New Batman Stamps from USPS

On October 9th, the US Post Office will issue its contribution to the 75th anniversary of the Caped Crusader : a limited edition set of 8 different stamps, showcasing Batman's representation across the "ages". A special round stamp with the iconic Batman logo will complete the set.

The stamps will be presented at New York Comic Con with a first-day-of-issue ceremony.

I for one am wondering whether this set will be able to compete with Canada Post's Superman issue of 2013. If the Super Heroes sets the USPS put out some years ago are anything to go by, that is seriously doubtful. But at last the typography of these new issues is of better quality. And I love the pun on "Forever"...

(via Robot6)

Batman stamps coming next month

Batman stamp issue to debut Oct. 9 in New York City

By Jay Bigalke

http://linns.com/news/breaking-stamp-news/842/Batman-stamp-issue-to-debut-Oct-9-in-New-York-City

and

Limited-edition Batman stamps to debut at New York Comic Con

by Brigid Alverson | September 29, 2014

http://robot6.comicbookresources.com/2014/09/limited-edition-batman-stamps-to-debut-at-new-york-comic-con/

And here's the Post Office site for buying them - https://store.usps.com/store/browse/productDetailSingleSku.jsp?categoryNav=false&navAction=jump&navCount=0&productId=S_588404&categoryId=buy-stamps

Earl Musick's promo stamps for the US Post Office

Back in July, cartoonist Earl Musick posted on his Facebook page (and thanks to Earl for giving his permission for this repost):

"Some artists are given months to design and paint one postage stamp. I was given 9 hours, YES, nine hours to design and paint 10 postage stamps for the US Postal Service. I did it in 8 hours and 45 minutes. The USPS people told me the designs were terrific and they wanted to use them, but now they must go through legal and other executives for approval before I am allowed to show them. I hope they will be available to show soon. Keep in mind my stamps are only going to be used for USPS promotional purposes and not for real postage."

Today, he says,

"Many of you have requested to see the "PROMOTIONAL ONLY" stamps that I designed for the USPS. I was given only 9 hours to design and complete a sheet of promotional stamps that show the dedication of the USPS employees. These were my topics and here are my designs. The designs were simple in style because of the time limit. I hope you like them.
Rain Sleet Snow
Mr. ZIP and the ZIPCODE
Operation Santa
Still Making House calls
Largest Civilian Employer of Vets
Ben Franklin
Stamp Collecting
Delivering to Military
Most Trusted
Mule Train (Grand Canyon, AZ) "USPS delivers to every address."

Stamp drawn in Eleri Harris cartoon

Here's a comic strip about 1914 that has a stamp drawn in it.

Tom of Finland to appear on stamps in September

Tom of Finland to appear on stamps in September

13.04.2014

http://www.itella.fi/group/english/current/2014/20140413_stamps.html

Stamps will also feature watercolors, bridges, everyday life and Christmas

In September-October 2014, Itella Posti will release seven new sets of stamps, containing a total of 33 new designs. It is a great collection to choose from; the subjects of the new stamps include male drawings by Tom of Finland, autumnal yard and garden scenes painted by Urpo Martikainen, and Jaakko Tähti's photos of Finnish bridges. Other subjects for the end-of-the-year stamps include signs of sky and the change in everyday Finland - and, of course, Christmas.

Confident and proud homoeroticism

The autumn's stamp series begins September 8 with Tom of Finland, who is considered one of the most well-known Finnish artists around the world. His emphatically masculine homoerotic drawings have attained iconic status in their genre and had an influence on, for instance, pop culture and fashion. In his works, Tom of Finland utilized the self-irony and humor typical of subcultures.

During his career, Tom of Finland produced more than 3,500 drawings. The two drawings on the stamp sheet were selected by graphic artist Timo Berry, who designed the stamp, and Susanna Luoto, the Finnish representative of the foundation named after Tom of Finland operating in Los Angeles.

The drawings on the stamp sheet represent strong and confident male figures typical of their designer. "The sheet portrays a sensual life force and being proud of oneself. There is never too much of that in this northern country," says Timo Berry. The miniature sheet contains three 1st class self-adhesive stamps.

The artist behind Tom of Finland was Touko Laaksonen (1920-1991), whose profile is extended in the exhibition Sealed with a Secret - Correspondence of Tom of Finland opening in the Postal Museum September 6.  The exhibition will display the busy correspondence of Laaksonen from the early 1940s to his dying year, 1991. The exhibition will be displayed until March 29, 2015, in Museum Centre Vapriikki in the new Postal Museum to be opened in Tampere in September.

Spider-Man postage available at some Post Offices

Spider-Man, American Flag vended postage to be issued April 1
By Jay Bigalke
3/17/2014
http://www.linns.com/news/us-stamps/300/Spider-Man-vended-postage-April-1

I haven't been able to find the postage yet though. The flat rate
boxes have been available.

Amazing Spider-Man 2 promotion with the Postal Service

The Amazing Spider-Man 2 promotion with the Postal Service, on a van at M and 19th St, NW, Washington, DC, in a photo by Nick Galifianakis, Spider-Man is also appearing on the fixed price small box that you can get at the Post Office.