Watermelon Stamp Used Early

According to the USPS, the Summer Harvest stamps will be issued July 11, 2015. Here's what I received in my mail today. It's used almost 2 weeks before the issue date.

It's a big country. The stamps have to be available for retail sale on the issue date. Therefore, they have to be shipped out far earlier than the issue date. For many postmasters, there are so many stamp issues that keeping track of issue dates is not practical, so they don't withhold anything from sale; if it comes in to the office, they sell it. In the 21st century, "issue date" now means "date of ceremony". Consequently, I doubt any collector would place a premium value on an example of early usage like this.

It would be interesting to pick a random future issue, go into a large city office 3-4 weeks before the issue date, and ask to buy those stamps. If they have them in the office, I would think the likelihood of them saying "Sorry, I have them but can't sell them yet, because the issue date is D," would be low to zero.

I find the example interesting because all US post offices are supposed to have POS terminals that will prohibit the sale of stamps before the first day of issue as entered into the system. The fact that the stamps were sold before the date of issue means the postal clerk did not follow established protocol in selling the stamps.

It might be worth emailing that example to Linn's Stamp News, as they occasionally keep tract of early release dates of new issues. Who knows -- maybe that that example could get published there!

A day or two early for a new stamp issue to be released is a rather common occurrence -- two weeks early is rather notable.

I certainly would say so. I'd send it to Linn's

Yes, send it to Linn's and it will probably get included in the census of EKUs. I think it would just be fun to have a cover that is on the list.

Coincidentally, I was at my local post office this morning, when the clerk asked the postmaster for some more booklet stamps and mentioned the new Summer Harvest stamps that were in the safe. The postmaster said that he thought they were available since the first day was July 1. I spoke and said that I thought the first day was July 11. The postmaster said that there was an easy way to see and walked over to a scanner and sure enough, the screen said the stamps were not to go on sale until July 11.

I purchased a booklet on Saturday at local post office. They had forgotten about them until I requested one at about noon.
They got them out of the safe and showed me the bulk of booklets. "July 1" was written on a note rubber banded around the booklets.

You're going to be EKU-Famous !

Neal Montgomery: Saturday was July 11, the day that the stamps went on sale.

Saw in a Linns article today about early Elvis release by two days. At end of article it noted this for submitting early releases covers for documentation.

Address items to Early Uses, Linn's Stamp News Editorial, Box 4129, Sidney, OH 45365.

Glenn, are you the one leaking all the record albums early?

Other than the listing in Linn's Stamp News, does anyone else keep a listing of these pre-dates? Perhaps an online listing?

I don't at all. You've got a nice cover.