Your Thoughts On The 2012 USPS Stamp Line-Up...

I've been looking at the stamp issues planned for 2012. (http://www.beyondtheperf.com/2012-preview/ ) I am trying to keep an open mind about them all, but I have to be honest: I am not looking foward to many of them. I think most of the designs and topics are awful... BUT, the Year of the Dragon is nice, so is DiMaggio/Ted Williams, Bonsai is so-so, USS Constitution & Civil War are interesting. The Cherry Blossom issue could have been designed better. (NOTE: Thankfully, I did notice that the artwork for the literary and director issues is only a preview before I started ripping into them!)

Now, everyone is different. Everyone has different tastes, different interests.

What do YOU think?

JD

Here's my opinion:

1. Too many issues.

2. Too many ridiculous subjects (i.e. 29-cent postcard rate Hawaiian Shirts, for example).

3. The "definitive" series of "Forever" stamps with the Flags on them are nice, but as a practical matter what does that do to the Lady Liberty/Flag Stamp that has been on the market now for awhile and for which the booklet pane of 20 was just issued yesterday. Are these stamps replacing those issues? If so, what was the point of making them "Forever" stamps?

4. There will likely be a postage rate change in 2012 and while "Forever" stamps may not be affected, the denominated ones will (i.e. postcard rate, priority mail, express mail, second and third ounce rates, etc.) and there will be a slew of new stamp issues not even mentioned in Beyond the Perf to be considered.

5. Have you seen the previous thread on this forum that there will be a New Mexico Statehood Stamp for January 2012 that isn't even mentioned in Beyond the Perf?

By the way, I very much disliked the idea of a day-by-day introduction of the stamps. What was the point? And there was no consistency to the way they were introduced, as some were posted at 7:30 AM, others at 12 Noon, and then they skipped days when stamps were being issued in 2011. Didn't make much sense to me at all.

That's my take. Let's see what others have to say...

My take is simply this: If they're self adhesive then I want no part of it.

I still say that the USPS could save a heap of cash if they returned to lick-and-stick stamps. Half the materials, and more interest for collectors.

Keep difinitives self-stick, since most people only ask for flag stamps. Make commemoratives water activated to make collectors, the people who buy them most.

Just a thought...

I did not see one issue that I would purchase. Very poor selection of subjects and terrible execution. As they say in the sports world, "Wait till next year"

None of my business, maybe, being a Brit
But I'll comment anyhow
Most of my opinions are about the visual appeal of the stamps. I don't feel qualified to comment on the themes.
The stamp that really stood out for me was the Scouting stamp. I like the imagery that's been used, and I think it works very well visually. I like the weather vanes. Nice images again (and I like folk art).
The various arial landscapes are visually stunning, but I am never sure that they really work on a stamp. The UK has issued similar types of designs and while I appreciated the photography, I find the a bit abstract when miniaturised to stamp size.
I also like the poets plain photographic portraits.
Now to the negatives - those bicycling stamps are dull dull dull . And the heart health stamp says nothing to me about a healthy lifestyle - what's that spiral all about? Finally, I agree with Nells, the cherry blossom design doesn't quite work, its not balanced properly and doesn't flow.
Just my two cent's (that's 1.27 pence at today's exchange rate ) worth!

I think some stamps are beautiful and some not, just as with any stamps from any country.

With some Canada stamps I am embarrassed to admit I am from Canada.

But others are winners all around.

The USA Edgar Rice Burroughs stamp I kind of wish had a better picture of Tarzan, say from the Frank Frazetta drawings used on many of the original Tarzan books, example below. Action, excitement, an affinity for animals and the environment. Wow. I grew up on the Tarzan and other books by Burroughs.



But, since I was exposed to the Frazetta paintings from early on and have used them to judge other paintings in the genre, I am influenced by what I think is appropriate and a good depiction of a favorite character of mine.

The USPS most likely has certain guidelines as to which artists to use or how stamps are to be printed how much money is to be spent on stamp design and printing, etc., and this influences their choice of which paintings and art to use.

Perhaps other things influence choices that are beyond our knowledge.

There have been whole movies made and millions spent following an idea and a theory and they have not done well either.

I think that most of the designs are very good. The only one I might have a quarrel with is the aloha shirts. Who would have thought that a shirt would ever have appeared on a US stamp?

I think the cherry blossom is really very nice. I like the panoramic view.

I do agree with those who have said that there are too many.

I share my views in the most part with Stampgal,
I think they are attractive, I diverge with all with the
cherry blossom, I just love that stamp, wide and handsome.

As someone from another part of the planet, the Hawaiin shirt
strikes a cord, I always connect the two, Americans and Hawaiin shirts,
because at the time, we would hear comments that Americans
dressed "loudly" (and smoked cigars)

Years later I would join the fashion, and actually own
a "leisure suit", or "Safari suit) groan.

No, I reckon they (the stamps) are OK.

Some interesting opinions. I'm not really sure Frazetta did illustrate the original Tarzans, but I get where you're coming from. But I think Frank was more appropriate for Yes album covers than stamps. Part of the reason, as stampgal points out about the aerial shots, too small and abstracted. Frazetta looses a lot at 2 or 3 inches.
The cherry blossom just aren't. There's no focus, and it took me a while to realize there were two stamps there. Wishy washy.
I like the weather vanes too. Nice and simple. Clean.
The sports and film guys are ok. In fact a lot of them are just ok. Not a lot of real stand outs.
I really do like the William Johnson, but then it's a stamp commemorating an artist, obviously his work is carrying the stamp.
Over all, it's got a nice beat, but you can't dance to it. 4 out of 10.

edit- oh I forgot. What's with all these Love stamps. Enough already!

Ok, I went out today and bought the Civil War sheet and the Mercury/Messenger sheet. I tried to rip off two stamp se-tenant from the Mercury Messenger and put the rest in the stamps I use to mail stuff and mangled the backs of over half of them. The Pixar sheet had nice clean perforations on it.

I also agree that almost all the commemoratives and souvenir sheets are bought by collectors only. Heck, when I walked in today and said I needed stamps, the woman immediately pulled out a booklet of liberty bell stamps. I remember going with my mom as a kid, and when you went to counter and asked for stamps, they would ask you full or half sheet and would give you commemoratives unless you asked for something else.

That being said, if most commemoratives are bought by stamp collectors, why can't they make them gummed and perforated? Those things are a hell of a lot easier to tear and get into mounts. If they're not going to do that, at least they could put an easy to tear consistent perforation across all self-adhesives. Don't make it so hard on the primary customers of your stamps.

Now back on topic.

I think the stamps are so-so. I think the USS Constitution stamp is very nice. My kids will get a huge kick out of the Send A Smile stamps. And I like the Bonsai and Celebrate Scouting stamps. The rest are so-so.

I am looking at the latest USPS catalog. Here is what comes to mind for the latest designs:

BASEBALL: so-so
FLAGS of NATION: simple but OK
USS CONSTITUTION: I like
O. HENRY: horrible
BOBCAT: eh...
BURROUGHS: well...
CHOREOGRAPHERS: horrible
PIAF/DAVIS: not bad

Now, these are just my opinions, and I am but one person in a sea of many.

What do YOU think of the latest USPS designs?

PS: the Cherry Blossom stamps have grown on me... I am for the most part OK with them now, and look nice on a postcard overseas!

USS Constitution and Earthscapes are the only ones I am looking forward to. Will withhold judgement on poets until I can get a better look.

But then with US stamp issues, I keep my expectations very low, so tat I might be pleasantly surprised from time to time.

I'll chime in with another few comments now that we are getting toward the end of the 2012 stamp program:

1. There are too many stamps of the same issue that have been printed in different formats that are either unnecessary or else focus on the USPS having too many printers involved or are seeking to get more dollars from collectors who want every variety. Examples include the multiple formats of the Flag Stamps and multiple formats of the Aloha Postcard Rate Stamps and even the multiple formats of the Baseball Stamps being issued next week. Same thing really holds true as to why the USPS has to issue yet another Purple Heart stamp this year, when Purple Heart Forever Stamps have been in use for a few years now but they still feel the need to change them every year.

2. The stamp program issue dates are also a problem. There can be up to a month's time when no new issues are released, then all of a sudden there is a plethora of new issues released in a week's time. It creates problems in both availability and for the average collector who, if they want the latest issue on the day it is released, has to visit the post office multiple times in one week. Take for example the upcoming Flags of Our Nations (Aug. 16), Edgar Rice Burroughs (Aug. 17) and USS Constitution (Aug. 18). Why does the USPS release three major issues in three days?

3. And here we are in mid-July and we still don't have a confirmed issue date for the Purple Heart stamp (Sep. 2012) and the Holy Family Stamp (Oct. 2012). These stamps have been on the list of new issues for months now and the USPS can't come up with a firm date to issue them when later issues have all been announced.

4. Finally, let us not forget the MLB Issue and the fiasco with the Uncut Press Sheets and the limited edition printings. If the USPS wants to issue Press Sheets, fine. If they do uncut ones, they should do them for more than just this issue or not at all. If they offer them for sale as pre-orders they should not limit the quantity so that all collectors have a fair chance of getting them should they so desire.

One more thing I'll add: The USPS should eliminate the need to issue stamps on Saturdays (unless it has a direct bearing on the anniversary date of some person or event). It is next to impossible to get local post offices to sell new stamps on a Saturday, with most explaining that they are in a vault, and only their "Supervisor" can release them on a weekday. Saturday is a short day for the USPS and the counter staff are often fill-ins and have no means to respond to collector's requests as the full-time weekday clerks do.

I agree that there are just way too many stamps being issued, and too many formats. Does the USPS really need to use so many different printers for their definitives? Even if they do, why aren't the stamps identical? One Four Flags printing is 4 color and the other five color? What the heck for?

I agree 100%.