UPNS Release 96-05 (New U.S. Issues in February)
Ed Jackson
in the FTP adddress I listed. I've gone into the subdirectory under
"gif-jpg" and changed "upns-images" to simply "upns". This new posting
reflects the change.)
Usenet Philatelic News Service
Release 96-05
February 3, 1996
New U.S. Issues in February
This month, the U.S. Postal Service plans to release 9 stamps and 1 postal
card. If purchased from your local post office, the total cost for one of
each new item is $2.96. All items are also available from the Philatelic
Fulfillment Service Center (PFSC), in which case a $3.20 shipping charge
will apply--for a total cost of $6.16.
The description of each new issue below includes the PFSC item number and
price. Ordering information is provided at the end of the article.
(Editor's note: JPEG scans of each new item can be found in my anonymous
FTP archive at
<ftp.cviog.uga.edu/pub/exchange/jackson/gif-jpg/upns/feb96.jpg>,
or view via web browser at
<ftp://ftp.cviog.uga.edu/pub/exchange/jackson/gif-jpg/upns/feb96.jpg>.)
Ernest E. Just Stamp
On February 1, the Postal Service issued a 32-cent stamp commemorating
Ernest E. Just in first-day ceremonies at Howard University in Washington,
D.C. The stamp marks this year's addition to the Black Heritage series,
which began in 1978.
Just was an internationally known marine biologist famous for his
pioneering research in marine invertebrate fertilization and the
fundamental role of the cell surface in the development of organisms. Just
also was the first recipient of the NAACP's Spingarn Medal, which is
awarded "to a man or woman of African descent and American citizenship who
shall have made the highest achievement during the preceding year or years
in any honorable field of human endeavor."
During the 1930s, Just conducted research in institutes and marine
laboratories in Berlin, Paris, and Naples. Between 1912 he 1937, he
published an average of 2 professional papers a year, and in 1939, he
published two books--Basic Methods for Experiments in Eggs of Marine
Animals and The Biology of the Cell Surface.
From 1907 to 1941, Just taught at Howard University, where he served as
head of the medical school's physiology department (1912-1920) and head of
the zoology department (1912-1941). Also at Howard, he was one of our
founders of the Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, which now has nearly 900
chapters nationwide.
The Ernest Just stamp was designed by Richard Sheaff using a photograph of
Just taken by Robert Scurlock. During the 1940s and 1950s, Scurlock's
photographs of black intellectuals, artists, musicians, and politicians in
Washington, D.C. appeared in black newspapers and such magazines as Ebony,
Life, and Time.
The offset stamp was printed in panes of 20 by Banknote Corporation of
America in Greensboro, North Carolina.
Order item #440310 for a single stamp at $0.32, #440320 for a block of 4
at $1.28; or #44034 for a pane of 20 stamps at $6.40.
Red-Headed Woodpecker Stamp
On February 2, the Postal Service issued a 2-cent Red-Headed Woodpecker
stamp in first-day ceremonies at Sarasota National Stamp Exhibition in
Sarasota, Florida.
Designed by Michael Matherly of Cambridge City, Indiana, the stamp
features a red-headed woodpecker perched on a branch against a yellow
background. The offset stamp was printed by the Bureau of Engraving and
Printing in panes of 100 stamps.
Order item #1002 at $0.02 per stamp, $0.08 for block of 4, and $2.00 per
pane of 100.
Smithsonian Institution Stamp
The 150th anniversary of the Smithsonian Institution stamp will be marked
by release of a 32-cent stamp on February 7, with first-day ceremonies at
the Washington, D.C. complex.
Depicted on the stamp is the Smithsonian Institution Building (more
commonly known as the Castle). The building, designed by architect James
Renwick and constructed between 1847 and 1855, was the first Smithsonian
structure. Created by Congress in 1846, the Smithsonian Institution today
consists of a museum, an education and research complex of 16 museums and
galleries, and the National Zoo.
Artist Tom Engeman of Carbondale, Colorado, designed the stamp. Engeman is
responsible for a number of other U.S. stamps, the most recent being the
Butte stamp released last year.
The offset stamp was printed in panes of 20 by Ashton-Potter (USA).
Order item #440510 for a single stamp at $0.32, #440520 for a block of
four at $1.28, and #44054 for a pane of 20 at $6.40.
Lunar New Year Stamp
On February 8, the Postal Service will mark the Chinese Lunar New Year
with the release of a 32-cent "Year of the Rat" commemorative stamp. The
rat is the first of twelve Chinese zodiac symbols, each of which
identifies a particular year. The Chinese associate the rat with money,
and it is said that a rat is "counting money" when it scavenges for food.
This is the fourth year in a row that the United States has issued a
Chinese Lunar New Year stamp. Previous stamps marked the "Year of the
Rooster" (1992), "Year of the Dog" (1994), and "Year of the Boar"(issued
December 30,1994).
First-day ceremonies for the new stamp will be held at the Chinese
Cultural Center in San Francisco, California, as a prelude to a Chinese
New Year celebration from February 17 to March 3.
Clarence Lee of Honolulu has designed all four stamps in the series in a
distinctive format depicting traditional styles of calligraphy and paper
cut design. The Chinese calligraphy in the left of this year's design
signifies "rat" and "year."
The gravure stamp was printed in panes of 20 by Stamp Venturers.
Order item #440110 for a single stamp at $0.32, #440210 for a block of 4
at $1.28, and #44014 for a pane of 20 at $6.40.
Pioneers of Communication Stamps
On February 22, the Postal Service will release of block of 4 se-tenant
32-cent stamps commemorating four late 19th-century pioneers of modern
communication. First-day ceremonies will be held at the Postage Stamp Mega
Event in New York City.
Designed by artist Fred Otnes of West Redding, Connecticut, the stamps
feature portraits of Ottmar Mergenthaler, Eadweard Muybridge, Frederick
Ives, and William Dickson, along with collages of their inventions and
signatures.
These inventors were pioneers in printing and motion picture technology
that became widely used in the 20th century. Mergenthaler developed the
Linotype, which solved the problem of setting printing type by machine.
Muybridge created the zoopraxiscope to convert still photographs into
moving images. Ives played an important role in the development of
halftone printing processes; and Dickson collaborated with Thomas Edison
in creation of the kinetoscope, which was a precursor of the motion
picture film projector.
The offset stamps were printed by Ashton-Potter (USA) in panes of 20 stamps.
Order item #440610 for a single stamp at $0.32, #440620 for a block of 4
at $1.28, and #44064 for a pane of 20 at $6.40.
Winter Scene Postal Card
The Postal Service will release a 20-cent Winter Scene postal card on
February 23 in Watertown, New York. Designed by Howard Paine of Delaplane,
Virginia, the card features a winter scene from artist Dale Nichols'
painting, "John Comes Home for Christmas." Nichols' painting re-creates
the farm life and bitter cold of Nebraska winters.
The postal card was printed by offset by the U.S. Government Printing Office.
Order item #2276 at $0.20 per card.
Fulbright Scholarships Stamp
On February 28, the Postal Service will release a 32-cent stamp
commemorating the Fulbright Scholarship program on its 50th anniversary.
First-day ceremonies will be held in Fayetteville at the University of
Arkansas.
The stamp depicts a surrealistic scene composed of a head with a portion
of an ancient globe forming the skull, along with a map compass rose
superimposed over the left eye of the face. Above the head are the words
"Fulbright Scholarships."
Fulbright Scholarships are awarded by the U.S. Information Agency for
research, teaching, or graduate study. The annual grants allow U.S.
citizens to study abroad, as well as residents of over 100 other countries
to study in the U.S.
The scholarships are named for the late William Fulbright, a U.S. senator
from Arkansas who sponsored legislation in 1946 authorizing the program.
Fulbright attended the University of Arkansas, later serving as the
school's president. After graduation, he attended Oxford University for
three years (1925-28) as a Rhodes scholar. This experience would later
foster his interest in a U.S. scholarship program to allow American
students to study abroad, as well as enable students from other countries
to come to this country.
The offset-intaglio stamp was printed in panes of 50 by the Bureau of
Engraving and Printing.
Order item #449510 for a single stamp at $0.32, #440220 for a block of 4
at $1.28, and #44954 for a pane of 50 at $16.00.
First Day Cancellations
You have two options for obtaining first day cancellations of February new
issues. One is to purchase the stamp from a local post office, place it
on a self-addressed envelope, and send within 30 days of issue in a larger
envelope to (Name of Stamp), Postmaster, and address as shown below. (For
postal cards, address to yourself and place in an envelope and send as
directed.) For example, orders for Ernest Just first day cancels should be
sent to:
ERNEST E. JUST STAMP
POSTMASTER
900 BRENTWOOD RD
WASHINGTON DC 20066-9991
As shown in this example, the Postal Service asks that you print addresses
in all caps with no punctuation except the hyphen in the ZIP. Three
suggestions: Inserting a piece of card stock will help the envelope keep
its shape during processing and mailing. If you use a standard #6 3/4
envelope, covers will generally be shrink-wrapped in protective plastic.
Finally, removable address labels are available which can be removed after
the canceled envelope is returned.
Requests for first-day-of-issue cancellations must be postmarked within 30
days of a stamp's release. Send requests to the following addresses:
Ernest E. Just Stamp: 900 Brentwood Rd NE, Washington DC 20066-9991
Red-Headed Woodpecker Stamp: 1661 Ringling Blvd, Sarasota FL 34230-9991
Smithsonian Institution Stamp: 900 Brentwood Rd NE, Washington DC 20066-9991
Lunar New Year Stamp: P.O. Box 880066, San Francisco CA 94188-9991
Pioneers of Communication Stamps: Morgan GMF, Rm 1037, 341 9th Ave, New
York NY 10199-9991
Winter Scene Postal Card: 232 Commerce Park Dr, Watertown NY 13601-9991
Fulbright Scholarships Stamp: Fayetteville AR 72701
The Postal Service also offers blank covers (without cachets or addresses)
with new stamps attached and postmarked with the official first day of
issue cancellation. First day covers may be purchased from the PFSC for
at least 90 days after each stamp's issuance. Below are PFSC numbers and
prices.
Ernest E. Just Stamp: #440361 at $0.53
Red-Headed Woodpecker Stamp: #F1002, $0.53 (includes one $0.02 Woodpecker
stamp and one $0.30 Cardinal stamp)
Smithsonian Institution Stamp: #440561 at $0.53
Lunar New Year Stamp: #440161 at $0.53
Pioneers of Communication Stamps: #440661 for a random single at $0.53,
#440662 for 4 designs on single cover at $1.49, #440663 for one of each
design on a separate cover at $2.12
Winter Scene Postal Card: C2276 at $0.30
Fulbright Scholarships Stamp: #449561 at $0.53
To order stamps or FDCs, send check or money order to: Philatelic
Fulfillment Service Center, US Postal Service, PO Box 419636, Kansas City
MO 64179-0996. MasterCard, VISA, and Discover card holders may order by
calling the PFSC toll-free number (1-800-782-6724).
Shipping and handling charges are as follows:
If your order
amounts to: Add:
$ 0.01 - 20.00 $3.20
20.01 - 50.00 4.20
50.01 - 80.00 5.20
80.01 - 110.00 6.20
110.01 - 140.00 7.20
140.01 - 170.00 8.20
over 170.00 9.20
For orders mailed to addresses outside the U.S., add $5.00 to the above
shipping and handling charge. Payment for foreign orders must be by credit
card, international money order, or draft drawn on a U.S. bank. Foreign
currency or international reply coupons are not acceptable.
(This article is based on information from the U.S. Postal Service and
other services and may be reprinted in stamp club newsletters. For other
uses, or for more information on UPNS, contact Ed Jackson at
<jac...@igs.cviog.uga.edu>.)