It’s been a talking point for years, the United States Postal Service (USPS) is struggling financially. But amidst a growing crisis in the organization, ahead of an important election, it’s clear just how dire the situation is. As such, people are looking for ways they can save the post office, and while the post office doesn’t typically conjure up images of Halloween. The USPS actually has quite a bit of spooky stuff you can buy on their website making it a win-win for both you and the post office.
The majority of the items revolve around the 2019 Halloween stamps, which feature spooky silhouettes of bats, spiders, ghosts, and cats. Perhaps the most impressive is the Spooky Silhouettes Framed Stamps. I purchased these earlier this year and they are beautiful. The framed piece is just $29.95 and features artwork that mirrors the four mounted Spooky Silhouettes Forever stamps. Each stamp features digitally illustrated Halloween motifs, all rendered as black silhouettes in eerily backlit windows.
While the framed stamps are perhaps the most impressive of the items available, there are plenty more Spooky Silhouettes items to purchase. Check out some of the highlights below:
Spooky Silhouettes Tote – $15.95
Spooky Silhouettes Stamp Ceremony Memento – $29.95
This collectible contains the First Day of Issue Ceremony Invitation, the First Day of Issue Ceremony Program, four Digital Color Postmark First Day Covers, and a pane of 20 Spooky Silhouettes Forever stamps.
Many of the items from the Ceremony Memento are available as separate purchases if you’re not looking for the complete set. You can purchase the set of four Spooky Silhouettes Digital Color Postmark First Day Covers for $6.80. The Digital Color Postmark features a large silhouette of a spider, along with the stamp title in bright orange lettering. There is also a cheaper set of First Day Covers for $3.96, which features the stamp titled in black lettering, along with silhouettes of three bats and a raven.
Spooky Silhouettes Cachet – $9.95
This bright orange #10 envelope features imagery from the stamps and includes a randomly selected Spooky Silhouettes Forever stamp cancelled with an official First Day of Issue postmark.
You can view more of the Spooky Silhouettes merchandise available here.
In addition to the selection of Spooky Silhouettes merchandise, the post office also has the Scooby-Doo stamps and stationery kits I shared last month. Released in 2018, the two items commemorate the 50th anniversary of “Scooby-Doo, Where Are You?” and the Scooby-Doo Doo Good campaign.
Finally, if you’re looking for a tame Halloween costume for your kids or your pet this Halloween you could always buy an officially licensed U.S. Mail Carrier costume.
The U.S. Mail Carrier Kids Costume includes shirt with logo, pants, hat, and mail bag and comes in size Medium (3-4) or Large (4-6). Both sizes are just $24.95 on the USPS website.
For those of you with fur babies, the post office also has a U.S. Mail Carrier Dog Costume that features cap, shirt with attached arms, and a box that attaches to the hands using Velcro.
The U.S. Mail Carrier Dog Costume is available in sizes X-Small, Small, Medium, and Large and is just $17.99 on the USPS website.
Let’s help keep the post office going. If not for democracy, for all the spooky small businesses that use it regularly to ship their art and wares to all of us spooky folks around the world. Buy some stamps, send a care package, save the post office.
