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For broadcast on CBS Radio Network stations August 14-15, 2004:

Not Dead Yet

The Stamp Collecting Report, I'm Lloyd de Vries. 

Think stamp collecting is dying out?

"Profit before tax was up 86% on the same period last year."
RUNS :05

Mike Hall is chief executive of Stanley Gibbons in London, one of the biggest stamp dealers in 
the world.

"We're enjoying a strong philatelic market at this time, and with a renewed interest in stamp 
collecting worldwide."
RUNS :06

For everyone, Hall says, not just his firm. It's partly because so many Baby Boomers are 
retiring...

"...which is the most-common age for people to rekindle childhood hobbies, one of the main ones 
being stamp collecting."
RUNS :07

While the markets in Britain and the U-S may be graying, that's not true everywhere.

"The Far East is a new market, with a lot of youngsters very keen on the hobby...A typical 
stamp show in, say, Hong Kong will attract 200,000 visitors."
RUNS :10

Another factor, Hall says, is the Internet, which, for the first time, allows truly global 
trading.

And that's Stamp Collecting this week. 

I'm Lloyd de Vries, CBS News. 

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