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<50¢> U.S. Flag
(Ashton Potter (USA) Ltd.)
Self-Adhesive Coil of 100
Scott # 5260 Plate # P111
PNC3 ID 2018-2
Series USPS – N/A / PNC3 –
Issue Date & City February 9, 2018, Ft. Lauderdale, FL 33310
Nationwide Sale  
Designer Kit Hinrichs, San Francisco, CA
Art Director Ethel Kessler, Bethesda, MD
Typographer Kit Hinrichs, San Francisco, CA
Existing Art  
Modeler  
To Press / Initial Quantity 2,000,000,000
Coil Size Rolls of 100
Printer Ashton Potter (USA) Ltd (APU)
Press Muller A76
Process Offset
Where Printed Williamsville, NY
Where Processed Ashton Potter (USA) Ltd (APU)
Plate Size & Interval 744 stamps per revolution / Plate numbers every 31st stamp below stamp image
Paper Type Phosphor Tagged Paper
Adhesive Type Self-Adhesive
Tagging Type Overall
Die Cut Gauge Serpentine die cut 9 1/2 vertically
Colors Black, PMS 2145 Blue, PMS 186
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  
USPS Order Numbers 749704 Coil of 100
Availability  
Official Announcement On February 9, 2018, in Ft. Lauderdale, FL, the U.S. Postal Service® will issue the U.S. Flag 2018 First-Class Mail® stamp (Forever® priced at 50 cents) in one design, in a pressure-sensitive adhesive (PSA) booklet of 20 stamps (Item 678200) produced by security printers Ashton Potter (USA) Ltd (APU) and Banknote Corporation of America (BCA), and a PSA Coil of 100 stamps (Item 749700) produced by security printers APU and BCA. The stamp will go on sale nationwide February 9, 2018.

For more than half a century, U.S. stamps have depicted the American flag in vivid red, white, and blue. This eye-catching new stamp issue continues that tradition with a striking graphic design of a flag with two crisp folds. Ethel Kessler served as art director for this stamp, which features a digital illustration by Kit Hinrichs.
Security “USPS” microprint at left of Flag fold on fourth white stripe
Note Preferred collecting length = strips of 5
Note Coil Line Catalog Corner – May 2018

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 usps.com/shop, or by phone at 800-782-6724. They must affix the stamps to envelopes of their choice, address the envelopes (to themselves or others), and place them in a larger envelope addressed to:

FDOI – U.S. Flag 2018 Stamp
USPS Stamp Fulfillment Services
8300 NE Underground Drive, Suite 300
Kansas City, MO 64144-9900

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. There is a 5-cent charge for each additional postmark over 50. All orders must be postmarked by April 9, 2018.

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, online at usps.com/shop, or by phone at 800-782-6724. Customers may request a free issue of USA Philatelic at , by phone at 800-782-6724, or by writing to:

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

Permission is granted to quote material in this web site provided that proper credit is given.

Updated June 3rd, 2018