US #2608
1993 USA Presort

• Issued for bulk mailers
• Same design produced by three printers

Category of Stamp:  Definitive
Value:  23¢
First Day of Issue:  May 14, 1993
First Day City:  Denver, Colorado
Quantity Issued:  250,000,000
Printed by:  Stamp Venturers
Printing Method/Format:  Photogr...  more

US #2608
1993 USA Presort

• Issued for bulk mailers
• Same design produced by three printers

Category of Stamp:  Definitive
Value:  23¢
First Day of Issue:  May 14, 1993
First Day City:  Denver, Colorado
Quantity Issued:  250,000,000
Printed by:  Stamp Venturers
Printing Method/Format:  Photogravure - coils of 10,000 from printing cylinders of 429 subjects (13 across and 33 down)
Perforations:10 vertically

Reason the stamp was issued:  This stamp was issued for use by first-class bulk mailers who sorted their mail by ZIP code into quantities of at least 500.  This step saved the US Postal Service time and money. 

About the stamp design:  When considering a new bulk rate stamp, the USPS wanted a different design than the flags or eagles that had been pictured in the past.  The concept came from an employee of Sheaff Design.  Airbrush artist turned the rough sketch into its present design.  The metallic “USA” shows a reflection of a waving flag.

Special design details:  The three printings of this stamp are all slightly different in appearance.  Stamp #2606 has a light blue background, #2607 has a dark blue, and #2608 is a purple.

First Day City:  The First Day of Issue ceremony took place in Denver, Colorado, on the opening day of Rompex 93, a large stamp show.