The U.S. Postal Service will issue four Coral Reefs “POSTCARD” stamps nationwide with a value when issued of 35¢ on March 29. The stamps will have a first-day postmark reading St. Louis, Mo., where the three-day St. Louis Stamp Expo will get under way on that date.

This year’s Coral Reefs stamps complete a tropically themed trio of whimsically rendered four-stamp sets issued in both panes of 20 and in coil rolls of 100 stamps, inscribed “POSTCARD” and paying the relevant rate. It’s no secret that millions of Americans flock to the beach every year for relaxation and recreation, and these carefree stamps seem perfect for mailing a colorful card as a seaside souvenir back to the family or the office.

The series began in 2015 with a quartet of colorful Coastal Birds “POSTCARD” stamps paying the 35¢ rate (Scott 4991–98), then four Shells stamps that sold for 34¢ when the rate was reduced early in 2017 (Scott 5163–70), followed by the new Coral Reefs foursome needed when the rate returned again to 35¢.

Just as “FOREVER” stamps pay the basic first-class domestic letter rate in perpetuity, so do “POSTCARD” stamps pay the rate for a domestic postcard even should that rate change over time.

The stamps were designed by veteran USPS art director Ethel Kessler. Stylized in contrasting colors, the artwork by Tyler Land depicts a different type of stony coral and associated reef fish on each stamp: elkhorn coral hosting a French angelfish; brain coral behind which lurks a spotted moray eel; staghorn coral as a scenic backdrop to a pair of blue-striped grunts, and pillar coral interlaced with a coney grouper and two neon gobies.

According to the U.S. Postal Service, “Coral reefs are formed over thousands of years mainly by colonies of animals called polyps. Polyps make stony corals [including those featured on these stamps], the foundation for most coral reefs, by secreting protective skeletons of calcium carbonate, or limestone. As these limestone skeletons accumulate over time — with new colonies of polyps growing on top of the skeletons of older ones — they build up the base of the coral reef.

“Coral reefs are one of the world’s most marvelous ecosystems, sheltering and sustaining about a quarter of all ocean species. Anyone who has snorkeled in tropical environments has witnessed the sea come alive when approaching a coral reef. Suddenly an abundance of fish of all types and colors appear, along with a variety of other animals and plants, including sea urchins, seagrasses, octopuses and lobsters.”

The first U.S. Coral Reefs stamps were four 15¢ commemoratives released in 1980, Scott 1827–30, with each realistically rendered seascape and species associated with a specific American territory: brain coral from the U.S. Virgin Islands; elkhorn coral from Florida; chalice coral associated with American Samoa; and Hawaii’s native finger coral.
In 2004, the sixth Nature of America 10-stamp tableau sheet, Scott 3831, celebrated the Pacific Coral Reef, and five of the 27 creatures featured were corals: blue coral, mound coral, antler coral, staghorn coral and mushroom coral.

Customers have 120 days to obtain the first-day-of-issue postmark for the Coral Reefs “POSTCARD” stamps, valued at 35¢, by mail. Each cover must have 55¢ postage to meet first-class mail requirements. You may purchase new stamps at your local post office or at usps.com/shop. You must affix the stamps to envelopes of your choice, address the envelopes (to yourself or others), and place them in a larger envelope with adequate postage addressed to:

FDOI – Coral Reefs Stamps
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¢ charge for each additional postmark over 50. All orders must be postmarked by July 29, 2019.