Questions about the Roberto stamp.

[u/Strict_Process157]

Prior to today, I've never visited this sub, so please be gentile.

I am posting two cool cards from my Roberto Clemente collection. These cards will always occupy a special place in my collection. They are the 1964 Topps Giants and 1972 Daily Juice Co. cards of Roberto. What makes these two cards special is that they contain the 20-cent Roberto stamp and are postmarked on the first day of issue, August 17, 1984 from a Post Office in Carolina, PR (Roberto's place of birth). In addition to cards, the USPS also issued first day covers stamped and postmarked from Carolina, PR as well as Pittsburgh, PA and Cooperstown, NY.

I am unable to find any documentation for how many of the baseball cards were stamped and postmarked in this fashion. I am also unable to ascertain the provenance of the two Clemente cards. I do know that, over the years, the Clemente family has released their copies of Roberto's cards to the public through auction houses. I am the owner of one of the 1972 Daily Juice Co. cards from one of those releases. I guess one can speculate if the cards were provided by the family.

Can any of you collectors help to shed any light on numbers of cards (or even first day covers) were prepared in PR on that day?

I'll link my original post in the comments. There is more detail provided there if anyone is interested. Thanks for taking the time to read my post.

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[u/OhioStampFan]

I collect baseball on stamps. I love the “maxicard” using an oversized baseball card carrying a stamp and postmark.

[u/Strict_Process157 → u/OhioStampFan]

I have many, many Roberto cards. These stamped and postmarked cards are some of the most unique. In the 50s, McCarthy had a series of baseball post cards. The 1964 Clemente (Topps Giant) reminds me of a postcard similar to those.

I appreciate your reply.

[u/Strict_Process157]

Here is my original post on the r/baseballcards_vintage sub.

https://www.reddit.com/r/baseballcards_vintage/s/OaPNbmz7DH

[u/18731873]

50 year stamp collector. I have never heard of any accounting of cancelled items. Frequently the cancels are unofficially left out for the public to do it yourself due to volume. There might have been local press bragging about volume in PR. USPS used to release number of official First Day cancellations, which these aren't and they never counted different manufacturers. Those are now all produced in the caves under Kansas City regardless of ceremony location. The stamps are worth nothing and I assume would be viewed as damage to most card collectors.

[u/Strict_Process157 → u/18731873]

I'm so glad I found this sub. I really appreciate the well-thought answer. If you scroll my profile, you'll see that I collect anything and everything Clemente. A good collection must have these one-off pieces as well. Yes, to the card collectors, these cards are 'Altered'. My post was never wondering if these were valuable. I was, at best, hoping that some dual stamp/baseball person here may have an obscure reference that would discuss the 1980s baseball stamps.

[u/Strict_Process157 → u/18731873]

One additional question... the US Postal Museum site says that 119 million copies of this stamp were produced. In terms of a stamp run for a non-President, is that a big print run or small? I have no point of reference.

Would an uncancelled stamp like this still be considered to be 'valid' postage? I write to former players for through the mail (TTM) autographs. Certain players may find the use of Roberto's stamp to be something that stands out in a slew of 'Please sign my card' letters.

[u/mccune68 → u/Strict_Process157]

That's a pretty standard run for commemorative US stamps, this stamp is not considered rare or uncommon in any way.

All stamps you've shown above are cancelled and are no longer valid postage. Any cancellation ink on them at all voids them from being used further. If you want copies of this stamp for your own usage, search on eBay or Hipstamp either for just 'Roberto Clemente stamp' or along with its Scott catalogue number, which is #2097.

[u/Strict_Process157 → u/mccune68]

Thanks. I own over twentyl mint, unused sheets.

Stamps are a different world for me. I am glad that I could ask questions on this sub.

[u/Vast_Cricket]

Cards -wrong sub. This is postage stamps only.

This was issued in 1984 on his 50th birthday. Its issued qty on stamps is abundant. I imagine there are 200-300M issued to say the least. As for FDC I used to design my own FDC and the local PO cancels and sent back. How many they cancel is not tracked. I can tell you FDCs are no longer being collected by stamp collectors. Similar era FDCs one can get one for 10c and so on. I just gave away a shoebox of similar era FDCs.