Philately

STAMP ANNOUNCEMENT 06-27

Migratory Bird Hunting and Conservation Stamp

The U.S. Department of the Interior will formally issue the $15 Migratory Bird Hunting and Conservation stamp for the 2006-2007 waterfowl hunting season at the 2006 World Philatelic Exhibition in Washington, DC, on June 1, 2006. The Migratory Bird stamp goes on sale at Post OfficesTM nationwide June 2, 2006, and is valid through June 29, 2007.

The Migratory Bird Hunting and Conservation stamp will be issued in two formats: (1) in the traditional water-activated gum (WAG) pane of 20 stamps (Item 332100), and (2) in a pressure-sensitive adhesive (PSA) single stamp (Item 332200). The stamp size in the pressure sensitive version is the same size as the water-activated version and can be peeled from its carrier sheet. The carrier sheet is the size of U.S. paper currency and fits easily in cash drawers.

Postmasters should requisition sufficient quantities of Items 332100 and 332200 to meet the expected demand for this item by stamp collectors, conservationists, and hunters.

Distribution

Stamp Distribution Offices. Stamp Distribution Offices (SDOs) will receive automatic distributions of Item 332100 and Item 332200, Migratory Bird Hunting and Conservation

stamps. Automatic distributions to SDOs began April 15, 2006, and were completed April 26, 2006. SDOs must not distribute the Migratory Bird Hunting and Conservation stamps to Post Offices before May 26, 2006.

SDOs requiring additional quantities of Item 332100 or Item 332200 must requisition them from a designated accountable paper depository (APD) using PS Form 17, Stamp Requisition/Stamp Return.

Post Offices. To allow postmasters to be able to order the 2006-2007 Migratory Bird Hunting and Conservation stamps in quantities approximating customer demand, there is no minimum ordering quantity for either format. Postmasters should review their previous year's sales records to determine the appropriate number of the 2006-2007 Migratory Bird Hunting and Conservation stamps to requisition.

Postmasters must immediately send a separate PS Form 17 to their SDOs for a sufficient number of Migratory Bird Hunting and Conservation stamps to last until April 28, 2007. Post Offices served by Stamp Service Centers (SSCs) must follow their established ordering guidelines.

If the initial stamp supply is exhausted before April 28, 2007, postmasters must requisition additional quantities. Retail units with authorized philatelic centers should order both formats of the stamps and have them available to meet philatelic demand. All postmasters/station managers must ensure that Migratory Bird Hunting and Conservation stamps are available to meet public demand.

Hunting Regulations Pamphlets

The Department of the Interior does not automatically distribute pamphlets on hunting regulations because migratory game bird laws vary by state. Direct all inquiries about hunting regulations to your state fish and wildlife agency or your state department of natural resources. Do not forward your inquiries to the U.S. Department of the Interior's U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

— Stamp Services,
Government Relations, 5-11-06

STAMP ANNOUNCEMENT 06-28

Ronald Reagan Stamp

The Postal ServiceTM will issue a 39-cent Ronald Reagan commemorative stamp in one design in a pressure-sensitive adhesive (PSA) pane of 20 stamps (Item 568900), on June 14, 2006, in Simi Valley, California. The stamp, designed by Howard E. Paine, Delaplane, Virginia, goes on sale nationwide June 15, 2006.

The stamp honors former President Ronald Reagan, who died on June 5, 2004. The stamp art is a portrait of Reagan painted by award-winning artist Michael J. Deas of Brooklyn Heights, New York. The portrait is based on a 1981 photograph of Reagan by White House photographer Jack Kightlinger.

The Ronald Reagan stamp, which is being reissued with the 39-cent denomination, was first issued on February 9, 2005, with a 37-cent denomination.

How to Order 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:

RONALD REAGAN STAMP
POSTMASTER
2551 N GALENA AVE
SIMI VALLEY CA 93065-9998

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 July 13, 2006.

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 no philatelic products for this stamp issue.

Distribution: Item 568900, 39-cent Ronald Reagan, PSA Pane of 20 Stamps

Stamp distribution offices (SDOs) will receive approximately one-half 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 June 9, 2006.

Philatelic Requirement

SDOs will not receive a separate quantity Item 568900 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 568900 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, and San Francisco APD will receive 2,080,000 additional stamps; the Memphis, Chicago, and New York APDs will each receive 1,440,000 additional stamps; and the Denver APD will receive 440,000 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, 5-11-06

CORRECTION

The 1606 Voyage of Samuel de Champlain Stamps

In the article, "Stamp Announcement 06-24: The 1606 Voyage of Samuel de Champlain Stamps" in Postal Bulletin 22179 (4-27-06, pages 81-84), in the technical details table, the measurements for the full sheet size are not correct.

The correct measurements for the full sheet size are 8 x 5.75 in./203.200 x 143.050 mm.

— Stamp Services,
Government Relations, 5-11-06

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.

The following postmark has been extended for 30 days.

April 24-June 10, 2006

Fiesta of Five Flags Association

FIESTA STATION

POSTMASTER

PO BOX 17000

PENSACOLA FL 32522-9996

— Stamp Services,
Government Relations, 5-11-06

— Mailing Standards, Pricing and Classification, 5-11-06