29-Cent Herbs Postcard Rate Stamps - Issue Date 4/7/2011

Not the greatest scan, but just picked this image up off of the 2/24/11 Postal Bulletin for the series of stamps scheduled to be issued April 7, 2011 in New York City. All are denominated 29-cent definitives (postcard rate):

I haven't even seen those in Linn's yet, did you wt1?

No. (Actually I don't subscribe to Linn's anymore). Got the info. from The Postal Bulletin (02/24/2011 edition) which can be accessed via this link (it takes a couple of minutes to download). See pages 48-49 for all of the details/specifications for this issue:

http://www.usps.com/cpim/ftp/bulletin/pb.htm

I like them.

Cool stamps. I'll have to get some of those for shipping. Five of those stamps and a couple of others will make the 3oz. packet rate in the U.S. or the 2oz packet rate to Canada.

Actually, I just noticed Foxglove as one of the "herbs". It's not edible herb unless you want to kill someone off.

Just looked it up ... Foxglove = Digitalis. Interesting as to why the USPS would have endorsed that as part of a stamp of this series, unless there was some thought that the medicinal benefits of the herb may be what is intended.

Foxglove?? Since when is that an edible herb? Isn't it poisonous?? When you buy a plant, often it states so. Seems a little dumb to include in an herb set, as most people see herbs as something to use while cooking. Hmmmmmm

Today, being April 7, 2011, I wanted to get the 29-cent Herb stamps featured in this thread. I finally found them (half sheet scanned below):



However, it certainly wasn't easy. I went to FOUR post offices before finally getting a couple of sheets (and that was just by chance):

Post Office #1 - Didn't have any. "Maybe" they will be in their next order that comes in Monday. (Still using 28-cent and 1-cent stamps to make up the post card rate at this point.)

Post Office #2 - Never HEARD of it. Wrote it down to check on, as they never even heard of the stamp, never mind having any in stock!

Post Office #3 - Didn't have any. Suggested that I was mistaken and they maybe they are being issued on April 17th. I told her to check her "Postal Bulletin"...she didn't have it.

Post Office #4 - Clerk told me he never heard of it and therefore didn't have any. The clerk behind the sales floor heard my request and said he had some and gave them to the window clerk to sell to me. He said no one has come in asking for it; so they didn't open their supply stock of them until I made the request.

Apparently the commemorative stamps are more likely to be found on the "first day of release"; the definitives are a bit more elusive to find at least on the first day of issue.

Anyone else have a similar post office experience?

My post office had the sheets and coils, but since they don't have a meter machine it is well stocked.

Considering how elusive it was to find the 29 cent Herb stamps at my local post offices on the first day of release (at least in my area), I suspect a set of these "first day of use" covers will be quite limited. Of course, the official "First Day of Issue" cancels from NYC will read the same date, but since you have 60 days to obtain them, they are not really postmarked on the "first day of issue"; whereas these local ones could only be dated the actual day they were used.

For much older stamps the Earliest Known Use is a big thing.

I do like the actual first day of Issue cancels myself. Nice spray-ons also!

Herbs are a nice topical. Oh no, I have just found another topic. Noooooo. . . . .