2015 USPS Issues... News? Thoughts? Opinions?

I'm not a fan of the sheet pictured in Linn's, either, but the USPS is supposedly going to release another issue on or about the time of the actual show next year. I'm sure it will be a sheet of high face value stamps that don't serve a real postal need.

I just hope the stamps issued for the actual event will be a lot better. Probably we will see some reprise of a classic US design, my guess is we may see a reissue of the Panama-Pacific stamps of 1914-5- may seem odd for a NYC show but it's been a hundred years...

The Panama-Pacific ship probably has sailed. The 1915 exposition was in San Francisco, where one original building remains, from February to December. In the past several months there have been numerous public events in SF to commemorate it, and that would have been the time for the USPS to do a new issue. They could have done it at Westpex last week. 2016 will be too late.

The big show is in NYC, maybe something like the White Plains sheet?

Whatever it is, I'll be surprised if they're letter-rate stamps and if they have a total face value much less than $10. If they're going to reissue classic high-values, maybe from the 1901 series? I guess we'll just have to wait and see. I'd like to see them do something with the 1851 designs myself.

Info on the rate change stamps is starting to leak out (finally)
(34c) post card - Coastal Birds (4 designs)
(22c) additional ounce - Pengiuns
(71c) Butterfly - Eastern Swallowtail
(71c) 2 ounce Tulip (same design as 70c)
(71c) 2 ounce Wedding Cake (same design)

Did you mean 35-cents for the postcard rate?

While I applaud the new designation of "forever" second oz., third oz. and postcard rate stamps, I can see the designations are going to confuse the general public. If one finds a stamp in a drawer, many will just apply it to an envelope without regard to noticing if the "rate" indicator is for first class, postcard, second oz., etc. The USPS is going to have to "train" the public in the proper use of the non denominated stamps. I would have thought it better that the USPS use a special logo on the stamp to indicate the rate (maybe a square for postcard rate, a circle for second oz., a triangle for third oz., etc., so that it could graphically be understood by those unfamiliar with the rate designations.)

As for the additional oz. stamp, I wonder if the USPS is going to eventually continue the classic images of Patriotic Americans as in Washington (20c), Lincoln (21c), etc.? Maybe Franklin (22c) would be next?

yes, I meant 35c

I have noticed the last 3 USPS Postal Bulletins do not contain the usual periodic announcement of new stamps and postal stationery items being issued during the calendar year. With all the changes coming
in a couple weeks it would seem there would be some activity. Maybe we should suggest they subscribe to Linn's Stamp news or http://www.virtualstampclub.com so their employees know what is being issued.

The news releases (or lack thereof) for new issues right now may be because of the change in staffing at the USPS. Both the Chief Marketing and Sales Officer (Nagisa Manabe) and Acting Executive Director for Stamp Services (Cindy Tackett) are or have left or retired in the month of May, meaning that new people being brought on board in those positions have a learning curve to go through in terms of releasing information to the public (and to collectors) in a timely fashion about new issues.

I know that there will have to be an array of "second half of 2015" stamp issues to be announced soon -- in addition to the rate change stamps -- most noticeably missing is the Music Icons series stamp announcements, although I understand that many stamps depicting people are being delayed because of all of the legalities one must go through with getting the proper sign offs from family and/or rights holders in order to use images of famous personalities.

What is the purpose of "Forever" and then they cancelled it, i'm new to it so sorry if its already asked before.

The original 'forever' designation was for the current domestic first ounce first class rate. If the rates increase (or decrease) that stamp will be valid for domestic mail in the issue year or subsequent years. Use of the stamp is valid for franking no matter the first class rate without additional postage required, regardless of the issue price per unit. If you purchased a stamp when first class rates were $0.45 per ounce but still had that stamp today it is still valid for postage (now $0.49) without additional postage required. The forever stamp was instituted to eliminate the rush for low denomination stamps to make up the differences in the old to new rate when rates increased. Today, only the purchase price changes at point of sale (post office) to reflect the current rate for carry over designs which are forever status. Once in the users possession, they are valid for postage at the current rate.

Just received a strip of Ferns Forever. (Actually 25 of the 3K & 25 of the 10K) The May Linns Monthly showed Scott assigned cat#s 4973 - 4977 to the 10K (dtd 2014). However, there appears to be no assignment of a catalog # for the 3K coil, dtd 2015. Both issues have micro printing, which is different from the 2014 Forever issue. Scott has assigned 4978 to the 'From Me To You' issue so I'm wondering if in the June Linn's a catalog # will be assigned?? The 3K issue is definitely a major variety given the date of 2015. The date of 2015 would allow collectors of used to differentiate the 3K from the 10K (and the micro printing the overall reissue in March 2015). Am I jumping the gun on this as far as cataloging, or was Scott unaware of the dating difference when assigning the Cat#s??

Scott is certainly aware of the dating difference in the Ferns coils, as documented in this Linn's Stamp News article. As far as assigning catalog numbers, I suspect it will be announced in the next month or so, as soon as the publishers get around to deciding where it best fits in the numbering sequence:

http://www.linns.com/news/breaking-...ke-the-other