Where Dreams Blossom variety with 2014 date issued May 2

On May 2, the United States Postal Service will issue a new variety of the Where Dreams Blossom forever stamp bearing a 2014 year date.

The first-day ceremony will take place at 2 p.m. during the Northeastern Federation of Stamp Clubs’ Philatelic Show 2014 at the Holiday Inn Boxborough, 242 Adams Place, Boxborough, Mass. The postmark will read Acton, as that office handles the mail for Boxborough.

Technical details for this stamp appear in the box on this page.

The first version of the Where Dreams Blossom stamp (Scott 4764) was issued April 11, 2013. Both varieties were printed by Sennett Security Products in panes of 20.

The item number printed on the stamp pane of the new variety is the same as that printed on the earlier version. The USPS item No. 519904 is specific to the 2014-date variety for orders placed with USPS Stamp Fulfillment Services.

Nondenominated (49¢) Where Dreams Blossom forever stamp

FIRST DAY— May 2, 2014; city— Acton, Mass., and nationwide.

DESIGN: artist, designer, typographer— Michael Osborne, San Francisco, Calif.; art director— Ethel Kessler, Bethesda, Md.; modeler— Donald Woo.

PRINTING: process— offset, microprint “USPS”; printer and processor— Banknote Corporation of America for Sennett Security Products, Browns Summit, N.C.; press— Alprinta 74; inks— gold, light green, orange, pink, blue, red, dark green, purple, warm gray; paper— phosphor tagged overall; gum— self-adhesive; issue quantity— 50 million stamps; format— pane of 20, from 160-subject cylinders; size— 1.03 inches by 0.75 inches (image); 1.19 inches by 0.91 inches (overall), 5.64 inches by 5.43 inches (pane); plate numbers— “S” followed by nine single digits; marginal markings— plate numbers in four corners (stamp side), “©2012 USPS,” USPS logo, plate position diagram, bar code 579900 in two positions, promotional text (back); USPS item No.— 519904.

First-day cancel ordering information

Collectors requesting first-day cancels are encouraged to purchase their own stamps and affix them to envelopes.

The first-day cover envelopes should be addressed for return (a removable label may be used), and mailed in a larger envelope addressed to Where Dreams Blossom Stamp, Postmaster, Acton Post Office, 7 Post Office Square, Acton, MA 01720-9998.

Requests for first-day cancels must be postmarked by July 1.

The Postal Service’s uncacheted first-day cover for the (49¢) Where Dreams Blossom stamp is USPS item No. 519916 at 93¢.