Philately

STAMP ANNOUNCEMENT 5-23

To Form a More Perfect Union Souvenir Sheet

The Postal ServiceTM will issue a souvenir sheet of 37-cent, To Form a More Perfect Union commemorative stamps in 10 designs in a pressure-sensitive adhesive (PSA) souvenir sheet of 10 stamps (Item 567100), on August 30, 2005, in the following locations:

• Greensboro, NC 27420

• Jackson, MS 39205

• Little Rock, AR 72202

• Memphis, TN 38101

• Montgomery, AL 36119

• Selma, AL, 36703

• Topeka, KS 66603

• Washington, DC 20066

The stamps designed by Ethel Kessler of Bethesda, Maryland, go on sale nationwide August 30, 2005. This $3.70 souvenir sheet may not be split, and the stamps may not be sold individually. All sales should be recorded under account identifier code (AIC) 092.

The U.S. Postal Service® recognizes the courage and achievements of the men and women who, during the years of the civil rights movement, struggled to bring the vision of the nation's founders closer to reality. Stamp designer Ethel Kessler of Bethesda, Maryland, used details from contemporary artworks to comment on all of the 10 historical events commemorated on this souvenir sheet.

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 OfficeTM, by telephone at 800-STAMP-24, and at the Postal Store Web site at www.usps.com/shop. 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:

TO FORM A MORE PERFECT UNION STAMPS
POSTMASTER
PO BOX 27420
GREENSBORO NC 27420-9998

TO FORM A MORE PERFECT UNION STAMPS
POSTMASTER
GMF PHILATELIC CENTER
401 E SOUTH ST
JACKSON MS 39205-5200

TO FORM A MORE PERFECT UNION STAMPS
POSTMASTER
600 E CAPITOL AVE
LITTLE ROCK AR 72202-9998

TO FORM A MORE PERFECT UNION STAMPS
POSTMASTER
1 N FRONT ST RM 349
MEMPHIS TN 38103-9998

TO FORM A MORE PERFECT UNION STAMPS
POSTMASTER
6701 WINTON BLOUNT BLVD
MONTGOMERY AL 36119-9998

TO FORM A MORE PERFECT UNION STAMPS
POSTMASTER
1301 ALABAMA AVE
SELMA AL 36703-9998

TO FORM A MORE PERFECT UNION STAMPS
POSTMASTER
424 S KANSAS AVE
TOPEKA KS 66603-9998

TO FORM A MORE PERFECT UNION STAMPS
POSTMASTER
900 BRENTWOOD RD NE
WASHINGTON DC 20066-9998

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 September 29, 2005.

How to Order First Day Covers

Stamp Fulfillment Services 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 calling 800-STAMP-24 or writing to:

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

Philatelic Products

There are six philatelic products available for this stamp issue:

• First Day Cover (Full Pane) $6.20 (Item 567162).

• Canceled Full Pane $6.20 (Item 567164).

• Digital Color Postmark Random Single Cover $1.50 (Item 567165).

• Cancellation Keepsake (Pane and Full FDC) $9.90 (Item 567193).

• Cultural Diary Page w/stamp $8.95 (567196).

• DCP Keepsake (FP w/DCP Random Single) $5.20 (567199).

These products will be available while supplies last at postal stores, online at www.usps.com, and by telephone at 800-STAMP-24.

Distribution: Item 567100, $3.70 To Form a More Perfect Union Souvenir Sheet of 10

Stamp distribution offices (SDOs) will receive approximately one-third of their standard automatic distribution quantities for a PSA sheet stamp. Distributions are rounded up to the nearest master carton size (2,000 souvenir sheets/20,000 stamps).

Initial Supply to Post Offices

SDOs will make a subsequent automatic distribution to Post Offices for one-fourth of their standard automatic distribution quantities using PS Form 17, Stamp Requisition/Stamp Return. SDOs must not distribute this souvenir sheet to Post Offices before August 22, 2005.

Philatelic Requirement

SDOs will not receive a separate quantity of this souvenir sheet for their authorized philatelic centers. Philatelic centers must be supplied their quantities from the initial automatic distribution made to SDOs.

Additional Supply

Post Offices requiring additional souvenir sheets must requisition Item 567100 from their designated SDO using PS Form 17. SDOs requiring additional souvenir sheets must order them from the appropriate accountable paper depository (APD) using PS Form 17.

For fulfilling supplemental orders from SDOs, the Memphis APD will receive 480,000 additional souvenir sheets; the Chicago APD will receive 400,000 additional souvenir sheets; the New York, and San Francisco APDs will each receive 360,000 additional souvenir sheets; and the Denver APD will receive 64,000 additional souvenir sheets.

Sales Policy

All Post Offices must acquire and maintain a supply of each new commemorative stamp as long as customer demand exists, until inventory is depleted, or until the stamp is officially withdrawn from sale. If supplies run low, Post Offices must reorder additional quantities using their normal ordering procedures. The $3.70 To Form a More Perfect Union souvenir sheet may not be split and the stamps may not be sold individually.

— Stamp Services,
Government Relations, 8-4-05

STAMP ANNOUNCEMENT 05-24

Child Health Stamp

The Postal ServiceTM will issue a 37-cent, Child Health commemorative stamp in one design in a pressure- sensitive adhesive (PSA) pane of 20 stamps (Item 458500), on September 7, 2005, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The stamp designed by Craig Frazier of Mill Valley, California, also goes on sale September 7, 2005.

The U.S. Postal Service® continues its tradition of drawing attention to important public issues with this stamp promoting children's health. Art director Carl T. Herrman and stamp artist Craig Frazier show a silhouette of a physician placing a stethoscope on a child's chest.

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 OfficeTM, by telephone at 800-STAMP-24, and at the Postal Store Web site at www.usps.com/shop. 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:

CHILD HEALTH COMMEMORATIVE STAMP
POSTMASTER
2970 MARKET ST RM 525
PHILADELPHIA PA 19104-9611

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 October 6, 2005.

How to Order First Day Covers

Stamp Fulfillment Services 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 calling 800-STAMP-24 or writing to:

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

Philatelic Products

There are two philatelic products available for this stamp issue:

• First Day Cover (Single) $0.75 (Item 458561).

• Cancellation Keepsake (cover/pane) $8.15 (Item 458593).

These products will be available while supplies last at postal stores, online at www.usps.com, and by telephone at 800-STAMP-24.

Distribution: Item 458500, 37-cent Child Health Commemorative Stamp

Stamp distribution offices (SDOs) will receive approximately two-thirds of their standard automatic distribution quantity for a PSA sheet stamp. Distributions are rounded up to the nearest master carton size (40,000 stamps).

Initial Supply to Post Offices

SDOs will make a subsequent automatic distribution to Post Offices of one-half their standard automatic distribution quantity using PS Form 17, Stamp Requisition/Stamp Return. SDOs must not distribute stamps to Post Offices before September 1, 2005.

Philatelic Requirement

SDOs will not receive a separate quantity of Item 458500 for their authorized philatelic centers. Philatelic centers must be supplied their quantities from the initial automatic distribution made to SDOs.

Additional Supply

Post Offices requiring additional stamps must requisition Item 458500 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, the San Francisco, Chicago, Memphis, and New York APDs will each receive 2,000,000 additional stamps; and the Denver APD will receive 600,000 additional stamps.

Sales Policy

All Post Offices must acquire and maintain a supply of each new commemorative stamp as long as customer demand exists, until inventory is depleted, or until the stamp is officially withdrawn from sale. If supplies run low, Post Offices must reorder additional quantities using their normal ordering procedures.

— Stamp Services,
Government Relations, 8-4-05

UPDATED ANNOUNCEMENT 05-E

2005 Stamps and Postal Stationery

"2005 Stamps and Postal Stationery" (Announcement 05-E, August 2005), which appears on page 7, replaces the quarterly announcement of the same name, previously printed and sent to customers on request through Stamp Fulfillment Services in Kansas City. The announcement is a listing of stamps and postal stationery items scheduled for issuance during calendar year 2005. Post OfficesTM may wish to post this schedule on their bulletin boards.

Customers may also access the Postal Bulletin through the Postal ServiceTM Web site at www.usps.com; click on About USPS & News, then Forms & Publications, then Postal Bulletin.

This announcement will be updated every 2 to 3 months, as changes warrant.

How to Order First Day of Issue Cancellations and Covers

Customers may purchase new stamps or postal stationery items at their Post Office, from the USA Philatelic catalog, by calling 800-STAMP-24, or online at www.usps.com by clicking on Buy Stamps & Shop. Then they should prepare their own covers by affixing new stamps to the upper- right corner of envelopes or postcards of their choice, and address those envelopes, postcards, or postal stationery items to themselves or others. (Postage must equal the current First-Class Mail® rate.) For sturdiness, include a card of postcard thickness in each cover (envelopes only) submitted, and tuck in the flap. Place the cover in a larger envelope addressed to:

NAME OF ISSUE
POSTMASTER
CITY STATE ZIP CODE (followed by -9991).

Covers submitted for first day of issue cancellations may include additional uncancelled stamps only if the uncancelled stamps were issued before the first day of issue of the new stamps or postal stationery items. All orders must be postmarked on or before the deadline indicated in the "2005 Stamps and Postal Stationery" announcement on page 7.

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

— Stamp Services,
Government Relations, 8-4-05