2003 U.S. Stamp Program

Dec 31, 2003, 4 PM

Note: This is an edited version of the Linn's 2003 U.S. Stamp Program, updated from the Jan. 19, 2004 issue. Stamp images and information will be added or updated as they become available.

Jan. 7, Thurgood Marshall. Single 37¢ commemorative stamp, Black Heritage series, pane of 20; AP; Washington, DC 20066; Linn's, Aug. 12, 2002, page 2; Sept. 2, 2002, page 1; Oct. 28, 2002, page 1; Dec. 30, 2002, page 1; USPS item No. 453820 (block of four); 453840 (pane of 20); Scott 3746.

Jan. 15, Year of the Ram. Single 37¢ commemorative stamp, Happy New Year series, pane of 20; BCA; Chicago, IL 60607; Linn's, Sept. 2, 2002, page 1; Oct. 21, 2002, page 2; Oct. 28, 2002, page 1; Jan. 6, page 1; USPS item No. 453720 (block of four); 453740 (pane of 20); Scott 3747.

Jan. 24, American Clock. Single 10¢ definitive stamp, American Design series, pane of 20; AP; Tucson, AZ 85726; Linn's, Dec. 9, 2002, page 1, Dec. 30, 2002, page 2; Jan. 20, page 1; USPS item No. 108020 (block of four); 108040 (pane); Scott 3751.

Jan. 24, Zora Neale Hurston. Single 37¢ commemorative stamp, Literary Arts series, pane of 20; SSP; Eatonville, FL 32751; Linn's, Sept. 2, 2002, page 1; Oct. 28, 2002, page 1; Jan. 20, page 1; USPS item No. 454220 (block of four); 454240 (pane); Scott 3748.

Jan. 25, Nurturing Love. Two 37¢ special stamped envelopes, single design in No. 6¾ and No. 10 sizes; Tucson, AZ 85726; Linn's, Dec. 30, 2002, page 2; Jan. 20, page 2; USPS item No. 205540 (No. 10 at 45¢); 265540 (No. 6¾); Scott U651.

Feb. 4, Flag. Single 37¢ definitive stamp in ATM pane of 18; AV; Washington, DC 20066;Linn's, April 29, 2002, page 1, May 27, 2002, page 1; Sept. 9, 2002, page 35; Oct. 28, 2002, page 2; Jan. 6, page 2; Feb. 3, page 1; USPS item No. 562640 (pane); Scott 3637.

Feb. 4, Lion Statue. Single nondenominated (10¢) water-activated definitive coil stamp; coils of 500 and 3,000 (both formats: plate number appears on every 14th stamp); SSP; Washington, DC 20066; Linn's, Jan. 6, page 15; Feb. 3, page 1; USPS item No. 781630 (strip of 25 with plate number, from coil of 500); 781730 (strip of 25 with plate number, from coil of 3,000); Scott 3769.

Feb. 13, Special Olympics. Single 80¢ commemorative stamp for 1-ounce international rate; pane of 20; AV; Chicago, IL 60607; Linn's, Oct. 7, 2002, page 8; Oct. 14, 2002, page 1; Oct. 28, 2002, page 1; Feb. 10, page 1; USPS item No. 564120 (block of four); 564140 (pane of 20); Scott 3771.

Feb. 25, American Filmmaking: Behind the Scenes. Ten 37¢ commemorative stamps in pane of 10 (Scott 3772) recognizing screenwriting (3772a), direction (b), costume design (c), musical composing (d), makeup (e), art direction (f), cinematography (g), film editing (h), special effects (i) and sound (j); SSP; Beverly Hills, CA 90210; Linn's,Sept. 2, 2002, page 1; Oct. 21, 2002, page 45; Oct. 28, 2002, page 1; Feb. 17, page 1; USPS item No. 563840 (pane).

Feb. 28, Wisdom. Single $1 definitive stamp, American Culture series, pane of 20; AP; Biloxi, MS 39530; Linn's, Dec. 9, 2002, page 1; Jan. 20, page 13; Feb. 24, page 1; USPS item No. 109610 (single stamp); 109620 (block of four); Scott 3766.

March 1, Ohio Statehood. Single 37¢ commemorative stamp, pane of 20; BCA; Chillicothe, OH 45601; Linn's, Sept. 2, 2002, page 1; Oct. 28, 2002, page 1; March 3, page 1; USPS item No. 453920 (block of four); 453940 (pane); Scott 3773.

March 1, Tiffany Lamp. Single 1¢ water-activated definitive coil stamp, American Design series, coil of 3,000; SSP; Biloxi, MS 39530; Linn's, Dec. 9, 2002, page 1; Dec. 30, 2002, page 2; Feb. 24, page 1; USPS item No. 781530 (strip of 25 with plate number); Scott 3757.

March 14, Pelican Island National Wildlife Refuge. Single 37¢ commemorative stamp for 100th anniversary of first U.S. wildlife refuge, pane of 20; BCA; Sebastian, FL 32958;Linn's, Sept. 2, 2002, page 1; Oct. 28, 2002, page 1; March 10, page 1; USPS item No. 454020 (block of four); 454040 (pane); Scott 3774.

March 19, Sea Coast. Single nondenominated (5¢) water-activated definitive coil stamp; coils of 500 and 10,000; BCA; Washington, DC 20066; Linn's, Jan. 6, page 15; March 17, page 1; USPS item No. 781830 (strip of 25 with plate number, from coil of 500); 782030 (strip of 25 with plate number, coil of 10,000); Scott 3775.

April, Flag. Single 37¢ coil stamp in coil of 100; BCA; Linn's, April 21, page 12; May 5, page 8; May 19, page 19; USPS item No. 780141 (coil of 100); Scott 3633A.

April 3, Old Glory. Five 37¢ commemorative stamps (Uncle Sam on Bike, Scott 3776; Campaign Badge, 3777; Bookmark, 3778; Flag on Fan, 3779; and Liberty Carving, 3780) in two panes of 10, booklet of two panes with additional text and images (BK294); AP; five 23¢ picture postal cards (Uncle Sam on Bike, UX390; Campaign Badge, UX391; Bookmark, UX392; Flag on Fan, UX393; and Liberty Carving, UX394); BCA; New York, NY 10199; Linn's, Sept. 2, 2002, page 1; Oct. 28, 2002, page 1; March 10, page 1; March 31, page 1; USPS item No. 882000 (booklet at $7.40); 882066 (set of 20 picture postal cards at $9.75).

April 23, Cesar E. Chavez. Single 37¢ commemorative stamp, pane of 20; BCA; Los Angeles, CA 90001; Linn's, Sept. 2, 2002, page 1; Sept. 30, 2002, page 2; Oct. 7, 2002, page 35; Oct. 28, 2002, page 1; April 14, page 1; USPS item No. 454120 (block of four); 454140 (pane); Scott 3781.

April 30, Louisiana Purchase. Single 37¢ commemorative stamp for 200th anniversary of treaty between United States and France, pane of 20; SSP; New Orleans, LA 70113;Linn's, Sept. 2, 2002, page 1; Oct. 28, 2002, page 1; April 21, page 1; USPS item No. 454320 (block of four); 454340 (pane); 454361 (FDC at 75¢); Scott 3782.

May 22, First Powered Flight. Single 37¢ commemorative stamp for the 100th anniversary of the Wright brothers' powered airplane flights (Scott 3783), pane of 10 (BK295); AV; Dayton, OH 45401 and Kill Devil Hills, NC 27948; Linn's, Sept. 2, 2002, page 1; Oct. 28, 2002, page 1; Nov. 4, 2002, page 11, Nov. 18, 2002, page 18; May 12, page 1; USPS item No. 563940 (pane).

May 30, Purple Heart. Single 37¢ definitive stamp, pane of 20; BCA; Mount Vernon, VA 22121; Linn's, Sept. 2, 2002, page 1; Oct. 28, 2002, page 1; May 5, page 1; May 19, page 1; USPS item No. 108930 (block of four); 108940 (pane); 108961 (FDC at 75¢); Scott 3784.

June, Sea Coast. Single nondenominated (5¢) definitive coil stamp in coil of 10,000; AP;Linn's, June 23, page 1; Aug. 4, page 37; USPS item No. 781431 (strip of 25 with plate number); Scott 3785.

June, 83¢ Edna Ferber. Single 83¢ definitive stamp, "2003" left of frame, pane of 20; AP (new printer); no first-day cancel offered; Linn's, Sept. 8, page 10; Oct. 20, page 55; USPS item No. 118320 (block of four); 118340 (pane of 20); Scott 3434.

June 11, Audrey Hepburn. Single 37¢ commemorative stamp, Legends of Hollywood series, pane of 20; SSP; Los Angeles, CA 90001; Linn's, Sept. 2, 2002, page 1; Oct. 28, 2002, page 1; June 2, page 1; USPS item No. 454720 (block of four); 454740 (pane); 454784 (uncut press sheet at $44.40); 454761 (FDC at 75¢); Scott 3786.

June 13, Southeastern Lighthouses. Five 37¢ commemorative stamps showing lighthouses at Old Cape Henry, Va. (Scott 3787); Cape Lookout, N.C. (two varieties: normal "37USA," 3788; dropped "37USA," 3788a); Morris Island, S.C. (3789); Tybee Island, Ga. (3790); and Hillsboro Inlet, Fla. (3791); pane of 20 (SSP) and five 23¢ picture postal cards (Old Cape Henry, Scott UX395; Cape Lookout, UX396; Morris Island, UX397; Tybee Island, UX398; and Hillsboro Inlet, UX399); Sandy Alexander, Inc.; Tybee Island, GA 31328; Linn's, Sept. 2, 2002, page 1; Oct. 28, 2002, page 1; March 17, page 2; June 9, page 1; July 7, page 8; USPS item No. 454420 (strip of five); 454440 (pane); 454463 (set of five FDCs at $3.75); 454466 (set of 20 picture postal cards at $9.75).

June 26, American Eagle. Ten nondenominated (25¢) definitive coil stamps (gray background and gold eagle, Scott 3792; gold and red, 3793; dark blue and gold, 3794; gold and blue, 3795; green and gold, 3796; gold and gray, 3797; blue and gold, 3798; gold and dark blue, 3799; red and gold, 3800; gold and green, 3801) in coil of 10,000; SSP; Santa Clara, CA 95050; Linn's, April 21, page 12; May 12, page 15; May 19, page 1; June 23, page 1; USPS item No. 782130 (strip of 25 with plate number); 782162 (FDC at 88¢).

June? 60¢ Acadia National Park. Single 60¢ definitive stamp; same design as stamp of 2001, but die cut about gauge 11.4 by 11.9; pane of 20; BCA; no first day; Linn's, Aug. 4, page 36; Sept. 8, page 10; USPS item No. 501320 (block of four); 501340 (pane of 20); Scott C138a.

July 1, Snow Geese. Two $15 federal migratory waterfowl hunting and conservation stamps issued by the U.S. Department of the Interior; water-activated pane of 20 (Scott RW70) and self-adhesive pane of one (RW70A); both AP; Washington, DC 20006; Linn's,March 24, page 17; May 19, page 8; July 28, page 43.

July 2, Arctic Tundra. Ten 37¢ commemorative stamps in pane of 10 (Scott 3802) depicting plants and animals native to the arctic tundra: gyrfalcon (3802a); gray wolf (b); common raven (c); musk oxen (d); grizzly bears (e); caribou (f); artic ground squirrel (g); willow ptarmigan (h); arctic grayling (i); singing vole (j); Nature of America series; BCA; Fairbanks, AK 99709; Linn's, Sept. 2, 2002, page 1; Oct. 28, 2002, page 1; June 30, page 1; USPS item No. 454540 (pane); 454584 (uncut press sheet at $29.60); 454562 (FDC bearing full pane at $6.20).

July 27, Korean War Veterans Memorial. Single 37¢ commemorative stamp, pane of 20; BCA; Washington, DC 20066; Linn's, Sept. 2, 2002, page 1; Oct. 28, 2002, page 1; July 21, page 1; USPS item No. 455120 (block of four); 455140 (pane); 455161 (FDC at 75¢); Scott 3803.

Aug. 1,Purple Heart. Single 37¢ definitive stamp, pane of 20; AP; Somerset, NJ 08873;Linn's, July 21, page 1; Aug. 25, page 22; Oct. 20, page 10; USPS item No. 188920 (block of four); 188940 (pane of 20); Scott 3784A.

Aug. 7, Mary Cassatt. Four 37¢ commemorative stamps depicting four of the artist's paintings: Young Mother (Scott 3804), Playing on the Beach (3805), On a Balcony (3806) and Child in a Straw Hat (3807), American Treasures series, double-sided pane of 20 (convertible booklet format); SSP; Columbus, OH 43216; Linn's, Sept. 2, 2002, page 1; Oct. 28, 2002, page 1; Nov. 25, 2002, page 1; Aug. 4, page 1; USPS item No. 671940 (pane); 671963 (FDC bearing block of four at $3).

Aug. 8, Early Football Heroes. Four 37¢ commemorative stamps depicting colorized photos of Bronko Nagurski (Scott 3808), Ernie Nevers (3809), Walter Camp (3810) and Harold "Red" Grange (3811), pane of 20; AV; South Bend, IN 46624; Linn's, Sept. 2, 2002, page 1; Oct. 28, 2002, page 1; Aug. 11, page 1; USPS item No. 454820 (block of four); 454840 (pane); 454863 (set of four FDCs at $3).

Aug. 8, Flag. Single 37¢ coil stamp in coil of 100; SSP; Columbus, OH; no first-day cancel offered; Linn's, Aug. 25, page 10; Scott 3632A; USPS item No. 780142 (coil of 100).

Sept. 3, Antique Toys. Four 37¢ stamps using designs of 2002 but bearing "2003" year date, U.S. mail wagon (Scott 3642a), steam locomotive (3643a), taxi cab (3644a) and fire engine (3645f); double-sided pane of 20; AV; Washington, DC 20066; Linn's, Aug. 25, page 10; Sept. 22, page 33; Oct. 6, page 49; USPS item No. 672540 (pane).

Sept. 13, Roy Acuff. Single 37¢ commemorative stamp, pane of 20; AV; Nashville, TN 37230; Linn's, Sept. 2, 2002, page 1; Oct. 28, 2002, page 1; Sept. 8, page 1; Nov. 17, page 12; USPS item No. 454620 (block of four); 454640 (pane); 454661 (FDC at 75¢); Scott 3812.

Sept. 23, District of Columbia. Single 37¢ commemorative stamp, pane of 16; SSP; Washington, DC 20066; Linn's, Aug. 18, page 1; Sept. 29, page 1; USPS item No. 455220 (block of four); 455240 (pane); 455261 (FDC at 75¢); Scott 3813.

October?, Atlas Statue. Single nondenominated (10¢) definitive coil stamp, same design as stamp of 2001 but with a "2003" year date; coil of 10,000; AV; Linn's, Nov. 17, page 1; USPS item No. 791231 (strip of 25 with plate number); Scott 3770.

October?, George Washington. Single 23¢ definitive stamp, same design as stamp of 2001 but with "2003" year date; pane of 20; AV; Linn's, Nov. 10, page 1; Scott 3819.

Oct. 7, Reptiles and Amphibians. Five 37¢ commemorative stamps picturing a scarlet king snake (Scott 3814), a blue-spotted salamander (3815), a reticulate collared lizard (3816), an ornate chorus frog (3817), and an ornate box turtle (3818), pane of 20; AV; San Diego, CA 92199; Linn's, Sept. 2, 2002, page 1; Oct. 28, 2002, page 1; Oct. 6, page 1; USPS item No. 454920 (strip of five); 454940 (pane); 454963 (set of five FDCs at $3.75).

Oct. 8, Domestic Violence. Single nondenominated (37¢+8¢) semipostal stamp, pane of 20; AV; Washington, DC 20090; Linn's, March 17, page 1; July 7, page 1; Oct. 6, page 1; Oct. 20, page 3; Oct. 27, page 8; USPS item No. 566120 (block of four); 566140 (pane); 566161 (FDC at 83¢); Scott B3.

Oct. 10, Ohio University. Single 23¢ postal card for university's 200th anniversary; Athens, OH 45701; Linn's, Aug. 25, page 1; Oct. 13, page 20; USPS item No. 221440 (single card at 25¢); 221461 (FDC at 35¢); Scott UX400.

Oct. 23, Madonna and Child. Single 37¢ special stamp using design of 2002, double-sided pane of 20, AP; New York, NY 10199; Linn's, Aug. 25, page 10; Oct. 20, page 1; USPS item No. 672440 (pane); 672461 (FDC at 75¢); Scott 3820.

Oct. 23, Holiday Music Makers. 12 37¢ special stamps, pane of 20 (reindeer playing panpipes, Scott 3821; Santa playing drum, 3822; Santa playing trumpet, 3823; reindeer playing horn, 3824), double-sided pane of 20 (convertible booklet format, 3824b, five each 3821-24), vending booklet of 20 (reindeer playing panpipes, 3825; Santa playing drum, 3826; Santa playing trumpet, 3827; reindeer playing horn, 3828), all three SSP; and four 23¢ picture postal cards (reindeer playing panpipes, UX401; Santa playing drum, UX402; Santa playing trumpet, UX403; reindeer playing horn, UX404); Sterling Sommer; New York, NY 10199; Linn's, Sept. 2, 2002, page 1; Oct. 28, 2002, page 1; Nov. 11, 2002, page 2; March 17, page 2; Oct. 20, page 1; Nov. 17, page 10; USPS item No 564020 (block of four from pane of 20); 564040 (pane); 564063 (set of four FDCs at $3); 672240 (double-sided pane); 672263 (set of four FDCs at $3); 672340 (vending booklet); 564066 (set of 20 picture postal cards at $9.75).

Oct. 23, Flag. Single 37¢ definitive stamp, as stamp of 2002 but with "2003" year date; vending booklet of 20; AV; Linn's, Nov. 24, page 15; USPS item No. 670741 (booklet of 20); Scott 3634b, BK291A.

Oct. 24, Snowy Egret. Single 37¢ definitive coil stamp in coil of 100; AV; New York, NY 10199; Linn's, June 30, page 1; Oct. 20, page 1; USPS item No. 782240 (coil of 100); 782261 (FDC at 75¢); Scott 3829.

November 24, Flag. Single 37¢ definitive stamp, "2003" year date, water-activated pane of 100; AP; Washington, DC 20066; Linn's, March 31, page 2; Oct. 13, page 31; Dec. 1, page 33; USPS item No. 113720 (block of four); 113761 (FDC at 75¢); Scott 3629F.

December, Jefferson Memorial.. Single $3.85 Priority Mail stamp, same design as stamp of 2002, but with "2003" year date, pane of 20; SSP; Linn's, Dec. 1, page 8; USPS item No. 180110 (single stamp); 180120 (block of four with plate number); Scott 3647A..

December, 29 Jefferson Memorial.. Single $3.85 Priority Mail stamped envelope, same design as $3.85 Jefferson Memorial Priority Mail stamps of 2002-03; Linn's, Jan. 12, 2004, page 10; Jan. 19, pages 15 and 20; USPS item No. 212105 (pack of five envelopes at $19.25); 212110 (pack of 10 envelopes at $38.50); 212161 (FDC at $4.23); Scott U652.

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*Asterisks precede entries with new or changed information. New/changed information is presented in bold italics.

Stamp printing contractors are identified in the listings using the following abbreviations: AP (Ashton Potter USA Ltd.), CCL (CCL Label Inc.) and SSP (Sennett Security Products). Printing contractors for some earlier issues include AV (Avery Dennison), BEP (Bureau of Engraving and Printing), BCA (Banknote Corp. of America), GL (Guilford Gravure), and SS (Sterling Sommer).

Details of each issue listed in this program are given in the cited issues of Linn’s. Stamps are self-adhesive unless otherwise noted.

Mount Nos. refer to the appropriate ScottMount item number.

 

HOW TO ORDER STAMPS OR COVERS

Mail orders for mint stamps, uncut press sheets, postal stationery, and the Postal Service's uncacheted first-day covers (FDCs) should be sent to Stamp Fulfillment Services, Box 419636, Kansas City, MO 64141-6636. Postal Service supplied first-day covers are available only in certain formats. They usually cost the face value of the stamps affixed plus 24¢ per cover. The prices of some items, including first-day-canceled stationery, may vary. Orders should use USPS item numbers.

Stamp Fulfillment Services accepts credit card orders by telephone (800-782-6724) or fax (816-545-1212). Orders may be placed from countries other than the United States by calling 816-545-1000. An additional $5.20 shipping fee is added to standard shipping and handling charges for orders to be mailed to a foreign address.

New issues should be ordered no more than two weeks in advance of the date of issue.

Mail, phone or fax orders have a flat service charge of $1.30 for orders up to $50 if they include only prepackaged items, such as the minimum purchase of a block of four sheet stamps or a pane of definitive stamps. A fee of $2.10 is added for custom orders.

A detailed sales catalog called USA Philatelic lists the prepackaged formats. It is free on request from Information Fulfillment, Dept. 6270, U.S. Postal Service, Box 419014, Kansas City, MO 64141-6014. USA Philatelic listings include formats and USPS item numbers other than those listed here.

 

HOW TO ORDER FIRST-DAY CANCELS

The grace period for collectors to send covers for first-day cancels ends 60 days after a stamp’s issue date, unless stated otherwise in the listing.

Within the grace period, buy the stamp (or stationery item) at your local post office or philatelic center, affix it to an addressed envelope (postage must make up at least the first-class rate) and send under cover to Customer-Affixed Envelopes, Postmaster, (Name of City, State and ZIP code-9991 or the ZIP+4 code given). No remittance is required.

Most collectors use stamped, addressed return carrier envelopes or peelable return address labels that can be removed after the U.S. Postal Service returns the cover.

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Plate numbers. Multistamp issues require as a minimum a plate block with every stamp design represented at least once. Plate block formats are listed by Amos Media Co. in the Scott Specialized Catalogue of United States Stamps and Covers.

Stamp Fulfillment Services requires the purchase of a minimum number of stamps to obtain plate number markings. For stamps with face values of 1¢ to 50¢ the minimum purchase is a full pane.

For stamps with face values of 51¢ to $1.20 the minimum purchase is either a full pane or block per the catalog listing. For stamps with face values of $1.21 and up the minimum purchase is a block of four stamps. Plate numbers on most coil stamps may be obtained with a minimum purchase of 25 stamps. Stamp Fulfillment Services does not guarantee specific plate numbers.

If you collect U.S. new issues, you should own Linn’s U.S. Stamp Yearbooks. The 1983, 1984, 1985, 1986, 1987, 1988, 1990, 1991, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006 and 2010 yearbooks are sold individually. The 1989, 2007, 2008 and 2009 yearbooks are sold out. For additional information, or to order, visit www.amosadvantage.com, or telephone Amos Media Co. at 800-572-6885.