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

Good for kids who send snail mail... oh, yeah, I forgot, they DON'T! Oh well...

I think we shouldn't be too harsh on USPS. After all, their intentions and the message they want to get across with this stamp issue are commendable. We have to bear in mind child obesity being a major issue and encouraging them to go out and play is certainly the right thing to do. But if these stamps will achieve that remains to be seen...
For now, the only thing getting thinner will be our wallets.

I actually like the blue. And it would be nice to see kids playing outside like we did...

This is so similar in name to the First Lady's initiative. Instead of "Let's Move" it's "Just Move!" It has some whimsy, however most of my mail goes to bills so I'll be the only one who would notice it.
I have noticed that I like stamps after I buy it and see in person than via images.

If interested, there is an opt-ed by Laura Bush in last Sundays(01/27/2013) newspaper about this very subject. Kids playing, not stamps.

Has anyone noticed that the "Just Move" stamps are in a pane of 15 different designs, but with plate numbers in all four corners. I can't figure that out. It would be impossible to collect plate blocks of all four corner plate numbers unless one were to buy multiple panes of the stamp. Perhaps an intentional means to get more money from plate block collectors ... assuming there are any left.

I just saw on another website/forum (Virtual Stamp Club) that USPS will also issue the following stamps this year:
Ray Charles (in the same Music Icon series as Lydia Mendoza and Johnny Cash)
New England Lighthouses
Science Fiction Writers
La Florida (USPS is tentatively planning to issue four stamps in April to mark the 500th anniversary of Spanish explorer Juan Ponce de Leon's founding of Florida. The issue is entitled "La Florida" and includes four stamps designed by Steve Buchanan. Ponce de Leon is not pictured on the stamps.)
"Ponce" always makes me smile, having spent 9 years in the UK - http://www.urbandictionary.com/defi...p?term=Ponce

And don't forget some others that have been tentatively announced, such as:

World War II Medal of Honor Recipients
Korean War Medal of Honor Recipients
Civil Rights - March on Washington Stamp

There's even supposed to be a special $1.10 Global Forever Stamp (round) that will be issued later in 2013 with a Christmas Wreath on it for sending cards and notes via international mail with a Holiday/Christmas theme.

I've been waiting(for years actually) for that 500th birthday of Florida issue. If only I had the money to get enough to last me forever, as a Florida fanatic.


However, am I the only one who likes the element of surprise from the official announcements instead of seeing leaked topic matter? Which is why I don't normally lurk on that other site.

To each their own. Personally, I'd rather know about the whole stamp program for the year than seeing them "leaked" one by one. It was kind of ridiculous (in my opinion) that the USPS took more than week in announcing the Muscle Cars of the 60s and 70s stamps by releasing the illustrations of each separate stamp from that single issue one by one over the course of several days rather than all at once, especially when post offices started hanging up their posters for 2013 new issues which depicted them all before they were formally released on the USPS website.

Sure, I know the USPS marketing people want to drum up interest in the stamp(s) but whether they believe it or not, they are primarily marketing their cause to stamp collectors as most non-collectors don't really care what the next stamp(s) are going to look like.

On the collector side of the fence, I'd rather know the whole program so I can get an idea of the content and the cost it will take to accumulate all of the issues I like (and know which ones to skip because of cost or content.)

The USPS tried to start the concept in 2013 that they would only release the schedule of new issues on a Quarterly basis, with only those who "need to know" or agree to sign a "non-disclosure agreement" that would have access to the entire annual list of new issues planned. That created a double-standard and a very strong sentiment against the USPS, and apparently the policy was later rescinded, as we are now getting announcements about new issues for the entire calendar year of 2013.

There will still be certain "surprises" that come about as time goes along, as there almost always in every stamp collecting year, and collectors can choose to collect what they want, but I still prefer to get an idea of what stamps are coming out well ahead of time.

Already in this calendar year the USPS has announced more than 100 face-different stamps for 2013, which is way too many stamps and I personally question the rationale behind many of them, as a number of them seem rather generic when a number of worthy people, places or things are overlooked as the subject matter for upcoming issues.

The USPS really missed their chance with Jimmy Hoffa. Being that he was born on Feb. 14, 1913 they could have issued a stamp featuring him.

The USPS also forgot one more (actually from yesterday ... February 3, 2013) which marked the Centennial of the 16th Amendment to the US Constitution, namely:



Now wouldn't that be a popular stamp ... (I think not).

Beyond the Perf is now reporting this evening (February 4, 2013) the following (tentative?) dates of issue for recently announced new issues:

"Just Move" - May 2013 - Exact date and location of issue TBD

Civil War 1863 - FDOI May 23, 2013 - Vicksburg, MS 39180

Johnny Cash - FDOI June 6, 2013 - Nashville, TN 37230

A Flag for All Season - FDOI June 14, 2013 (Flag Day) - Washington, DC 20066

I wasn't sure if my view of having a "surprise" would have been a popular view, I was curious how unpopular or popular it is. I just like having something to look forward too and checking the sites every day than knowing all at once and moving on.

The car release issue I agree with. I'd also like a 16th amendment stamp, since I've worked for the IRS. ;)

I'm always quite surprised however at how quickly issues sell out at all the post offices I visit, I doubt they are all enthusiasts or collectors, but I could be wrong.
Either way, I am disappointed in the method for buying stamps now, especially with all the new issues. The 'stores' inside the post offices are closed, which I always enjoyed picking out my stamps from, the machines are gone, and supermarkets, ATM's etc always give the most generic ones. I'm glad I can pick out issues online, however there is a 1 dollar charge, on a 9 dollar purchase.

I don't really subscribe to the theory people don't care what stamp they get, in my experience there are people who like the option. As long as the subject matter isn't too specific(eg flag stamp or 1930's radio star, versus flag stamp or West Virginia for people living in West Virginia).

Stamps in USPS are ok. Well I can't say too much since the USPS is nearly facing bankruptcy and the government is not doing anything. I think its design is really good for a postal service that is under severe problems....

The USPS is being run the same way as our whole country is currently being run... my 2-cents and 'nuff said on THAT topic...