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For broadcast on CBS Radio Network stations 
May 25-26, 2002:


Greetings Again


The Stamp Collecting Report, I'm Lloyd de Vries.
 
In early April, the Postal Service issued what it expected to be its major
issue of the year, the Greetings from America stamps. Each of the 50 stamps
represents a different state, promoting tourism, with large lettering like
those old postcards.


And, it does seem that the issue was successful. Even non-collectors wanted
them, and many post offices have run out of the stamps already.


But the postal rates go up at the end of June, and these colorful 34-cent
stamps become obsolete then. Even though they're supposed to stay on sale
longer than usual, there's no reason to print more of them.


Or is there? Last summer, in announcing the issue, the postal person in
charge of stamps said if the Greetings stamps sold well, they might be
reissued at the new rate.


So far, though, there's no word on whether we'll see 37-cent versions.


Some stamp collectors, by the way, have noticed that mailers using the
Greetings stamps tend to use the stamp that represents the state of the
recipient.


And that's stamp collecting this week. 


I'm Lloyd de Vries, CBS News.


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