Download this report as an MP3 sound file.


For broadcast on CBS Radio Network stations 
December 29-30, 2001:


Up close and personal.


The Stamp Collecting Report, I'm Lloyd de Vries.
 
Taiwan is the latest country to issue stamps with personal 
photos on them -- and they sound like a hit. A third of the 
stamps printed sold the first day.



Each sheet has five themes that sound like greeting cards, 
two designs per theme.


With the popularity of these personal stamps in every country 
that's issued them, and the U-S Postal Service's money 
problems, you may wonder why we haven't seen them here.


Well, the Taiwanese stamps were only available in five 
locations, or by mail and Internet. We have almost 13 times as 
many people, nearly 300 times as much land. 


Taiwan reserved the right to reject photographs that were 
-- quote -- "in poor taste or morally repugnant." Could you 
imagine that working here? 


Other countries insisted the photos be taken by postal workers...
Now, how good is YOUR driver's license photo?


Besides, you have to be dead to be on a U-S stamp.


It'll probably happen here...it's just going to take some time 
to work out the details.


And that's stamp collecting this week. 


I'm Lloyd de Vries, CBS News.

----------------------------------------------------------
Go to Previous Report
Go to Next Report 

Go to Report Index
 
Return to Virtual Stamp Club Home Page