Definitive Or Commemorative

I noticed that, Anthony. US Christmas stamps have come in varying sizes from standard definitive to commemorative and in between (like the snowman stamp in the image I posted). The same goes for "Love" stamps.

It is interesting that while the Christmas stamps issued in each year were always for the first class rate, "Love" stamps have been issued in first class and international rates.

warrehouse - it is clear cut.

I'm with warrehouse and Minkus.
"Regular" issues.

Got this in the lot from Marty.

A Christmas precancel.

Smauggie, This is one of 4 precancels especially design for this X-mas issue. Atlanta, GA & Baltimore, MD I can't recall the forth one.

Fourth one was Memphis, TN.

I'd say that they are definitives, that just happen to depict a certain theme that will sell well, seasonally. Same with the Love stamps, in my mind.

But I can see the other side of the argument, as well (for the Christmas and other holiday stamps...still don't see it for the Love stamps).

Just my 2d.

Each collector may have his own interpretation,
I don't think the goal of who is "right" and who
is "wrong" is helpful in this case.

Here is a gaggle of commentary about eight years ago
on a news group that helped me form my own opinion
(either rightly or wrongly)

It is nice to read and hear others input

(It is interesting to read the response to Mr Barber,
the poster asks him not to say something...:)
Kind of only wanting to read what meets his own opinion)

-----------------------------------------------
Tracy_Barber

Perhaps the problem arises with the attempt to define,
the parameters are always in flux.
Definitives come about after the more distinct explanation
of Commemoratives which are:
"for the express purpose of honoring a special person, event
anniversary or group"
They are "usually" issued for only a limited time.

The "Farley" issues, are an example of commemorative reprints,
no doubt there are many more.

Definitives are the regular series of stamps in general use
over a period as distinguished from those only temporary,
provisional or commemorative use.

Time, seems to be the most relevent and pertinent
ingredient, without being unequivical.

The USPS bible, suggests in the 1965 manual that..
"In addition to 13 seperate series of ordinary postage
stamps, special issues have been provided for...."

They then go on to describe
"Plates used in printing commemorative stamps"

Your breast cancer issue is outside this manual I have,
but certainly up to 1965, the USPS defines its issues
in those classes, one may address this publication
for confirmation.

Acknowledgements:
"Stamp collectors handbook" Samuel Grossman.
United States Postage Stamps 1847-1965..USPS



> If longevity of printing is the "key" to being a definitive, which I disagree with as the TOTAL, UNEQUIVICAL meaning of the word, then
> there is a problem.
>
> Well, then... what is the breast cancer semi-postal stamp of the
> U.S.? Commemorative, pictorial or definitive?
>
> Think before you answer that one. And, also, please don't answer that it is a semi-postal.
>
> Someone may need to redefine / refine what a defin is:
>
> A) Commemoratives are "supposed" to specify an event / topic, whether
> they are sold for short term or long term. The less than 18 month
> rule has been "sort of" established for them. Page 55, Carlton. NOT
> all administrations adhere to this time limit. They usually have some
> type of "special" feature related to the topic being commemorated on
> the stamp.
>
> B) Pictorials are stamps that have the duration / longevity of defins,
> but may look like commems. Page 197, Carlton.
>
> C) Defins perform the bulk of the daily mail. They may or may not
> have a long, extended print run as some have mentioned. What about
> rate changes, hmmmm? A defin (as we see it now) printed for a 6 month
> run (or less) is not within the standard 18 months or more. What is
> it then? A commfin?
>
> My interpretations included.
>
> [ International Encyclopedic Dictionary of Philately, R. Scott
> Carlton, 1997. ]

For interest

Some tangential thinking on "definitives"
from Malcolm and Ryan (current SCF member)

from about 6 years ago
-----------------------------

> Going back to elusive definitives - there are many stamps where one or
> more in a series is far more "difficult" than the remainder( or the
> catalogue "price" indicates). Remember the French Coat of Arms series.
> All are valued in SG at the minimum ( or close to it) - but buy any
> collection or kiloware bag and you will almost never see one or two of
> them.
>
> In some countries the elusive stamps are weight step make up values (
> the additional postage to make up the first to second weight in a given
> range of postage costs - or even scarcer from the second to the third )
> or to add recorded or registration to the normal postage.

A recent set of Canadian definitives included a 9c stamp. As far
as I know, Canada has never had a 9c stamp before. Nobody thinks of
using 9c stamps when they need to bump up to a different rate - they
think the same way they think about money, "I need a 10c coin and a 5c
coin and a couple of 1c coins." This goofy 9c stamp is almost
impossible to find. I have one useful one and one with a crayon (!)
cancellation.
Ryan

After reading that I think they fit in between the two. They perform the bulk of the daily mail for a specific albeit regular event

That's the conclusion I came to,
hence "regular" tag I applied,

eg: Queens birthday, Australia Day, Christmas, etc & etc.

Here is an example of where this becomes a real issue. If you were sold a packet of off-paper kiloware (or mini-kiloware) that was supposed to be "commemoratives only" would you be upset if some Christmas stamps showed up? Love stamps?

A number of people must be upset as I see kiloware lots with 'minimal or no Xmas' in the description.

Earlier in this thread I posted that I thought they were commemorative. As I followed the post I concluded that they were really an annual issuance and probably more of a regular issue.

As I pointed out earlier I felt these stamps need or could be placed into a new category of -

"Annuals"

This term seems to best fit the situation. But everyone has their own opinion.