The Hardest Working Definitive Stamps

These are the seldom talked about stamps. The low denomination definitive stamps. However they will become the backbone of the postal system following this recent rate change.

The current crop of these stamps are called the American Design Series. The first of these came out in May of 2002 with the issue of the 5 cent American Toleware stamp.

There are 4 different printings of the 1 cent Tiffany Lamp, 2 cent Navajo Necklace, 2 different printings of the 3 cent Silver Coffeepot, 4 cent Chippendale Chair, 5 cent American Toleware and 10 cent American Clock.

That makes 16 different stamps for these 6 different values.

There are tow neat ways to collect these. The first of course is as singles and the second way is when they are used in combination with other stamps to fill the current rate structure.

I'm new at stamps is it illegal to scan stamps?

No, scan away.

mkfarm:

Here are a few to start. The 4c Chair along with an 83c, and the 1c Lamp with a Flag:



The 2c Squash Blossom necklace. I remember when those were a big deal. My older sister got one when I was a kid. Silver and turquoise, I think. She still has it in a box somewhere. I wonder if it's worth anything?



Finally, the 10c Clock with a grouping obviously mailed by another stamp collector

KirkS

You can scan them, but it is illegal to print them out and try
to use them on the mail.

Nice examples KirkS.

I just bought some more stamps for my work and I am sure I'll have to get some 2 cent'ers after the rate change in May, due to our limited use of postage. I just have to laugh that my manager put me in charge of getting stamps, because if anyone else was doing it they would buy Forever stamps. I purchase commemoratives or definites like the Sunflower stamps.

Stamperdude:

The place I worked at from 1998-2006, the boss always gave me the money to purchase 100 stamps for the office mailout (invoices, cheques, etc.) I always purchased commems or the souvenir sheets. I purchased 25 Pierre Trudeau souvenir sheets (4 stamps per sheet) and broke them all up. They all got used, in-period, on commercial mail.

You could always get the 2¢ stamps as obsolete postage froom a local stamp dealer. that would dress-up the mail!

David

We have one of those postage meters where I work

But we do receive mail with stamps on them and I always first dibs

Dianne

Chairs, lamps, necklaces, give me a break! Who else thinks that with all of the rate changes it is time to
issue a Presidential Definitive set. It would be the perfect time because of all of the changes and a
Presidential set is just overdue.

I'm in charge of getting whatever postage we need at work too. Being a restaurant we don't have much outgoing mail, but I mail as much as I can! I always look over the newest issues and whatever catches my eye is what I buy.


Since I manage a Subway sub shop I thought a "healthy" heart would be appropriate!


I copied the stamp image from the USPS website.

Kirk..... that 3cent green Iwo Jima seems to have several places in your collection!

e7sara,
I just picked up a sheet of the heart stamps for work. I also use to be an asst. manager at a Subway prior to my current career. I always think of it as a fallback job.

I don't know if a new presidential series could out do the old series. In any event I like this series because it grow on you and I love the colors used. It should be around for a few more years since they don't changes these every few years.

I don't know if the PO needs or even wants to deal with all that, anymore, especially as SA's. There are even more presidents than there were in 1939, and they no longer have to make up the odd rates at the counter when they can simply print out a label. I recently asked if there was any such thing as a 12 cent stamp in use, and was told no. Had to go with ten's and two's.

Sara, you have a quick eye and a good memory

Actually, it was just a coincidence to get a cover with the Iwo Jima issue. I also notice, this one is imperf at the top. Maybe I need to start one of those collections centered around that stamp. One thing about collecting, there are abundant opportunities to go in new and interesting directions.

See that's just it. There is a need for the odd valued stamps because of all of the rate jumps.
But as stated it is just to easy to slap on a printed meter for the difference.
Many times I would check the weight at the counter on a envelope and always have a
little glassine to make up the difference. But I would have to be quick and stop the clerk from
printing out a meter.
I still would like to see a Presidential set made up, hey look there are still going to be more rate changes coming.