The disturbing trend toward use of definitive stamps instead of commemorative stamps is continuing. Take a look at the mail you receive. How many "regular," definitive stamps were used as postage, and how many of the large commemorative stamps were used?

Is this because it's easier to keep a small booklet of self-adhesive definitives in your wallet or purse, ready to be put on a piece of mail when a stamp is needed? Possibly...

Is it because the sheets of large commemorative stamps are a bit less convenient because of their larger size, even though many commemoratives are now self-adhesive? Possibly ...

Is it because many post offices, like the one we use, "push" use of definitive stamps rather than commemoratives? Our post office only carries one or two different types of commemoratives at any one time and, if you go to the window to buy stamps, they will sell you definitives unless you make a specific point to ask for one of the one or two types of commemoratives they do carry. It almost makes you wonder why the USPS bothers to print commemorative stamps anymore.

We think the USPS needs to "smarten up" a bit and encourage the use of commemorative stamps a bit more than they currently do. People receiving mail using such stamps will be happy to see something different even if they're not stamp collectors. And stamp collecting will be helped a great deal. Stamp collectors would once again be able to easily obtain our beautiful used US commemorative stamps.