[press release]
The Philatelic Foundation Authenticates Stolen Jenny Invert Stamp
[Click here for the story about the recovery of the stamp.]
(New York, NY) On Monday, April 4, 2016, a representative of Spink USA, a leading rare stamp auctioneer, brought a Jenny Invert to The Philatelic Foundation’s New York offices for authentication on behalf of a potential consignor. The PF is widely regarded in the hobby of stamp collecting for its expertise in authenticating this iconic United States airmail rarity. Over the last 70 years, the PF has issued Certificates of Authenticity for 84 of the 100 stamps from the original error sheet of the “upside down airplane stamp,” including all six of the existing blocks of four.
The PF’s staff immediately began the expertization process led by Executi
ve Director Larry Lyons and Curator Lewis Kaufman (shown at right). Matched against the PF’s detailed records, photos and electronic scans of the Jenny Inverts, the evidence quickly pointed to the possibility that the stamp was one of the two missing from a famous block of four Jenny Inverts. The block, which was previously owned by Ethel McCoy, was stolen from its exhibition frame in 1955 during an American Philatelic Society convention in Norfolk, Virginia.
The PF staff determined the stamp to be position 76 from the error sheet of 100. (The actual stamp is shown above, photo courtesy the PF.) At some time following the block’s theft, it was broken into four singles, and then altered in an attempt to disguise identification as stamps from the stolen block. Upon close examination, position 76 was found to have been reperforated at its left side to remove traces of a vertical red guide line that had originally appeared on the tips of its perforations. The American Philatelic Society and law enforcement were immediately notified of the identification of this long-lost Jenny Invert.
10 x First Class Stamps £6.40
immortal words and poetry. Having previously issued stamps that depict performances of his plays, a painting of the bard himself and the world famous Globe Theatre, for this set Royal Mail has opted to focus on selected quotes from plays and sonnets that have made him so famous and ensured an enduring popularity.
Stamps In Detail: 
The stamp, Sc. 3A, belongs to the American Philatelic Research Library in Bellefonte, Pa., which is associated with the APS. One of just 100 stamps for this issue with an inverted center vignette, it is worth about $150,000.
2911a USS Enterprise (sheet)
Under license by CBS Consumer Products, the collections includes five stamps depicting cast members from Star Trek: The Original Series. The U.S.S. Enterprise and a Klingon D7-class battle cruiser blast their way onto the coil stamps, while two special-effect lenticular stamps allow for continuous reruns of classic scenes. Along with a prestige booklet, official first day covers, souvenir sheets, uncut press sheets, panes, and booklets, fans will discover a galaxy of memorabilia, including postcards and stamp dispensers.
Four limited-edition items add to the fleet of collectibles: a framed print signed by William Shatner, a framed stamp pane cancelled with a gold-ink postmark of the Enterprise’s trusty shuttlecraft, a lenticular enlargement, and a lenticular uncut press sheet which is a first for any postal administration.
Five picture postcards: 
Canada Post spokesman Phil Legault said that the postal agency’s interest is, of course, on the Canadian aspects of the series: Captain James T. Kirk was played by William Shatner, a Montreal native, and picture in one of the stamps (shown on the right). Legault would “neither confirm nor deny” that another stamp might feature “Scotty,” the engineering chief who was played by Vancouver native James Doohan.
“Canada Post had a special little surprise for star gazers tonight at the Vulcan Trek Station,” the postal agency’s Phil Legault tells The Virtual Stamp Club. “They were the first to publicly see the “Spock” stamp, the third to be released this week celebrating Star Trek’s 50th anniversary. The Mayor of Vulcan, Tom Grant, Town Councillors and members of the Royal Astronomical Society of Canada were also on hand.” 
The stamp was “unveiled” by Chris Doohan, James’ son, in downtown Toronto: 
Canada Post is working on a special project to commemorate the 50th anniversary of Star Trek™ this year. The full line-up of stamps and collectibles will be available in early May, but a number of “stamp sightings” have already been seen across Canada in social media – check them out here 
Windsor, a University of Calgary PhD student in linguistics and expert in the Star Trek Klingon language, and more than 175 enthusiasts got the first look at the Klingon Commander Kor and Klingon D7-class battle cruiser stamps (attached here) with a photo from tonight. 
These are the sixth and seventh stamps “sighted” to commemorate the 50th anniversary of Star Trek and Canada’s connection to the series this year. Kor, one of the most powerful enemies, was played by Toronto-native John Colicos. The first five stamps include the U.S.S. Enterprise itself and crew members Captain Kirk, Mr. Spock, Montgomery “Scotty” Scott, and Dr. Leonard “Bones” McCoy.
“Flanked by two delivery agents carrying the special parcel, Siân 
M. Matthews, Chairperson of Canada Post’s Board of Directors and who resides in nearby De Winton, Alta., presented Mr. Shatner with a framed memento of his stamp, commemorating the 50th anniversary of Star Trek™ – and Canada’s connection to the series.”
Mystic Stamp Company is now owned by its employees, with the formation of an Employee Stock Ownership Plan. According to the National Center for Employee Ownership, ESOPs can be used to buy the shares of a departing owner, borrow money at a lower after-tax cost, or create an additional employee benefit. In the press release below, Mystic president Donald Sundman (shown on the left) says he’s not going anywhere.
(Camden, N.Y.) Mystic Stamp Company, America’s largest postage stamp dealer and based in Camden, N.Y., today announced the formation of an Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP).
The DCP measures 2.93” x 1.40” 
The pictorial measures 2.70” x 1.43”
On June 3, 2016, in New York, NY, the U.S. Postal Service® will issue the Colorful Celebrations stamps (Forever® priced at 47 cents) in 10 designs, in a pressure-sensitive adhesive (PSA) double-sided booklet of 20 stamps (Item 681000).
[Configuration of the booklet pane above]
them in a larger envelope addressed to:
Issue: Colorful Celebrations Stamp
Updated April 1, 2016:
“pierced paper.” Crafted with sharp tools and layers of tissue paper, papel picado designs often include birds, flowers, and religious iconography. The elaborate decorations are hung during holidays, weddings, birthdays, and other festivities.
The USPS’ full name for this issue: “Honoring Extraordinary Heroism: The Service Cross Medals.”
Left to right: David E. Williams, Chief Operating Officer and Executive Vice President, USPS; Captain Thomas Morkan, Deputy Commander, Sector New York, U.S. Coast Guard; Kristin Seaver, Chief Information Officer and Executive Vice President, USPS; Lilliam Rodriguez, Postmaster, Bronx, NY; Greg Breeding, USPS Art Director for this issue.
“Story after story, act after act reveals a new profile in courage and a spirit of American greatness that has defined this nation from the very beginning,” said Seaver (photo right). “These medals — and these stamps — pay homage to such heroic actions and dedication to duty.”
willingness to lay your life on the line for your country is what we as a nation pause to reflect upon and to pay homage to on Memorial Day. It is a great day for parades and celebrations and backyard barbeques with family and friends — but it is also the day that we honor those who since the war of independence have done what needed to be done.
The DCP measure 1.81” x 1.50” 
The pictorial postmark measures 2.76 x 1.32” 
The special dedication postmarks measure 2.98” x 1.48”
From the USPS, March 31, 2016:
While engaged in an action against an enemy of the United States;
operating under the Department of the Navy or during military operations against international terrorists. This decoration is yet to be awarded.
