Round $1.10 Global Forever Stamp Unveiled

HAPPY HOLYDAYS.

Here's an interesting graphic of the DCP (Digital Color Postmark) and partial view of the pane of stamps for the $1.10 Global Forever Stamp issue. If this illustration is accurate, it would appear that the stamps are simply die cut in the shape of the stamp (round).



I wonder if there is to be any way of separating these stamps if one chooses to purchase less than a full pane of 20 stamps or wishes to just buy one or two for a mail piece at a local post office?

It seems to me that the stamps would almost have to be cut apart, as this illustration suggests the die cuts are awfully close to each other to be able to tear them apart without damage.

I guess "plate block" collectors will have a similar problem in acquiring a "plate block" of round stamps, especially if there are going to be plate numbers in multiple corners as suggested by this illustration.

I send, from the US, a fair amount of mail to Canada, and a lesser amount to other countries, primarily in Europe/Scandanavia. Almost all of it is under one ounce. Thus, the new rate for Canada is nearly a 30% increase (from .85 to $1.10), and Europe et al. only about 5% (from $1.05). Oh well, at least I won't need to stock different value stamps. I suppose I could protest and add an ounce of waste paper to all my Canada mail.

From what I saw online today it's still 85 cents and $1.10 stamp is two ounces to Canada.

Hmmm... Can you post a link to that? The new rate spreadsheets on the USPS website (effective 1/27/13) say $1.10 for first ounce to Canada (with no extra for 2nd ounce). https://www.usps.com/new-prices.htm .

Just in case anyone is allergic to round stamps, just purchase an imperf press sheet and cut square stamps from it! :)

Oh, the rates start on the 27th. I could be mistaken then.. I thought they started yesterday.
I just used the postage calculator on usps.com and that's why I still got 85 cents, I guess.

Edit: Yuppp.. last response on the first page of this thread. I'm wrong. Guess that's what happens when I don't read

Well, don't feel bad. The clerks at my P.O. didn't know when I asked a few days ago, and it's not exactly easy to decipher from the USPS website either.

For those of you who may not have yet acquired the new Global Forever Stamp, I picked up a plate block at my local post office today:



As I looked closer at the way the stamps separated from the pane, I found it rather interesting that in addition to the round die cuts on the face of the stamps, the backing paper is scored in a rather interesting way to allow for a single or block of stamps to be detached from a pane:



On all four sides of the stamps, they are scored on the reverse in squares with five (5) 1 mm perforations, then a full 15mm long perforation followed by another five (5) 1 mm perforations. Seems to be a rather unique way of scoring the stamps for separation, as I don't recall it ever having been done that way before.

Today I prepared three company covers with corner card to go to Taiwan this week having this stamp. I had to call three post offices to find the stamps. My coworker is going to visit his family and will bring them back. Along with a few covers with the no die cut year of the snake they might be neat postal history years from now.

I was expecting them to be perfectly round, but I see they decided these have to have the wavy "perforations" all around.