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Scan courtesy of Jill Ambrose
| Scott # 4777a, strip of 4, or Plate strip of 5 or Plate strip of 9 | Scott # 4774 - Winter Scott # 4775 - Spring Scott # 4776 - Summer, Plate #S1111 Scott # 4777 - Autumn |
| Series | USPS - NA ~ PNC3 - Patriotic - First Class Rate |
| Issue Date & City | May 3, 2013, Weston, MA 02493 (Spellman Museum of Stamp & Postal History) |
| Nationwide Sale | May 3, 2013 |
| Designer | Phil Jordan, Falls Church, VA |
| Art Director | Phil Jordan, Falls Church, VA |
| Typographer | Phil Jordan, Falls Church, VA |
| Artist | Laura Stutzman, Mountain Lake Park, MD |
| Engraver | N/A |
| Modeler | Donald Woo |
| To Press / Initial Quantity | Winter 2012, 1 Billion stamps |
| Coil Size | 100 |
| Printer | Banknote Corporation of American, Inc./SSP |
| Press | Alprinta, 74 |
| Process | Offset with Microprinting “USPS” |
| Where Printed | Browns Summit, N.C. |
| Where Processed | Unique Binders, Fredericksburg, VA |
| Plate Size & Interval | 800 stamps per revolution / Plate # every 32 stamps |
| Paper Type | Prephosphored, USPS Type I |
| Adhesive Type | Pressure Sensitive |
| Tagging Type | Prephosphored |
| Die Cut Gauge | 13 x 13 Peak / Valley (PV) Vertically |
| Colors | Cyan, Magenta, Yellow, Black |
| Image Size (w x h) | 0.754 x .82 in./19.15 x 20.82 mm |
| Overall Size (w x h) | 0.875 x .96 in./22.19 x 24.38 mm |
| Back Numbers | None |
| Earliest Known Use | May 3, 2013 |
| USPS Order Numbers | 789603 Full Coil of 100 - $46.00 789616 First Day Cover - $3.60 (Set of 4) (Probably a random set of 4) |
| Availability | |
| Official Announcement | On May 3, 2013, in Weston, Massachusetts at the Spellman Museum of Stamp and Postal History, the Postal Service™ will issue A Flag for All Seasons First-Class Mail® stamp (Forever® priced at 46 cents) in four designs in a pressure-sensitive adhesive (PSA) coil of 100 stamps (Item 789600). The stamps will go on sale nationwide May 3, 2013. In 2013, the U.S. Postal Service® proudly presents A Flag for All Seasons, featuring four different stamp designs. Each stamp shows an American flag, viewed from below, flying from a pole at full staff against a background of trees that evoke one of the four seasons of the year. Artist Laura Stutzman worked with art director and stamp designer Phil Jordan on this stamp art. |
| Security | The microprinted “USPS” is in different places on each stamp. |
| Note | The 2013 date is in the top left hand corner of the selvege, and is placed vertically |
| Note | These stamps are normally collected as PS9 (plate strips of 9) with the plate numbered stamp in the middle and the same design without a plate number at each end. |
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| Distribution: Item 789600, A Flag for All Seasons First-Class Mail (Forever priced at 46 cents) PSA Coil of 100 Stamps |
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| Stamp distribution offices (SDOs) and stamp distribution centers (SDCs) will receive their normal automatic distribution quantity of A Flag for All Seasons stamps. Distributions are rounded up to the nearest master carton size of 800 coils. |
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| Initial Supply to Post Offices |
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| SDOs/SDCs will not make any automatic distribution to Post Offices™. Post Offices requiring these items must requisition them from their designated SDO/SDC using PS Form 17, Stamp Requisition/Stamp Return. Post Offices may preorder these stamps 30 days prior to first-day-of-issue through the eBuy2 SEAM Catalog. Post Offices should not sell the stamp prior to first-day-of-issue. |
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| Sales Policy |
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| All Post Offices should maintain a sufficient inventory level of this item until the stamp is officially withdrawn from sale. If supplies run low, Post Offices must reorder additional quantities using their normal ordering procedures. |
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| How to Order the First-Day-of-Issue Postmark |
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| Customers have 60 days to obtain the first-day-of-issue postmark by mail. They may purchase new stamps at their local Post Office, at The Postal Store® website at www.usps.com/stamps, or by calling 800-STAMP-24. 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: |
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| A Flag for All Seasons Stamp Retail Specialist 25 Dorchester Avenue, Rm. 3011 Boston, MA 02205-9600 |
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| 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 up to a quantity of 50. For more than 50, customers have to pay five cents each. All orders must be postmarked by July 3, 2013. |
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| How to Order First-Day Covers |
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| The Postal Service also offers first-day covers for new stamp and stationery issues. These items are 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, online at www.usps.com/stamps or by calling 800-782-6724. Customers may request a free catalog by calling 800-782-6724 or writing to: |
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| U.S. Postal Service Catalog Request PO Box 219014 Kansas City, MO 64121-9014 |
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| Philatelic Products |
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| There are two philatelic products available for this stamp issue: |
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| Items with an asterisk (*) will use the 128 barcode from Stamp Fulfillment Services. All other philatelic products will continue to use barcode series A, with the exception of the Yearbook and the Guide Book. |
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