Why No Press Sheets For March On Washington?

USPS clearly has invented a huge cash cow in issuing press sheets without diecut. In this context, it's surprising to find that the only new stamp issue in the Q3 catalogue that does not include press sheets at all is the March On Washington. Any particular reason? Why would USPS give up the opportunity of raking in a large amount of cash from gullible collectors like me?

I think the quick answer is we still have to wait and see until the USPS formally releases the design and details for the issue. The USA Philatelic Catalog is known to have several omissions, much as their website does.

For example, the USA Philatelic Catalog gives information about the 2013 Eid Stamp without any Press Sheet offerings, yet the Postal Bulletin released this past week offers details that INCLUDES a Press Sheet offering (without die cut only).

Similarly, page 38 of USA Philatelic indicates a printing of the 1-cent Bobcat Stamp in a WAG Coil of 10K. Word has it that philatelic purchasers will be allowed to obtain strips of 25 of them so they need not buy 10K stamps for a collection. However, the USPS has not released the order number for that item as of this date.

I guess one has to understand that the USA Philatelic Catalog is produced many weeks before these details are finalized and collectors have to obtain subsequent information through the USPS website or through the Postal Bulletin as the details are announced.

I agree it makes life difficult for the collector, but as I understand it the USPS stamp issue program is very much in disarray this year which has resulted in poor release of stamp details much more than usual.

Thanks for providing the info on the Bobcat issue. It annoys me to no end whenever a coil stamp is being issued only in the 10K coil format, which forces me to turn to places like Mystic to get it at an hugely inflated price. There is no reason why USPS could not offer all coil stamps in strips of 5 or 25 for collectors.

A recent ebay store and now snipping up coils into manageable quantities. Looks like the USPS is trying to cut out the middleman where people make profit on reselling US postage stamps.

I understand the latest issue of Linn's Stamp News is now reporting that the WAG (water activated gum) large size coils of up to 10K will be available for collectors, but you must now buy a minimum of 100 stamps -- at least for stamps with a denomination below 10-cents. For the upcoming WAG 10K 1-cent Bobcat Stamp, the SFS order number will be 789205. Fortunately in this case it's only a $1 cost, but after you take out the PNC's, I guess you'll still have a lot of 1-cent stamps to use up along with old postage.

"There is no reason why USPS could not offer all coil stamps in strips of 5 or 25 for collectors". There is a reason - it costs them money to break the large rolls you p and package them into smaller pieces.

"but after you take out the PNC's" Why plural? Sure there will be more than one PNC in a strip of 100, but if everyone saves them all, there will be a massive oversupply and they will only be saving additional discount postage.

Just as a means to update this thread, there will indeed be Press Sheets available for the March on Washington Stamp -- both with and without die cuts varieities -- at $92.00 each, the item numbers for which are noted at this link (Item 471706 "with die cuts"; Item 471708 "without die cuts"):

https://about.usps.com/postal-bulle...info_008.htm

These press sheets haven't yet shown up on the USPS website for ordering.

True. Only the stamps (without a revealed design) is shown on the USPS website for ordering. No Press Sheets are shown, neither are First Day Covers or any other philatelic products. They are, however, available for pre-order by calling the USPS Stamp Fulfillment Services. (The item numbers for the available products are all laid out on the previously posted Postal Bulletin announcement for the stamp.)

It would seem it all has to do with the quirky way the USPS is revealing the design for the stamp (via Facebook). I just wonder if that exercise is going to cost the USPS potential sales in terms of reduced ordering of the stamps and related philatelic items because they don't show up as being listed on the USPS website.