New HI Value Waves Of Color Stamps - 12/1/2012 - Orlando, FL

What do you think of the new high value stamps the US Postal Service has slated for issue before the end of the year?

Those are nice. Very pretty, impressive.

Playing devil's advocate for a second, wouldn't you think you would get a bit more for your money the more you spend? Shouldn't the $5 and $10 have something a bit more on them?

Perhaps a nice cat playing with the strings? (hint hint nudge nudge)

I guess I'm not impressed. Are these based on some notable art work or just geometric designs? Why not just put a bar-code on them? I also wonder how many will get mistakenly used as cents vs. dollars.

I am with MrEos and Puzzler. I am not in the least impressed. These would make for nice artworks in lets say the airport, but not very representative of the country we live in.

I do not plan on buying nor collecting them.

Apparently they differ in size. According to Linns: $1 is a "special stamp", $2 is a horizontal commemorative, $5 semi jumbo and $10 a jumbo size.

Four more confirmations of my decision not to collect modern stickers, er, stamps.

Dan

I will collect them used, as usual. Could have been better. Could have been worse.

I tried to put together a list of how many other US stamps have been previously issued with no "subject matter" as the theme. In other words, these stamps are only abstract designs. In thinking about all of the US stamps issued to-date, I only come up with a handful of stamps that have just a denomination, with no person or thing as its subject matter. Some that I can think of are:

6c Booklet Pane Stamp with 6c denomination surrounded by stars.
4c Make Up Rate Stamp with text stating same.
3c red/white/blue Star Stamp (currently available).

Any others?

My take on the stamps is that with all of the persons, places and things that are vying to be placed on a stamp, why are abstract designs chosen? But then again, I suppose the high value of these stamps will mean that they are going see very limited use (primarily on parcels) and will be with us as "definitives" for quite a number of years, so no one has to rush out and buy them the moment they get issued.

So, what's the point to the $1, $2, $5 and $10 stamps? What postal rates do they pay? I don't get the point to the design. Are these definitives or commemoratives?

Dreadful.

I am opposed to "abstract" artwork when there are so many important people/topics that could be commemorated on U.S. Stamps.

2¢
KirkS

These stamps are geared towards collectors. Who else do you think the USPS is thinking of? Only collectors want an actual stamp, someone shipping out a large package is going to use metered postage or a flat rate mailer. By selling these high value stamps the USPS knows only a fraction of them will actually be used for postage. The others will be hoarded for collections. It's a really a good way for them to help ease their operation losses they have accumulated.

Don't give them (the USPS) any ideas ... or we'll see $20 and $25 stamps coming out next!

In a way they remind me of something very British, probably just the colors... personally, I think they are a waste of ink... With so few people going to buy them, they should have made them geared toward those folks. For instance, the engraved $5 issue... one of my favorites!

Having a second look at them they kind of look like they are moving or waving or movement in water or wind. Wave motion.

Maybe on an envelope or parcel they will give the illusion of movement to the parcel. You will think the piece is moving before it even leaves the Post Office.

Are they engraved?

Partially correct.

According to the Linn's Stamp News article they will contain:

That cat is already out of the bag, as evidenced by this forthcoming issue.