2013 USPS Holiday Issues

It seems we now have some of the images for the upcoming 2013 US Holiday Issues:

For those who want to include Eid, this stamp has already been issued for 2013:



The USPS has previously announced (with images in a previous issue of USA Philatelic) the Christmas issues for 2013:



In addition, the Postal Bulletin is suggesting there will be a reprinted version of the Holy Family Stamp (similar to that issued in 2012, but in a pane of 20 format, as opposed to a booklet of 20).

Also, a Holiday Wreath design is planned for the Global Forever Stamp for international destinations:



And the anticipated Gingerbread Houses is certainly going to be a popular issue:



A new Hanukkah stamp:



A new Kwanzaa stamp:



And finally (for bulk mailers) a Presorted Standard Coil of five (5) different designs featuring snowflakes:



It is going to be an interesting 2013 Holiday Season (philatelically speaking) as the sheer number of new Holiday Stamps shown is unprecedented.

Further evidence that it is a good time to be a classic-era collector.

Though as a user of the postal system, I think the variety is fine, and I don't hate at least a couple of the designs.

The gingerbread houses reminds me of the nice Canadian gingerbread issues from 2012.

I have to say, those snowflake stamps are beautiful!

A Christmas Cactus in bloom would be an awesome subject for a contemporary seasonal stamp. I like the Poinsettia.

I like the Poinsettia also, but the "stamp" looks more like a sticker!

Peter

Hasn't the cactus been used in the past? Anyway, the only ones I think are kinda bland are the EID, kawanza, and Hanuka.

The Poinsettia is a good one, and a nice holiday addition to floral collection. I really like the wreath, but price may keep me away from that one. Ya gotta have Mary and Jesus, its a must have. The ginger bread houses are a favorite for sure, cuz I like holiday treats and would wish that if you rubbed the stamp that it would smell like ginger bread houses.

Yummy Gingerbread Houses and the colors are great!
I also think that the snowflakes are cool, especially for people who don't get snow where they live!

Today, USPS Facebook has posted more detailed images of the Poinsettia Plant and Madonna and Child Christmas Issues, as shown below:

Here's an interesting comparison. Early on in 2013 the Poinsettia Plant Stamp was proposed to look like the left image -- it's been changed to more accurately reflect the right image. Notice the differences!

I very much prefer the second less pink and lighter image of the Madonna and Child stamp. The second image of the Poinsettia stamp is an improvement over the first image. Very attractive stamps

Beyond the Perf has posted today that the Poinsettia Stamp will be issued October 10, 2013 in New York, NY; the Madonna and Child Stamp will be issued a day later on October 11, 2013, also in New York, NY:

http://beyondtheperf.com/schedule

I think I may have just figured out why there are two different images of the Poinsettia Stamp. It would seem the size of the stamp is different on the CB20 versus the ATM18 booklets. Here are the stamp images (taken from the USPS shopping website where you can now pre-order the stamps) and I have noted at the top of each image the dimensions of each as announced in the Postal Bulletin ... so it looks as if we're definitely going to have two varieties of these stamps ... at least the image size and artwork will make them easy to identify!

I like both the snowflakes and the round global forever stamps but I'll only use them for postage most likely.

The poinsettia is really cliche and "blah" in my opinion.

I apologize in advance if any of our Muslim friends take offense - none is meant, I assure you - but does anybody else look at this year's EID stamp and think the USPS is hoping folks who aren't too attentive will think this is just another Christmas stamp showing a Christmas tree? I doub't this was the original concept, but I can't help but think that the color selection might have had this thought cross their minds...

I am new to the forum. I have my original brand new never used sheet of gingerbread stamps with one row of stamps perforated incorrectly , cutting a row pretty much in half. Could you give me an idea of what I could list them for? any thoughts will help. thank you