WASHINGTON, Aug. 3, 2016 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The U.S. Postal Service will issue the Patriotic Spiral First-Class Forever stamp in booklets of 10 for consumers and self-adhesive coils of 10,000 for businesses. Both formats will be available on August 19 nationwide, and will be issued formally that day in Falls Church, VA, in booklet format, and in Kansas City, MO, in large coil format. This festive and energetic stamp design features 50 blue and red stars spiraling around a central gold star on a white background. The idea for the design was to illustrate a community of stars protectively orbiting a central star that in an abstract sense stands for our nation's steadfast idealism and hope for a more perfect union. Antonio Alcalá of Alexandria, VA, served as art director for the project with art and typography by Polygraph, a Washington, DC, design firm. The Patriotic Spiral Forever stamp will always be equal in value to the current First-Class Mail 1-ounce price. Customers may purchase the Patriotic Spiral Forever stamp at usps.com/stamps, at the Postal Store usps.com/shop, by calling 800-STAMP24 (800-782-6724) and at Post Office locations nationwide. A variety of stamps and collectibles also is available at ebay.com/stamps. Ordering First-Day-of-Issue Postmark
Customers have 60 days to obtain first-day-of-issue postmarks by mail. They may purchase new stamps at local Post Office locations, at the Postal Store usps.com/shop or by calling 800-782-6724. They should affix the stamps to envelopes of their choice, address the envelopes to themselves or others and place them in envelopes addressed to: Patriotic Spiral Stamp (Booklet of 10) Attention: Terri Davenport 800 West Broad St Falls Church, VA 22046–9998 or Patriotic Spiral Stamp (Coil of 10,000) Cancellation Services 8300 NE Underground Drive, Pillar 210 Kansas City, MO 64144-0001 After applying the first-day-of-issue postmark, the Postal Service will return the envelopes through the mail. There is no charge for postmarks up to a quantity of 50. For more than 50, customers are charged 5 cents each. All orders must be postmarked by October 19, 2016. Ordering First-Day Covers
The Postal Service also offers first-day covers for new stamps and 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 at usps.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 Visit this link for information on upcoming stamp events. The Postal Service receives no tax dollars for operating expenses and relies on the sale of postage, products and services to fund its operations. Please Note: For broadcast quality video and audio, photo stills and other media resources, visit the USPS Newsroom . Reporters interested in speaking with regional Postal Service public relations professionals should visit this link . Follow us on twitter.com/USPS and like us at facebook.com/USPS. For more information about the Postal Service, visit usps.com and usps.com/postalfacts.
A photo accompanying this release is available at: http://www.globenewswire.com/newsroom/prs/?pkgid=41000
Mark Saunders 202.268.6524 usps.com/news
