Ursula K. Le Guin Stamp Will Be Issued July 27

The Ursula K. Le Guin commemorative Forever stamp announced at the start of the year will become available on July 27.

Its appearance will be celebrated by a First-Day-of-Issue Dedication Ceremony on that date in Portland, Oregon. The outdoor ceremony in the Evan H. Roberts Sculpture Mall of the Portland Art Museum will be held “rain or shine” says the USPS. Those planning to attend in person are asked to RSVP here. Alternatively, people can view a short pre-recorded introduction of the stamp on the Postal Service’s Facebook and Twitter pages, available on Tuesday, July 27, 2021 1 p.m. PST.

The 33rd stamp in the Literary Arts series honors Ursula K. Le Guin (1929–2018), who “expanded the scope of literature through novels and short stories that increased critical and popular appreciation of science fiction and fantasy.” The stamp features a portrait of Le Guin based on a 2006 photograph. The background shows a scene from her landmark 1969 novel The Left Hand of Darkness, in which an envoy from Earth named Genly Ai escapes from a prison camp across the wintry planet of Gethen with Estraven, a disgraced Gethenian politician. 

The artist for the stamp is Donato Giancola, a three-time Hugo winner who also was named a Spectrum Awards Grandmaster in 2019.

The stamp is valid for 3-ounce mail, currently costs 95¢, and a sheet of 20 can be pre-ordered here for $19.

How to Order the First-Day-of-Issue Postmark. Collectors can get the first-day-of-issue postmark in two ways.

(1) The Postal Service offers first-day covers for new stamp issues and Postal Service stationery items postmarked with the official first-day-of-issue cancellation. Each item has an individual catalog number and is offered in the USA Philatelic catalog and online at usps.com/shop

(2) The USPS gives customers 120 days to obtain the first-day-of-issue postmark by mail. They may purchase new stamps at their local Post Office™ or at The Postal Store® website at usps.com/shop. They must affix the stamps to envelopes of their choice, address the envelopes (to themselves or others), and place them in a larger envelope addressed to:

FDOI – Ursula K. Le Guin Stamp
USPS Stamp Fulfillment Services
8300 NE Underground Drive, Suite 300
Kansas City, MO 64144-9900

After applying the first-day-of-issue postmark, the Postal Service will return the envelopes through the mail. There is no charge for the postmark up to a quantity of 50. There is a 5-cent charge for each additional postmark over 50. All orders must be postmarked by November 27, 2021.

10 thoughts on “Ursula K. Le Guin Stamp Will Be Issued July 27

  1. Frankly upset that the quad stamp of Bradbury/Asimov/Herbert/Heinlein was never issued, but proposed many years ago…

  2. See, this is the social media I’m familiar with. USPS puts a science fiction writer on a stamp. But fan can’t enjoy that because four other writers aren’t on stamps.

  3. It is strange that you obtain a first day postmark by mailing the envelope to Kansas City MO, rather there here in Portland…

  4. That is beautiful artwork. I hope to see it in a Worldcon art show in person (hint, hint, Donato! Chicago in 2022!)

    I think I’ll buy a few for mailing to very special people. Heck, snail mail only goes to special people these days.

    I’d be happier if she was on the one-ounce (regular) stamp, but you can’t have everything. Guess my special people are going to get thicker envelopes.

    In 8933, of course, we’re all using ansibles.

  5. The Raven stamp will be coming out a week later. It’s different but gorgeous.

  6. @lurkertype

    I’d be happier if she was on the one-ounce (regular) stamp, but you can’t have everything.

    I’m reminded of another conversation:

    Norm Gunderson: They announced it.

    Marge Gunderson: They announced it?

    Norm Gunderson: Yeah.

    Marge Gunderson: So?

    Norm Gunderson: Three-cent stamp.

    Marge Gunderson: Your mallard?

    Norm Gunderson: Yeah.

    Marge Gunderson: Oh, that’s terrific.

    Norm Gunderson: It’s just a three-cent stamp.

    Marge Gunderson: It’s terrific.

    Norm Gunderson: Hautman’s blue-winged teal got the 29-cent. People don’t much use the three-cent.

    Marge Gunderson: Oh, for Pete’s sake. Of course they do. Whenever they raise the postage, people need the little stamps.

  7. Pingback: Le Guin Stamp Issued Today | File 770

  8. I hadn’t realized the “window” for ordering/getting First-Day Covers was that wide… when I was a preteen philatelist back in the previous millenium, it seems like I recall having to do my order/send prior to the issue, and my enclosed envelope would get stamped and canceled (“franked”) on Day of Issue. OTOH, while whatever I did worked (I’ve did this probably 1-2 dozen times, I could check my stash), I don’t know whether there were other options, even back then.

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