Cancellation Date Earlier Than Stamp Release Date

I just received these three covers with a cancellation date of Feb 8, 2011. I am guessing the cancellation date was actually Feb 8, 2012.

From my research it appears that the Statue of Liberty and flag stamps were released as coils and booklets in 2011. Both releases occurred after Feb 8, meaning the cancellation date is earlier than the date of release for the affixed stamps.

The microprint on the stamps read 4EVR.

What do you guys think? Is this a common mistake?

Welcome to SCF!

Those are nice cancelled examples of the Lady Liberty/Flag Coils. They are Scott #4490 (Lady Liberty) and #4491 (Flag) printed by Avery (thus the 4EVR microprint variation) with die cut perforations of 8.5 vertically.

These were the first of several varieties of the Lady Liberty/Flag Stamps that were issued. However, even though the stamps show a 2011 date, the actual date of issue for these stamps was December 1, 2010, so the February 2011 cancellations were dated well after the stamps were in circulation.