Announced by the USPS on October 24, 2022.
The handsome face of a red fox (Vulpes vulpes) graces this new 40-cent stamp. Sold in panes of 20 and in self-adhesive coils of 3,000 and 10,000, the stamp is intended for use by bulk mailers for items such as circulars, newsletters and catalogs. It can also be used by customers who enjoy using a variety of stamps on their envelopes and packages. The stamp art features a pencil-and-watercolor illustration from preexisting artwork by wildlife illustrator Dugald Stermer (1936-2011). His penciled calligraphy on the stamp indicates the animal’s common name and its scientific classification. Art director Ethel Kessler designed the stamp.
New information will appear below the line, with the most recent at the top.
Updated December 28th:
The First Day Of Issue “killer bars” is the only postmark for this issue.
Updated December 5th from the Postal Bulletin:
On January 5, 2023, in Fox, AR, the United States Postal Service® will issue the 40-cent Red Fox denominated stamp in one design, in a pressure-sensitive adhesive (PSA) pane of 20 (Item 122100), coil of 3,000 (Item 751200), and coil of 10,000 (Item 761300). This stamp will go on sale nationwide January 5, 2023, and must not be sold or canceled before the first-day-of-issue.
Red Fox is a 40-cent stamp intended for use by bulk mailers for items such as circulars, newsletters, and catalogs. It can also be used by customers who enjoy placing a variety of stamps on their envelopes and packages. The stamp art features a pencil-and-watercolor illustration of the face of a red fox from preexisting artwork by wildlife illustrator Dugald Stermer (1936–2011). Art director Ethel Kessler designed the stamp.
Availability to Post Offices: Item 122100, Red Fox, 40 Cents, PSA Pane of 20 Stamps
Availability to Post Offices: Item 751200, Red Fox, 40 Cents, PSA Coil of 3,000 Stamps
Availability to Post Offices: Item 761300, Red Fox, 40 Cents, PSA Coil of 10,000 Stamps
No automatic distribution
How to Order the First-Day-of-Issue Postmark:
Customers have 120 days to obtain the first-day-of-issue postmark by mail. Each cover must have sufficient postage to meet First-Class Mail® requirements. They may purchase new stamps at their local Post Office™ or at The Postal Store® website at store.usps.com/store/home. 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 – Red Fox Stamp
USPS Stamp Fulfillment Services
8300 NE Underground Drive, Suite 300
Kansas 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 5, 2023.
Technical Specifications – Pane of 20:
Issue: Red Fox Stamp
Item Number: 122100
Denomination &
Type of Issue: 40-cent Denominated, Mail-use
Format: Pane of 20 (1 design)
Series: N/A
Issue Date & City: January 5, 2023, Fox, AR 72051
Designer: Ethel Kessler, Bethesda, MD
Art Director: Ethel Kessler, Bethesda, MD
Artist: Dugald Stermer
Modeler: Sandra Lane/Michelle Finn
Manufacturing Process: Offset, Microprint
Printer: Banknote Corporation of America
Press Type: Gallus RCS
Stamps per Pane: 20
Print Quantity: 10,000,000 stamps
Paper Type: Phosphor, Block Tag
Adhesive Type: Pressure-sensitive
Colors: Cyan, Magenta, Yellow, Black, Pantone 4745
Stamp Orientation: Vertical
Image Area (w x h): 0.73 x 0.84 in./18.542 x 21.336 mm
Overall Size (w x h): 0.87 x 0.98 in./22.098 x 24.892 mm
Full Pane Size (w x h): 5.35 x 4.93 in./135.89 x 125.222 mm
Plate Size: 160 stamps per revolution
Plate Numbers: “B” followed by five (5) single digits
Marginal Markings:
Front: Plate numbers in four corners of pane
Back: ©2022 USPS • USPS logo • Two barcodes (122100) • Plate position diagram (8) • Promotional text
Technical Specifications – Coil of 3,000:
Issue: Red Fox Stamp
Item Number: 751200
Denomination & Type of Issue: 40-cent Denominated, Mail-use
Format: Coil of 3,000 (1 design)
Series: N/A
Issue Date & City: January 5, 2023, Fox, AR 72051
Designer: Ethel Kessler, Bethesda, MD
Art Director: Ethel Kessler, Bethesda, MD
Artist: Dugald Stermer
Modeler: Sandra Lane/Michelle Finn
Manufacturing Process: Offset, Microprint
Printer: Banknote Corporation of America
Press Type: Alprinta 74
Stamps per Coil: 3,000
Print Quantity: 15,000,000
Paper Type: Phosphor, Overall
Adhesive Type: Self-adhesive
Colors: Cyan, Magenta, Yellow, Black, Pantone 4745
Stamp Orientation: Vertical
Image Area (w x h): 0.73 x 0.84 in./18.542 x 21.336 mm
Stamp Size (w x h): 0.87 x 0.98 in./22.098 x 24.892 mm
Plate Size: 540 stamps per revolution
Plate Numbers: “B” followed by five (5) single digits
Coil Number Frequency: Plate numbers every 27th stamp below stamp image
Technical Specifications – Coil of 10,000:
Issue: Red Fox Stamp
Item Number: 761300
Denomination & Type of Issue: 40-cent Denominated, Mail-use
Format: Coil of 10,000 (1 design)
Series: N/A
Issue Date & City: January 5, 2023, Fox, AR 72051
Designer: Ethel Kessler, Bethesda, MD
Art Director: Ethel Kessler, Bethesda, MD
Artist: Dugald Stermer
Modeler: Sandra Lane/Michelle Finn
Manufacturing Process: Offset, Microprint
Printer: Banknote Corporation of America
Press Type: Alprinta 74
Stamps per Coil: 10,000
Print Quantity: 75,000,000
Paper Type: Phosphor, Overall
Adhesive Type: Self-adhesive
Colors: Cyan, Magenta, Yellow, Black, Pantone 4745
Stamp Orientation: Vertical
Image Area (w x h): 0.73 x 0.84 in./18.542 x 21.336 mm
Stamp Size (w x h): 0.87 x 0.98 in./22.098 x 24.892 mm
Plate Size: 540 stamps per revolution
Plate Numbers: “B” followed by five (5) single digits
Coil Number Frequency: Plate numbers every 27th stamp below stamp image
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