May 31, 2016, in New York, NY, the U.S. Postal Service® will issue the Views of Our Planets stamps (Forever® priced at 47 cents) in eight designs, in a pressure-sensitive adhesive (PSA) pane of 16 stamps (Item 473600). The Views of Our Planets pane of 16 stamps may not be split, and the stamps may not be sold individually.
The stamps will go on sale nationwide May 31, 2016.
With this pane of 16 stamps, the U.S. Postal Service showcases some of the more visually compelling full-disk images of the planets obtained during this era. Eight new colorful Forever stamps, each shown twice, feature Mercury, Venus, Earth, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, and Neptune. Some show the planet’s “true” color — what we might see with our own eyes if traveling through space. Others use colors to represent and visualize certain features of a planet based on imaging data. Still others use the near-infrared spectrum to show things that cannot be seen by the human eye in visible light. Verso text explains what these images reveal and identifies the spacecrafts and powerful telescopes that helped obtain them. Art director Antonio Alcalá designed the stamps.
How to Order the First-Day-of-Issue Postmark
Customers have 60 days to obtain the first-day-of-issue postmark by mail. They may purchase new stamps at their local Post Office, at The Postal Store® website at http:??www.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 a larger envelope addressed to:
Views of Our Planets Stamps
Special Events Coordinator
380 West 33rd Street
New York, NY 10199-9998
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. There is a 5-cent charge for each additional postmark over 50. All orders must be postmarked by July 31, 2016.
How to Order 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 at http:??www.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
Philatelic Products
There are nine philatelic products for this stamp issue:
- 473606, Press Sheet with Die-cut, $60.16
(print quantity 3,000). - 473610*, Keepsake, $9.95.
- 473616*, First-Day Cover (set of 8), $7.28.
- 473618*, First-Day Cover, Full Pane, $10.02.
- 473619*, Cancelled Full Pane, $10.02.
- 473621*, Digital Color Postmark (set of 8), $12.96.
- 473624*, Framed Art, $39.95.
- 473630*, Ceremony Program (random single), $6.95.
- 473633*, Panel, $10.95.