Latin Music Legends

How many picked up these stamps today? It was the first day of issue of the Latin Music Legends series.



The small post office I typically use had the stamps locked away in their vault. Either they didn't realize (or didn't have any requests for) releasing the new stamp until I came in...they had to open a brand new package for me.

Can't complain, though. At least they keep a running inventory of all the new issues which some of the larger post offices don't seem to want to bother at all with.

Selena? A legend?

This is what the USPS had to say about Selena on the reverse backing of this series of stamps:



It's not my style of music either, but the USPS has to cater to a lot of different music preferences so that's why they included her in this series. (I guess?)

My little post office has the stamps too. I picked up a sheet today. Next week the Jazz stamps come out.

...and the Neon Celebrate! stamps come out next week, too!

Back to the Latin Music Legends, here are "unofficial" cancels from my local regional post office when I applied the new stamps to covers:



Nothing special except that I found it interesting that while I placed all of the covers in the same mailbox at the same time and were addressed back to me with the exact same address, only two of them had the standard barcode at the bottom of the covers; and of the five examples shown, the code after the date shows "1 T" "2 T" and "1 L" as random code numbers. Any idea what they are supposed to mean? A different clerk or cancelling machine or bin they were placed in for delivery?

As mentioned in earlier posts, I find these local "unofficial" postmarks more authentic than the "official" ones, since the local ones show the actual date of issue; the "official" first day cancels wind up being applied anytime one wishes to send them in up to 60 days after the stamps get issued, which kind of defeats the entire concept of a true "First Day of Issue" cancellation.

Maybe the 1T, 2T, 1L codes are for which shift processed them, but no, they are all PM.

Hmmm, Top and Lower? Are there two levels in the office or sorting plant?

1st shift today, 2nd shift today, 1st Late shift?

I have the local postmaster well-trained. She had already put a sheet aside for me.

very nice stamps.

I am only interested in the "Lady in the Tutti Fruitti Hat"

Got this sheet from the stamp museum nearby... need to mail them back to myself now :)

I will send you a cover with the tutti-fruti lady on it Nells, if you send me one with the lady with the purple headband.

If I remember when my order for a strip of 5 arrives, I will do that! Must remember... Must remember... Must remember...

Azucar!

Has anyone tried soaking these yet?

This package arrived in the mail today. It's from my sister who knows I collect stamps, but is (obviously) not a collector herself.

I am going to be sick if these were all wasted. 14 stamps!!

Ouch, Spanishmoss!