The new 35th edition of The Postal Service Guide to U.S. Stamps, Item 890800, soon will be available for sale as follows at:
To obtain the initial supply for your Post Office, immediately order Item 890800 from your designated stamp distribution office (SDO) using a separate PS Form 17, Stamp Requisition/Stamp Return. (Authorized Postal Retail Stores should order the packaged version suitable for slatwall display, Item 890801). All locations may place the new edition of the guide on sale as soon as initial quantities are received.
The 35th edition of The Postal Service Guide to U.S. Stamps book is priced at $19.95.
HarperCollins Publishers is now shipping the guides to SDOs. Distributions will begin September 1, and will complete September 30, 2008. 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, 436 or 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, Post Office Accounting Procedures, Section 428.8, Obtaining Stock for Promotions or Presentations.
Offices must report all sales of Item 890800, 35th Edition, The Postal Service Guide to U.S. Stamps, in AIC 092, Philatelic Product Sales.
For the ninth year, in partnership with HarperCollins Publishers, this book as well as the 2008 Commemorative Stamp Yearbook will be available in bookstores and other retail outlets where books are purchased.
As the 35th edition of The Postal Service Guide to U.S. Stamps becomes available, Post Offices must withhold all remaining copies of the 34th edition (Item 890700) from sale and take the following actions:
1. Retail Outlets. Collect any copies of the 34th edition of the guide from stamp credits. Immediately return them to main stock using PS Form 17, Stamp Requisition/Stamp Return, June 2002 edition.
2. Post Offices. Consolidate all remaining copies of the 34th edition of the guide, if any, into the unit reserve stock. Prepare all 34th 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.
3. Local Office Philatelic Programs. Submit PS Form 17 to the local SDO or Stamp Services Center (SSC) for the number of 34th editions of the guide (Item 890700) needed for philatelic/promotional programs. You may give one or more copies to local schools, libraries, student groups, stamp clubs, and retirement homes.
4. 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 890700 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 34th 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 35th 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, 8-14-08
