U.S. Patriotic Waves stamp bears $2 denomination

The United States Postal Service will issue a new $2 Patriotic Waves stamp Jan. 30 in panes of 10.

A $1 Patriotic Waves stamp was issued Jan. 12, as reported in a page 1 article in the Jan. 12 Linn’s Stamp News.

The new stamp is a companion to the $1 stamp, with a similar abstract design of curving lines in red and blue.

The two Patriotic Waves stamps also bear some resemblance to the four Waves of Color stamps issued in 2012 with denominations of $1, $2, $5 and $10 (Scott 4717-4720).

The two new stamps and the 2012 Waves of Color stamps all feature designs created by artist Michael Dyer with USPS art director Antonio Alcala.

A first-day ceremony for the new $2 stamp is scheduled to take place at the Southeastern Stamp Expo in Norcross, Ga., an Atlanta suburb.

The ceremony will begin at 11 a.m. at the Atlanta Hilton Northeast, 5993 Peachtree Industrial Blvd. The stamp expo is scheduled for Jan. 30 through Feb. 1 at the Hilton hotel.

Two other $2 stamps are still available for purchase from the Postal Service: the $2 Waves of Color stamp, and the $2 Jenny Invert in a pane of six, issued in 2013 (Scott 4806).

It is anticipated that the new Patriotic Waves stamp will replace the regular-issue Waves of Color stamp.

“The $2 Patriotic Waves stamp features red and blue intersecting lines on a white background in an abstract pattern reminiscent of billowing flags,” according to the Postal Service. “A portion on the lower right side of the stamp provides white space to display the dollar sign and the numeral 2.”

The stamp also includes the inscription “USA” in small letters following the denomination.

The overall stamp size is 1.56 inches by 0.98 inches, the same size as the $2 Waves of Color stamp. Both stamps were printed by security printer Ashton Potter of Williamsville, N.Y.

Many standard U.S. commemoratives, such as the Legends of Hollywood and Lunar New Year series issues, are this same size.

The new $2 Patriotic Waves stamp is entirely printed by offset lithography, whereas a combination of offset and intaglio printing was used for the $2 Waves of Color stamp.

Along with the standard pane of 10 stamps, the $2 Patriotic Waves stamp will be offered in two varieties of press sheets, both with and without the die cuts that normally separate individual stamps. Each press sheet contains 10 panes of 10 stamps (100 stamps total) and sells for $200. The Postal Service printed 500 press sheets with die cuts, and 1,000 without die cuts.

Collectors can obtain first-day covers from the Postal Service with a standard black first-day cancel, or with a digital color postmark showing a large numeral 2 constructed of red and blue wavy lines similar to those on the stamp vignette.

Technical details and first-day cancel ordering information for the $2 Patriotic Waves stamp follow:

$2 Patriotic Waves stamp

FIRST DAY— Jan. 30, 2015; city— Norcross, Ga., and nationwide.

DESIGN: artist, designer and typographer— Michael Dyer, Brooklyn, N.Y.; art director— Antonio Alcala, Alexandria, Va.; modeler— Joseph Sheeran.

PRINTING: process— offset, with microprinting; printer and processor— Ashton Potter USA Ltd., Williamsville, N.Y.; press— Muller A76; inks— Pantone Matching System 2174 C blue, PMS 185 C red, PMS cool gray C 8; paper— nonphosphored type III, block tagging; gum— self-adhesive; issue quantity— 10 million stamps; format— pane of 10, from 200-subject cylinders; size— 1.42 inches by 0.84 inches (image); 1.56 inches by 0.98 inches (overall); 4.26 inches by 6.48 inches (full pane); plate numbers— “P” followed by three single digits; marginal markings— plate numbers in two corners (front); “©2014 USPS,” USPS logo, plate position diagram, two bar codes, promotional text (back); USPS item No.— 117540.

First-day cancel ordering information

Standard ordering instructions apply. Collectors requesting first-day cancels are encouraged to purchase their own stamps and affix them to envelopes. The first-day cover envelopes should be addressed for return (a removable label may be used), and mailed in a larger envelope addressed to $2 Patriotic Waves Stamp, Norcross Main Office, 265 Mitchell Road, Norcross, GA 30071-9998. Requests for first-day cancels must be postmarked by March 31.