2025 Elie Wiesel “Two Ounce” Stamps

On Sept. 17 in New York City, the United States Postal Service will commemorate the legacy of author and activist Elie Wiesel (1928–2016) with the release of a nondenominated ($1.07) 2-ounce rate forever definitive stamp in panes of 20, the 18th stamp in the USPS Distinguished Americans series. Wiesel, “whose writing about the Holocaust is forever seared on the public consciousness,” said the USPS, was a survivor of the Nazi concentration camps at Auschwitz and Buchenwald during World War II.

A first-day ceremony for the new Elie Wiesel stamp will take place on Wednesday, Sept. 17, at 10:30 a.m. Eastern Time at the Kaufmann Concert Hall in the 92nd street Y, 1395 Lexington Ave., in New York City. Ronald A. Stroman, a member of the USPS board of governors, will be the dedicating official. 

The stamp, designed by USPS art director Ethel Kessler, features a 1999 black-and-white photograph of Wiesel taken by Russian photographer Sergey Bermeniev. Wiesel, in a suit and tie, is thoughtfully looking straight forward. The word “Humanitarian” appears vertically from the lower left edge of the design.

The stamp includes a “Two Ounce USA” horizontal inscription at top right indicating the stamp will satisfy the 2-ounce first-class letter rate regardless of future rate increases.

First introduced in 2000, the Distinguished Americans stamp series honors U.S. citizens who have “left their mark on the American conscience,” according to the Postal Service. Many of the previous stamps in the series have been issued in denominations meeting the 2-ounce and 3-ounce mailing rate or to complement other related services.

The first set of Distinguished Americans stamps from 2000 to 2009 were black pencil designs on a white background with red lettering. Those stamps were vertically oriented, and some later issues included additional colors.

Beginning in 2011, with the Oveta Culp Hobby (1905-95) stamp (Scott 4510), a different design theme emerged with portraits in color and some frames and backdrops in colors other than white. Some stamps were in different sizes and orientations. …

Banknote Corporation of America, one of two contract printers for the USPS, printed 8 million of the new Elie Wiesel forever stamp in a quantity of 400,000 panes of 20. A plate number consisting of a B (representing the printer) followed by four single digits is printed in the bottom two corners of the pane. Each digit represents one of the colors used to print the stamp: cyan, magenta, yellow and black.

Post offices wishing to hold an event for the Elie Wiesel stamp are required to use a pictorial dedication postmark consisting of a circular datestamp to the right of “ELIE WIESEL” in bold font. “The word ‘Station’ or the abbreviation ‘STA’ is required somewhere in the design because it will be a temporary station,” the USPS said. “Use of any image other than the … special pictorial image is prohibited.”

Two pictorial first-day cancels for the Elie Wiesel issue are being offered by the Postal Service, one in black and the other in color. The black postmark is applied free, up to a quantity of 50, to most collector-submitted covers. There is a 5¢ charge for each additional postmark over 50.

The black postmark features the text “FIRST DAY OF ISSUE” above and to the left of the larger “ELIE WIESEL” in the center with first-day details underneath.

The color postmark features the same design, with “FIRST DAY OF ISSUE” and the text of first-day details in teal and “ELIE WIESEL” in light blue. The color postmark can be obtained by collectors on envelopes made from laser-safe paper. There is an order minimum of 10 envelopes with a fee of 50¢ per postmark.

Real Postage Stamps: These are real postage stamps that can mail letters, envelopes, and others, They can cover the international rates the first time, USPS serves any country with the one-ounce letter. One stamp is one ounce.

Saving Your Time and Money: No need to waste your time and money on the way to the post office for stamps! Our postage stamps are very convenient and also at a nice price!

Easy Use: With self-adhesive, convenient to use. Not only great for postcards, letters, mailing envelopes, or collecting but also suitable for collectibles, birthdays, weddings, parties, celebrations, and so on.

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