USPS Oig Stamp Fulfillment Services Report (06/15/2016)

While we all may have read bits and pieces of this in philatelic media and websites, I only recently read the entire account of this "audit" of what happens to off-sale items at the USPS Stamp Fulfillment Cneter, including discounted sales, inventory management, etc., etc.

https://www.uspsoig.gov/sites/defau...T-16-001.pdf

It is also of interest to note that as per the date of this document (06/15/2016) not only did the USPS sell Harry Potter stamps to Royal Mail at a discount but since they have yet to receive any payment for it, the current situation in the UK suggests that this will result in even a further loss to the USPS.

I found it an interesting read of what happens (or doesn't happen) behind the scenes at SFS.

Actually, Royal Mail will be paying more, in expensive $, whilst USPS should be receiving the same. What are the Harry Potter stamps?

Or, Royal Mail has its own foreign currency accounts, in which case they'll pay with cash from prior sales in U$D. Cheers,

What are Harry Potter stamps? https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/J._K._Rowling

H.P. stampshttp://www.collectgbstamps.co.uk/ex...s/?issue=648
Edited to explain that the Royal Mail stamps are examples of H.P. stamps. See bcljr column for the actual U.S. stamps

Still confused. Did USPS print stamps for Royal Mail?

GeoffHa,

I think we're talking about these stamps:

https://about.usps.com/news/stamp-r.../welcome.htm

You'll have to ask RM why they wanted them.

Ah, I didn't realise that there was a US issue. I'm sure Royal Mail did well selling them on, although it may now lose on the exchange rate.

Sorry, but I don't mean to hijack the thread, I thought that no living person can be presented on an American postage stamp.
Am I mistaken on this issue?

This article is dated 2011. Please note!http://usatoday30.usatoday.com/news...s/50553180/1

Living persons on stampshttps://jeffstage.wordpress.com/201...-u-s-stamps/

raywrio,

Various exceptions are rationalized as not being about the living persons as themselves. The Iwo Jima stamp depicting the flag raising was based on the iconic photo of real people, but the stamp was not about them, per se. The 1952 stamp depicting women in the military was based on a recruiting photograph of real persons (but models, not actual women in the military). There are lots of different ways that images of living people have appeared on U.S. stamps, but the stamps were not honoring the persons, but something else. So the "rule" is meant to not use stamps to honor living persons as themselves, and not to mean that the imagine of a living person can never appear on a stamp.