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For broadcast on CBS Radio Network stations April 9-10, 2005:

Real Life Intrudes

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

Recent events are likely to have an impact on stamps people collect.

First, the pope's funeral pushed back the date of Britain's royal wedding by a day, so the 
release of the British stamps marking the occasion also was delayed. But the official postmark 
will still read April 8th -- even though the stamps weren't on sale then.

Second, when a pope dies, the Vatican issues special stamps noting the papal vacancy. These 
"sede vacante" stamps may only be used until the next pope is chosen.

And, probably lost in all the news about the Pope, was the decision by the Postal Service to 
ask permission to raise rates next year. It's not really a surprise -- the Postmaster General 
had said rates wouldn't go up at least until Two Thousand Six, which everyone assumed meant 
they WOULD go up in Two Thousand Six. The Postal Service wants about five-and-a-half percent 
more, which would mean two cents more to mail a letter and other new rates. And new rates 
mean new stamps.

That's Stamp Collecting this week. 

I'm Lloyd de Vries, CBS News. 

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