Made In America ~ Building A Nation Stamps

Long time lurker but first time posting.

I had just looked at the latest USA Philatelic catalog and noticed the new Made in America ~ Building a Nation Stamps. They will be issued on panes of 12 stamps but there will be five different panes with five different selvage photos. With a print quantity of 30 million, this would equate to 2.5 million panes but including 5 different selvage designs. This would equate to 500,000 panes of each design.

Also, there looks to be press sheets without die cuts issued with each of the five designs on them at a print quantity of 2500. That would appear to make it look like a total of only 12,500 of each imperf stamp.

Am I reading this wrong or is this an extremely small print quantity for a US stamp?

You are essentially correct, but the Press Sheets are available both with and without die cuts so 2500 of each type of Press Sheet will be available.

The 12 face-different stamps themselves will not change no matter what appears on the selvage on each pane. So the seemingly low print quantity really doesn't mean all that much, as the catalogs rarely value selvage; only the stamps themselves.

Further, the USPS has recently been under scrutiny for over-printing stamps. In recent issues they have intentionally printed lower quantities and if the stamp proves popular, reprints are subsequently ordered.

We already have the Muscle Cars stamps reported elsewhere today that had an initial print run of 35 million and two subsequent reprints of 30 million each, for a total of 95 million stamps to date.

There have also been reports that the recently issued New England Coastal Lighthouse Stamps are scheduled for a reprint above their initial 81 million printing, to meet anticipated future demand.

As long as the USPS can sell its wares, they will be first on the bandwagon to provide consumers and collectors with as many stamps as the market will bear.

By the way, the Made in America Stamps are now available for pre-order on the USPS Store webpage:

https://store.usps.com/store/browse...5cFirstClass

That's all correct. Just like for the Modern Art in America issue I expect the uncut press sheet without die cuts to sell out before the official release date.

"Just like for the Modern Art in America issue I expect the uncut press sheet without die cuts to sell out before the official release date.
"


That's exactly what I was thinking. I wonder how likely would it be that the USPS makes a reprint if this issue's imperf press sheets if it sells out?

They won't...

checked out the link to the new Made in America stamps and only the press sheet with die cuts is listed. I wonder if the imperf already sold out?

It is still available: https://store.usps.com/store/browse...tId=S_471508

Not listed at the USPS web site anymore. However, just got off the phone with Stamp Fulfillment Services and it's still available.

It is always interesting to note that millions are spent every year on new issues by ever hopeful collectors.

Here's another listing for the Made in America Press Sheets (with die cuts) that is now noted as "discontinued". Does "discontinued" mean "sold out"? The USPS should refer to a dictionary that explains the meanings of such terms, as it seems to me it would be impossible that something that hasn't even been issued yet can be designated "discontinued":

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

[EDIT UPDATE]: Something's amiss on the USPS Store's website. EVERY ITEM relating to the "Made in America - Building a Nation" is now referred to as "discontinued", including first day covers, single panes, ceremony program, etc. They must either be in the process of updating their web page or else someone's asleep at the switch.

I was just told by the Stamp Fulfillment Services that the Made in America ~ Building a Nation Stamps press sheets without die cuts is now SOLD OUT.

I can't understand it, but I was informed that the USPS Store's software for philatelic products always shows stamps as being "discontinued" two days before issue. The situation is that you can no longer "pre-order" them as they will be processed after the official first day of issue and likewise you cannot "order" them as the first day of issue has not yet arrived.

Seems confusing and poorly executed software that should easily be rectified, but I guess the USPS is not concerned about customer service so that's the way it is. On-line ordering for this issue should be back to normal (in theory anyway) by tomorrow.

I do know that the next time I need to buy stamps, I am ordering a crap load of blocks of four. One for my album and 3 for the mail.

web site of USPS as of this am (8-7-13 6am est) does not show the press sheet without die cuts at all. other items are shown but marked unavailable - die cut press sheet, single panes. I placed an order for 1 press sheet with die cuts and 15 panes of 12. When I went to checkout it refused to fill the order. Other items such as EID, also on sale as of 8/8/13 can be purchased. Made in America also goes on sale 8/8/13 but only made in America is blocked from ordering.

Looks like all the "Made in America - Building a Nation" first day covers, single panes, ceremony program, etc. are listed as "In Stock". So I guess the USPS fixed the problem. However, the press sheets without die cuts are still listed as "not available".

On a side note, I noticed that the EID press sheets without die cuts are now listed as "not available" so I guess they are sold out too!

For what it's worth, I have given up on using the USPS Store's website for any ordering. I always phone my orders in which makes life much easier, especially since many of the philatelic offerings (i.e. strips of 25 of 10K coils) rarely show up on the website anyway.

It has been suggested that although the USPS Store's website leaves a lot to be desired, the new USPS ebay website may be a bit more user friendly toward collectors. Has anyone tried that?