2/1/2019
The California Dogface graces the seventh non-machineable butterfly stamp issued since 2010 for use on irregularly sized envelopes, such as square greeting cards, announcements or invitations. The stamp art was digitally created using images of preserved butterflies as a starting point. The result is a highly stylized, simplified image of a California Dogface (Zerene eurydice) rather than an exact reproduction. Nationally known artist Tom Engeman created the stamp art, and USPS Art Director Derry Noyes designed the stamp.
The stamp is primarily intended to be used on 1-ounce greeting cards that are irregular in shape requiring the non-machinable surcharge. The stamp is also good for mailing first-class letters and cards weighing up to 2 ounces.
Used after the January 27 rate increases, this stamp will pay the first-class non-machineable letter rate of 70¢ (55¢ for first-class mail plus the actual 15¢ surcharge) — a 2¢ increase in the 68¢ cost of the non-denominated Eastern Tailed-Blue [stet] non-machineable mail surcharge butterfly stamp released in 2016 (Scott 5136).
Customers have 120 days to obtain the first-day-of-issue postmark by mail. They may purchase new stamps at their local Post Office or at The Postal Store website at usps.com/shop. They must affix the stamps to envelopes of their choice, address the envelopes (to themselves or others), and place them in a larger envelope addressed to:
FDOI – California Dogface StampUSPS Stamp Fulfillment Services8300 NE Underground Drive, Suite 300Kansas City, MO 64144-9900
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 May 27, 2019.
Fred Baumann
Fred Baumann served as the Editorial Content Specialist of The American Philatelist from September 2018 to December 2019.
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