Design For Save Vanishing Species Semi-Postal

For those who haven't kept up with yesterday's announcement, here's the design for the upcoming 55-cent US Semi-Postal "Save Vanishing Species":



Here's a link to the related news release. I do find it interesting that the USPS has apparently not settled on a date of issue other than to suggest it will be in September 2011, yet the USPS will allow you to begin to pre-order the stamps now.

http://www.usps.com/communications/...pr11_049.htm

Cartoon animals are vanishing?

Hope Tigger and Pooh Bear are OK.

Comments on other web sites suggest you aren't alone in making such a comment about the "cartoon" animal when the whole concept of the stamp is to support the endangered species of "real" animals.

The stamp almost looks as if it was a rendition of Tony the Tiger from Kellogg's Frosted Flakes fame:

I agree with Rod wholeheartedly.

I am willing to accept an artist's drawing of the animal rather than an actual photograph.

BUT, in my opinion, it really should be an animal that is native to the United States.

KirkS

Two observations:

I think the design of the stamp is just fine.

We are all a part of an interconnected whole. The loss of one species anywhere is a blow everywhere.

Just one person's opinion.

I am willing to accept a drawing too,
it is merely an observation.
It seems to me there is a profusion of cartoon style
in all facets of media.
It's cheap, easy, and yes, just a little tacky in my opinion.

Interesting that the US would offer such a stamp, instead of the countries who are doing most of the killing off of animals. I wonder if the surcharge money earned will actually go to help those animals... (that's me being cynical [ex: Haiti]) It really won't go far even if it does. Foreign cultures are what is killing off animals like the tiger. Also poachers and loggers. I think those countries are the ones who should really be cracking down on their own people. Toughen laws, toughen enforcement.

BUT, I don't want to see the big cats gone, or whales, Great Whites, and tons of birds. They were here first, after all... Perhaps the money raised will help breeding programs in the US?

How about a series of 4 or 5 stamps picturing already-extinct species with the implication being we don't want to see more animals disappear.

Not a bad idea. Animals that have gone extinct within the last 100 years maybe?

Without even see rod's reply I thought the same thing. Why not have a picture of a real tiger not a cartoon, their such a beautiful creature. And it so plain, very little detail unlike older stamps. Where is the engraving and other details that make stamps stand out, just to simple? And like others say just my opinion.

Hello everybody, Has the USPS issued many semi-postal stamps?
Thanks
david

Backup to the link in the first post. The USPS announcement about this issue notes that the US had issued three semi-postal stamps prior to this and the $ amount raised through the efforts for subjects such as: Breast Cancer Research, Heroes and Stop Family Violence.

Does anyone else hope that the floodgates on semipostals will not be opened for US stamps. Some countries have hundreds. I have the sneaking suspicion that we are in for many more here in the US.

I wouldn't mind them if they directly helped Americans in need. Say for the Red Cross or for disaster relief...

I so badly wish that the U.S.P.S. would go back to the older style gravure or even a good offset portrait of a president or anything but the computer generated looking stuff, A bad one at that! Tony the Tiger is about right I.M.O.
It looks as if the "designer" didn't even put any effort into it. Sad. I am DONE trying to collect the newer stamps and will promptly stop searching for anything after say 1979. That image above was the proverbial straw that broke my enthusiasms back for any newer types.= CRAP