Philately

STAMP ANNOUNCEMENT 06-36

Southern Florida Wetland Stamps

The Postal ServiceTM will issue a commemorative sheet of the 39-cent Southern Florida Wetland stamps in 10 designs (Item 567400) on October 4, 2006, at the Naples Zoo and Caribbean Gardens in Naples, Florida.

The stamps designed by Ethel Kessler of Bethesda, Maryland, and illustrated by John D. Dawson of Hilo, Hawaii, go on sale nationwide on October 5, 2006. This $3.90 commemorative sheet may not be split, and the stamps may not be sold individually.

A $7.95 stamped postal cards set of 10 in 10 designs (Item 885300), will also be available.

The Southern Florida Wetland stamps are the eighth in the Nature of America series designed to promote appreciation of major plant and animal communities in the United States. The previous issuances in the series were Northeast Deciduous Forest (2005), Pacific Coral Reef (2004), Arctic Tundra (2003), Longleaf Pine Forest (2002), Great Plains Prairie (2001), Pacific Coast Rain Forest (2000), and Sonoran Desert (1999).

The subtropical wetlands of southern Florida are remnants of a great wilderness that stretched, unbroken, for hundreds of miles until about a century ago. They still include some of the most extensive saw grass marshes and mangrove swamps in the world - wetlands that support a remarkable number of species.

In southern Florida, plants and animals are well adapted to water-level changes that correspond to alternating wet and dry seasons. Although some species require freshwater habitats, others are more salt tolerant. This stamp pane depicts a wetland community where freshwater mingles with salt water along the coast, and thus the art includes both freshwater and coastal species.

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:

SOUTHERN FLORIDA WETLAND STAMPS
POSTMASTER
NAPLES MAIN POST OFFICE
1200 GOODLETTE RD N
NAPLES FL 34102-9998

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 November 3, 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

This stamp issue has five philatelic products:

• Item 567462, First Day Cover (Full Pane) - $6.40.

• Item 567464, Canceled Full Pane - $6.40.

• Item 567466, Stamped Postal Cards - $7.95.

• Item 567484, Uncut Press Sheet - $31.20.

• Item 567493, Cancellation Keepsake (Pane w/Full Pane FDC) - $10.30.

Distribution: Item 567400, $3.90 Southern Florida Wetland PSA Commemorative Sheet of 10 Stamps

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

Initial Supply to Post Offices

SDOs will make a subsequent automatic distribution to Post Offices of one-half their standard automatic distribution quantities using PS Form 17, Stamp Requisition/Stamp Return. SDOs must not distribute this commemorative sheet to Post Offices before September 29, 2006.

Philatelic Requirement

SDOs will not receive a separate quantity Item 567400 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 quantities of Item 567400 must requisition them from their designated SDO using PS Form 17. SDOs requiring additional commemorative 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 100,000 additional commemorative sheets; the New York, San Francisco, and Chicago APDs will each receive 80,000 additional commemorative sheets; and the Denver APD will receive 28,000 additional commemorative 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 $3.90 Southern Florida Wetland Commemorative Sheet may not be split and the stamps may not be sold individually.

— Stamp Services,
Government Relations, 8-17-06

REVISED HANDBOOK

Handbook PO-230, Pictorial Postmarks

We have revised Handbook PO-230, Pictorial Postmarks. A summary of changes to the 2006 edition of the handbook are listed below. The handbook will not be distributed and mailed. Instructions for viewing the handbook online or ordering printed copies appear after the summary of changes.

Summary of Changes

• The term pictorial postmark replaces the term pictorial cancellation.

• The February 2005 edition of PS Form 413, Pictorial Postmark Announcement/Report, replaces the January 2000 edition. PS Form 413 is for use nationwide and use must comply with the 2006 edition of Handbook PO-230. PS Form 413 is available on the Postal Service Intranet at http://blue.usps.gov/formmgmt/forms.htm.

• The e-mail and mailing addresses for the manager of the Pictorial Postmarks Program have changed:

PICTORIAL POSTMARK PROGRAM MANAGER
1735 N LYNN ST RM 5016
ARLINGTON VA 22209-6432

Fax: 703-292-4183
e-mail: pictorialpostmarks@usps.gov

• Special die hub postmarks are different from pictorial postmarks. Requests for special die hub postmarks must be sent to Mailing Standards, Headquarters.

• The new digital color postmarks are not part of the Pictorial Postmark Program, and postmasters are prohibited from using them. Digital color postmarks are an exclusive product of Stamp Services.

• Postmasters approve or disapprove pictorial postmarks from the general public. Offices should maintain letters of disapproval in a permanent file for up to 3 years if challenged.

• Postmasters cannot waive a temporary station requirement without approval from Stamp Services.

• Stamp Services must approve the use of more then one pictorial postmark design for multiple day events.

• Postmasters who need pictorial postmark assistance for large volumes should call Stamp Fulfillment Services at 816-545-1250 or send an e-mail message to stampfulfillment.services@usps.gov.

• Field managers can forward unsettled claims for damaged or replacement philatelic covers to Headquarters Consumer Advocate for final claim disposition.

Viewing the Handbook Online

Handbook PO-230 is available on the Postal ServiceTM PolicyNet Web site:

• Go to http://blue.usps.gov.

• Under "Essential Links" in the left-hand column, click on References.

• Under "References" in the right-hand column, under "Policies," click on PolicyNet.

• Then click on HBKs.

(The direct URL for the Postal ServiceTM PolicyNet Web site is http://blue.usps.gov/cpim.)

Ordering Printed Copies

You can order Handbook PO-230 from the Material Distribution Center (MDC) and use touch tone order entry (TTOE): Call 800-332-0317, option 2.

Note: You must be registered to use TTOE. To register, call 800-332-0317, option 1, extension 2925, and follow the prompts to leave a message. (Wait 48 hours after registering before placing your first order.)

Use the following information to order Handbook PO-230:

PSIN: HBK PO230
PSN: 7610-04-000-5772
Unit of Measure: EA
Minimum Order Quantity: 1
Quick Pick Number: N/A
Bulk Pack Quantity: 100
Price: $0.7235

— Stamp Services,
Government Relations, 8-17-06

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.

July 13, 2006

U.S. Postal Service

DECOMMISSIONING STATION

CUSTOMER RELATIONS COORDINATOR

2600 ELTHAM AVE STE 109

NORFOLK VA 23513-2501

The following postmark has been extended for 150 days.

April 19, 2006

U.S. Postal Service

PORT OF BALTIMORE

300TH ANNIVERSARY STATION

MANAGER MOWS

900 FAYETTE ST

BALTIMORE MD 21233-9715

— Stamp Services,
Government Relations, 8-17-06

— Mailing Standards, Pricing and Classification, 8-17-06