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

I'd have been more inclined to buy this item if the book had included a special pane (say, without die cut) as an integral part of it(e.g., the pane being a page of the book).

Here's a link to the USPS Beyond the Perf, outlining rejected designs (and evolution to the accepted design) that were considered for the upcoming Althea Gibson Stamp:

http://www.beyondtheperf.com/conten...amp%20Design

The latest Postal Bulletin (08/22/2013) is now on-line and offers this glimpse into the remaining issues for 2013 (and their intended format):

Hmm... The Snowflakes coil is listed as 10k only, while somewhere I had read 3k & 10K. Guess we shall see.

Likewise, Linn's was reporting that the Harry Potter stamp may be moved into the 2014 stamp program (but it's still on the above list slated for issue in November 2013).

Another "we shall see" item.

Early release of the March on Washington pane is shown below, along with the ebay link to the seller who originally posted it:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Equality-Ma...em51b0e0baa7

USA Philatelic/Beyond the Perf Stamp Program for 2013 is now announcing the Snowflake Presort Coil stamps will be issued on October 1, 2013 (in 10K coils only) at Weston, MO 64098:

http://beyondtheperf.com/stamp-releases/snowflakes

T-Shirts are apparently becoming a new philatelic offering on the USPS Store. I see that today we have (previously unannounced) T-Shirts available for the March on Washington issue:

https://store.usps.com/store/browse..._CivilRights

They also have them for the Made in America issue:

https://store.usps.com/store/browse...iftsFunStuff

The USPS was selling these shirts at StampShow in Milwaukee (August 8-11).

The latest Linn's Stamp News is now reporting that the USPS has ordered a second print run of an additional 10 million stamps for the Emancipation Proclamation Issue based on increased demand. This brings the 45 million initial print run up to 55 million stamps for that issue.

Seems kind of odd that the USPS would wait more than eight (8) months after the initial stamp was placed on sale before deciding that an additional print run was necessary.

So much for the USPS's promotion of a "limited edition" stamp, I guess.

The September 5, 2013 issue of the Postal Bulletin is now on-line and reveals some interesting details about the upcoming non-denominated Presort Standard Snowflakes Coil of 10K:

First, the stamps will have no first day of issue ceremony, even though the FDOI is still October 1, 2013 in Weston, MO 64098.

Second, the stamps are apparently being PROCESSED at AVR, Clinton, SC, HOWEVER, the stamps are being PRINTED By CCL Label, Inc. (a new vendor?) and therefore the stamps will display a Plate Number beginning with the prefix "C" followed by eight (8) single digits; the first time a plate number with that prefix has appeared on a US Stamp, I believe. The plate number will appear on every 30th stamp.

Finally, given the size of these coil rolls (10K), the stamps are going to have a relatively low printing (500 million) which comes out to "only" 50,000 coils for the entire print run.

As per the 09/05/2013 Postal Bulletin, it confirms previous reports that the 2013 Holy Family Stamp will be in a pane of 20 format this year (instead of booklets) with plate numbers in all four corners.

One interesting thing about this year's pane of stamps as compared to last year's stamp in booklet format is the image size. Last year's booklet shows the stamps had an image area of 19.05 x 26.16mm; the 2013 pane of 20 will have the stamps with an image area of 19.56 x 26.67mm, which comes out to the 2013 stamp image being 0.51 x 0.51mm larger in both width and height.

The Virgin & Child issue is apparently also available in press sheets with and without die-cuts...
https://store.usps.com/store/browse...tPressSheets
...despite the postal bulletin not mentioning these as part of stamp announcement 13-42...http://about.usps.com/postal-bullet...info_005.htm

I bought two sheets of the inverted Jenny. One to use on first day covers. I've decided to do two pairs and two singles and the other will remain sealed so I'll not know. When I got them I had no idea why they were sealed the way they were and of course I do now.

If anyone's keeping track, here's the latest news about issue dates for Holiday Stamps 2013:

We already know the Poinsettia, Holy Family Pane and Virgin & Child stamps have been issued this past week.

Now we have confirmation of FDOI dates for these 2013 Holiday issues:

Oct. 24 - Global Forever Wreath Stamp
Nov. 07 - Gingerbread Houses Stamps
Nov. 19 - Hanukkah Stamp
Dec. 01 - Kwanzaa Stamp

The USPS Store website has now posted each of these available for pre-order at the link below:

https://store.usps.com/store/browse...olidayStamps