2012 New Mexico Statehood Stamp To Be Issued January 6, 2012

So much for all the hype on Beyond the Perf's "stamp a day" introduction, they didn't even bother to mention this stamp that was just announced yesterday, and likely to be one of the first of 2012 as the date of issue is January 6, 2012:



Here's the article that goes with it:

http://nmcentennial.org/2011/09/gov...stage-stamp/

Did anyone happen to pickup the New Mexico Statehood stamps today at your post office? If not, here's a scan of what one looks like.



Although it keeps with the original design published months ago, I find it very interesting that the stamp is devoid of text of any kind on the on the front selvage, except for the plate number at all four corners.

All of the typical data such as copyright notice, USPS logo, plate position, bar code, along with a new slogan "For more stamps and collectibles, visit usps.com/shop" are all printed on the reverse backing.

I also find it interesting that there does not seem to be any USPS microprinting anywhere within the stamp design (if I'm mistaken, please advise where it is located). I double-checked the Postal Bulletin data about the stamp, and they don't make any mention about microprinting either.

If this is the way the USPS is going to be issuing new stamps (plain white border selvage all around the sheetlet), they might just as well sell outside advertising to fill up what otherwise looks like a rather boring border around these stamps and generate some additional revenue for the post office.

It just seems like such a waste to have the front facing border surrounding this stamp sheetlet entirely blank (except for the plate numbers).

Denver (distribution center) only sent 1 sheet (automatic distribution quantity) to each PO here in the state, unless they had thought ahead and ordered more. Will have to wait till next week for the additional items to come in. Short answer, no my PO did not have any. I would emagine the Santa Fe had a bunch.
PS. I live in New Mexico

I live in Massachusetts and the post office had all the stamps I could want. Seems like it should have been reversed, as New Mexico should have had the initial distribution, as I would think it would be much more popular in the Southwestern US than here in the Northeast.

Interesting that the Postal Bulletin data suggests that every post office nationwide would get their "standard distribution" of these stamps rounded up to the nearest 40,000. It seems to me that would be 2000 sheetlets per post office. But having said that I have no idea how the USPS distribution system works:

Don't know, just that I have to wait till next week to get any of the stamp.

WT1, My PO got in the stamps late yesterday afternoon. I was at work when my Postmaster Facebooked me about it, so, picked up the sheets this morning.. Nice looking.

Glad to hear your PO finally got the stamps, but the fact that it was so late in the afternoon probably precluded you from getting any unofficial first day of issue postmarks.

I wonder if there are towns in New Mexico that are going to be offering any pictorial cancellations for this stamp? I would think Roswell, NM would be a perfect one. I guess we'll have to wait for the next Postal Bulletin to find out.

A couple of "unofficial" first day of issue postmarks. Don't you just love (NOT!) the spray-on cancels?



In this case, I mailed one at the Massachusetts post office where I picked up the stamps; the other a few miles away in Rhode Island. The Brockton, MA cancel is at least readable, even though they are a bit late in still using the slogan "Happy Holidays".

The Providence, RI postmark is another story, as it's hardly legible at all.

Oh well, at least both came back to me in my mailbox overnight. That alone should account for something, as overnight delivery of first class mail is not going to be around much longer!

Here is a cover sheet that comes on the bundles of stamps the PO gets for stamp issues. Just for those that have never seen them...