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Philatelic News
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
July 26, 2002
Stamp Release #02-047
'Antique Toys' Postage Stamps Issued At
World-Renowned Strong Museum
World-Renowned Strong Museum
ROCHESTER, N.Y. — The U.S. Postal Service today issued four new 37-cent definitive stamps depicting antique toys from the world-renowned collections of Strong Museum in Rochester.The self-adhesive Antique Toys stamps are available at local post offices starting today, and they will be available at post offices across the country beginning tomorrow.
Nicholas A. Fabozzi, district manager for the Postal Service's Western New York District, dedicated the stamps at a first day of issue ceremony held in the museum's theater. Joining Fabozzi at the ceremony were G. Rollie Adams, president and CEO, Strong Museum; Patricia Hogan, museum curator; and Rochester Postmaster John A. Montague.
Designed by Derry Noyes of Washington, D.C., the Antique Toys stamps feature photographs taken by Sally Andersen-Bruce, of Milford, Conn., of a cast-iron U.S. Mail panel truck with a spring-wound mechanism, manufactured circa 1912 by Wilkins Toy Co. of Keene, N.H.; a mechanical locomotive, 2-2-0 gauge, made of cast iron and stamped tin, manufactured circa 1880 in the U.S.A.; a cast-iron, red steam pumper with a decorative eagle and two firemen figures, made circa 1925 by Hubley Manufacturing Co., Lancaster, Pa.; and a cast-iron American Yellow Taxi made circa 1925 by Arcade Manufacturing Co. of Freeport, Ill.
Antique cast-iron toys trace technological advances made during the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Mass production of iron toys began during the 1880s when factories, stimulated by the Civil War, manufactured popular goods and toys in place of war materiel. These toys benefited from the sophisticated casting technology that allowed intricate design and realism. Each part was cast separately, then sanded, polished and joined together. These durable, brightly painted toys were popular with children and their parents, and they were sold through mail-order catalogs well into the 20th century. Today cast-iron toys are highly prized by collectors.
The Antique Toys stamps are now available online at www.usps.com/shop and by calling toll free 1 800 STAMP-24.
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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:
ANTIQUE TOYS DEFINITIVE STAMPS
POSTMASTER
1335 JEFFERSON RD
ROCHESTER NY 14692-9991
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 25, 2002.
TECHNICAL DETAILS
Issue: Antique Toys
Item Number: 780400
Denomination & Type of Issue: 37-cent Definitive
Format: Coil of 100 (4 designs)
Issue Date & City: July 26, 2002, Rochester, NY 14692
Photographer: Sally Andersen-Bruce, New Milford, CT
Designer: Derry Noyes, Washington, DC
Engraver: Acitronics
Art Director/Typographer: Derry Noyes, Washington, DC
Modeler: Guilford Gravure
Manufacturing Process: Gravure
Printer: Banknote Corporation of America, Inc. (BCA)
Printed at: Guilford, CT
Press Type: Cerrutti, R118
Stamps per Coil: 100
Print Quantity: 1.5 billion stamps
Paper Type: Prephosphored Type II
Adhesive Type: Pressure Sensitive
Processed at: Guilford, CT
Colors: Magenta, Cyan, Yellow, Black, PMS Grey
Stamp Orientation: Horizontal
Image Area (w x h): 0.84 x 0.71 in./21.34 x 18.03 mm
Overall Size (w x h): 0.98 x 0.87 in./ 24.90 x 22.10 mm
Plate Size: 400 stamps per revolution
Plate Numbers: "B" followed by five (5) single digits
Marginal Markings "© 2002 USPS" " Plate numbers " Plate number every 12th stamp
Catalog Item Number(s): 780440 Full Coil of 100 - $37.00
780463 First Day Cover Set of 4 - $3.00
Issue: Antique Toys
Item Number: 670400
Format: Convertible Booklet of 20 (4 designs)
Engraver: Southern Graphic Systems
Modeler: Avery Dennison, SPD
Printer: Avery Dennison, (AVR), Clinton, SC
Press Type: Dia Nippon Kiko (DNK)
Stamps per Booklet: 20
Print Quantity: 1.8 billion stamps
Paper Type: Prephosphored Type I, 175 PMU
Processed at: AVR, Clinton, SC
Colors: Yellow, Cyan, Magenta, Black
Image Area (w x h): 0.818 x 0.720 in./20.777 x 18.288 mm
Overall Size (w x h): 0.982 x 0.870 in./24.943 x 22.098 mm
Full Booklet Size (w x h): 4.125 x 4.35 in./104.78 x 110.49 mm
Plate Size: 480 stamps per revolution
Plate Numbers: "V" followed by four (4) single digits
Marginal Markings: © 2002 USPS " Plate Numbers " Peel here to fold
Self-adhesive stamps " DO NOT WET" 4 dots each in a separate color
Catalog Item Number(s): 670440 Convertible Booklet of 20 - $7.40
670463 First Day Cover - Set of 4 - $3.00
Issue: Antique Toys
Item Number: 670500
Format: Folded Vending Booklet of 20 (4 designs)
Printer: Avery Dennison, (AVR), Clinton, SC
Print Quantity: 200 million stamps
Image Area (w x h): 0.818 x 0.720 in./20.777 x 18.288 mm
Overall Size (w x h): 0.982 x 0.870 in./24.943 x 22.098 mm
Full Booklet Size (w x h): 10.375 x 1.74 in./263.525 x 44.196 mm
Plate Size: 5 books across x 3 books around (15 per press sheet)
Catalog Item Number(s): 670540 Vending Booklet of 20 - $7.40
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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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