The new 34th edition of The Postal Service Guide to U.S. Stamps, Item 890700, will be available soon for sale as follows:
To obtain the initial supply for your Post Office, immediately order Item 890700 from your designated stamp distribution office (SDO) using a separate PS Form 17, Stamp Requisition/Stamp Return. All locations may place the new edition of the guide on sale as soon as initial quantities are received.
The 34th edition of The Postal Service Guide to U.S. Stamps is priced at $19.95.
HarperCollins Publishers is now shipping the guides to SDOs. Distributions began August 31 and will be complete September 29, 2007. Shipments are in master cartons of 10 guides.
Installations should report any discrepancies between the quantities shown on the Advice of Shipment and those actually received by using the procedure outlined in Handbook F-1, Post Office Accounting Procedures, Part 436, Handling Discrepancies in Stock Received, and Part 446, Handling Discrepancies in Stock Received.
Promotional copies of the guide will not be distributed. You can now display the guide in your Post Office by simply removing a copy from your inventory for promotional use. Follow the procedures outlined in Handbook F-1, Section 428.8, Obtaining Stock for Promotions or Presentations.
Offices must report all sales of Item 890700, 34th Edition, The Postal Service Guide to U.S. Stamps, in AIC 092, Philatelic Product Sales.
For the eighth year, in partnership with HarperCollins Publishers, the guide and the 2007 Commemorative Stamp Yearbook will be available in bookstores and other retail outlets where books are purchased.
As the 34th edition of The Postal Service Guide to U.S. Stamps becomes available, Post Offices must withhold all remaining copies of the 33rd edition (Item 890600) from sale and take the following actions:
- Retail Outlets: Collect any copies of the 33rd edition of the guide from stamp credits. Immediately return them to main stock using PS Form 17, Stamp Requisition/Stamp Return, September 2006 edition.
- Post Offices: Consolidate all remaining copies of the 33rd edition of the guide, if any, into the unit reserve stock. Prepare all 33rd editions of the guide in accordance with procedures established for disposing of obsolete and redeemed stock, and submit according to local district quarterly stamp destruction or return schedules.
- Local Office Philatelic Programs: Submit PS Form 17 to the local SDO or stamp services center (SSC) for the number of 33rd editions of the guide (Item 890600) needed for philatelic/promotional programs. You may give one or more copies to local schools, libraries, student groups, stamp clubs, and retirement homes.
- Stamp Distribution Offices: Stamp all copies of the guide used in promoting philatelic programs “NOT FOR RESALE.” The SDO custodian of accountable paper must attest that each item is so stamped and prepare PS Form 17, endorsed “PHILATELIC PRODUCTS GIVEN TO PHILATELIC PROGRAMS.” Program coordinators must acknowledge receipt of Item 890600 and be responsible for its control.
Note: The instructions for providing obsolete editions of the guide for philatelic and promotional purposes are an exception to general guidelines for destruction of accountable items, especially regarding obsolete (withdrawn from sale) items. In this instance, it is Postal Service™ policy not to destroy copies of the previous year’s edition of the guide when they can be used for valid promotional and/or educational purposes.
Dispose of all remaining copies of the 33rd edition of The Postal Service Guide to U.S. Stamps (Item 890600) in accordance with Handbook F-1, Subchapter 45, Destroying Stamp Stock. Because disposition instructions are issued annually for past issues of the guide, your office should have only the new 34th edition in inventory after completing the above procedures. If previous editions are on hand, dispose of them immediately, in accordance with Handbook F-1, subchapter 45.
— Stamp Services,
Government Relations, 9-13-07
