Change of printers for 4¢ Chippendale Chair coil

The United States Postal Service will issue a new coil version of an American Design series stamp on Jan. 2.

The new 4¢ Chippendale Chair coil stamp is the latest addition to the definitive stamp series, and the first added to it since 2011.

Contrary to previous information provided by the Postal Service, reported in the Dec. 30, 2013, Linn’s on page 4, this new coil stamp will not be self-adhesive.

The stamp will be issued in a coil of 10,000 with moisture-activated adhesive, though it will be manufactured by a different printer than the one who supplied the 2007 4¢ coil with moisture-activated adhesive.

The two previously issued stamps using the Chippendale Chair design were created in a self-adhesive pane of 20 manufactured by Ashton Potter (Scott 3755) and issued in 2004, and in a coil of 10,000 with moisture-activated adhesive by Sennett Security Products (3761) issued in 2007.

The new coil stamp will be issued in Kansas City, Mo. No first-day ceremony is planned, but a first-day cancel for the stamp will be made available.

The 4¢ Chippendale Chair stamp pictured on page 1 shows the 2007 coil stamp from Sennett Security Products.

Ashton Potter and Guilford Gravure worked together to print the new stamp. An initial run of 100 million stamps, or 10,000 coils, was produced using the gravure printing process.

Information about the frequency of the plate number appearance on the coil has not been disclosed by the Postal Service.

Among the users of the new 4¢ stamp will be bulk mailers who typically apply multiples of such stamps on mailed donation solicitations or return envelopes.

Prior to this new coil, 19 major varieties had been issued in the American Design series, with six face-different designs denominated 1¢, 2¢, 3¢, 4¢, 5¢ and 10¢.

The new stamp is the 20th variety in the series that began in 2002 with the 5¢ Toleware coil stamp (Scott 3612).

Stamps in the American Design series range in denomination from 1¢ to 10¢.

Lou Nolan of Virginia created the illustrations for most of the American Design series stamps, including the 4¢ Chippendale Chair stamp.

In addition to full coils of 10,000, a smaller strip of 100 stamps will be available for purchase from USPS Stamp Fulfillment Services.

The Postal Service will sell blank (no cachet) serviced first-day covers for the new 4¢ stamp. Each FDC will bear a single of the new coil and a single 46¢ Patriotic Star coil stamp, overpaying the current first-class letter rate by 4¢.

The price for each Postal Service cover is 94¢. The amount exceeding the face value of the stamps affixed is the servicing fee that the Postal Service charges for its uncacheted FDCs.

Technical specifications and first-day cancel ordering information for the 4¢ Chippendale Chair stamp are presented below.

4¢ Chippendale Chair coil stamp
FIRST DAY— Jan. 2, 2014; city— Kansas City, Mo., and nationwide.
DESIGN: illustrator— Lou Nolan; designer, art director and typographer— Derry Noyes, Washington, D.C.; modeler— Joseph Sheeran; series— American Design.
PRINTING: process— gravure; printer and processor— Ashton Potter/Guilford Gravure, Williamsville, N.Y.; press— Cerutti 118; inks— Pantone Matching System 476 brown, PMS 477 brown, PMS 7407 yellow, PMS 172 orange; paper— nonphosphored type III; gum— water-activated; issue quantity— 100 million stamps (10,000 coils of 10,000); format— coil of 10,000, from 432-subject cylinders; size— 0.71 inches by 0.84 inches (image); 0.87 inches by 0.98 inches (overall); plate numbers— “P” followed by four single digits, plate number frequency not reported; USPS item No.— 705604 (coil of 10,000).
First-day cancel ordering information
Collectors requesting first-day cancels are encouraged to purchase their own stamps and affix them to envelopes. Postage on the envelope must total at least the current first-class rate. The first-day cover envelopes should be addressed for return (a removable label may be used), and mailed in a larger envelope addressed to Chippendale Chair Stamp, Cancellation Services, 8300 N.E. Underground Drive, Pillar 210, Kansas City, MO 64144-0001. Requests for first-day cancels must be postmarked by March 2.
The Postal Service’s uncacheted first-day cover for the Chippendale Chair stamp is item No. 705616 at 94¢.