‘Thank You’ for the New Stamps

Taking a cue from greeting card companies, the U.S. Postal Service on Monday issued a series of “Special Occasions” stamps, with messages including “Happy Birthday,” “Get Well” and “Love You, Mother.”

The 22-cent stamps, issued in Atlanta and available in post offices around the country starting today, are packaged in booklets of 10 for $2.20. Each booklet contains stamps reading “Get Well,” “Thank You,” “Love You, Dad,” “Love You, Mother,” “Best Wishes” and “Keep In Touch,” plus two each of the “Happy Birthday” and “Congratulations” stamps.

Artwork for the new issues, by designer Oren Sherman of Boston, includes flowers, balloons, fireworks, birthday cake and--on the “Love You, Dad” stamp--eyeglasses, a newspaper crossword puzzle and a steaming cup of coffee.