2013 USPS Issues... News? Thoughts? Opinions?

Thanks for posting these.

While I do like b&w photography on stamps, these ones remind me of propaganda and regardless if far right or left. It's basically the glorification of the working class, while ignoring the "intellectuals" (scientists, engineers etc.) working behind the scenes (and providing the basis for everything happening in the photos!). Mind you, we had poets and choreographers last year, so I shouldn't be so harsh!

In any case, Canada will release some more artistic photos on stamps this March: https://www.canadapost.ca/shop/p-413886111.jsf

I do like Lewis Hines work, and I do have an unhealthy fixation on the time period, however I'm imagining these on envelopes. I'm guessing they only work on a few specific union offices mail.

Maybe they can be a series on all the jobs that have been automated or been rendered illegal due to various regulations and agencies. Imagine doing any of those today.

Yesterday I picked up 3 sheets of the muscle cars. At the first PO, I bought the LAST SHEET they had... and this was before NOON! The second PO I tried, the postmaster didn't even put them out for sale... The third one, I didn't even have to ask the clerk for them... he knew as soon as he saw me why I was there...

I bought two sheets of the Muscle Cars stamps yesterday, too. The clerk (before I even asked) handed me the deck card, too. The deck card shows a quantity of only 200 stamps (10 panes of 20 stamps per pane). As this is only a small branch post office, this was probably the extent of his automatic distribution order.

The post offices I go to seem to only get one deck of anything I ask for. I decided to not go on the first day this time, after the Lunar New Year fiasco, but I needed stamps and went to one that was open on Saturday, bought a pane. Looks like she had quite a few of them.

Also, as usual, I like these stamps much better than when I saw photos of them. I should've bought a few panes.

Although USPS Beyond the Perf website has been known to announce things that later change, as of today, the BTP website is showing:

Made in America: Building a Nation stamps will be issued on August 8, 2013 in Milwaukee, WI 53203

Ray Charles Stamp will be issued in September, 2013 (exact date to be announced later) in Los Angeles, CA 90052

http://beyondtheperf.com/schedule

This was a good choice for StampShow.

11 of the 12 stamp images were taken by photographer Lewis Hine who was born in Oshkosh, Wisconsin.

I really like the "Made in America: Building a Nation" stamps. B&W looks good. Four separate sheets with the same stamp series is way beyond overkill. DD

As many US collectors may know, March 1, 2013 was the date of issue of the new Bank Swallow Stamped Envelopes.

What I found interesting was the content of this minor news article indicating that this is the second of four illustrations the USPS commissioned by artist Matt Frey, suggesting that there will be at least two more swallows in this series of stamped envelopes (most likely for 2014 and 2015). As I don't recall reading about these stamped envelopes being part of a "series" before, this may be newly disclosed information:




http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/op...727819.story

As many of you may remember, on page 10 of this thread the La Florida stamps were announced and an illustration of the block of stamps were shown.

I have just come across this image on another website that shows the stamps formatted as a full pane of 16, with selvage that describes the "La Florida" theme. Although it provides the historical references many were looking for about the stamps, it still won't be that meaningful to non-collectors or anyone who collects less than a full pane of the stamps.

The latest Postal Bulletin is announcing that the La Florida stamps will be issued by AVR in a quantity of 92 million! That's a higher quantity than any other commemorative stamp announced for 2013.

The USPS must be anticipating a high demand for this issue.

Counting on the buying power of us ladies? :P~

I still need to get my Emancipation proclamation stamps.

FYI - here are the latest 3 stamp announcements from the bulletin:
La Florida - http://about.usps.com/postal-bullet...info_005.htm
Where Dreams Blossom - http://about.usps.com/postal-bullet...info_006.htm
Yes, I Do - http://about.usps.com/postal-bullet...info_007.htm
Although not mentioned in the last philatelic catalog, the last two issues will also see uncut press sheets being issued for them.
Because of the financial burden, it is now virtually impossible to complete one set of perf & imperf stamps for the average collector. Well done, USPS!

While the La Florida stamp is nice, I don't think it's going to go over big enough to justify the 92 million stamp printing. First, it's a vertical commemorative that is not going to go over well with those looking for a smaller stamp to fit on smaller envelopes traditionally used for personal correspondence. Second, it's in a pane of 16 stamps, when the stamp buying public is used to the 20 stamp panes. Third, it's going to be issued just before the "Where Dreams Blossom" stamp, which is a much more traditional stamp in a smaller size that (in my opinion) would be preferred by those looking for a floral design and in a traditional pane of 20 format.

It will be interesting to see how this goes over, as the "Where Dreams Blossom" stamp is being printed in little more than half the quantity (50 million) of the La Florida stamps.

Those quantities really should be the other way around, huh?