Stamp Announcement 15-15: Ferns Stamp
 

Image Supplied by USPS

<49¢> Ferns - 5 designs
(Sennett Security Products)
Self Adhesive Coils of 3,000 & 10,000
Scott # 4973-77 2014 dated stamps - Plate # S1111 on Scott # 4975 (coil of 10,000)

Scott # 4973
Scott # 4974
Scott # 4975
Scott # 4976
Scott # 4977
Scott # 4977b

 <49¢> Soft Shield Fern lithographed coil stamp with Microprinted “USPS” and “2014” date
<49¢> Autumn Fern lithographed coil stamp with Microprinted “USPS” and “2014” date
<49¢> Goldie’s Wood Fern lithographed coil stamp with Microprinted “USPS” and “2014” date
<49¢> Painted Fern lithographed coil stamp with Microprinted “USPS” and “2014” date
<49¢> Fortune’s Holly Fern lithographed coil stamp with Microprinted “USPS” and “2014” date
Strip of 5, #4973-4977
Scott # 4973a-77a 2015 dated stamps - Plate # S1111 on Scott # 4975a (coil of 3,000)
Scott # 4973a
Scott # 4974a
Scott # 4975a
Scott # 4976a
Scott # 4977a
Scott # 4977c
 <49¢> Soft Shield Fern lithographed coil stamp with Microprinted “USPS” and “2015” date
<49¢> Autumn Fern lithographed coil stamp with Microprinted “USPS” and “2015” date
<49¢> Goldie’s Wood Fern lithographed coil stamp with Microprinted “USPS” and “2015” date
<49¢> Painted Fern lithographed coil stamp with Microprinted “USPS” and “2015” date
<49¢> Fortune’s Holly Fern lithographed coil stamp with Microprinted “USPS” and “2015” date
Strip of 5, #4973a-4977a
Series USPS - Forever - First Class ~ PNC3 - Flora and Fauna
Issue Date & City March 27, 2015, Kansas City, MO 64108 (No Ceremony)
Nationwide Sale March 27, 2015
Existing Photos Cindy Dyer, Alexander, VA
Designer Phil Jordan, Falls Church, VA
Typographer Phil Jordan, Falls Church, VA
Art Director Phil Jordan, Falls Church, VA
Modeler Donald Woo
To Press / Initial Quantity Winter 2014 / 3,000 - 45 Million / 10,000 - 100 Million stamps
Coil Size 3,000 and 10,000
Printer Banknote Corporation of America / SSP
Press Type Alprinta 74
Process Offset, Microprinting
Where Printed Browns Summit, SC
Where Processed Banknote Corporation of America, Browns Summit, NC
Plate Size & Interval 250 stamps per revolution / plate # every 25 stamps.
Paper Type Phosphor Tagged Paper, Overall
Adhesive Type Self Adhesive
Tagging Type Overall
Die Cut Gauge 10.9 Vertically ???
Colors Cyan, Magenta, Yellow, Black
Image Size (w x h) 0.73 x 0.84 in. / 18.54 x 21.34 mm
Overall Size (w x h) 0.87 x 0.98 in. / 22.10 x 24.89 mm
Back Numbers ???
Earliest Known Use March 27, 2015
USPS Order Numbers 786704 Full Coil of 3,000 - $1,470.00
786703 Folded Strip of 25 from 3,000 - $12.25
777304 Full Coil of 10,000 - $4,900.00
777335 Folded Strip of 25 from 10,000 - $12.25
786716 First Day Cover - Coil of 3,000 - Set of 5 - $4.65
777317 First Day Cover - Coil of 10,000 - Set of 5 - $4.65
Availability  
Official Announcement

On March 27, 2015, in Kansas City, MO, the U.S. Postal Service® will issue Ferns First-Class Mail® stamps (Forever® priced at 49 cents) in five designs, in a pressure-sensitive adhesive (PSA) coil of 3,000 (Item #786700) along with a reprint of the coil of 10,000 (Item #777300). The 3k coil has a 2015 date in the upper right corner of the stamps and the 10k coil has a 2014 date in the lower left corner of the stamps.

The stamps will go on sale nationwide March 27, 2015.

First issued in 2014, these five stamps celebrate the beauty and elegance of ferns. Each of these stamps depicts a close-up photograph of a different species of fern —autumn fern, Goldie's wood fern, soft shield fern, For­tune's holly fern, or painted fern. The shapes and textures of the fronds stand out against a stark white background, which highlights the placement of the leaflets along each fern's stem. Art director Phil Jordan designed the stamps using existing images by photographer Cindy Dyer.

To learn more about the stories behind the stamps, visit http://uspsstamps.com.
Note  
Microprinting USPS is microprinted on each stamp. Details when we receive the stamps.
Note The 3k coil has a 2015 date in the upper right corner of the stamps and the 10k coil has a 2014 date in the lower left corner of the stamps.

Initial Supply to Post Offices: Item 786700, Ferns (Forever priced at 49 cents) Definitive PSA Coil of 3,000

Stamp Fulfillment Services will not make a subsequent automatic push distribution to Post Offices™. Post Offices may begin ordering stamps through SFS Web in the middle of March, which is prior to the FDOI.

Initial Supply to Post Offices: Item 777300, Ferns (Forever priced at 49 cents) Definitive PSA Coil of 10,000

Stamp Fulfillment Services will not make a subsequent automatic push distribution to Post Offices. Post Offices may begin ordering stamps through SFS Web in the middle of March, which is prior to the FDOI.

How to Order the First-Day-of-Issue Postmark

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 https://store.usps.com/store/, 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:

Ferns Stamps (3k and 10k PSA Coils)
Cancellation Services
8300 NE Underground Drive, Pillar 210
Kansas City, MO 64144-0001

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 May 26, 2015.

How to Order First-Day Covers

The Postal Service also offers first-day covers for new stamp issues and Postal Service 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, online at https://store.usps.com/store/, or by calling 800-782-6724. Customers may request a free catalog by calling 800-782-6724 or writing to:

U.S. Postal Service
Catalog Request
PO Box 219014
Kansas City, MO 64121-9014

Philatelic Products

There is one philatelic product for the coil of 3,000:

786716*, First-Day Cover set of 5, $4.65.

There is one philatelic product for the coil of 10,000:

777317*, First-Day Cover set of 5, $4.65.

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.