals, cherubs and love letters as well as abstract designs.
This year's pair of Love stamps feature colorful abstract designs with one bearing a 37-cent denomination, good for the new First Class one-ounce letter rate, and the other valued at 60 cents, useful for mailing heavier items, such as wedding invitations, announcements and RSVPs.
The stamps were designed by Michael Osborne of San Francisco, Calif. Osborne serves as president and creative director of the San Francisco-based graphic design firm that carries his name.
In addition to the Love stamps, the Postal Service is also offering a special Love Commemorative Panel. The panel will be available at the APS STAMPSHOW on Aug. 16. Part of the American Commemorative Collectibles program, this panel will be available at selected post offices Aug.17 and by mail order through the fall edition of the "USA Philatelic" catalog.
To see the Love stamps, visit the Postal Service Web site at www.usps.com and locate the online version of this press release by clicking on "News and Events," then "Philatelic News."
Current U.S. stamps, as well as a free comprehensive catalog, are available toll free by calling 1 800 STAMP-24. In addition, a selection of stamps and other philatelic items are available in the Postal Store at www.usps.com.
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TECHNICAL DETAILS
Issue: Love
Item Number: 671700
Denomination & Type of Issue: 37-cent Special
Format: Convertible Booklet of 20 (1 design)
Series: Love
Issue Date & City: August 16, 2002, Atlantic City, NJ 08401
Designer: Michael Osborne, San Francisco, CA
Engraver: N/A
Art Director: Ethel Kessler, Bethesda, MD
Typographer: Ethel Kessler, Bethesda, MD
Modeler: Banknote Corporation of America, Inc. (BCA)
Manufacturing Process: Offset
Printer: Banknote Corporation of America, Inc. (BCA)
Printed at: BCA, Browns Summit, NC
Press Type: Goebel, 670
Stamps per Booklet: 20
Print Quantity: 1.5 billion stamps
Paper Type: Pre-phosphored, Type I
Adhesive Type: Pressure Sensitive
Processed at: BCA, Browns Summit, NC
Colors: Yellow, Magenta, Cyan, Black, PMS 877 (Silver)
Stamp Orientation: Vertical
Image Area (w x h): 0.75 x 1.03 in./19.05 x 26.16 mm
Overall Size (w x h): 0.91 x 1.19 in./23.11 x 30.23 mm
Booklet Size (w x h): 5.0 x 4.55 in./127.0 x 115.57 mm
Plate Size: 400 stamps per revolution
Plate Numbers: "B" followed by five (5) single digits
Marginal Markings: " © 2002 USPS" " Plate numbers " Peel here to fold;
Self-adhesive stamps DO NOT WET
(Cover side) barcode; text
Catalog Item Number(s): 671740 Convertible Booklet of 20 - $7.40
671761 First Day Cover - $0.75
TECHNICAL DETAILS
Issue: Love
Item Number: 562800
Denomination & Type of Issue: 60-cent (2-oz rate) Special
Format: Pane of 20 (1 design)
Series: Love
Issue Date & City: August 16, 2002, Atlantic City, NJ 08401
Designer: Michael Osborne, San Francisco, CA
Engraver: Southern Graphic Systems, Inc.
Art Director: Ethel Kessler, Bethesda, MD
Typographer: Ethel Kessler, Bethesda, MD
Modeler: Avery Dennison, SPD
Manufacturing Process: Gravure
Printer: Avery Dennison (AVR), Security Printing Division
Printed at: AVR, Clinton, SC
Press Type: Dia Nippon Kiko
Stamps per Pane: 20
Print Quantity: 150 million stamps
Paper Type: Pre-phosphored Type I
Gum Type: Pressure Sensitive
Processed at: AVR, Clinton, SC
Colors: Yellow, Magenta, Cyan, Black, with Gold type
Stamp Orientation: Horizontal
Image Area (w x h): 1.05 x 0.77 in./26.67 x 19.56 mm
Overall Size (w x h): 1.19 x 0.91 in./30.23 x 23.11 mm
Full Pane Size (w x h): 5.750 x 5.350 in./146.05 x 135.89 mm
Plate Size: 200 stamps per revolution
Plate Numbers: "V" followed by five (5) single digits
Marginal Markings: " 2002 USPS" " Price " Plate Position Diagram "
Plate Numbers " Barcodes
Catalog Item Number(s): 562840 Full Pane of 20 w/plate no. - $12.00
562830 Block of 10 - $6.00
562820 Block of 4 - $2.40
562861 First Day Cover - $0.98
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:
LOVE SPECIAL STAMPS
POSTMASTER
1791 PACIFIC AVE
ATLANTIC CITY NJ 08401-9991
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 September 16, 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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