Click on the image for a larger view.

<50¢> U.S. Z Flag 2018
(Banknote Corporation of America)
Self-Adhesive Coil of 100

Scott # 5261	Plate # B111
PNC3 ID	2018-3
Series	USPS – N/A / PNC3 –
Issue Date & City	February 9, 2018, Ft. Lauderdale, FL 33310
Nationwide Sale	February 9, 2018
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	Banknote Corporation of America
Press	Alprinta 74
Process	Offset
Where Printed	Browns Summit, SC
Where Processed	Banknote Corporation of America, Browns Summit, NC
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 10¾ vertically
Colors	PMS 2145 Blue, PMS 186 Red, 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	Every 10 stamps
Earliest Known Use
USPS Order Numbers	749700 Coil of 100
Availability
Official Announcement	Stamp Announcement 18-07. Postal Bulletin 22484 1-4-18 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 (right of last red stripe as fold starts)
Note	Coil Line Catalog Corner – June 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 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 7, 2018