April 11, 2011 - Busy Day For US New Issues

In reading the latest Postal Bulletin, I find it interesting that four (4) different stamps are all being issued on the same day:

Three different stamps to be issued 04/11/2011 in Washington, DC. (George Washington stamp looks especially nice):







...and this one to be issued in Fayetteville, WV:


The USPS is busy issuing new denominated stamps for new postal rates, I guess.

What would you need the 20 cent stamp for?

20 cent stamps covers the second ounce of a first class mail rate. 44 cents up to 1 oz.; 64 cents for 2 ounces. One Forever Stamp and one 20 cent George Washington Stamp would make the combined 64 cents postage for such mail.

Of course, if you like the upcoming George Washington stamps enough, you can put two of them on an envelope along with a 4 cent stamp and use it for any type of first class mail. Most won't do it as it's not very convenient, but I imagine it would dress up the mail nicely since it looks to be a very attractive looking stamp.

My local postmaster showed me a sheet of the new Civil War Anniversary stamps to be issued next week. Very attractive stamp. Of course, he's not allowed to sell the stamp yet.

The 20 cents stamp will be also useful to cover the non-machinable surcharge on items that are not to be bent.

I like the bridge one

The New River Gorge stamp is very cool. I understand that it is so high above the river that crasy people jump from the bridge, with parachutes of course, but still crasy!

I like the 80 cent ,the rive look so quite.

What a challenge it was to find these stamps at a local post office on the first day of sale!

I tried FIVE different post offices spanning two different states to get the Washington and Wedding Cake ones. (No luck with the Voyageur National Park or New River Gorge Bridge.)

From what the postal clerks tell me, the commemoratives are a standing order; the odd denomination issues such as these require the post office to place a special order, so they typically don't get there on the first day of sale:

64 cents also covers odd sized envelopes. Since I'm a bit of an odd ball, I thought the 64 cent butterfly stamp an appropriate avatar.