Stamp show hosts new global forever stamp issue Oct. 23

The United States Postal Service will issue its fourth global forever stamp nationwide on Oct. 23 with a ceremony in New York City.

The stamp, along with the Winter Fun stamp set described on page 13 of this issue, debuts at 11 a.m. at the New York Hilton Midtown, 1335 Avenue of the Americas, during the American Stamp Dealers Association’s National Postage Stamp Show.

The round nondenominated Silver Bells global forever stamp will sell initially for $1.15, fulfilling the 1-ounce international letter rate for mail to any country.

The Silver Bells stamp’s round shape, along with the words “global forever,” help distinguish it from first-class forever stamps for domestic mail.

Mailers have the option of using the global forever stamp as postage on any type of international or domestic mail, according to the Postal Service. It is not restricted to international use only.

The stamp, designed by USPS art director William Gicker, uses a photograph by Sally Andersen-Bruce showing a wreath created with silver bells and decorated with a large red bow. Michael Owens created the wreath for the stamp, and Angelica Dennis created the bow. The stamp background is dark green.

USPS art director Greg Breeding was the typographer for the issue.

Banknote Corporation of America for Sennett Security Products produced an initial quantity of 30 million Silver Bells global forever stamps in panes of 10.

The stamps are arranged two across by five down with a banner at top reading “Global.”

The Silver Bells global forever stamp is also available in press sheets, both with and without die cuts. Each press sheet consists of six panes of 10 stamps and sells for the face value of $69. The Postal Service is offering 1,000 of each version.

In addition to the standard black four-bar first-day cancel for the new stamp, a digital color first-day postmark is available.

Technical specifications and first-day cancel ordering information for the Silver Bells global forever stamp can be found below.

Nondenominated ($1.15) Silver Bells global forever stamp

FIRST DAY— Oct. 23, 2014; city— New York, N.Y., and nationwide.

DESIGN: photographer— Sally Andersen-Bruce, New Milford, Conn.; designers— Michael Owens and William J. Gicker, Washington, D.C.; art director— William J. Gicker, Washington, D.C.; typographer— Greg Breeding, Charlottesville, Va.; modeler— Donald Woo.

PRINTING: process— offset with microprinting; printer and processor— Banknote Corporation of America for Sennett Security Products, Browns Summit, N.C.; press— Alprinta 74; inks— Pantone Matching System 877 silver, cyan, magenta, yellow, black; paper— phosphor tagged, overall; gum— self-adhesive; issue quantity— 30 million stamps; format— pane of 10, from 150-subject cylinders; size— 1.27 inches by 1.27 inches (image); 1.41 inches by 0.41 inches (overall); 8.25 inches by 4.5 inches (full pane); plate numbers— “S” followed by five single digits; marginal markings— plate numbers (front); “©2014 USPS,” USPS logo, plate position diagram, barcode (back); USPS item No.— 588304.

First-day cancel ordering information

Standard ordering instructions apply. 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 Silver Bells Global Forever Stamp, Special Events Coordinator, 380 W. 33rd St., Room 4032, New York, NY 10199-9998. Requests for first-day cancels must be postmarked by Dec. 22.

The Postal Service’s uncacheted first-day cover for the Silver Bells global forever stamp is item No. 588316 at $1.59.