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

The Postmaster General says there won't be a rate increase next year -- and that's going 
to have an effect on what stamps are issued when.

With an annual increase in May, most stamps were pushed back until later in the year, so 
they'd be useful for a longer time. Now, with no rate hike next year, a stamp issued in 
March will still mail a letter in July.

Some release dates are fixed by the calendar. The Lunar New Year stamps always come out 
in January, before the festival starts, and next year's Winter Olympics stamp also will 
be issued in January, before officials "let the games begin." Anything else wouldn't 
make sense.

But last year, the Postal Service moved the annual Black Heritage stamp to June, so it 
would have more of a shelf life before the rate change. There was some thought the 20-10 
entry in the series, film-maker Oscar Micheaux, would move back to February, Black History 
Month, if rates stayed the same...but no, right now, it's still set for four months later.

However, it's likely other stamps will be moved around the calendar, to even out the 
schedule.

You can see most of the sobjects planned for next year at virtual-stamp-club-dot-com -- 
but WHEN those stamps will be issued is still up in the air. 

I'm Lloyd de Vries of The Virtual Stamp Club. For more on stamps and stamp collecting, 
visit virtual-stamp-club-dot-com. 

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