Barbara Dale's Holiday Greetings! envelope

In Barbara Dale's studio and cartoon collection is this 'Holiday Greetings!' envelope drawn on by Jeff "Shoe: MacNelly, Will "Annie Fanny" Elder and Tom "Ziggy" Wilson.

Conz does dinosaurs

Flemish cartoonist Constantijn Van Cauwenberge (or Conz for short) just finished the design of a new series of stamps for the Belgian Post Office featuring awesome renderings of ten dinosaurs. On his Facebook page, Conz also posted earlier drafts of two of the designs, which arguably are even greater.

The stamps have a release date of September 2015 and will probably cost something like € 7 (price hikes are always possible).

Batman stamps FDC by Joe Sutliff

My friend, cartoonist Joe Sutliff surprised me with this First Day Cover of Catwoman. Thanks, Joe!

Press release for Batman stamps

Batman Stamps Dedication Ceremony
Kicks Off New York Comic Con 2014

Limited Edition Forever Stamps Celebrate
the Dark Knight's 75th Anniversary

NEW YORK, N.Y. / GOTHAM CITY – Today, the U.S. Postal Service, in collaboration with Warner Bros. Consumer Products and DC Entertainment, took over the Javits Center to kick-off New York Comic Con 2014 by dedicating the Limited Edition Forever Batman Stamps.

As part of the first-day-of-issue ceremony hosted by comic book writer, actor and radio personality Ralph Garman, the eight commemorative Batman designs were revealed depicting Batman from the four distinct eras of comic book history to include the various incarnations of the famed Bat emblem.

"For years, the Postal Service has celebrated so many of America's icons on its landmark stamps — and today, we're excited to honor one of the most iconic comic book Super Heroes in history," said U.S. Postal Service Chief Information Officer and Executive Vice President James Cochrane. "It's very fitting we're dedicating these Batman stamps during National Stamp Collecting Month, because stamp collecting played a role in young Bruce Wayne's childhood in the 1950s comics." 

 

Joining Cochrane in dedicating the stamps was legendary comic book illustrator and DC Entertainment Co-Publisher, Jim Lee, whose art is depicted on the Modern Age stamp featured in the collection. DC Entertainment Co-Publisher Dan DiDio also participated in the event, along with Greg Breeding, who designed the stamp sheet for the Postal Service.

"It is an honor to have the U.S. Postal Service feature the Caped Crusader on this new set of stamps in celebration of his 75th anniversary," said Lee. "Batman has inspired and influenced fans around the world for generations and will continue to do so for the next 75 years and beyond — and we hope that fans will add these stylized stamps to their Batman collection."

Batman himself was on hand to help unveil the stamps in the DC Entertainment booth. Following the ceremony, Lee, DiDio, Cochrane and Breeding discussed Batman's evolution in comics before participating in an autograph session.

Limited-Edition Forever Batman Stamps Collection
Four versions of Batman are depicted from the four eras of comic book history: the Modern Age (top row), the Bronze Age (second row), the Silver Age (third row), and the Golden Age (bottom row). In addition, there are four incarnations of the famed Bat-Signal, the spotlight that Gotham City Police Commissioner James Gordon sent into the night sky to summon Batman. 

 

Batman's Legacy
First appearing in the comic book Detective Comics #27, which hit newsstands March 30, 1939, featuring artwork by Bob Kane and a script by Bill Finger, Batman emerged from the shadows to become one of the world's most popular Super Heroes. In feature films, television shows, radio, video games, publishing and merchandise, this most human of Super Heroes has battled some of fiction's greatest villains using his intellect, cunning and an arsenal of gadgets to further his quest for justice.

Stamp collecting played a role in the childhood of Bruce Wayne, who shared the hobby with his father in the pages of comic books during the 1950s. These new stamps chronicle the evolution of Batman, from his origins to present day. Batman spans generations fighting for justice in the pages of the comics, on the silver screen, and in the imaginations of fans across the world.

The Batman Limited Edition stamps are being issued as Forever stamps and will be equal in value to the current First-Class Mail 1-ounce price. All 80 million stamps are available nationwide today. Customers may purchase the stamps at usps.com/stamps, the Postal Store, at 800-STAMP24 (800-782-6724) and at Post Offices nationwide or visit ebay.com/stamps to shop for a wide variety of postage stamps and collectibles.

Batman previously appeared on postage in 2006 as part of the DC Comics Super Heroes stamp sheet. Issued at Comic Con in San Diego, half of the 20 stamp set were portraits of Aquaman, Batman, the Flash, Green Arrow, Green Lantern, Hawkman, Plastic Man, Supergirl, Superman and Wonder Woman. The other 10 stamps depicted covers of individual comic books devoted to each DC Comics Super Hero.

Ordering First-Day-of-Issue Forever Batman Stamps Postmarks
Customers have 60 days to obtain the first-day-of-issue postmark by mail. They may purchase new stamps at their local Post Office, at The Postal Store website at usps.com/shop, or by calling 800-STAMP-24. They should affix the stamps to envelopes of their choice, address the envelopes to themselves or others, and place them in a larger envelope addressed to:

Forever Batman Stamps
Special Events Coordinator
380 West 33^rd St. Room 4032
New York, NY 10199-9998

After applying the first-day-of-issue postmark, the Postal Service will return the envelopes through the mail. There is no charge for the postmark up to a quantity of 50. For more than 50, customers have to pay five cents each. All orders must be postmarked by Dec. 8, 2014.

Ordering First-Day Covers
The Postal Service also offers first-day covers for new stamp issues and Postal Service stationery items postmarked with the official first-day-of-issue cancellation. Each item has an individual catalog number and is offered in the quarterly USA Philatelic catalog, online at usps.com/shop or by calling 800-782-6724. Customers may request a free catalog by calling 800-782-6724 or writing to:

U.S. Postal Service
Catalog Request
PO Box 219014
Kansas City, MO 64121-9014

Philatelic Products
There are nine philatelic products for this stamp issue.

588424, Framed Art, $39.95
588406, Press Sheet with Die Cut, $88.20 (print quantity 2,500)
588408, Press Sheet without Die Cut, $88.20 (print quantity 2,500)
588410, Digital Color Postmark Keepsake (random), $11.95
588416, First Day Cover (set of 8), $7.44
588421, Digital Color Postmark (set of 8), $13.12
588430, Ceremony Program, $6.95
588431, Stamp Deck Card, $0.95
588432, Stamp Deck Card with Digital Color Postmark, $1.99

Many of this year's other stamps may be viewed on Facebook at facebook.com/USPSStamps, via Twitter @USPSstamps or at uspsstamps.com.

The Postal Service receives no tax dollars for operating expenses and relies on the sale of postage, products and services to fund its operations.