New years and new stamp rates always mean a bunch of stamps come out in January. Most of these are being released on January 27th to coincide with the rate change. Every year brings with it a new Priority mail design and a new Express mail design. I still don't know who really has use for those high value stamps, but the continuation of the theme of a lovely nature scene in a tasteful black border is still very aesthetically pleasing to me. This year's Lunar New Year release is fine, I guess. I still like the paper cut versions of these more. You can see that the post office also still loves those paper cut designs because the newer pictorial set always features the paper cut up in the corner. I am sad that this is the final year for them though. Gregory Hines is a treasure. I love how happy he is in his stamp portrait in this 42nd stamp of the Black Heritage series. This year's flag issue is a bore, as is that Love stamp. It isn't half the stamp last year's Anna Bond design was. (And the U.S.P.S. site wants to tell you that the Uncle Sam's Hat 15C stamps are new, but they ain't. They are just available in a different format is all. I'm waiting for the Meyer Lemons and the Strawberries to get that same treatment. I don't need $200 dollars worth of lemon stamps. I just want to buy $2.00 worth.) 
I ordered the Lunar stamps because I like the color combination.
That's my favorite of this grouping. I really hope this year brings a WOW stamp, whatever that means.
Posted by: Cynthia | January 18, 2019 at 09:09 AM
Amen to the Lemon and Strawberry stamps!
Posted by: Victoria | January 18, 2019 at 10:21 AM
I appreciate this year’s Flag stamp over last year’s, where I think they went too futuristic. I don’t remember seeing any of last year’s Flag stamps on mail, which means we’ll likely be seeing those available at Staples and grocery stores for years to come.
Posted by: Mike | January 18, 2019 at 11:01 AM
Yes, I miss the cut paper Lunar NY stamps, too...and this batch of stamps is no big deal.
Bring back Batman!
Posted by: Chris Purcell | January 18, 2019 at 11:40 AM
Meanwhile in Britain we are not allowed to see images of future issues and don't even know the subject of February and March.
Posted by: Alan B | January 20, 2019 at 06:21 AM
I, too, would like to buy lemons and strawberries in small quantities. While I like the idea of a 15 cent stamp, please give us a new design. Who else is ready for a new celebrate or even just a "birthday" stamp?
Posted by: Marti Schrock | January 21, 2019 at 07:16 AM
I cannot believe how un-exciting that love stamp is. (I feel bad for bad-mouthing a stamp, but I mean... that thing makes me sad.) Gregory Hines makes up for it, though. *love him*
Posted by: TB | January 22, 2019 at 01:29 PM
It is so interesting to read other people's reactions to these designs. I am super-excited about the Love and Lunar New Year stamps* and have already asked my favorite postal employees to reserve several sheets of each for me as soon as they come in.
*admittedly, that's mostly because of their color schemes
Posted by: Dawn | January 23, 2019 at 03:17 PM
I want the Meyer lemons too!!!!!
Posted by: PamelaArtsinSF | January 24, 2019 at 08:49 PM
Is it possible to still find Anna Bond's *Love* stamps?!! They really are THE best. I wish, wish, wish I had bought a bunch of them before they were gone. Any ideas on where to still get them? Thanks!
Posted by: Jane | January 28, 2019 at 06:57 PM
You should be able to find those through local stamp shows without problem. Or if you have a local shop, theyll have them too. Theres also ebay, but beware of counterfeits! Theres also shops like Edelweiss Post: https://www.etsy.com/shop/EdelweissPost
Posted by: Donovan Beeson | January 30, 2019 at 11:35 AM