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Transcon 150 Stamps Now at the Post Office

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  • Member since
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  • From: Southern Florida Gulf Coast
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Posted by SeeYou190 on Monday, December 9, 2019 11:16 AM

The post office in Riverdale, Georgia had plenty of them last month.

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I guess it varies by location.

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-Kevin

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Living the dream.

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Posted by mlehman on Monday, December 9, 2019 10:58 AM

Dave,

Try a different post office. I think that each PO receives an initial glut of new stamps and can reorder more so long as they are still available. Once the central supply runs out, it depends on how many each PO has on hand whether or not they will still be available.

Mike Lehman

Urbana, IL

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Posted by dknelson on Monday, December 9, 2019 9:13 AM

I used them only for the train themed cards I sent to train friends.  And the last time I was at the USPS where I buy stamps, late November, they said they no longer had the Transcontinental railroad stamps - fortunately someone thought they had seen a sheet in a certain cabinet and there it was.  But that might be it.  Are they now discontinued I wonder?  

Dave Nelson

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Posted by SeeYou190 on Monday, December 9, 2019 6:03 AM

My Christmas cards are in the mail for 2019 with trains stamps on them!

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I can't believe my wife went along with this!

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-Kevin

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Living the dream.

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Posted by xboxtravis7992 on Thursday, July 11, 2019 4:51 PM

 

Yeah the poster they have to advertise the stamps is funny, nothing says American Transcontinental Railroad like a photo of... a British Rails painted Stanier Black Five engine! Stick out tongue

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Posted by kasskaboose on Thursday, July 11, 2019 1:50 PM

Sure enough, you can buy these stamps online.  I might get them to just frame also.  Thanks for starting this topic!

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Posted by dknelson on Thursday, July 11, 2019 10:21 AM

If you should know (or happen to be) a serious stamp collector, ask to see the June 2019 issue of The American Philatelist.  There is a nice photo of 4-4-0 steam locomotive #60 (Jupiter) on the cover and an article on the Transcontinential Railroad triptych of stamps, including technical detail about the stamps themselves, and a reproduction of the 1944 transcontinential commemorative stamp.  

Dave Nelson

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Posted by richg1998 on Thursday, June 27, 2019 6:51 PM

Interesting the discussion would come up.

I just received in the mail, a set from a sister in law who runs a packaging service at a gated community in Southern California.

Transcontinental Railroad 150 Anniversary stamp set. A very nice set I shall keep and frame.

Rich

If you ever fall over in public, pick yourself up and say “sorry it’s been a while since I inhabited a body.” And just walk away.

  • Member since
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  • From: Southern Florida Gulf Coast
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Posted by SeeYou190 on Thursday, June 27, 2019 5:42 AM

dknelson
the center column -- the "Golden Spike" stamps -- were in fact first class "Forever" stamps just like the locomotive stamps

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The Postal Service had the same "rip off" complaints about the Batman stamps a few years ago. People did not realize that the searchlights were also stamps, and thought they were being overcharged.

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-Kevin

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Living the dream.

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Posted by mlehman on Thursday, June 27, 2019 2:03 AM

Glad to see that others like these stamps also. Thanks for the pics, too, especially GARRY's, who was there for the big event. May 10 was the date the stamps were released and I'll say they were part of a great show if these pics are any indication.

Mike Lehman

Urbana, IL

  • Member since
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  • From: Milwaukee WI (Fox Point)
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Posted by dknelson on Wednesday, June 26, 2019 8:22 PM

They are really top notch and some of the nicest train themed US stamps I have ever seen.   I want to make sure I buy one sheet just for keeps.

Interestingly, between the time of my first purchase and my second, the person at the USPS facility at the second purchase made extra sure I was aware (and the customer before me was aware) that the center column -- the "Golden Spike" stamps -- were in fact first class "Forever" stamps just like the locomotive stamps on either side.  Evidentlty some people did not realize that and complained that the stamps were a rip off.

Dave Nelson

 

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Posted by peahrens on Wednesday, June 26, 2019 1:14 PM

On USPS site there are two nice posters, plus a 1st day of issue envelope still available.

EDIT: Adding a few photos.  The poster includes (one of each) actual stamps.  In the other frame I chose to include the stamp sheet, the 1st day of issue cover, and a "title" (with stamp) clipped from the larger Jupiter poster (that I did not otherwise use).  These were added behind the layout along with some 4014/844 photos from the recent 150th celebration UP trip.

 IMG_4355 by Paul Ahrens, on Flickr

 IMG_4356 by Paul Ahrens, on Flickr

 IMG_4357 by Paul Ahrens, on Flickr

 IMG_4354 by Paul Ahrens, on Flickr

 

Paul

Modeling HO with a transition era UP bent

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Posted by Heartland Division CB&Q on Wednesday, June 26, 2019 12:48 PM

I was at the 150th anniversary celebration in Promonatory on May 10. USPS had a booth for selling the special stamps there, and they would cancel them there for collectors. 

 

GARRY

HEARTLAND DIVISION, CB&Q RR

EVERYWHERE LOST; WE HUSTLE OUR CABOOSE FOR YOU

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Posted by IRONROOSTER on Wednesday, June 26, 2019 9:33 AM

My son gave me a whole sheet framed for Father's Day.

They really are beautiful.

Paul

If you're having fun, you're doing it the right way.
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Posted by Harrison on Wednesday, June 26, 2019 8:10 AM

I went to the post office the other day, but was told that they had them at the other town post office.(we have a weird town, with two post offices, and no school.)

I will try to get some, and save some for the bicentenial.

Harrison

Homeschooler living In upstate NY a.k.a Northern NY.

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Posted by BigDaddy on Wednesday, June 26, 2019 7:27 AM

Here is what the whole sheet looks like:

Henry

COB Potomac & Northern

Shenandoah Valley

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Posted by SeeYou190 on Wednesday, June 26, 2019 6:13 AM

I am using them for Christmas Cards this year also!

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I thought the poster for the new releases was hilarious. Could they not find a picture of the appropriate train for the lower left... or at least a North American train?

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-Kevin

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Living the dream.

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Posted by gmpullman on Wednesday, June 26, 2019 12:54 AM

I got a few sheets from the P.O. several weeks ago. They are indeed beautiful. I hope the folks I send Christmas cards to will apperciate them. I also have several books of stickers from the 1969 Centennial. I often use those on the back of envelopes, just for fun Smile

I have always appreciated and admired the synergy between the U.S. and Canadian Mail service and the railroads. 

 NYC_RPO-ad by Edmund, on Flickr

Cheers, Ed

 

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Transcon 150 Stamps Now at the Post Office
Posted by mlehman on Wednesday, June 26, 2019 12:14 AM

Stamp collecting is a whole 'nother hobby. In many countries, railroad subjects of various types are often the basis of what's depicted on stamps. I suspect the last time RRs were a major subject for stamps in the US was probably 50 years ago when we celebrated the centennial of the transcon in 1969.

The 50 years since seems well worth the wait after I saw the beautiful stamps the Postal Service issued to celebrate the 150th year of our nation being tied from sea to sea with a railroad. These stamps are works of art. Each sheet consists of three rows of stamps. The first is a full color image of the Jupiter in all her finery. The middle column consists of a Golden Spike stamp. The last column of stamps show another full color view of a loco, this time it's the UP's  No. 119.

The PO is also offering a box set that includes a large, lavhsly illustrated book on the transcon and, separately, a nicely printed portrait of Jupiter as well as other more standard "stamp fan" fare.

These are "Forever" stamps, so you can stock up on enough of them to last you until the transcon bicentennial. If we can't have RPOs, maybe we can at least have a bunch of RR-themed stamps?

I'd say let's buy 'em up and maybe the PO will issue more RR-themed stamps in the future.

Mike Lehman

Urbana, IL

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