A postal (mis)adventure - hummingbirds for Sunday Stamps

I have classified this as a misadventure, although I am sure Eva would say it was just an adventure, since it all worked out in the end.

If you've been following the blog, you'll know that every now and again I'll come across a pictorial postmark that I like, or I think a recipient will like. 

So I was surprised earlier in the year when this showed up in the mail at the end of March:

Inside were the 3 envelopes I had included for postmarks that I sent at the beginning of February. For some odd reason they were mailed back to me. Quite an odd feeling to have the envelopes back in my hands weeks later!

Here are the postmarks on the Hummingbird 34c domestic postcard rate stamp, and also the 3 oz Flannery O'Connor stamp, which has the author flanked by peacock feathers.

Fortunately a postal clerk let me repost the letters once I explained what had happened, and the last one finally arrived in April. Quite an adventure.

For more links to birds on stamps, go to Sunday Stamps.

A pictorial postmark misadventure

I've had some great successes with pictorial postmarks, however this latest one didn't work out as I intended. I addressed the envelopes correctly, expecting this postmark to be applied:

Instead, as seen on Heleen's and Eva's blogs, this is what happened:

So I hope the other people who received those aren't scratching their heads too much! The stamps I used were intended to match up with the postmark. At least I'm guessing the recipients don't get envelopes from Puerto Rico very often.

Green(e)

It's Sunday Stamps time. Today's theme is green, and to see more stamps go here.

This is a vintage 1c stamp issued in 1936. The first in a series honoring  army heroes, this stamp features revolutionary war Generals George Washington, who went on to become the first US President, and Nathaniel Greene.

The stamp is accompanied by a hummingbird stamp, a stylized design by Nancy Stahl in shades of green and blue.

1c used to be enough to send a postcard.

Currently the cost is 35c to send a postcard domestically, however on April 10 it will be reduced to 34c when the exigent rate increase expires, much to the unhappiness of USPS. 

First class letters will decrease by 2c to 47c, and the extra ounce price will reduce to 21c. A 2 oz letter will therefore cost 3c less (68c), and a 3 oz letter will cost 4c less (89c).

International letters will decrease by 5c to $1.15.

Envelopes 276 & 277 - rothkos for rebecca & roland

I was searching for something to send Rebecca, and this Rothko envelope jumped out. As it was heading overseaes, I decided to add a few different stamps that, hopefully, have similar colors, rather than my usual habit of adding three of the same stamp.

Likewise, I was looking for something to send Roland to thank him for all his work on the great documentation for the Malerwinkelhaus mail art project.

The remaining Rothko envelopes caught my eye, but I didn't think I had good stamps for them. I finally went through the stamps one by one and I think these vintage seed packets are a great fit.