Mixed Messages

This week will see another increase in U.S. postal rates, with the cost of a first class stamp going up to .44¢ and other prices rising as well. Even though this rate hike was planned for some months, it happens to coincide with a recent announcement that the U.S. Postal Service suffered a $1.9 billion loss for their second quarter. It is no secret that the U.S.P.S. has been struggling over the past few years. While issues of poor management and inefficiency need to be considered, it seems to be clear that new methods of communication such as email are competing with traditional postal mail.

This all sounds pretty gloomy, and it is no secret that postal services and thereby stamp collectors, will be needing to adjust to a rapidly changing landscape. But there was more hopeful news recently as well. The Simpsons issue has already sold over a billion stamps. This is an impressive feat and shows that stamps can still capture the imagination. Now the task is to translate that interest into an interest in philately. We can use issues like Star Wars and the Simpsons to get younger folks involved and make new collectors.

Some look at the price increases, financial losses and shrinking of the hobby and see only gloom and doom. I prefer to look at the situation as one of opportunity, a chance to contribute and reenergize the hobby. Obviously philately won’t be what it was in the past, but it never is, and we are the ones who can define what it will become.