U.S. #4936a
2014 $1.15 Silver Bells Wreath Imperforate
Global Forever
This is the second Global forever stamp issued for the holiday season. (The previous one, #4814, was released in 2013) It paid the First-Class Mail International 1-ounce rate.
Silver bells have long been associated wit... more
U.S. #4936a
2014 $1.15 Silver Bells Wreath Imperforate
Global Forever
This is the second Global forever stamp issued for the holiday season. (The previous one, #4814, was released in 2013) It paid the First-Class Mail International 1-ounce rate.
Silver bells have long been associated with the Christmas season. In 1950, Paramount Studios tasked songwriter Ray Evans and composer Jay Livingston with writing a hit Christmas song. The song would be featured in a movie starring Bob Hope and Marilyn Maxwell and it needed to be great.
Evans and Livingston saw a losing battle before them. All the popular Christmas songs had already been written. How could anyone make a new successful holiday tune? Then it hit them. A little silver bell on the office desk sparked an idea. Taking inspiration from street corner Santas and Salvation Army bell ringers, they would write a song for the season from a new angle.
Traditional Christmas songs seemed to always focus on Christmas in the country – sleigh bells in the snow, snowmen, mangers – what about the busy season in an urban setting? The New York City duo got to work writing about Christmastime in the city. The lyrics captured the hectic hustle and bustle of busy city-goers rushing about in preparation of the holidays, while the graceful waltz melody conveyed the warmth and joyousness of the season.
“Silver Bells” became the best-selling holiday single that year. The “new” Christmas song once destined to be a flop had become an instant success. Today, it remains a classic holiday favorite
The wreath of silver bells was created by Michael Owens and photographed by Sally Andersen-Bruce.
$1.15 Silver Bells Wreath, issued to pay the one-ounce international rate
Issue Date: October 23, 2014
City: New York, NY, at the American Stamp Dealers Association National Postage Stamp Show
Printed By: Banknote Corporation of America for Sennett Security Products
Printing Method: Lithographed printing in sheets of 60 with six panes of 10 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.
Less 
