Engraved Stamps Printed with an ‘Elegant Feel'
February, 2015 - RIVERSIDE, CA — To add a special touch to Valentine’s Day, the Postal Service dedicated two stamps for couples planning to step up to the altar — the elegant Vintage Rose Forever stamp and the 2-ounce Vintage Tulip stamp. The stamps were dedicated at the American Philatelic Society Ameristamp Expo show.
Both stamps are engraved to provide an elegant feel to wedding invitations and other heartfelt correspondence."At the Postal Service, we think tulips — traditionally given as a declaration of devotion — and roses — a symbol of love and affection — add special sentiment to wedding invitations like no other,” said U.S. Postal Service San Diego District Manager James Olson. “In addition to being the perfect way to send wedding invitations, these stamps symbolize the Postal Service’s ability to connect every home and business across this great nation.”
The all-occasion 1-ounce Vintage Rose Forever stamp can be used for wedding RSVP cards and thank you notes, Mother’s and Father’s Day cards, Valentine’s Day cards, birthday cards, sympathy cards, thinking-of-you cards — and for all occasions when a beautiful stamp is fitting.The 70-cent 2-ounce Vintage Tulip stamp accommodates the added weight of RSVPs in invitations for weddings and other celebrations as well as for greeting cards and mailings such as small gifts requiring extra postage.
Jeanne Greco of New York City designed the stamps using drawings from engraved plates originally created by naturalist artist Maria Sibylla Merian (1647–1717). A small, deep crimson heart on both stamps adds a dash of color to the designs and makes them a natural pair.
The art of both stamps feature an elaborate floral line drawings. A small, deep crimson heart on each stamp brings a dash of color to the designs and makes them a natural pair. Greg Breeding of Charlottesville, VA, was the art director. The Vintage TulipandVintage Rose stamps are the latest additions to the popular Weddings series.
Customers may purchase the stamps at usps.com/stamps, the Postal Store, at 800-STAMP24 (800-782-6724) and at Post Offices nationwide or visit ebay.com/stamps to shop for a wide variety of postage stamps and collectibles.
Ordering First-Day-of-Issue Postmarks
Customers have 60 days to obtain first-day-of-issue postmarks by mail. They may purchase new stamps at their local Post Office, at The Postal Store website at usps.com/shop, or by calling 800-STAMP-24. They should affix the stamps to envelopes of their choice, address the envelopes to themselves or others, and place them in larger envelopes addressed to:
The Vintage Rose/Vintage Tulip Stamps
Postmaster
Riverside Main Post Office
3890 Orange St.
Riverside, CA 92501-3638
After applying the first-day-of-issue postmark, the Postal Service will return the envelopes through the mail. There is no charge for the postmark up to a quantity of 50. For more than 50, customers are charged 5 cents each. All orders must be postmarked by Apr. 15, 2015.
Ordering First-Day Covers
The Postal Service also offers first-day covers for new stamp issues and Postal Service stationery items postmarked with the official first-day-of-issue cancellation. Each item has an individual catalog number and is offered in the quarterly USA Philatelic catalog, online atusps.com/shop or by calling 800-782-6724. Customers may request a free catalog by calling 800-782-6724 or writing to:
U.S. Postal Service
Catalog Request
PO Box 219014
Kansas City, MO 64121-9014
Philatelic Products
There are nine philatelic products for the Vintage Rose stamp issue.
587723, Notecards, $15.95.
587724, Framed Art, $29.95.
587706, Press Sheet with Die cut, $117.60, (print quantity 500).
587708, Press Sheet without Die cut, $117.60, (print quantity 1,000).
587710, Digital Color Postmark Keepsake, $11.95.
587716, First-Day Cover, $0.93.
587721, Digital Color Postmark, $1.64.
587731, Stamp Deck Card, $0.95.
587732, Stamp Deck Card with Digital Color Postmark, $1.99.
There are eight philatelic products for the Vintage Rose stamp issue.
587824, Framed Art, $29.95.
587806, Press Sheet with Die cut, $168, (print quantity 500).
587808, Press Sheet without Die cut, $168, (print quantity 1,000).
587810, Digital Color Postmark Keepsake, $15.95.
587816, First-Day Cover, $1.14.
587821, Digital Color Postmark, $1.85.
587831, Stamp Deck Card, $0.95.
587832, Stamp Deck Card with Digital Color Postmark, $2.20
Many of this year’s other stamps may be viewed on Facebook at facebook.com/USPSStamps,via Twitter @USPSstamps.
The Postal Service receives no tax dollars for operating expenses and relies on the sale of postage, products and services to fund its operations.
