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For broadcast on CBS Radio Network stations March 3-4, 2007:

Mourning Dawns for Stamp Collecting

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

Back when mail was the principle means of long-distance personal communication, death 
announcements would be mailed, often printed on special envelopes and cards. Many of 
these mailing pieces survive, and are collected.

Also produced back then, just as today, was advertising mail -- and some of that was 
for funeral homes and other burial services.
Some of these pieces are quite ornate, although -- understandably -- in black-and-white.

There's now a club called the Mourning Stamps and Cover Club. Their interests also 
include stamps issued to mark the deaths of famous people.

It may seem a rather morbid subject, but that doesn't mean it can't be fun. In the press 
release announcing the club's formation, one of the collaborators is listed as Paul Bearer. 
Another member we're told uses only a first initial -- M. Balmer.

The Mourning club already has thirty-five members in four countries -- living, that is.

And that's Stamp Collecting this week. I'm Lloyd de Vries, CBS News. 

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