68-Cent Non-Machineable Stamp Features Eastern Tailed-Blue Butterfly

The U.S. Postal Service will issue a 68-cent Eastern Tailed-Blue butterfly stamp for irregularly-sized envelopes, such as square greeting cards, invitations and announcements. Details on the date of the stamp issue will be forthcoming.

Nationally-acclaimed artist Tom Engeman created the stamp design on a computer using images of preserved butterflies as a starting point.

The square format of the stamp was developed in collaboration with the greeting card industry specifically for oversized or square envelopes. These envelopes cannot pass through the automated processing equipment and have to be hand-cancelled. The envelopes 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 nonmachineable envelope, like oddly-shaped or vertical envelopes, as well as lumpy envelopes, rigid envelopes and mail with clasps, ribbons and buttons may use this stamp.

These nonmachineable surcharge stamps will be issued in panes of 20. 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.