Philately

UPDATED ANNOUNCEMENT 06-D

2006 Stamps and Postal Stationery

"2006 Stamps and Postal Stationery" (Updated Announcement 06-D, March 2006), which appears on pages 9–11, 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 2006. 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 Postmarks 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 postmarks may include additional uncanceled stamps only if the uncanceled 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 "2006 Stamps and Postal Stationery" announcement on pages 9–11.

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

— Stamp Services,
Government Relations, 3-30-06

2006 STAMPS AND POSTAL STATIONERY

This schedule is subject to change. Updated Announcement 06-D (March 2006)

This is a periodic announcement of new stamps and postal stationery items being issued during the calendar year. For additional information on stamps and stamp products, visit our Postal Store Web site at www.usps.com.

Note Descriptions

C: Change in previously announced date, site, and/or rate

N: New issue

P: Pictorial first day postmark

1: Customers must affix additional postage to bring total postage to at least the minimum First-Class Mail® rate for an envelope or stamped card, depending on which is used. Also, the cost for a stamped envelope is the value of the postage plus 8 cents, and the cost for a stamped card is the value of the postage plus 2 cents.

2: Issued to kick off National Stamp Collecting Month

Pictorial Postmarks Announcement

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

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

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

Customers wishing to obtain a postmark 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 POSTMARKS, 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 postmark, as long as they supply a larger envelope with adequate postage and their return address. After applying the pictorial postmark, the Postal Service returns the items (with or without addresses) under addressed protective cover.

— Stamp Services,
Government Relations, 3-30-06

— Mailing Standards, Pricing and Classification, 3-30-06