USPS Issues An Insane Amount Of Stamps In 2012

So, I finally got around to reading last Mondays Linn's Stamp News.

According to a front page article the USPS has issued WAY more stamps in 2012, than it has in any previous years.

80 commemorative stamps were issued in 2012.

80 definitive stamps were issued in 2012, compared to 27 in 2011, and 10 in 2010. That number is insane!

And these number DO NOT include imperf varieties!

I agree. But you have to remember that the USPS (intentionally) has issued several definitive stamps with multiple designs to boost sales (to collectors). Definitives such as the Birds of Prey and Dogs at Work stamps are prime examples.

In fact, when you consider that the Forever Four Flags and Postcard Rate Aloha Shirts stamps were issued not only in multiple designs, but in multiple formats (i.e. coil, booklet, convertible booklet, and in the case of the Four Flags, ATM booklets), they create multiple varieties of the same stamp with very subtle differences -- which may be ignored by the general public -- but it makes them desirable to collectors.

On the one hand, I sympathize with the MNH collectors - the cost of the stamps, mounts and gas to the P.O., etc. adds up. On the other hand, as a strictly used stamp collector, with a fetish for filling spots, I'm not terribly bothered by the volume. Just more hunting to fill all the spots. Still, on the third hand, I will probably be annoyed by empty spots for awhile (particularly if the album supplements include spaces for the imperfs).

I think having even 10 definitives is pushing it. One first class, one 2 ounce, and one global forever should cover it. Perhaps a priority mail and express mail stamp.

And what is the point to "air mail" these days? Do they even designate mail as air mail any more and put in a plane for faster delivery?

In my perfect world, all definitives would be self adhesive, available in coil, booklet and sheet.

All commemoratives would be perforated, water activated gum stamps. A lot of the commemorative stamps could be made into souvenir sheets instead of full on stamp issues.

In the post offices around me, unless you ask for a commemorative specifically, you will only be shown the forever flags stamps. The phrase "I need stamps" is never followed up with the questions "Which ones would you like?"

Jay Bigalky mentioned in his Linn's article that there were 188 varieties of stamps and stationairy issued in 2012! And that is ridiculous; that is more than one item every two days! And what burns me up is that you can not get them at the Post Office. I would love to use the Wave dollar stamps on my APS and AHPS circuits, but no post office in my area has them!

Peter

Remember the count of stationery items is due to the ridiculous number of varieties of stamped envelopes the USPS comes out with. You can get the small 6-3/4" size, or the #9 envelope or #10 envelope, each with or without windows, and each of those varieties are available with WAG or PSA -- that's a total of 12 varieties for what most people view as simply one stamped envelope! And wouldn't you know that the design size on the WAG and PSA varieties are slightly different, so Scott references two catalog numbers, but doesn't differentiate the various sizes of the stamped envelopes that are available.

And that doesn't even begin to address the stamped cards (formerly postal card) varieties and formats and the "premium" stamped cards the USPS comes out with primarily to lure collectors into purchasing more of their products.

That is ridiculous, especially nowadays when stamps are hardly
used at all.
I remember when everybody was complaining about all those east block communist countries issuing tons of stamps.
Is the USPS any better?

All this translates into new comer kid nextt to block even can not start collecting stamps any more. Ifrom '74-'98 I used to buy sheets,strips,Blocks,booklets,SVs most of all in multiple.

Having maily four countries to collect now I had to curtail down to single year pack,sinlges and maximum one block, rest I abandon can not afford.Buying four countries and than some used and some other countries.

I am talking I am collector not dealer so even surplus I try to sell. This is not of one country phenomena many countries have adopted Sanddune type of Issues coming out left and right.And it is joke to promote kids to be Interested into Stamps Collecting. Just my opinion.

tikithindi

And this is why 2012 is my cutoff. I'm moving on to Ireland.

I'm glad I gave up in the 1970's, although I do collect the express and priority stamps.

That may be the way to go.

At least with Express and Priority Mail stamps you don't have to worry about press sheets (not yet, anyway)!

Hurray! A thread that's telling the truth about the Post Office. I stopped my collection in 1987. And I still see no reason to extend it. That year they ruined Plate Block collecting. They've been operating on an unlimited budget for 30 years and I refuse to support their habit. 188 varieties this year? Wait until we see the photos of the unsold stamps again! They're on the same printing binge as the Fed.

Mail delivery is in a bad place. The other major shipping companies (Fedex, UPS and others) want nothing to do with door to door mail delivery and pickup. And the Federal Government is addicted to the 70 year pre-payment the USPS has made to health insurance and pension.

And they can't be spun off as a private company, because the US would have to REFUND the 70 years of prepayments the USPS has made.

Admittedly, they have made some really bad calls when it comes to things, but they're this deep in the hold for a number of reasons.

And you wonder why I stopped collecting U.S. stamps after 1993? There simply is no reason to have this many stamps, it's done specifically to screw collectors.

Screw the USPS.

Got my Minuteman supplement for 2012. It provides spaces for 165 stamps (does not include airmail C149 & 50 pending release of more issues to fill a page).

I was able to fill 91 spots with the stamps I saved over the year from my own mail. I'll probably get some of the later issued stamps still, I hope. I got no poet stamps yet.

Got my first 2013 stamp on mail earlier this week, so the cycle continues.

Did the Minuteman supplement have spaces for the imperfs?