Released today are these 46 cent beauties. They're available on a coil and currently only sold in rolls of 3,000 and 10,000. "Flowers are among the most popular subjects for collectors and the stamp-buying public. In a modern twist on a perennial favorite, the Kaleidoscope Flowers stamps combine the allure of flowers with the impact of modern computer graphics."-- Beyond the Perf
Let's hope that the U.S.P.S. comes to its senses and releases these in smaller quanities soon, like what happened with the Weathervane stamps. Trust me, if L.W.A. had the means, we'd buy a bucketful and resell them to you, but for now, we'll wait, patiently, like everyone else.
Set to release this Wednesday, this Year of the Snake stamp is sixth in a series of twelve stamps in the Celebrating Lunar New Year Series. Unlike the first U.S.P.S. Lunar New Year series, this series illustrates elements of the celebration of the season. For example, according to Beyond the Perf, firecrackers are traditionally used to scare off evil spirits and welcome this time of renewed hope for the future.
For release on Thursday are these new postcard stamps based on varieties of American apples. I'm thrilled to have an new postcard option. I must confess that I was not a fan of the recent Hawaiian shirt issue. These I like.
Geez. That's a lot of new stamps. I hope my piggy bank can take it.
Rolls of 3,000? What is the thought behind this? I did not like the Hawaiian shirt either - I stocked up on the Polar Bear postcard stamps.
Posted by: Cynthia | January 14, 2013 at 10:00 AM
Very nice, but have you seen the Doctor Who stamps that are coming out in the UK in march? http://www.royalmail.com/doctorwho And last week a new set came out depicting the London Underground.
Posted by: Eunice | January 14, 2013 at 10:55 AM
So excited for the new apple postcard stamps! Bye bye ugly Hawaiian shirts!
Posted by: Erin | January 14, 2013 at 02:16 PM
I really like the flowers and apples!
Posted by: Becky Povich | January 14, 2013 at 03:13 PM
I am totally with you on the postcard stamps... thrilled for a different (and absolutely lovely!) option!!
Posted by: Ciara Kay | January 14, 2013 at 04:43 PM
I dunno, these new stamps leave me cold. On the other hand, I really like some of those UK stamps, especially the locomotives, Roald Dahl, Alan Turing, and Thomas Newcomen.
Posted by: RS | January 15, 2013 at 04:35 AM
I dropped $40 at the post office yesterday. Eep.
Posted by: Julie Merilatt | January 15, 2013 at 08:00 AM
Sometimes I feel like I help keep the USPS in business....and I can't wait to get my hands on those Lunar New Year stamps...
and thank goodness the apples are replacing the ugly Hawaiian shirts..
Posted by: Pamela | January 15, 2013 at 10:23 AM
I love the apples and totally agree with you on the Hawaiian shirts. Not a fan.
Posted by: TMC | January 15, 2013 at 03:51 PM
sent usps an email and said that only big business will buy 1000-3000 stamps at a time (re: Kalidescope Flowers) and would they please just give us philatelic nerds a chance and didn't they learn their lesson with the weather vanes? We'll see if it has any effect - I bet it does.
Also love the apples so much more than the Hawaiian Shirts.
Posted by: Lisa M | January 15, 2013 at 08:38 PM
I love the apples! A quick note on the kaleidascope flowers- if anyone lives near the Smithsonian Postal Museum in Washington, DC, their stamp store/post office will sell any quantity of those stamps. You can buy just a couple instead of 3,000! I did that last January to buy the 44 cent quill pen stamps.
Posted by: Kate | January 15, 2013 at 08:48 PM
Thats a sweet tip, Kate!
Posted by: Donovan Beeson | January 16, 2013 at 07:35 AM
I live near DC and am at the postal museum all the time -- I will test this out and if all goes well, am happy to be a stamp mule for people. I shall report back!
Posted by: Melissa of craftgasm | January 19, 2013 at 01:50 AM
I'm with you on not being that fond of the Hawaiian shirt ones, although when I first saw these stamps I thought they were regular ones & was excited to use them for Thanksgiving cards-which it's really hard to find good stamps for, oh well, I'll just have to write long notes/send photos in the cards or something so I can use two to equal 2 oz prices :)
Posted by: Scribbling Sarah | January 20, 2013 at 07:48 PM
You can purchase the Kaleidoscope Flowers stamps in strips of 25 on USPS.com! I was very excited to see the option and immediately ordered a strip.
Posted by: Stacie | January 24, 2013 at 10:35 AM
Equally excited about the 25 stamp strip! Yay!
Posted by: Katie | January 25, 2013 at 02:58 PM
Does anyone know why the kaleidoscopes (which I love) are actually 46-cent stamps? I thought all new first-class rate were going to be Forever from now on?
Posted by: Jessicamanack | January 28, 2013 at 06:04 PM
Thats a great question. I have no idea. I have a suspicion that it has something to do with business mail, but I dont really know.
Posted by: Donovan Beeson | January 29, 2013 at 12:15 PM