March 4 issue date for Verrazano-Narrows Priority Mail stamp; no first-day ceremony

The 50th anniversary of the opening of the Verrazano-Narrows Bridge is being celebrated with a new high-denomination United States stamp issued March 4 in Brooklyn, N.Y.

The U.S. Postal Service issued its $5.60 Priority Mail stamp without a first-day-of-issue ceremony.

The stamp, pictured nearby as a USPS preliminary design, fulfills the postage fee for a Priority Mail flat-rate envelope.

Ashton Potter manufactured the offset-printed stamps issued to post offices in panes of 10. Ten million self-adhesive stamps were produced.

Dan Cosgrove created the stamp design that depicts the bridge at twilight with a cargo ship cruising underneath.

Cosgrove has illustrated all of the Priority Mail and Express Mail stamps issued by the USPS since 2008.

The Scott catalog has categorized this stamp series with the title “American Landmarks.”

The Verrazano-Narrows Bridge spans New York Bay to connect Brooklyn and Staten Island. It was previously shown on a 5¢ stamp (Scott 1258) issued Nov. 21, 1964, the day the bridge opened.

It is unknown if the new stamp will be offered in press sheet format. It is also unknown if a Priority Mail stamped envelope using the same design will be issued as well.

Technical details and first-day-of-issue cancel ordering information for the Verrazano-Narrows Bridge stamp can be found in the box on this page.

$5.60 Verrazano-Narrows Bridge Priority Mail stamp

FIRST DAY— March 4, 2014; city— Brooklyn, N.Y., and nationwide.

DESIGN: artist— Dan Cosgrove; designer, art director and typographer— Phil Jordan; modeler— Joseph Sheeran.

PRINTING: process— offset, microprint; printer and processor— Ashton Potter USA Ltd., Williamsville, N.Y.; press— Vari-size security press; inks— black, cyan, magenta, yellow; paper— nonphosphored type Ill, block tagging; gum— self-adhesive; issue quantity— 10 million stamps; format— pane of 10, from 120-subject cylinders; size— 1.42 inches by 1.09 inches (image); 1.56 inches by 1.22 inches (overall); 4.12 inches by 7.12 inches (full pane); plate numbers— “P” followed by four single digits; marginal markings— plate numbers (stamp side); “©2013 USPS,” plate position diagram, USPS logo, bar code 116300, promotional text, proprietary notice (back side); USPS item No.— 116304.

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 Verrazano-Narrows Bridge Stamp, Retail Manager, USPS-Triboro District, 1050 Forbell St., Brooklyn, NY 11256-2015. Requests for first-day cancels must be postmarked by May 3.

The Postal Service’s uncacheted first-day cover for the Verrazano-Narrows Bridge stamp is USPS item No. 116316 at $6.04. USPS order numbers for stamps and FDCs also appear in Linn’s 2014 U.S. Stamp Program.