2001.03.06    USA Nine-Mile Prairie, Apple & Orange, Flag Definitive

On March 6, USPS released four different self-adhesive postage stamps in Lincoln, Neb. They are the 70c Nine-Mile Prairie stamp, the 34c Apple and 34c Orange stamps and another 34c Flag Over Farm stamp.

The new 70c stamp,  the fourth stamp in the United States Scenic American Landmarks series, depicts Nine-Mile Prairie, a sweeping tallgrass prairie so named because it is five miles west and four miles north of downtown Lincoln, Neb.. Nine-Mile Prairie is one of the largest unplowed, virgin tallgrass prairies left in Nebraska. Some 210 acres of the 230-acre prairie have never been plowed. The prairie, owned by the University of Nebraska Foundation, has been preserved for nature study, teaching and research. The 70c postage satisfies the rate for an international postcard to countries other than Mexico and Canada

The se-tenant 34c Apple and 34c Orange stamps, bearing the design similar to the 32c Peaches and Pear stamps issued in 1995, issued in flat panes of 20 that may be folded by removing a peel-off strip from the middle of the pane, also usually called as convertible booklets.

The newest version of the 34c Flag Over Farm stamp is in peel-and-stick panes of 20 with selvage on all four sides. This is the fifth format (nondenominated or denominated) of this new flag design, after three nondenominated visions in water-activated panes of 20, self-adhesive panes of 20 and self-adhesive panes of 18 on Dec. 15, 2000 and one 34c vision in water-activated panes of 100 on Feb. 27.
 


Technical Details

Issue 70c Nine-Mile Prairie definitive stamp
Issue Date and Place March 6, 2001,  Lincoln, NE 68501
Photographer Michael Forsberg, Lincoln, Neb.
Designer, Art Director and Typographer Ethel Kessler, Bethesda, Md.
Modeler Joseph Sheeran
Process offset (microprinting, one line: "USPS")
Printer and Processor Ashton Potter USA Ltd., Williamsville, N.Y.
Press Stevens variable-size security press
Colors black, cyan, magenta, yellow, Pantone Matching System 877 silver
Paper nonphosphored type III, block tagged
Gum self-adhesive
Print Quantity 85 million stamps
Format pane of 20, from 180-subject sheet, 9 panes per revolution
Size 1.40 inches by 0.84 inches (image);
1.56 inches by 0.99 inches (overall);
7.14 inches by 5.90 inches (pane)
Plate Numbers "P" followed by five single digits
Marginal Markings "©UUSPS 2000," pane position diagram, bar codes and price

 
 
Issue 34c Apple and Orange definitive stamps
Issue Date and Place March 6, 2001,  Lincoln, NE 68501
illustrator and designer Ned Seidler, Hampton Bays, N.Y.
Art Director and Typographer Howard Paine, Delaplane, Va.
Modeler Banknote Corporation of America, Browns Summit, N.C.
Process offset (microprinting, one line: "USPS")
Printer and Processor BCA, Browns Summit, N.C.
Press Goebel 670
Colors black, cyan, magenta, yellow
Paper prephosphored type I
Gum self-adhesive
Print Quantity 3 billion stamps
Format pane of 20 from 500-subject sheet, 25 panes per revolution
Size 0.72 inchesby 0.83 inches (image area, single stamp); 
0.87 inches by 0.98 inches (overall, single stamp); 
4.35 inches by 4.13 inches (pane of 20)
Plate Numbers "S" followed by four single digits
Marginal Markings "©UUSPS 2000," plate numbers and removal instructions

 
Issue 34c Flag Over Farm definitive stamp
Issue Date and Place March 6, 2001,  Lincoln, NE 68501
Illustrator  Hiro Kimura, Brooklyn, N.Y.
Designer, Art Director and Typographer Richard Sheaff, Scottsdale, Ariz.
Modeler Joseph Sheeran
Process offset (microprinting, one line: "USPS")
Printer and Processor Ashton Potter USA Ltd., Williamsville, N.Y.
Press Stevens variable-size security press
Colors process black, cyan, magenta, yellow
Paper prephosphored type I
Gum self-adhesive
Print Quantity 200 million stamps
Format pane of 20 from 240-subject sheet, 12 panes per revolution
Size 0.71 inchesby 0.82 inches (image); 
0.84 inches by 0.99 inches (overall); 
5.04 inches by 4.95 inches (pane)
Plate Numbers "P" followed by four single digits
Marginal Markings "©UUSPS 2000," plate numbers, pane position diagram, bar code
Original information from USPS News and Linn's Stamp News