USPS First Look - Ferns

The latest issue of Linn's is also quoting USPS the Ferns will be issued in Forever format later this year.

USPS has just updated the 49 Cent Ferns stamp.
http://about.usps.com/postal-bullet...info_008.htm

Acanalizo: Did you notice the error in the USPS Postal Bulletin? Both varieties of the Ferns stamps are both referenced to be "Forever" stamps. That hasn't happened (yet). They're currently denominated at 49-cents, so the Postal Bulletin is in error on that point.

Thanks for pointing that out to me(last fern USPS update)- I missed the error. Yesterday I receive my 2 types of Ferns and 2 types of Star Spangled Banner coils. Will look them over closely later today. The colors on the Star Spangled Banner coils are a lot more matted (dull) than the released image. They seem to be doing this lately - showing stamps with beautiful vibrant colors but delivering dull color stamps.

It's also worth pointing out that the 3K Ferns Coil has listed a print run of a lowly 4 million stamps. I can't quite figure that out (unless it's another error) as 4 million divided by 3000 comes out to 1333.33 coil rolls. The math doesn't quite work out.

Compare it to last years' Kaleidoscope Denominated stamps and that 3K Coil had a print run of 45 million stamps (15,000 coil rolls). That's a big difference. Do you suppose that number could be an error, too?

Micro close-ups of some of the Ferns:

Wow, they're quite beautiful! My Great Grandmother used to grow ferns for people s they have sentimental value I guess? Apparently they're hard to grow or get started or breed or whatever but she loved it. I'm intrigued why they chose ferns? This is one new issue I will almost certainly get, even the coils!

Growing ferns is not that difficult:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4tYTz7ONMXU

"This is one new issue I will almost certainly get, even the coils!"

Well they are only being issued in coils.

The 3K Ferns is on top of the 10K below.
Note the top strip of 3K Ferns, the USA 40, date 2014 and fern name type has slightly more font points or heavier print than the 10K ferns below. Both have 5 digit back numbers. In this case the 3K
back # is 00680 and the 10K back # is 06460. Both printed by CCL Label,Inc on Gravure.

How can I find the back numbers on these?

Thank you,

Jackie

See counting back numbers below of the 2 types of Ferns

Given that the backnumbers of both versions are five digits, it would seem that we no longer can count on the backnumbers to help separate the 3K and 10K versions of the stamp. In fact, there is little to no reliable way to identify a 3K v. 10K single that may happen to be applied to first class mail, unless one is adept at identifying a slightly bolder font as suggested by Acanalizo.

I don't know why the USPS does that...but then again, if the Scott Catalog doesn't identify any difference between the two varieties, I guess it's of little concern to most collectors.

ACANALIZO, thank you.

Jackie

The back counting numbers on the 3K appears on every 10th stamp so there are 300 possible back numbers on each roll - #'s 00010 to 0003000. I purchased 4 strips of 25 of the 10K for the CPN/5s and did not think about observing the back numbers until after I distributed the remaining 15 sets w/o CPNs to our stamp club members. However each of the CPN/5 I retained has back numbers: 06460; 06490; 06520; 06550 so it looks like the 10K also has a back count number on every 10th stamp as the 3K. If this is so, the back numbers would be 00010-10000 which would mean 1000 possible back count numbers.