WASHINGTON — With the holidays approaching, the Postal Service is offering two great educational gifts the entire family can enjoy — the 2015 Stamp Yearbook and the latest Guide to U.S. Stamps.

2015 Stamp Yearbook
Following is a sampling of fascinating information gleaned from the yearbook on just a handful of 2015 stamp subjects.

• Of the several million Americans who served in the Vietnam War, 258 received the Medal of Honor — our nation’s most prestigious military decoration. Most recipients performing their selfless courageous acts received the honor posthumously.
• The U.S. Coast Guard conducted 17,491 rescue missions last year and saved 3,430 lives.
• Oscar-winning actor, philanthropist and auto racer Paul Newman changed the number on his race car to match his age. The last car he raced was number 82. His philanthropic efforts have raised more than $430 million for thousands of charities.
• Elvis Presley sold out every one of his 1,140 concerts after serving in the Army. No one has surpassed his record for scoring the most Top 40 hits, a total of 114.
• Emperor penguins can dive deeper than 1,500 feet in pursuit of fish, squid and crustaceans — farther than any other bird — and can stay submerged for nearly 20 minutes.

Stamps highlighted in the yearbook include: Music Icons: Elvis Presley; The War of 1812: Battle of New Orleans; United States Coast Guard; From Me to You; Legends of Hollywood: Ingrid Bergman; Medal of Honor: Vietnam War; Celebrating Lunar New Year: Year of the Ram; Maya Angelou; Missing Children; Martin Ramirez; Special Olympics World Games; Gifts of Friendship; Black Heritage: Robert Robinson Taylor; World Stamp Show-NY 2016; Paul Newman; The Civil War: 1865; Eastern Tiger Swallowtail; Water Lilies; Summer Harvest; Literary Arts: Flannery O’Connor; Penguins; Weddings, Vintage Rose and Vintage Tulip; Stars and Stripes; Coastal Birds; Love: Forever Hearts; Neon Celebrate!; Holiday: A Charlie Brown Christmas; Patriotic Wave; and, Geometric Snowflakes.

The 64-page hardcover stamp yearbook includes:

• 64 stamps from the 2015 collectible program, plus mounts.
• Lively stories and smart facts surrounding each stamp subject.
• Historic photographs and beautiful imagery related to each issue.
• Placeholders throughout the book for preserving the stamps.
• Protective sleeve packaging.

The 2015 Stamp Yearbook sells for $64.95 (Item #991500) and can be ordered at usps.com, on ebay.com/stamps at this link via the USA Philatelic catalog or by calling 800-782-6724 (800-STAMP-24). The Mail-Use Stamp Packet (Item #991504) contains 50 stamps, plus mounts, and sells for $27.95. The 2015 Stamp Yearbook/stamp packet bundle sells for $92.90 (Item #991507).

Guide to U.S. Stamps

In an easy-to-use oversize format, The Postal Service Guide to U.S. Stamps — 42nd Edition (Item #891500), is just the delivery you’ve been waiting for. At $39.95, the official publication provides the most comprehensive information available about the U.S. stamp program. This classic guide is redesigned for 2015, offering refreshed content from cover to cover.

Highlights include:

• A complete redesign transforms the guide into an attractive and highly functional philatelic reference.
• New copy and art illustrates the Postmasters’ Provisionals of 1845-47.
• A handsome new design and a highly functional format bring new clarity for each stamp listing, and a much improved user experience for collectors.
• The 2015 stamp program is included with first-day-of-issue details.
• The anecdotal narrative introduces each era of the U.S. stamp program.
• A new and expanded resource section, a glossary explaining important philatelic and postal terms, and more.

Customers can purchase the yearbook and guide at usps.com and ebay.com or by calling 800-STAMP 24 (800-782-6724) and at select Post Offices nationwide.

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