# 4906a - 2014 First-Class Forever Stamp - Imperforate Harvey Milk

U.S. #4906a

2014 49¢ Harvey Milk Imperforate

As one of America’s first openly gay political officials, Harvey Milk (1930-78) knew he led a dangerous life. But the rights of gays, and all minorities, outweighed his concern for his own safety.

Milk had drifted from job to job around the country before settling in San Francisco in 1969. It was there that discrimination sparked his outrage, and with it, an interest in politics that seemed to bring him to life.

Though he lost his first election in 1973, Milk earned his neighborhood’s admiration and the nickname “Mayor of Castro Street.” Over the next four years, he built campaigns around the rights of individuals, gay liberation, and investing in neighborhoods to improve cities. When Milk won his seat as city supervisor in 1978, it made national headlines. One of his first orders of business was passing a bill that outlawed discrimination based on sexual orientation. 

Despite his popularity, Milk was assassinated just 11 months after taking office. Milk became a martyr, and according to Time, “a symbol of what gays can accomplish and the dangers they face in doing so.”

Milk has since been the subject of award-winning films and documentaries and was posthumously awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom. Today, the Harvey Milk Foundation continues to carry on his dream of “hope for a better tomorrow.”

The image for the stamp is from a photo taken by Daniel Nicoletta.

49¢ Harvey Milk, issued to satisfy the first-class mail rate

Issue Date: May 22, 2014, Milk’s birthday

City: Washington, D.C., in a White House ceremony

Category: Commemorative

Printed By: Banknote Corporation of America for Sennett Security Products

Printing Method: Lithographed, sheets of 240 with 12 panes of 20 per sheet

Perforations: Imperforate

Self-adhesive

Scarce Modern Imperforates

The modern imperforate stamps are one of the hottest stories around.  In 2012, the U.S. Postal Service released some issues as press sheets.  The sheets with die cut perforations were issued in limited quantities. 

To the surprise of many collectors, officials then issued a small number of press sheets without perforations.  The uncut sheets were only available in Kansas City, Missouri, yet most sold out immediately.  In an instant, the imperforate stamp sheets became modern rarities.  For example, only 75,000 Baseball All-Star se-tenant sheets were issued compared to 118,000 Bugs Bunny sheets with the 10th stamp imperforate.

In a controversial move, the editors of Scott Catalogue announced they would not list or give numbers to these stamps because they did not fit Scott guidelines.  This decision was strongly debated since the imperforate stamps are valid for postage.  They eventually decided to give the stamps minor numbers and have continued issuing imperforates in the years since.

Because they were issued in such limited quantities, these scarce modern imperforates can be difficult to find.  Luckily Mystic purchased a small number of each imperforate stamp issued so you can add these modern rarities to your collection.  Be one of the lucky few – order today.