Philately (continued)

STAMP ANNOUNCEMENT 02-25

Edna Ferber Definitive Stamp

The Postal Service will issue an 83-cent Edna Ferber (3 oz.) definitive stamp (Item 108300) in a pressure- sensitive adhesive (PSA) pane of 20 on July 29, 2002, in Appleton, Wisconsin. The stamp, designed by Mark Summers, Waterdown, Ontario, Canada, goes on sale nationwide July 30, 2002.

This definitive stamp is fourth in the Distinguished American series and honors Pulitzer Prize-winning author Edna Ferber. Ferber's insatiable curiosity and love for American life made her one of the most popular authors of her time. Her works reached from shore to shore, painting a vivid portrait of American life in the early 20th century. Her musical version of Show Boat, portraying life on the Mississippi River aboard a floating theatre, enjoyed a record-breaking 572 performances during its first run on Broadway.

How to Order the First Day of Issue Postmark

Customers have 30 days to obtain the first day of issue postmark by mail. They may purchase the new stamp at their local Post Office, by telephone at 800-STAMP-24, and at the Postal Store Web site at www.usps.com. They should affix the stamps to envelopes of their choice, address the envelopes (to themselves or others), and place them in a larger envelope addressed to:

EDNA FERBER DEFINITIVE STAMP
POSTMASTER
410 FRANKLIN ST
APPLETON WI 54911-9998

After applying the first day of issue postmark, the Postal Service will return the envelopes through the mail. There is no charge for the postmark. All orders must be postmarked by August 28, 2002.

Stamp Fulfillment Services (SFS) also offers first day covers for new stamp issues and Postal Service stationery items postmarked with the official first day of issue cancellation. Each item has an individual catalog number and is offered in the quarterly USA Philatelic catalog. Customers may request a free catalog by telephoning 800-STAMP-24 or writing to:

INFORMATION FULFILLMENT
DEPT 6270
US POSTAL SERVICE
PO BOX 219014
KANSAS CITY MO 64121-9014

First day covers remain on sale for at least 1 year after the stamp's issuance.

Philatelic Products

There are no philatelic products for this stamp issue.

Distribution: Item 108300 Edna Ferber (3 oz.) Pane of 20 (PSA)

Stamp distribution offices (SDOs) will receive two waves of automatic distribution for this 83-cent definitive PSA sheet stamp. Wave 1 shipments began June 19, 2002, and will be complete July 15, 2002. Wave 2 shipments will begin July 24, 2002, and will be complete August 14, 2002. Distributions are rounded up to the nearest master carton size (40,000 stamps).

Initial Supply to Post Offices

SDOs will not make a subsequent automatic distribution to Post Offices. Post Offices requiring quantities of Item 108300 must order them from their designated SDO using a separate PS Form 17, Stamp Requisition. SDOs must not distribute stamps to Post Offices before July 22, 2002.

Philatelic Requirement

Authorized philatelic centers requiring the 83-cent Edna Ferber definitive stamp pane of 20 must order Item 108300 from their designated SDO using a separate PS Form 17.

Additional Supply

Post Offices requiring additional stamps must requisition them from their designated SDO using PS Form 17. SDOs requiring additional stamps must order them from the appropriate accountable paper depository (APD) using PS Form 17.

For fulfilling supplemental orders from SDOs, San Francisco, Chicago, Memphis, and New York APDs will each receive 2,000,000 additional stamps and Denver will receive 1,000,000 additional stamps.

For fulfilling supplemental orders from APDs, the Kansas City Stamp Service Center will receive 12,000,000 additional stamps.

- Stamp Services,
Government Relations and Public Policy, 6-27-02

STAMP ANNOUNCEMENT 02-26

Antique Toys Definitive Stamps

The Postal Service will issue four 37-cent Antique Toys definitive stamps in a pressure-sensitive adhesive (PSA) convertible book of 20 (670400), PSA vending book of 20 (Item 670500), and a PSA coil of 100 (Item 780400), on July 26, 2002, in Rochester, New York. The stamps, designed by Derry Noyes, Washington, DC, and photographed by Sally Andersen-Bruce, New Milford, Connecticut, will go on sale nationwide July 27, 2002.

The 37-cent Antique Toys definitive stamps feature four antique American toy vehicles from the Strong Museum in Rochester, New York: a bright red U.S. Mail truck with a spring wound mechanism, a yellow taxicab, a mechanical locomotive of cast iron and stamped tin, and a fiery red steam pumper complete with two firemen. Made primarily of cast iron, the toys were manufactured between 1880 and 1925.

How to Order the First Day of Issue Postmark

Customers have 30 days to obtain the first day of issue postmark by mail. They may purchase new stamps at their local Post Office, by telephone at 800-STAMP-24, and at the Postal Store Web site at www.usps.com. They should affix the stamps to envelopes of their choice, address the envelopes (to themselves or others), and place them in a larger envelope addressed to:

ANTIQUE TOYS DEFINITIVE STAMPS
POSTMASTER
1335 JEFFERSON RD
ROCHESTER NY 14692-9998

After applying the first day of issue postmark, the Postal Service will return the envelopes through the mail. There is no charge for the postmark. All orders must be postmarked by August 26, 2002.

Stamp Fulfillment Services (SFS) also offers first day covers for new stamp issues and Postal Service stationery items postmarked with the official first day of issue cancellation. Each item has an individual catalog number and is offered in the quarterly USA Philatelic catalog.

Customers may request a free catalog by telephoning 800-STAMP-24 or writing to:

INFORMATION FULFILLMENT
DEPT 6270
US POSTAL SERVICE
PO BOX 219014
KANSAS CITY MO 64121-9014

First day covers remain on sale for at least 1 year after the stamp's issuance.

Philatelic Products

There are no philatelic products for this stamp issue.

Distribution: Item 670400 Antique Toys Definitive Stamps Convertible Booklet of 20 (PSA)

Stamp distribution offices (SDOs) will receive two waves of automatic distribution for the denominated Antique Toys definitive stamps PSA booklet of 20. Wave 1 shipments, consisting of approximately two-thirds the standard automatic distribution quantity, began June 10, 2002, and will be complete July 15, 2002. Wave 2 shipments, consisting of approximately one-half the standard automatic distribution quantity, will begin September 3, 2002, and will be complete October 18, 2002. Distributions are rounded up to the nearest master carton size (4,000 booklets).

Initial Supply to Post Offices

SDOs will not make a subsequent automatic distribution to Post Offices. Post Offices requiring quantities of item 670400 must order them from their designated SDO using a separate PS Form 17, Stamp Requisition. SDOs must not distribute booklets to Post Offices before July 22, 2002.

Philatelic Requirement

Authorized philatelic centers requiring the denominated Antique Toys definitive stamps PSA booklet of 20 must order Item 670400 from their designated SDO using a separate PS Form 17.

Additional Supply

Post Offices requiring additional stamps must requisition them from their designated SDO using PS Form 17. SDOs requiring additional stamps must order them from the appropriate accountable paper depository (APD) using PS Form 17.

Initially, for fulfilling supplemental orders from SDOs, San Francisco, Chicago, Memphis, and New York APDs will each receive 400,000 additional booklets and Denver APD will receive 148,000 additional booklets. Following wave 2, increased booklet quantities will be provided to the APDs for fulfilling supplemental orders from SDOs. The San Francisco, Chicago, Memphis, and New York APDs will each receive 800,000 additional booklets and Denver APD will receive 348,000 additional booklets.

Distribution: Items 670500 and 670511, Antique Toys Definitive Stamps Folded Vending Book of 20 (PSA) (Vending Use Only)

SDOs will receive two waves of automatic distribution for the Antique Toys definitive stamps folded vending books of 20. Wave 1 shipments will begin July 8, 2002, and will be complete July 24, 2002. Wave 2 shipments will begin September 16, 2002, and will be complete October 25, 2002. Distributions are rounded up to the nearest master carton size (4,500 books for straight; 3,000 books for criss-cross).

Initial Supply to Post Offices

SDOs will not make a subsequent automatic distribution to Post Offices. Only Post Offices equipped with the appropriate self-service vending machines may order these items from their designated SDO using a separate PS Form 17. SDOs must not distribute books to Post Offices before July 22, 2002.

Additional Supply

Authorized Post Offices, requiring additional books for restocking of the appropriate self-service vending machines, must requisition them from their designated SDO using PS Form 17.

Initially, additional quantities will not be available at APDs for supplemental ordering by SDOs. Following wave 2, however, additional books will be provided to the APDs for fulfilling supplemental orders from SDOs

Distribution: Item 780400 Antique Toys Definitive Stamps Coil of 100 (PSA)

SDOs will receive three waves of automatic distribution for the Antique Toys definitive stamps PSA coil of 100. Wave 1 shipments began May 28, 2002, and were completed June 19, 2002. Wave 2 shipments will begin July 8, 2002, and will be complete July 26, 2002. Wave 3 shipments will begin August 12, 2002, and will be complete August 30, 2002. Distributions are rounded up to the nearest master carton size (800 coils).

Initial Supply to Post Offices

SDOs will not make a subsequent automatic distribution to Post Offices. Post Offices requiring quantities of Item 780400 must order them from their designated SDO using a separate PS Form 17. SDOs must not distribute coils to Post Offices before July 22, 2002.

Philatelic Requirement

Authorized philatelic centers requiring the Antique Toys definitive stamps PSA coil of 100 must order Item 780400 from their designated SDO using a separate PS Form 17.

Additional Supply

Post Offices requiring additional coils must requisition them from their designated SDO using PS Form 17. SDOs requiring additional coils must order them from the appropriate APD using PS Form 17.

Initially, additional coil quantities will not be available at APDs for supplemental ordering by SDOs. Following wave 3, however, additional coils will be provided to the APDs for fulfilling supplemental orders from SDOs. The San Francisco, Chicago, Memphis, and New York APDs will each receive 230,400 additional coils, and the Denver APD will receive 115,200 additional coils.

- Stamp Services,
Government Relations and Public Policy, 6-27-02

Pictorial Cancellations Announcement

As a community service, the Postal Service offers pictorial cancellations to commemorate local events celebrated in communities throughout the nation. A list of events for which pictorial cancellations are authorized appears below. If available, the sponsor of the pictorial cancellation appears in italics under the date. Also provided, as space permits, are illustrations of those cancellations that were reproducible and available at press time.

People attending these local events may obtain the cancellation in person at the temporary Post Office station established there. Those who cannot attend the event, but who wish to obtain the cancellation, may submit a mail order request. Pictorial cancellations are available only for the dates indicated, and requests must be postmarked no later than 30 days following the requested pictorial cancellation date.

All requests must include a stamped envelope or postcard bearing at least the minimum First-Class Mail® postage. Items submitted for cancellation may not include postage issued after the date of the requested cancellation. Such items will be returned unserviced.

Customers wishing to obtain a cancellation should affix stamps to any envelope or postcard of their choice, address the envelope or postcard to themselves or others,insert a card of postcard thickness in envelopes for sturdiness, and tuck in the flap. Place the envelope or postcard in a larger envelope and address it to: PICTORIAL CANCELLATIONS, followed by the NAME OF THE STATION,ADDRESS, CITY, STATE, ZIP + 4 CODE, exactly as listed below (using all capitals and no punctuation, except thehyphen in the ZIP + 4 code).

Customers can also send stamped envelopes and postcards without addresses for cancellation, as long as they supply a larger envelope with adequate postage and their return address. After applying the pictorial cancellation, the Postal Service returns the items (with or without addresses) under addressed protective cover.

- Stamp Services,
Government Relations and Public Policy, 6-27-02

Special Cancellation Die Hubs

Postmasters and plant managers who have any of the special cancellation die hubs listed below may use them for the periods designated. At the end of the period, these die hubs must be withdrawn and stored. Postmasters and plant managers who do not have these special die hubs may not request them from the sponsors.

Retail

REMINDER

Standard International Postal Money Orders - Discontinued August 10, 2002

Effective August 10, 2002, the Postal Service will discontinue standard international postal money orders, both incoming and outgoing (see International Mail Manual 371.2a). The Authorization To Issue International Money Order (ATI) form set will be discontinued. This does not affect the sale of direct money orders (Form MP 1) issued to those countries with whom we have agreements.

August 9, 2002, is the last day that standard international postal money orders using the ATI may be sold.

- Retail Marketing,
Service and Market Development, 6-27-02

Supply Management

CLARIFICATION

Heroes of 2001 Pins for Sale

Use of the Heroes of 2001 stamp image remains highly restricted. The Postal Service has now been granted the right to use the image on pins for postal premiums.

The pins can be used only as giveaway items for employees and customers. The pins are not for resale.

You can order the pins using authorized Postal Service purchasing methods from the following list of official licensees. If you have questions on pricing, quantity, or any other purchasing information, please contact the companies listed below.

- Licensing, Public Affairs and Communications, 6-27-02

ALL EMPLOYEES

New Mandatory Contract for Temporary Personnel Services

Supply Management, in concert with Human Resources, recently awarded a nationwide contract for temporary personnel services to Manpower. The contract is for 2 years with three 1-year renewal options. Under this contract, Manpower will provide full-time and part-time temporary staff for 33 labor and skill categories, including clerical, administrative, paraprofessional, technical, and light industrial. Postal Service employees must use Manpower to fill all temporary positions except casual labor positions (i.e., casual carriers, mail handlers, and casual clerks).

In fiscal year 2002, we anticipate that the Manpower contract will save the Postal Service $547,200. Additionally, we have negotiated savings of $361,600 over 24 months (the base period of the contract). The contract also includes an option to use eBuy, which could result in further savings.

Area Human Resources offices will receive a list of the 33 labor and skill categories and a letter outlining the policies and procedures that Postal Service staff must follow when contracting for Headquarters and Headquarters field temporary services. We will issue policies and procedures for filling temporary casual labor positions in the near future. To request temporary employment services from Manpower in the interim, contact Shirley Martin, contracting officer's representative, at 202-268-5884.

- Supply Management Infrastructure,
Supply Management, 6-27-02

®

This office will be CLOSED

Thursday,
July 4, 2002,

to celebrate
Independence Day.

®

This office will be CLOSED

Thursday,
July 4, 2002,

to celebrate
Independence Day.

Postal Bulletin Distribution

The GPO distributes the Postal Bulletin for the Postal Service to all postal facilities except classified stations and branches, contract postal units, and detached mail units, which receive copies from their administrative post office. The Postal Bulletin is also available online at http://www.usps.com (click on Info, then Postal Periodicals and Publications).

If your postal facility has access to cc:Mail, you may send a request for a new subscription order, an address and/or quantity change, or a subscription query to the cc:Mail address POSTAL BULLETIN. If you are using another email product, you can use the Internet emailaddress pbulleti@email.usps.gov.

If you do not have access to email, you may complete the order form and mail it to:

ATTN POSTAL BULLETIN
US POSTAL SERVICE
475 L'ENFANT PLZ SW RM 5540
WASHINGTON DC 20260-5540

Either way you send it, please include the "PO0"subscription number from your address label.