![\"\"](\"http:\/\/virtualstampclub.com\/lloydblog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/11\/s_coffee-271x300.png\")
issuance.<\/p>\nThe latest is Espresso Drinks<\/a>. It is being issued within a month of the 50th anniversary of Starbucks, in the city (Seattle) where it is founded and still has its headquarters. Also coming up this year: Star Wars Droids<\/a>. It’s not until the seventh paragraph (of 10) in the announcement that the alleged justification is mentioned: “Lucasfilm, the studio that created the Star Wars<\/em> franchise, is celebrating its 50th anniversary in 2021.”<\/p>\n Last year, it was Bugs Bunny<\/a>, commemorating the 80th anniversary of the cartoon character’s introduction. Even if I were to concede that the Wascally Wabbit is one of the Before that, it was Scooby-Doo<\/a> (another cartoon character, 49 years old at the time), Sparkling Holidays<\/a> (using easily recognizable Coca-Cola advertising images), Hot Wheels<\/a> and all sorts of Disney issues, including 2017’s Disney Villains<\/a>. “Negative occurrences and disasters will not be commemorated,” but bad guys are all right, huh?<\/p>\n It’s not just the U.S., either. Royal Mail in Britain must have staffers Yes, postal agencies make money on pop culture stamps: It costs a fraction of the face value to print them, not much more to market and sell them. The postal people can also However, I think these stunt stamps are more of a cry for attention: “Hey, look at us! Look at us! Stamps are still relevant! This postal agency is still relevant! Pay attention to us!” People and the press will pay more attention to pop culture subjects than an award-winning playwright (August Wilson<\/a>, U.S., 2021), a country’s strengths and accomplishments<\/a> (Britain, 2021), or its medical discoveries (Insulin, Canada, 2021). Getting such attention may be necessary for continued funding or even continued existence. But so is denoting important facets of a country’s heritage.<\/p>\n Of course, I am free not to buy Hot Wheels or Scooby-Doo, and I didn’t. I am free to obtain postmarks commemorating historical events that USPS Stamp Services didn’t. And, now that I am officially an Old Man (retired, collecting pensions) and was always Grumpy, I am free to be a Grumpy Old Man.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Call me old-fashioned or even a Grumpy Old Man, but I really object to thinly-veiled commercials in recent U.S. stamps: Issues that celebrate a product or company, without actually admitting it. Granted, the latest U.S. Postal Service selection criteria, which … Continue reading ![\"\"](\"http:\/\/virtualstampclub.com\/lloydblog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/bugs_barber-237x300.png\")
“extraordinary and enduring contributions to American society, history, culture or environment,” the USPS criteria also states “Events of historical significance shall be considered for commemoration on anniversaries in multiples of 50 years.” That was the reason given why the 75th anniversary of the end of World War II was not honored.<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"http:\/\/virtualstampclub.com\/lloydblog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/11\/hp_youngharry-186x300.png\")
In 2013, the U.S. issued 20 Harry Potter stamps, but none for the 150th anniversary of one of the greatest speeches in American history, the Gettysburg Address. (To add insult to injury, the Potter stamps were issued on the Gettysburg Address anniversary date.) Don’t get me wrong: I love the Harry Potter stories, I read all the books when they first were published, saw all the movies, and I marvel at how it got schoolchildren to read books. But no Gettysburg Address stamp?<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"http:\/\/virtualstampclub.com\/lloydblog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/uk_trekpicard-150x150.png\")
working full-time on reasons to issue new Harry Potter, Star Wars or Star Trek stamps. Part of the justification for honoring the latter last year<\/a> was especially laughable: Some of the actors who starred or were featured in Trek<\/em> were British!<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"http:\/\/virtualstampclub.com\/lloydblog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/hiphop_shirt_blue-150x150.jpg\")
make money from related products, like coffee mugs, sweatshirts and framed prints.<\/p>\n