Stamp Releases: Maya Angelou, Civil War 1865, and Gifts of Friendship

Stamps! Stamps! Stamps! Lots of stamps are coming out right now. Yesterday saw the release of a stamp honoring Maya Angelou. I am so conflicted with this stamp. I love Maya Angelou and her smile is divine, but the design of this stamp is so boring to me. I suppose it fits the typical portrait style of U.S.P.S. stamps, but I wanted something more from it. To me, it lacks in poetry, in a metaphorical sense; as it does literally contain a line of poetry. The dreamer in me wishes there was some sort of scannable code aspect to it where you could hear audio of Maya Angelou reading her work. Her voice is like an all-encompassing hug.

For the war stamp fans, there's a new edition in the Civil War set. This two stamp set includes a stamp for the Battle of Five Forks and the Appomattox Courthouse. It is the final installment in the 150th Anniversary commemorative series. These stamps will be officially issued on April 9th.

At the end of this stamp release parade on Friday, April 10th, the Gifts of Friendship stamps come out. This issue celebrates the friendship between the U.S. and Japan and features cherry blossoms and dogwood trees. Excitingly, the sheet contains 10 U.S.P.S. designed stamps and 2 Japan Post designed stamps. I like these a lot, but find it strange to have a stamp featuring cherry blossoms and Washington D.C. monuments again so soon. It feels like a recycling of the Cherry Blossom Centennial stamp from 2012.

Boy, I have a lot of opinions about stamps. What are your opinions? Please share in the comments!

Comments

[Cindy R.]

I'm with you for the most part, especially in regards to the gifts in friendship stamps. You hit the nail on the head.

[Melissa]

Sadly, the quote on the Maya Angelou stamp is not hers. Someone didn't do enough research. :(

[Reg]

I love those cherry blossom/dogwood stamps! But there's a…lot. That's happened between the US and Japan since 1915. I mean, sure, we're on the friendship end of that history, NOW, but…I dunno, just seems to gloss a bunch of history. Anyway, will definitely be buying these.

[Kazen]

Holy cow, I didn't know the cherry/dogwood stamps were being released in the US as well! Here's what the Japanese release will look like:

http://www.post.japanpost.jp/kitte_hagaki/stamp/tokusyu/2015/h270410_t.html

It does feel a bit soon, though. At least the Japanese version has a bit more variety!

[Kimberly]

I, too am underwhelmed with the Maya stamp. It's so plain and I'm really disappointed in the fact that the quote isn't hers. I'm embarrassed for the USPS and sad because she deserves so much better for her stamp.

I know what you mean about the cherry blossom stamps but I still love them. (But as usual, Japan does it better with the variety!

[margaret]

i think they should reissue the Maya stamp with a quote she actually said!

[Limner]

Yes! Finally. Someone agrees with me. Someone messed up Angelou's hairline in the photo. It's just not natural. Her skin tones are all wrong, and the image barely resembles her. The font size is all wrong. It didn't take much to "design" this hot mess. Shame on the person who did this and the person who approved.

Thanks for letting me have my say.