2014 USPS Issues... News? Thoughts? Opinions?

"It still shows the 2011 date"

But do they really still show the 2011 year date, or is this just a case of using an old image they had on hand?

I understand the "Holiday Baubles" stamp has been established to just be a 2014 introduction of the same old stamp that has been available in the past ... no new date, just an effort to move old inventory, or so it would seem.

Likewise, the USPS Store's website is making available again the Santa and His Reindeer Stamp Booklet from 2012, again presumably to move old inventory.

At least the Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer Stamps are now available for pre-order on the USPS Website:



https://store.usps.com/store/browse...d=buy-stamps

However, the 2014 Rudolph issue raises more questions than it answers, as the stamp link above suggests a November 5, 2014 first day of issue, but all of the ancillary products, including Press Sheets and First Day Covers show a November 6, 2014 first day of issue in Washington, DC.

The USPS likes to keep us collectors confused, I guess.

We may be seeing more of these types of stamps showing up again and again - "FOREVER". But it would be nice if USPS clarified what they are doing when they are doing.

Could this be an indication how the 2014 Rudolph Souvenir sheetlet be be designed but on a smaller scale??

The latest information on another website (VSC) suggests that as of October 10, 2014 there was a report that there will not be a Rudolph souvenir sheet after all "due to production and time constraints."

...rest assured, it will come next year!

The Postal Bulletin for 10/16/2014 is referencing a previously unannounced Winter Fun Stamp Booklet in ATM18 format designed for use automated postal units. The stamp booklet will be issued October 23, 2014 and will be assigned stock number 588600.

Checkout second bullet point under "NEW DESIGNS" at this link:

http://about.usps.com/postal-bullet...info_009.htm

wt1 ... thanks for catching the Winter Fun ATM booklet. I missed it when I perused the bulletin.

Linn's Stamp News is reporting that the USPS Stamp Fulfillment Services is "sold out" of the 2014-dated Poinsettia Booklets, however, there were 7.94 million booklets provided to American Bank Note Co., who supplies up to 62,000 retail outlets with stamp booklets typically sold to consumers at face value.

So this appears to be one time when the post office can't supply collectors with the 2014-dated Poinsettia Booklet variety; you'll have to search them out at retail business locations during the upcoming Holiday Season.

http://linns.com/news/us-stamps/918...ld-have-more

I had a need to call the Fulfillment Center 10/9 and the Service Rep had mentioned that the new POINSETTIA issue was indeed out of stock and I was lucky to get one.. (that was after I received the booklet & separated the label block for my collection, rather than keep the booklet whole. Total booklet might become a hard to find (unless there is a hoarder).

The specifications for the Winter Fun ATM18 booklet is documented in the Linn's Stamp News article posted below. It seems 36 million of them will be printed by Ashton Potter (APU) and the stamps will be slightly smaller than the CB20 variety:

http://linns.com/news/breaking-stam...rever-stamps

Does USPS really mean 36 million Winter Fun ATM stamps as they state in their specs, if so does that mean only 9 million ATM booklets?
CORRECTION 2 million booklets! That seems to be a low quantity assuming many booklets will be used for the holidays.

I have no USPS statement to base this on, but if you read the Linn's article it suggests 36 million STAMPS, that reads to me that the print quantity would be 2 million ATM18 panes. (i.e. 36 million stamps / 18 stamps per pane = 2 million panes).

Tried to preorder the Winter Fun ATM booklet from SFS via phone. No go ... the order number was not recognized. Will wait another week & try again. I suppose there is the possibility that I might have to search out an APU.

Winter Fun ATM18 Item No. 588600. Published in the 10/16/2014 Postal Bulletin (page 54). It's going to be issued on 10/23/2014 so it can't be too long before SFS has to recognize the item number!