THIS YEAR (2010)

The 2010 Hanukkah stamp is the 2009 one.  Due to an expected raise in postage rates early in 2011 post offices will be selling left  over 2009 stock.  There will NOT be an automatic shipment of Hanukkah stamps this year.  It will be left to the postmaster of each post office to decide if he/she wishes to order any additional stock of Hanukkah stamps.  I foresee a lack of availability of Hanukkah stamps in 2010.

The menorah design is only the third new design since the first Hanukkah stamp was issued in 1996. The 2009 Hanukkah stamp design features a photograph of a menorah with nine lit candles.  The menorah was designed by Lisa Regan of the Garden Deva Sculpture Company and was photographed by Ira Wexler, an award-winning advertising photographer.  This year will be the15th year in which the United States Postal Service has issued a Hanukkah stamp but only the third new design.  Yes, after 8 years of the first menorah design and 5 years of the dreidel design, the third design was a new menorah.

The United States Postal Service is saying that the Hanukkah and Christmas stamps are being reissued because of an expected rate increase in early 2011.  However, there will be a new "Angel with Harp" stamp.  although the word "Christmas will not be on the stamp. there is no doubt as to which holiday it represents.  400 million of the "Angel with Harp" stamp will be printed.

By the way, if your local post office puts up a Christmas display insist that they put up a Hanukkah Menorah (without a Star of David on it) as well.  If the postmaster, or any supervisor tells you a menorah is not an accepted decoration tell him to look (in you presence) in the Post Office Operations Manual, Sections 124.55,e and 124.57,c.  These paragraphs (which I was instrumental in getting changed) state that a Hanukkah Menorah is an acceptable seasonal display.  If you do not get any cooperation from you local post office contact the USPS Department of Consumer Affairs:  delores.j.killette@usps.gov  and the Postmaster General: pmgceo@usps.gov.

                                                                                                                                          July 8, 2010