Summer Sunset Nonprofit Org stamp showing up on incoming mail
My daughter and I made our weekly pilgrimage to check out post office box today. Most of what was in there was unremarkable, but there were two envelopes mailed using copies of the new United States Summer Sunset Nonprofit Org stamp issued June 25.
The stamp’s design is based on an oil painting of a scene on Martha’s Vineyard, Massachusetts. It fits absolutely delightfully into my collection of landscapes on stamps, and I’ve already updated my Massachusetts page to accommodate one of the copies of the stamp I received today.
While I’m still receiving plenty of nonprofit mailings with copies of the past three Nonprofit Org stamps, it’s nice to have something new showing up, and I think this stamp is rather more vibrant than typical for a nonprofit definitive.
Operation Smile business reply envelope features frog, heart, sun
I have one more business reply envelope to share from the month of July.
This bright yellow BRE arrived late last week in a mailing from Operation Smile. The three preprinted stamp-sized designs on the envelope’s front picture a frog, a heart, and a smiling sun, respectively.
Operation Smile business reply envelope with preprinted frog, heart, and sun designs
As I’ve mentioned many times before, I find these business reply envelopes with faux postage far, far more interesting when the designs are printed on labels rather than printed directly on the BREs; however, so far as the preprinted varieties go, this one at least has the positive attribute of being smaller than a #10 envelope.
American Lung Association business reply envelope features five birds
As I continue working through odds and ends in my mail tray, I found this business reply envelope that arrived in a fundraising mailing from the American Lung Association at some point within the past week or two.
The BRE has five preprinted stamp-sized images on it, each of which depicts a different species of bird.
American Lung Association business reply envelope with preprinted bird designs
The imitation sticky note printed near the left end of the front of the cover reads, “Postage has been paid for you!” That adds to the illusion that the bird designs are stamps, but no: this is a regular business reply envelope.
Columbia Pike Express Company local post launches in Virginia
Over the past few months, I’ve been corresponding with a stamp collector in Virginia, Christopher P. Christopher has gotten interested in local posts, and he recently launched his very own: Columbia Pike Express Company.
During one of my recent visits to my local post office, I found this mailing from Christopher in my PO box. The design of the $1 local post stamp on the cover was obviously inspired by an old Czechoslovakian newspaper stamp.
$1 Columbia Pike Express Company Mail Carrier stamp on cover
While I’m always excited to see someone new to local posting get his or her local post up and running, Christopher is already taking his operation to the next level. I simply carry mail from my house to my mailbox or to the post office, but Christopher has arranged for an Arlington-area pie shop to stock his stamps and collect mail from folks interested in joining the fun, and he then carries the collected mail (properly stamped with United States postage, of course) to a local post office branch for onward distribution. Pretty neat stuff!
Christopher has already come up with a bunch of stamp designs for Columbia Pike Express Company. You can see more on his local post’s webpage.
Philosateleian Post in July unveiled a new informational label to be used on certain pieces of mail.
The label, which reads “Misdelivered to Philosateleian Post - Returned to USPS for Redelivery Attempt” will be applied to all mailpieces delivered to a Philosateleian Post address but intended for delivery to a different address.
Philosateleian Post Misdelivered label
“While receiving mail addressed to a different street address or a different post office box is far from an everyday occurrence for my family, we have received nearly a dozen such items since the beginning of this year,” states Philosateleian Post’s proprietor, Kevin Blackston.
“Having this label available to apply to mail that I have to return to the carrier or other USPS employee for proper delivery will give the intended recipient more insight into the cause of the delay in receiving his or her mail.”
Technical Specifications
Format: sheets of 36 (4×9). Plate number: P260705. Design size: 42×23 mm. Overall size: 45×26 mm. Separation method: perforated 12. Adhesive: water-activated dry gum. Printing method: laser.
Philatelic Services
To receive a mint single of Philosateleian Post’s Misdelivered label, send either $2 or a self-addressed stamped envelope and your request to:
Kevin Blackston
Philosateleian Post
PO Box 217
Floresville TX 78114-0217
United States of America
