Forever Stamps
In 2011 the USPS announced that it would be going exclusively to Forever Stamps, with no more denominated ones. This is not to say that they will only endlessly reprint the Liberty Bell Forever stamp, and their preview of colorful and varied subject stamps of 2012 backs this up. And after all, one imagines that the temptation of buying a variety of stamps that keep going up in value as the postal rates ascend would be irresistible to both mailers and collectors. We'll see.
Living People on Stamps
Arguably the biggest stamp collecting story of 2011 was the USPS announcement that starting in 2012 it would honor living individuals on their stamps. Nothing got more tongues wagging among those of the stamp collecting world. Knowing the conservative nature of the Citizens’ Stamp Advisory Committee I was frankly surprised at this, although I welcome the change. The USPS is late to the party anyway, with many countries, including Ireland, Canada, Australia and others already honoring living worthies.
The Graying of Stamp Collecting
Anyone who sees a photo taken at a stamp show can't help but be impressed by the sea of gray hair at the dealers tables and taking in the stamp exhibits. The problem seems to be coming to a head, although, obviously, the trend has been going on for some time. The stamp world is taking real action now, with the USPS attempting to attract new collectors with contemporary stamps and the Smithsonian's National Postal Museum mounting exhibits and creating programs with the young in mind.
Possible USPS Default
Business is not good for a number of reasons. USPS will be down over $5 billion for 2011. Collectors are wondering what might happen to their yearly new issues as those of a practical nature claim that money could be saved by issuing only one or two Forever Stamps a year -- collectors of commemoratives be damned. But those in the stamp collecting community have seen the outreach with promos for stamps to be issued in 2012, new-collector friendly stamps like the Owney the mail dog commemorative, the Pixar greeting stamps and others. The number of new collectors that might be attracted to the hobby may be small, but it's a start.
Potential Closing of Philadelphia's Ben Franklin Post Office
Related to the fiscal woes of the USPS is the possible closing of many of the smaller post offices in the U.S. While services in some instances will be moved to stores and markets, with actual PO buildings being sold, one closing has an impact on collectors beyond that of most: the B Free Franklin PO in Old City, Philadelphia. When one considers the impact Franklin had on the early postal service in the nation, it is unfathomable that they could consider closing the post office in his historic dwelling.
Statue of Liberty Stamp Goof
It is all good and well to issue another stamp picturing the Statue of Liberty. But it would be to everyone's benefit if the stamp could picture...The Statue of Liberty. It appears someone pulled the wrong picture out of the old American icon album, because we wound up with a Styrofoam model of Liberty. And one that welcomes gamblers into a casino in Las Vegas to boot. If Old Blue Eyes were still with us, he'd be singing, "That's why the lady is a stamp."
The Continuing Unhappiness of Collectors with Self-Adhesive Stamps
There is even now a column in Linn’s Stamp News called The Soaker, dealing with levels of difficulty of getting these stamps off of envelopes, to collect in unused condition. Private collectors have begun to rank the stamps – the majority of which cannot be gotten off envelopes without damaging the stamp – according to soakability. It would seem that what really got soaked in this case is the collector.
