Virtual Stamp Club

The U.S. Postal Service added a stamp midway through the year: Thank You Health Community. Other stamps in the 2024 program emphasize flowers, beauty, preservation and Black History, but some of the issues are just for fun.

U.S. 2024 Stamp Program

Last Updated October 7: Adds catalogue number for Continental Congress (5939).

Latest USPS rates: Letters are now 73¢. Other rates are here.

USPS Raises Holiday Package Increase
It is in effect through January 19^th and covers Priority Mail, Priority Mail Express, and Ground Advantage.

No Rate Hike in January! The Postmaster General says it isn't necessary. Details here.

Canada's 2024 Stamp Program Canada Post hasn't announced all the other details, but what we know so far is here.

Last Updated October 7. Canada is honoring two ground-breaking music video channels

Ireland Honors Musicians An Post has issued stamps for Sinéad O’Connor, Shane MacGowan, Christy Dignam and Séamus Begley, all of whom died last year. The set of four stamps is called "Iconic Irish Voices." The Irish Independent's story is here.

Sundman Steps Down As Mystic President Mysic Stamp Company has chosen a new president, and his name isn't Sundman: It's Tom Vasiliauskas. Don Sundman remains Chairman of the Board. He and the Mystic both have an enviable record of philatelic philanthropy. Updated October 9^th with Don Sundman's comments to The Virtual Stamp Club on the change in leadership .

Linn's Ends Print Editions Linn's Stamp News, the major U.S. weekly philatelic publication, is no longer offering printed issues. It had been alternating issues that were digital-only and available in both formats. The change is retroactive to the issue that went online in mid-August. The publisher cites a shift in readership and "unsustainable" costs. Read more here, then take our polls for Print subscribers, and leave your comments, too.

FDC Cachet Contest ResultsA surprise winner — Kevin Colton not only took the top award in the American First Day Cover Society's annual design contest, his KSC Cachets won in three categories and practically swept the Foreign category. He had never entered the contest before! See why here as we present the winners for the 27^th year.

AFDCS press release with more on "King Colton"

Trettin (right), Reinhard, Stotts Get Luff It's the American Philatelic Society's top award for a lifetime of achievement and service to stamp collecting. Read why Jay Stotts, Steve Reinhard and Ken Trettin are this year's honorees.

AFDCS Offers 30,000 Pennies Of the equivalent, actually ($300) to the new member who gets assigned member-number 30,000. The person or group who proposes Member #30,000 will get the same prize, too. It could happens soon. Details here.

Answers to Basic Exhibiting Q's Columnist John Hotchner has done it all: Won gold medals, awarded gold medals, and chaired the judging committees at national exhibitions. He answers basic questions about exhibiting — how it works and how you can find out more.

Horsing Around Is A Dutch Treat More than half a million people in the Netherlands regularly ride horses, making the animal a worthy entry in the Typically Dutch series. Earlier entries were cows and dogs. We'll even explain why these two horses appear so taken with each other even though they're blue.

Netherlands 2024 stamp program

"Help! I just inherited this stamp collection!"
Just been given Aunt Matilda's old stamp collection and don't know what to do with it? We can help.

Want to Know What Other Collectors Think? The Virtual Stamp Club has its own comments section as well as a Facebook Group. Or visit the former home of The VSC (1996-2013), now called The Stamp Collecting Forum.

Quotable: "I started at Mystic in 1974 so worked here 50 years this spring. ... It's time for a younger leader with great ideas and energy."
— Don Sundman, on stepping down as president of Mystic Stamp Company

Last Updated October 9