2024 US Stamp Designs Announced

Well, I guess if the stamps I buy go up 5% in value in 6 months, and I can resell it (somehow) for the new "face value". That would be a better investment than everything else I know.

Torin: regarding the USPS selling blocks... I believe that if the Philatelic catalog notes a 'full pane' you must purchase the full pane. (local post office might be able to sell that issue in block) If the notation is 'pane' you can purchase a block of 4. (if you want a plate block you must note in special comments on order form otherwise it's what ever is available) The order would be xxxx01, quantity 4. there is a 'custom order service charge but it would still be less expensive than the sheet. Issues of $1 or more can be purchased as a single (again xxxx01, quantity 1 & service charge applies, multiple custom purchases in the same order incur only 1 charge, currently $3.10/order). coils & booklets cannot be broken. The order form included in the Philatelic explains the custom ordering more indepth.

Just following up to ask for those of you who have placed online stamp orders at USPS.COM, have your sheets arrived sealed or unsealed? How many sheets did you order and did you pre-order or order close to the release date? I would like to order about a dozen Ansel Adams stamps and would prefer if they arrived sealed, as it would be more presentable as a gift. I am fully aware that one should not archive stamps in that wrapping.

My stamp orders all come individual wrapped with a cardboard backing, this includes sheets, booklets, strips of 25. When I special order a block they are put in a glassline then inserted into a small cardboard envelope The FDCs come in an envelope with a cardboard backing. The total order itself comes in a baggy with a stiffener, or a priority cardboard envelope. I have not experienced any crease issues with these packing methods (yet).

eligies: That's good to read. When was your last order?

Torin: I just put in a small order for the May Issues last Friday. I received my April order in a cardboard priority envelope, with no issues with the packaging. I'm going broke with the June issues. Coils, strips, booklets, full panes oh!!my!!

eligies: The May and June issues are really neat this year in my opinion. Did you order any Ansel Adams sheets with your order last Friday and did they come sealed? Those would make great gifts for people for all different occasions.

torin: I ordered 1 full pane & 1ea of the FDC & DCP for the album. I also ordered the $2 inverted jenny pane for my annual try for the inverted invert pane. I think this will be my last try. June's issues will be ordered sometime late in the month. Given the number of issues upcoming in June it will be expensive. Getting tough on a fixed incomer.

Do stamps sheets arrive to the USPS stamp fulfillment center from the printer sealed or unsealed? If unsealed, how long does it generally take for the employees to wrap them?

Trying to decide whether to order two each of the low denomination flower issues a day after they are released along with 5 other sheets that came out earlier this year or to wait a few weeks in order for the best chance in them arriving sealed vs unsealed.

sealed from printer (in pkgs determined by contract) There are specific policies on sale (purchases from) Fulfillment Center as to minimum quantities. They do not break coils or booklets, (I do not know about strips of 25 pre-packaged) Some panes are required to be purchased in panes, some can be purchased in blocks of 4. ( I think sheets can be broken but panes purchased whole). Denomination of $1 + can be bought as singles. There is a service charge per order for special requests. The catalog has more detailed information.

"In a surprise July 9 announcement, the United States Postal Service said it will issue a single nondenominated (73¢) forever stamp in honor of the nation's healthcare community...

A stamp honoring Alex Trebek (1940-2020), the longtime host of the popular TV quiz show Jeopardy!, will be issued July 22.

A stamp celebrating Major League Baseball legend Hank Aaron and the 50th anniversary of his breaking the all-time home run record in 1974 is set to debut July 31. "

eligies: Thank you for the details. Are the stamp sheets then unsealed and distributed to post offices, since one poster mentioned sheets at post offices are sold unsealed?

TORIN: The packages are sent to major distribution centers from Fulfillment center (I am assuming all printers ship to fulfillment then fulfillment auto ships to distribution center, then shipped to local retail offices) and are both automatically re-distributed to the local USPS retail outlets either in unbroken 'brick packages' or break packages to send minimum new issues or office special orders. Not all retail offices receive new issues, it depends on sales as to which offices gets automatic delivery with some needing to special order new issues. This was started years ago to reduce the return of 'old' stock taken off-sale & needing to be sent back for destruction. This reduced the quantities printed or stale stock left in offices & found by auditors. Local retails have a maximum stock allowance & will not receive new issues automatically if within a certain % of max, but can special order specific new issues in limited quantities.

The healthcare stamp is a pleasant surprise although it makes 2024 a little over the top in surprise issues.

I will get a pane but that is it - after the First Continental Congress no more USPS stamps until 2025.

The only other exception would be the USPS produces a beautiful stamp and Christmas card set. Last one I liked was the traditional stamp and card set from 2017. Fortunately that had been on sale at the USPS site until about 2022!

Eventually..................