Peak / Valley

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Valley / Peak

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24¢ Common Buckeye Butterfly
(Avery Dennison)
Self Adhesive Coil of 100
Scott # 4002 Plate # V1111
Series USPS - NA ~ PNC3 - Flora and Fauna
Issue Date & City March 8, 2006, Washington, DC 20066 (No First Day of Issue Ceremony)
Nationwide Sale March 8, 2006
Designer Carl T. Herrman, Carlsbad, California
Art Director Carl T. Herrman, Carlsbad, California
Typographer Carl T. Herrman, Carlsbad, California
Artist Steve Buchanan, Winstead, CT
Engraver WRE / ColorTech
Modeler Avery Dennison, Security Printing Division
To Press / Initial Quantity Winter 2005 / 1 Billion stamps
Coil Size 100
Printer Avery Dennison, (AVR)
Press Dia Nippon Kiko (DNK)
Process Gravure
Where Printed AVR, Clinton, SC
Where Processed AVR, Clinton, SC
Plate Size & Interval 396 (12 x 33) stamps per revolution / plate # every 11 stamps
Paper Type Prephosphored, USPS Type I, Surface Coated
Adhesive Type Pressure Sensitive
Tagging Type Prephosphored, Smooth Tagging
Die Cut Gauge 8.4 Horizontally (Peak/Valley & Valley/Peak)
Colors Yellow, Magenta, Cyan, Black
Image Size (w x h) 0.840 x 0.730 in. / 21.336 x 18.542 mm
Overall Size (w x h) 0.982 x 0.870 in. / 24.9428 x 22.098 mm
Back Numbers None
Earliest Known Use March 8, 2006
USPS Order Numbers 783340 Coil of 100 - $24.00
783332 First Day Cover - $0.86
Availability Most post offices nationwide
Official Announcement The Postal Service will issue a 24-cent (First-class postcard rate) Common Buckeye definitive stamp in one design, on March 8, 2006, in Washington, DC. The stamp, designed by Carl T. Herrman, Carlsbad, California, also goes on sale nationwide March 8, 2006.

The stamp will be issued in the following formats:

  • Pressure-sensitive adhesive (PSA) pane of 20 (Item 100600).
  • PSA convertible booklet of 10 (Item 674200).
  • PSA vending booklet of 10 (Item 676000).
  • PSA coil of 100 (Item 783300)
  • Water-activated gum (WAG) pane of 100 (Item 101900)
This stamp features a digital painting of the Common Buckeye butterfly (Junonia coenia) by renowned wildlife illustrator Steve Buchanan of Winsted, Connecticut. Common Buckeyes are named for the distinctive eyespots on its wings.
Note New Common Buckeye Printing

In February 2007, a new printing of the 24c Common Buckeye came to collectors’ attention.  The most notable difference is the packaging i.e., the coil is now shrink-wrapped with a printed wrapper.  The plate number remained V1111.  On the first printing, the shadow under the wings had red dots amongst the grey dots giving the shadow a pinkish cast.  The new printing has few if any red dots giving it a duller look. There are minor differences in the font giving the new printing a bolder look.  The original package was a bubble pack with a printed label.

The new printing found in February may have surfaced in the original bubble packs as early as July 2006.  An example postmarked in July 2006 is identical to the February 2007 find.

Click here to see comparison scans and read the story.  Click here to see an enlarged comparison scan.
Philatelic Products
There are two philatelic products available for this stamp issue:
  • 100662 - First Day Covers - $0.80
  • 100675 - Gold Series Prestige Folder w/cancellation - $7.95
Distribution: Item 783300, $24.00 Common Buckeye, PSA Coil of 100
Initially, SDOs will receive two automatic distributions of the 24-cent Common Buckeye definitive stamp in PSA coils of 100.
The first distribution completed shipment on February 22, 2006. The second distribution will complete shipment on March 15, 2006. Distributions are rounded up to nearest master carton size (800 coils).
Initial Supply for Post Offices
SDOs will not make a subsequent automatic distribution to Post Offices. All Post Offices requiring quantities of Item 783300 must order them from their designated SDO using a separate PS Form 17. SDOs must not distribute coils to Post Offices before March 3, 2006.
Philatelic Requirement
SDOs will not receive a separate quantity Item 783300 for their authorized philatelic centers. Philatelic centers must be supplied their quantities from the initial automatic distribution made to SDOs.
Additional Supply
Post Offices requiring additional coils must requisition Item 783300 from their designated SDO using PS Form 17.
Following the second automatic distribution to SDOs, the New York, Chicago, San Francisco, and Memphis, APDs will each receive 72,000 additional coils; and the Denver APD will receive 32,000 additional coils for fulfilling supplemental orders from the SDOs.
Also following the second distribution, the Kansas City SSC will receive 144,000 additional stamps for fulfilling supplemental orders from APDs.
Additional quantities of this definitive stamp coil will also be made available to SDOs via subsequent automatic distributions, shipped directly from the supplier to the SDOs.