How Do We Get From This...to This...in Less Than A Lifetime!

I suppose this is why people (not entirely unlike myself) tend to prefer collecting only classic-ish stamps. In some countries the cut-off is around 1940 while others seem to keep in good taste until the 1960's.

I wholeheartedly agree. I love to collect stamps because I admire the unmatched skill and labour-intensive intricacies in the design AKA their beauty and design and now I really don't see anything even close to the "classics". I never heard the term "McMansion" before this thread but it certainly fits the bill here around my area, once undeveloped now urban sprawl has encroached. sad.

EDIT: sentence got cut off and grammatical errors. :P

I don't think there is much designing in the design of modern stamps.

Take for example recent Canadian stamps. They are designedby
XYZ Design Co, based on an illustration by Jane Doe, based on
a photo by John Doe and what do you get?
A stamp which has a stock photo with some writing.

A perfect example is this latest garbage.

While I admit many modern postage designs might be lacking you also have to consider the plentiful number of exceptional modern stamps that provide the kind of eye appeal and innovation that was impossible 50 or 100 years ago.

In my opinion, the main problem most stamp collectors have with modern stamps, is the fact that they're, in a sense, not yet historical. Owning a stamp that is 100+ years old, and knowing the intensive process that was required to produce it (still no small feat), is a special thing - you feel a certain connection to the past just holding such an item. With the modern stamp there's none of that appeal - but still as a collector of stamps, I find it an area hard to ignore.

I think of them as a part of the evolution of the postage stamp. Not to mention that with more economical production has come greater variety of issues (wonderful for the topical collector, not to mention the fact that the design of postage stamps are now more democratic than ever, representing topics that interest the people rather than topics that the government would like to indoctrinate you with... those things not necessarily being bad).

I have nothing against the modern postage stamp. Sure there is a lot of crud but crud can also be found throughout the ages. As for myself, I think there is something special about going to the post office, buying some stamps, and saving at least one of each for my collection!

On the other hand, we can now produce "our own" extremely limited edition stamps, which perhaps may have value some day. Here is the OSS club house. Actually fully owned by OSS.

I have to agree with you litho. I posted on another thread my dislike of the Canadian and Australian Wedding stamps and, I think, ruffled a couple of feathers (that could also just be my reading into responses what I was hearing in my head). And while, yes the wedding is an historic event (he is our future king, Canada is still part of the Commonwealth) I don't think historic justifies dull. If anything it calls for a lot more thought and effort put into it.
Technology has made a lot of things easier. It's now easier to throw a stamp design together, without much thought. But I always say of technology, just because we can, doesn't mean we should.

JAMESW - I should look up that thread about the wedding stamps, because I think those shown here are TACKY!

Nells250, there are a couple of threads going. On one I said that I found "Australian stamp too stark in contrast, and the photo cropping quite severe. The Canadian stamp is just, well, boring"
Don't get me wrong, there are some nice royal wedding stamps out there, and lots of nice modern stamps in general. I think mediocrity has just become too commonplace in the stamp world. Let's face it, there's lots of art out there, it's not all Da Vinci (or who ever you like - whom ever?)

I find modern stamps somewhat boring and plain. Usually it's just a photo on a paper, that's all. But,I also got some stamps from 2015 and they are incredibly bright and beautiful.

Anyways, most of the time old stamps looks more interesting, especially under the lens.

One of the things that struck me in my new-found passion for KGVI British and Commonwealth stamps is the beauty of their engraved stamps. Gorgeous! I absolutely hate the USA stamps of today even though I continue to collect them. Old habits die hard.

Jack Kelley

Mestear, when I was in Postcrossing, I got some cards from Ukraine and thought that their stamps were among the most beautiful I'd ever seen. I love the designs, and I thought the printing was excellent, too. But I do agree with you: older stamps are more interesting through a magnifying glass.

jkelley01938, I save recent United States stamps as they come in, but I don't really collect them any more. I will say, though, that last year's Martín Ramírez set might be my favorite United States stamps ever. Not only was he a visionary artist, but the designers could not have done a better job of taking small elements to represent his large-scale works.

I actually enjoy most of the United States stamps from the last few years. There are just too many of them, and I have no patience with the phony "varieties" that are made for collectors and speculators.

PekingDuckDog, thanks.)
We indeed have some good quality stamps, but to be honest I rarely see them, although I visit post office quite often. Do you have those particular stamps you were talking about? Would like to see them.

I remembered some stamps from my collection, there are not to many from Ukraine, but still:

year 2015 as you can see upon closer inspection.

Also this sheet from year 1999, not that old