2024 US Stamp Designs Announced

(I did a search and I don't think anyone's started this yet this year)

PRICE CHANGES https://faq.usps.com/s/article/2024...Price-Change

https://about.usps.com/newsroom/nat...for-2024.htm

https://about.usps.com/newsroom/nat...for-2024.htm

https://www.linns.com/news/us-stamp...l-adams-more

https://www.linns.com/news/us-stamp...tamp-program

I PERSONALLY LIKE SO FAR:



... hummingbirds, horses, autumn, cosmic

I have several favs and so have to plan spending a few hundred on USPS stamps this year:

Hubble images for the Priority Mail and Priority Mail Express Stamps. I estimate to get two panes this will cost combined - $162

I really like the artwork done for the portrait of Constance B Motley, so will get a pane. 13.60

Ansel Adams pane is a definitive yes. If a pane less than 20 I figure about 12

Dragon Lunar New Year as it is a goal to complete the collection. 13.60

I like much the low denomination flower stamps so will get panes and coils. For about 20

Definite on Underground Railroad sheet. Maybe two to have an extra for postage. Again if Pane of 10 then 7.80 or 20 13.60

First Continental Congress 1774 as I like such historic stamps eihr get a row with plate numbers or a pane. 13.60

Autumn Colors looks beautiful so another to get.13.60

And to complete the series will get the $1 Floral Geometry in a pane. The panes look much better live than the photos. 10

About $282. Throw in $50 for a for FDCs and single stamps if I find a few other designs nice enough to get one or a row. Sheesh $335 about!

But definitely spending less than in 2024 than 2023, I got a little carried away getting the Endangered Series set with proofs another set featuring the transition from Elizabeth to Charles and a few world stamps that though I enjoy I know I could have done without.

Chris s: When you ordered from the USPS in 2023, did your stamp sheets arrive sealed or unsealed? I placed an order in June 2023 via the USPS Store website for 8 sheets (issued between Jan-May of 2023) that were sent in a poly mailer and all were sealed. I then placed two additional orders in 2023 for 2 sheets each that were ordered shortly after their release date and they were shipped in a paper envelope with cardboard protection but arrived unsealed. I prefer sealed sheets and was wondering if there is any rhyme or reason on how or why one receives sealed vs unsealed sheets when ordering from USPS? Some sheets that are dark in color show fingerprints easily from handling and would prefer if they were sealed.

I find most of the time they send them in plastic sealers which I too prefer. However to my annoyance I do get them sent not in the plastic sealers in the way you described.

Seems typical this uneven quality of service --- I went to a post office in Manhattan in the Village and the clerk complained that she didn't want to get any change because her boss has the clerks exchange change for coins with THEIR OWN MONEY. She said the post office is not a bank. I didn't say anything but thought to myself that their boss is a lazy ass and if I worked there I would report him/her. Also funny is it was found I was short about 21 cent for an international postcard and she had NO additional ounce (24 cent) stamps but had 40 cent ones. Probably a post office that I will now avoid unless I have to go there (it is a shame they are one of the few places I know I can buy rolls of coil stamps).

Do USPS post offices sell sheets sealed or unsealed?

unsealed

I've found that if I pre-order, or order close to the issue date, the stamps are more likely to arrive unwrapped.

Last year, I pre-ordered some Endangered Species panes. They arrived without wrapping and some were damaged around the edges. I returned the damaged panes for for replacement, and the replacements also were not wrapped and were more damaged than those I returned. So I returned them a second time with a note requesting wrapped replacements, which I eventually received.

Sealed or unsealed, if there is discernable damage to the stamps, you can return them to USPS. While they won't refund your money, they will replace the damaged stamps.

Beginner question: Did the USPS stop selling blocks and half sheets of stamps? I don't see that option in their catalog. When I have purchased modern stamps on eBay of issues that were released 15-20 years ago, some were blocks and half sheets in USPS wrapping. Considering the cost of a full sheet these days and the number of issues, maybe they should re-consider selling them. I realize for a se-tenant issue one has to purchase the full sheet to appreciate it, but for an issue where it's the same image on all 20 stamps, maybe a block might satisfy a lot of people, considering the cost of a sheet these days.

Selling full panes greatly reduces inventory control by eliminating all those unsold broken sheets. It also eliminates the labor needed to produce them as well as reducing the overall labor required by the whole store process itself.

Uboatnut: Where would you recommend buying genuine (not counterfeit) blocks of USPS new releases?

Try your local post office first. It is up to the clerk whether or not to split up full panes of 20. They are more likely to agree to blocks than singles. High value stamps like Priority and Express Mail are issued in panes of 4 by default, so you can get them locally or from the USPS store online.

Just saw that the price if stamps is going up AGAIN tomorrow!! That makes the cost of collecting higher yet again...

https://ots.nbcwpshield.com/news/na...ain/9228527/

Thanks for reminding me. I need to add a 2-cent stamp on a bill I had already prepared to mail.

if you're using a FOREVER' issue no need to add postage!!!!!!!!

,<<<<< Just saw that the price if stamps is going up AGAIN tomorrow!! That makes the cost of collecting higher yet again.. >>>>>

Nells, don.t fret too long! Another increase is scheduled for this june or july!


Peter