Colorado Hairstreak Stamps $1.19, Sheet of 20

Colorado Hairstreak Stamps $1.19, Sheet of 20

Non-Machineable for Square Envelopes

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Issue Date: 3/9/2021

The Colorado hairstreak butterfly graces the eighth non-machineable butterfly stamp for use on irregularly sized envelopes, such as square greeting cards, invitations, or announcements.

The stamp art was digitally created using images of preserved butterflies as a starting point. The result is a highly stylized, simplified image of a Colorado hairstreak rather than an exact replica.

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  • The Colorado hairstreak butterfly graces the eighth non-machineable butterfly stamp for use on irregularly sized envelopes, such as square greeting cards, invitations, or announcements.

    The stamp art was digitally created using images of preserved butterflies as a starting point. The result is a highly stylized, simplified image of a Colorado hairstreak rather than an exact replica.

    The shimmering purple Colorado hairstreak butterfly (Hypaurotis crysalus) dwells in the forest canopy of that state and much of the Southwest. Never venturing far from its host plant, the Gambel oak (Quercus gambelii), it feeds on tree sap and fallen raindrops.

    The Colorado hairstreak - Colorado's official state insect - has slender, hair-like, hind-wing appendages that resemble antennae. Nearby, on the underside of the wings, are spots that look like eyes and the thin streaks that give the hairstreak its name. Pointing its abdomen upward with false antennae held high, the butterfly's evolutionary decoys fool predators into attacking the false head on the wing. A hungry bird ends up with an unsatisfying beakful of scaly wing.

    In autumn, after mating, the female lays her eggs. The plump, green caterpillar hatches in spring and feeds on tender new oak leaves. After metamorphosis, the Colorado hairstreak butterfly, with a wingspan of about 11/2 inches, darts in and out of the tree branches in quick, erratic flight.

    The square format of the stamp was developed in partnership with the greeting card industry specifically for oversized or square envelopes. These envelopes cannot pass through the automated Postal processing system and have to be hand-cancelled. They are charged a non-machineable surcharge even if they weigh less than one ounce. Greeting card envelopes printed with a silhouette of a butterfly indicate the need for additional postage or the use of a butterfly stamp. Any non-machineable envelope, like oddly shaped or vertical envelopes, as well as lumpy envelopes, rigid envelopes, or mail with clasps, ribbons, or buttons, may use this stamp.

    Colorado Hairstreak is available in sheets of twenty. The words "NON-MACHINEABLE SURCHARGE" on the stamp indicate its usage value. Like a Forever® stamp, this stamp will always be valid for the rate printed on it.

    Nationally known artist Tom Engeman created the stamp art. Art director Derry Noyes designed the stamp.

    Made in the USA

  • Issue:Colorado Hairstreak Stamp
    Item Number:121200
    Denomination &Non-machineable Surcharge
    Type of Issue:
    Format:Pane of 20 (1 design)
    Series:N/A
    Issue Date & City:March 9, 2021, Estes Park, CO 80517
    Art Director:Derry Noyes, Washington, DC
    Designer:Derry Noyes, Washington, DC
    Artist:Tom Engeman, Kensington, MD
    Modeler:Sandra Lane/Michelle Finn
    Manufacturing Process:Offset, Microprint
    Printer:Banknote Corporation of America
    Press Type:Alprinta 74
    Stamps per Pane:20
    Print Quantity:75,000,000 stamps
    Paper Type:Phosphor, Block Tag
    Adhesive Type:Pressure-sensitive
    Colors:Black, Pantone 1795, Cyan, Magenta, Yellow
    Stamp Orientation:Square
    Image Area (w x h):1.085 x 1.085 in./27.559 x 27.559 mm
    Overall Size (w x h):1.225 x 1.225 in./31.115 x 31.115 mm
    Full Pane Size (w x h):5.9 x 7.12 in./149.86 x 180.848 mm
    Plate Size:240 stamps per revolution
    Plate Number:“B” followed by five (5) single digits in four corners
    Marginal Markings:
    Front:Header: Colorado Hairstreak • Plate number in four corners
    Back:©2020 USPS • USPS logo • 2 barcodes (121200) • Plate position diagram (6) • Promotional text

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