Monthly Archives: May 2021

U.S. Seeks 3-Cent Hike

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Quick Summary:

  • Would take effect August 29, 2021
  • Domestic letters to 58¢
  • No change in additional ounces
  • Postcards to 40¢
  • Flats (non-rigid large envelopes) up 16¢, from $1.00 to $1.16 base
  • International one-ounce letters, up 10¢ to $1.30

[press release]
With Commitment to Affordability and Financial Sustainability, U.S. Postal Service Proceeds with Request for Postal Rate Change

  • Pricing actions part of balanced approach under “Delivering for America,” the Postal Service’s 10-year plan for achieving financial sustainability and service excellence
  • Following rate changes, USPS prices to remain among the world’s most affordable
  • Rate changes also contribute to $40 billion of investments in people, technology and infrastructure over the next 10 years to modernize and improve the Postal Service’s operations and customer experience
  • Rate adjustments in accordance with Postal Regulatory Commission approvals, helping to address USPS operating losses exacerbated by declines in mail volume

WASHINGTON, DC — As part of “Delivering for America,” its 10-year plan to achieve financial sustainability and service excellence, the United States Postal Service filed notice today with the Postal Regulatory Commission (PRC) requesting price changes to take effect Aug. 29, 2021 that are in accordance with approvals provided by the PRC last year.

The proposed price changes would raise overall Market Dominant product and service prices by approximately 6.9 percent. First-Class Mail prices would increase by 6.8 percent to offset declining revenue due to First-Class Mail volume declines. In the past 10 years, mail volume has declined by 46 billion pieces, or 28 percent, and is continuing to decline. Over the same period, First-Class Mail volume has dropped 32 percent, and single piece First-Class Mail volume — including letters bearing postage stamps — has declined 47 percent.

“For the past 14 years, the Postal Service has had limited pricing authority to respond to changing market realities,” said Postmaster General and CEO Louis DeJoy. “As part of our 10-year plan to achieve financial sustainability and service excellence, the Postal Service and the Board of Governors are committed to judiciously implementing a rational pricing approach that helps enable us to remain viable and competitive and offer reliable postal services that are among the most affordable in the world.”

The proposed Mailing Services price changes include:

Product Current Prices Planned Prices
Letters (1 oz.) 55 cents 58 cents
Letters additional ounce(s) 20 cents 20 cents (unchanged)
Letters (metered 1 oz.) 51 cents 53 cents
Domestic Postcards 36 cents 40 cents
Flats (1 oz.) $1.00 $1.16
Outbound Intl. Letters $1.20 $1.30

Under the current pricing model and the proposed rate change, the Postal Service still has some of the lowest letter-mail postage rates in the industrialized world and continues to offer a great value in shipping.

Single Piece Letter-Mail Postage Rates, International The Postal Accountability and Enhancement Act (PAEA) of 2006 capped price increases for mailing services at the Consumer Price Index (CPI). The PAEA also required the PRC to evaluate the price cap system 10 years after the date of enactment and to modify or replace the system if it was not meeting the objectives of the law. The PRC recognized the price cap was a barrier to the Postal Service’s financial sustainability in December 2017, resulting in cumulative lost gross revenue opportunity of $55 billion. In May, the Postal Service reported a net loss of $82 million for the second quarter of 2021.

In November 2020, the PRC announced new rules on market-dominant prices, allowing above-CPI price increases on the basis of certain factors and allowing the Postal Service more flexibility in establishing prices for mailing services.

“November’s PRC ruling allows the Postal Service higher rate authority in establishing prices for mailing services,” said Chief Financial Officer and Executive Vice President Joseph Corbett. “Aligning our prices for market-dominant products will allow us to grow revenue and help achieve financial sustainability to fulfill our universal service mission.”

With full implementation, the Postal Service’s 10-year plan is designed to reverse a projected $160 billion in operating losses over the next 10 years. The Plan’s growth and efficiency initiatives, including the proposed pricing changes, together with necessary legislation, should allow the Postal Service to make investments totaling approximately $40 billion over the next 10 years to modernize and improve our infrastructure to become more efficient and service responsive.

In 2020, the Postal Service delivered approximately 129.2 billion pieces of mail and packages to customers located in every state and territory, county, city, town and rural area in the nation.

The complete Postal Service price filings with prices for all products can be found on the PRC site. A fact sheet on the Postal Service’s rate change request is available here.

The Postal Service generally receives no tax dollars for operating expenses and relies on the sale of postage, products and services to fund its operations.

AFDCS Auction Features Zepps And Autographed FDCs

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The 92nd AFDCS Fundraising Auction is now underway. The auction features 1,120 lots donated by our generous members.

This auction starts off with a rare set of 1930 Zeppelin first day covers with cachets by Roessler, postmarked on the back along delivery route with first on 4/19/1930 at Washington, DC, and serviced by none other than Egon Bernet! How often does a set in such a pristine condition come available?



Those who have an interest in autographed material will find several notable items:

First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt

Stanton W. Salisbury, Chief of Chaplains, U.S. Navy

C. Everett Koop, U.S. Surgeon General

Robin Cook MD, medical novelist and author of ‘COMA’ and ‘PANDEMIC’

Richard Couch, Stealth Bomber Test Pilot

Paul Hubartt, Cachet Designer for Fluegel Covers

A large number of Walter G. Crosby 1940’s are featured, some lots as mini collections, including several not-so-common #10 cachets:

A variety of Cachetmakers are represented, notably:

This auction continues from the last, offering an assortment of Doris Gold items , including printed and hand-painted FDCs, original artwork, and working materials for production of printed cachets. All exhibitors should pay close attention to these lots!



Duck Hunting stamp FDCs are represented proudly with a good assortment:



Pickers will enjoy group lots on a variety of topics including hand-painted cachets, Circus, collection of JFK Aerogram FDCs, a Fleetwood presentation card album, FDR 1946 Fleetwood/Knapp combo, Obama Inauguration multiple stamp combination, Certified Delivery and Special Delivery covers, and much more:

Whatever you collect you’re sure to find something of interest.

Auction runs through June 20th. Convenient online credit card and PayPal payment available for winning bidders.

See all the lots here: https://www.afdcs.org/Auction92/92index.html

Thank you for supporting the American First Day Cover Society!

Great American Stamp Show: “Let’s Do This”

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Let’s Do This!
Great American Stamp Show: Chicago 2021
Statement from Scott D. English, American Philatelic Society Executive Director

In March, we announced that we were moving into the next planning phase for the Great American Stamp Show. To make the show financially viable for both dealers and the American Philatelic Society, we needed to meet specific benchmarks. I am pleased to announce we’ve completed those benchmarks, and the Great American Stamp Show will happen.

We called on our philatelic community to make plans to attend, and the response has been overwhelming! Good news and bad news: Our hotel blocks are filled for both the Embassy Suites and the DoubleTree hotel. If you haven’t booked your room yet, we will get additional rooms for those planning to attend.

To the collectors, exhibitors, societies, and dealers who made commitments to attend the show: You made this possible. On behalf of the American Philatelic Society, American Topical Society, and the American First Day Cover Society, thank you for rising to the occasion!

I would like to thank the APS Board of Directors for their faith in our fantastic team here at the APS. There have been so many developments over the past three months, and they’ve proven agile and responsive. Thank you to our partners at the American Topical Association and the American First Day Cover Society for their trust and support throughout this process. We promise to deliver a show to remember. Thanks to our partners at American Stamp Dealers Association, especially our old friend and colleague, Dana Guyer, for rallying the dealers.

Most importantly, I want to thank Wendy Masorti and Sarah Myers, our Shows team, for their tireless work in planning the show, responding at all hours to questions and concerns, and getting us across the goal line. It’s hard to believe this, the first show for both of them! Thanks to Ken Martin, our experienced hand at stamp shows, for his guidance and support to our rookie team.

To the dealers who have not committed to the show, look at the overwhelming response so far. We’re all planning to come to Chicago to support our dealer community after the challenging year. You will not want to miss this show!

The COVID pandemic has challenged all of us in the hobby, and we have emerged stronger from it. The response over the past two months is more proof of that. We’re not out of the woods just yet, so be vigilant, be safe, and be in Chicago in August for the Great American Stamp Show!

Show Details:

Dates: August 12-15, 2021

Location: Donald E. Stephens Convention Center, Rosemont, Illinois

Hosts: American Philatelic Society, American Topical Association, and American First Day Cover Society

Sponsor: United States Postal Service

For More Information click here

A Visit from St. Nick (US 2021)

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Late overnight change in location for the first day ceremony. Details here.

Announced May 14th:

Four new designs in this booklet of 20 stamps tell the story of Santa’s visit on Christmas Eve.

In the first stamp, Santa stands on a snowy rooftop, sack slung across his back, with one leg inside the red-brick chimney; the second stamp shows Santa as he descends through the chimney, his legs dangling over the hearth; the third stamp is a close-up of a winking Santa; and the fourth stamp shows Santa in his sleigh, with four reindeer visible as they fly across the face of the full moon and into a starlit sky.

Art director Greg Breeding designed the stamps with original art by Brad Woodard.

These stamps will be issued October 7th in Santa Claus, Indiana.

Further details will be posted below the large illustration, with the most recent news at the top.

Updated December 6th:
The Scott catalogue numbers for this issue are:

  • 5644 Santa Claus on Roof
  • 5645 Santa Claus in Fireplace
  • 5646 Head of Santa Claus
  • 5647 Santa Claus, Sleigh and Reindeer in Flight
  • a. Block of 4, #5644-5647
  • b. Convertible booklet pane of 20, 5 each #5644-5647

Updated October 14th:
Here are the first-day postmarks for this issue: The Digital Color Postmark measures 2.99″ x 1.08″ The B&W pictorial postmark measures 2.36″ x 1.38″

Updated October 7th:
[press release]
Change of Venue
Visit From St. Nick Forever Stamp Dedication

Due to weather conditions, the event has moved to
The Celebration Room of Santa’s Lodge
91 W. Christmas Blvd.
Santa Claus, IN 47579

Updated September 8th:
[ceremony details]
New Stamps Celebrate the Holidays With a Visit From St. Nick

WHAT: Every Christmas, children all around the world dream of a visit from St. Nick. The U.S. Postal Service celebrates that highly anticipated event with four new stamps, sold in booklets of 20.

The first-day-of-issue event for A Visit From St. Nick Forever stamps is free and open to the public. News of the stamp is being shared with the hashtags #VisitfromStNickStamps and #USPSHolidayStamps.

WHO: Scott Bombaugh, vice president, chief technology officer, U.S. Postal Service, will serve as dedicating official.

WHEN: Thursday, Oct. 7, 2021, at 11 a.m. CDT

WHERE: United States Post Office
45 N. Kringle Place
Santa Claus, IN 47579

RSVP: Dedication ceremony attendees are encouraged to RSVP at: usps.com/visitfromstnick.

BACKGROUND: St. Nick — Santa Claus — is one of our most recognized and beloved cultural icons, his jolly laugh and smiling eyes a happy reminder that Christmas is near.
European immigrants brought to their new country folk characters that over the years became our present-day Santa Claus.

A Visit from St. Nick stamps feature four festive, vividly colored designs that evoke the story of Santa’s visit on Christmas Eve.

In the first stamp, Santa stands on a snowy rooftop against a star-filled, pink-hued sky, his sack slung across his back and one leg inside the red-brick chimney.

The next stamp shows Santa as he descends through the chimney, his legs dangling over the hearth, clad in black boots and his trademark fur-trimmed suit. A log sits in the grate of the red-brick fireplace, while three green stockings, with white toes and heels, hang on the mantel.

The third stamp is a close-up of a winking Santa set against a green background.

The fourth shows Santa in his sleigh, with four reindeer visible, as they fly across the face of the full moon in a dark, starlit sky.

Art director Greg Breeding designed the stamps with original art by Brad Woodard.

The A Visit from St. Nick stamps are being issued as Forever stamps. These Forever stamps are always equal in value to the current First-Class Mail 1-ounce price.

Updated August 28th from the Postal Bulletin:

On October 7, 2021, in Santa Claus, IN, the United States Postal Service® will issue A Visit from St. Nick stamps (Forever® priced at the First-Class Mail® rate) in four designs, in a pressure-sensitive adhesive (PSA) booklet of 20 stamps (Item 683400). These stamps will go on sale nationwide October 7, 2021, and must not be sold or canceled before the first-day-of-issue.

Four new designs in this booklet of 20 stamps tell the story of Santa’s visit on Christmas Eve:

  • Santa stands on a snowy rooftop, sack slung across his back, with one leg inside the red-brick chimney;
  • Santa descends through the chimney, his legs dangling over the hearth;
  • Close-up view of a winking Santa; and
  • Santa in his sleigh, with four reindeer visible as they fly across the face of the full moon and into a starlit sky.

Art director Greg Breeding designed the stamps with original art by Brad Woodard.

No automatic distribution.

How to Order the First-Day-of-Issue Postmark:
Customers have 120 days to obtain the first-day-of-issue postmark by mail. They may purchase new stamps at their local Post Office™ or at The Postal Store® website at usps.com/shop.They must affix the stamps to envelopes of their choice, address the envelopes (to themselves or others), and place them in a larger envelope addressed to:

FDOI – A Visit from St. Nick Stamps
USPS Stamp Fulfillment Services
8300 NE Underground Drive, Suite 300
Kansas City, MO 64144-9900

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 up to a quantity of 50. There is a 5-cent charge for each additional postmark over 50. All orders must be postmarked by February 7, 2022.

Technical Specifications:

Issue: A Visit from St. Nick Stamps
Item Number: 683400
Denomination & Type of Issue: First-Class Mail Forever
Format: Double-sided Booklet of 20 (4 designs)
Series: N/A
Issue Date & City: October 7, 2021, Santa Claus, IN 47579
Art Director: Greg Breeding, Charlottesville, VA
Designer: Greg Breeding, Charlottesville, VA
Illustrator: Brad Woodard, Manchaca, TX
Modeler: Joseph Sheeran
Manufacturing Process: Offset
Printer: Ashton Potter (USA) Ltd. (APU)
Press Type: Muller A76
Stamps per Booklet: 20
Print Quantity: 400,000,000 stamps
Paper Type: Nonphosphored Type III, Block Tag
Adhesive Type: Pressure-sensitive
Stamp Orientation: Vertical
Image Area (w x h): 0.77 x 1.05 in./19.558 x 26.67 mm
Stamp Size (w x h): 0.91 x 1.19 in./23.114 x 30.226 mm
Full Booklet Size (w x h): 5.76 x 2.38 in./146.304 x 60.452 mm
Colors: Black, Cyan, Magenta, Yellow
Plate Size: 880 stamps per revolution
Plate Numbers: “P” followed by four (4) single digits in four corners
Marginal Markings: Header: “A Visit From St. Nick” Twenty First-Class Forever Stamps • Plate number in peel strip area • ©2021 USPS in peel strip area • Barcode • Promotional text in peel strip area

Otters In Snow (U.S. 2021)

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This issue was announced May 14th:

This booklet of 20 stamps features four scenes of the alert and playful North American river otter reveling in winter’s white landscape.

The original illustrations were rendered in pen and ink, with watercolor in shades of brown for the otters, using black for facial features and crosshatching. The wintry background is white, with blue water, light blue and violet shadows, and black crosshatching.

Art director Derry Noyes designed the stamps with artwork from illustrator John Burgoyne.

These stamps will be issued October 12th with a first-day city of Otter, Montana, but no “headquarters” first-day ceremony is planned.

Further updates on this issue will be posted below the large illustration, with the most recent at the top.

Updated December 6th:
The Scott catalogue numbers for this issue are:

    • 5648 Otter in Water
    • 5649 Otter, Tail at Right
    • 5650 Otter, Tail at Left
    • 5651 Otter in Snow
    • a. Block of 4, #5648-5651
    • b. Convertible booklet pane of 20, 5 each #5648-5651

Updated October 14th:
Here is the Digital Color Postmark first-day cancel for this issue:It measures 2.75″ x 1.05″. The standard 4-bar FIRST DAY OF ISSUE postmark is the B&W option.

Updated September 10th from the Postal Bulletin:
On October 12, 2021, in Otter, MT, the United States Postal Service® will issue the Otters in Snow stamps (Forever® priced at the First-Class Mail® rate) in four designs, in a pressure-sensitive adhesive (PSA) double-sided booklet of 20 stamps (Item 683500). These stamps will go on sale nationwide October 12, 2021, and must not be sold or canceled before the first-day-of-issue.

Otters in Snow, a new booklet of 20 stamps from the Postal Service™, features four different scenes of the alert and playful North American river otter reveling in winter‘s white landscape. The original illustrations were rendered in pen and ink with watercolor, in a color palette consisting of shades of brown for the otters, with black facial features and crosshatching. The wintry background is white, with blue water, light blue and violet shadows, and black crosshatching. Art director Derry Noyes designed the stamps with artwork from illustrator John Burgoyne.

No automatic distribution.

How to Order the First-Day-of-Issue Postmark:
Customers have 120 days to obtain the first-day-of-issue postmark by mail. They may purchase new stamps at their local Post Office™ or at The Postal Store® website at usps.com/shop. They must affix the stamps to envelopes of their choice, address the envelopes (to themselves or others), and place them in a larger envelope addressed to:

FDOI – Otters in Snow Stamps
USPS Stamp Fulfillment Services
8300 NE Underground Drive, Suite 300
Kansas City, MO 64144-9900

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 up to a quantity of 50. There is a 5-cent charge for each additional postmark over 50. All orders must be postmarked by February 12, 2022.

Technical Specifications:

Issue: Otters in Snow Stamps
Item Number: 683500
Denomination & Type of Issue: First-Class Mail Forever
Format: Double-sided Booklet of 20 (4 designs)
Series: N/A
Issue Date & City: October 12, 2021, Otter, MT 59062
Art Director: Derry Noyes, Washington, DC
Designer: Derry Noyes, Washington, DC
Illustrator: John Burgoyne, West Barnstable, MA
Modeler: Sandra Lane/Michelle Finn
Manufacturing Process: Offset
Printer: Banknote Corporation of America
Press Type: Alprinta 74
Stamps per Booklet: 20
Print Quantity: 300,000,000 stamps
Paper Type: Phosphor Tagged Paper, Block Tag
Adhesive Type: Pressure-sensitive
Stamp Orientation: Vertical
Image Area (w x h): 0.77 x 1.05 in./19.558 x 26.67 mm
Stamp Size (w x h): 0.91 x 1.19 in./23.114 x 30.226 mm
Full Booklet Size (w x h): 5.743 x 2.375 in./145.872 x 60.325 mm
Colors: Cyan, Magenta, Yellow, Black, Pantone 4261
Plate Size: 800 stamps per revolution
Plate Number: “B” followed by five (5) single digits
Marginal Markings: Header: OTTERS in SNOW • Twenty First-Class Forever Stamps • USPS logo • Barcode • Plate number in peel strip area • ©2021 USPS in peel strip area • Promotional text in peel strip area

U.S. Adds 2 Winter Issues (US 2021)

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[press release]
Postal Service Announces Additions to the 2021 Stamp Program

WASHINGTON, DC — The U.S. Postal Service today announced two additions to its 2021 stamp program. The new stamps feature the North American river otter and St. Nick — Santa Claus, one of our most recognized and beloved cultural icons.

Otters in Snow
This booklet of 20 stamps features four scenes of the alert and playful North American river otter reveling in winter’s white landscape.

The original illustrations were rendered in pen and ink, with watercolor in shades of brown for the otters, using black for facial features and crosshatching. The wintry background is white, with blue water, light blue and violet shadows, and black crosshatching.

Art director Derry Noyes designed the stamps with artwork from illustrator John Burgoyne.

A Visit From St. Nick
Four new designs in this booklet of 20 stamps tell the story of Santa’s visit on Christmas Eve.

In the first stamp, Santa stands on a snowy rooftop, sack slung across his back, with one leg inside the red-brick chimney; the second stamp shows Santa as he descends through the chimney, his legs dangling over the hearth; the third stamp is a close-up of a winking Santa; and the fourth stamp shows Santa in his sleigh, with four reindeer visible as they fly across the face of the full moon and into a starlit sky.

Art director Greg Breeding designed the stamps with original art by Brad Woodard.

All stamp designs are preliminary and subject to change. Additional details, including issue dates, will be announced later.

Postal Products
Customers may purchase stamps and other philatelic products through the Postal Store at usps.com/shop, by calling (844) 737-7826, by mail through USA Philatelic, or at Post Office locations nationwide.

HRH Prince Philip (UK 2021)

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[press release]

In Memoriam
HRH The Prince Philip, Duke Of Edinburgh

Issue Date: 24 June

  • Royal Mail reveal images of four new portrait stamps in memory of His Royal Highness The Duke of Edinburgh
  • The four black and white images of The Duke are presented in a miniature sheet
  • Born on 10 June, 1921, The Duke of Edinburgh died on 9 April, 2021, aged 99
  • The stamps will go on general sale from 24 June 2021

Royal Mail has revealed images of four new stamps being issued in memory of HRH The Prince Phillip, Duke of Edinburgh.

The black and white images feature Prince Philip through the years:

  • 2nd Class stamp: HRH The Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh taken by the photographer Baron
  • 1st Class: HRH The Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh attending the passing out parade of Prince Andrew at Dartmouth Naval College, Devon
  • £1.70: HRH The Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh at the Royal Windsor Horse Show
  • £2.55: HRH The Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh taken by the photographer Terry O’Neill

Simon Thompson, CEO, Royal Mail said: ”Throughout adulthood, The Duke of Edinburgh dedicated himself to the service of this country, the Commonwealth and to the many causes he was involved with. For more than seven decades he was at the centre of our national life. His passing is a key moment in our history which we mark with this set of commemorative stamps”.

Born on June 1921 in Corfu, Prince Philip of Greece and Denmark was the only son and youngest child of Prince Andrew of Greece and Princess Alice of Battenburg. Like HM The Queen, he was also a great-great-grandchild of Queen Victoria, descended from her second daughter, Princess Alice.

Following the abdication of his uncle, King Constantine I, during a turbulent period in Greece’s history, his family fled the country to exile in France when the Prince was 18 months old.

After education at Cheam Preparatory School and Gordonstoun, in 1939 the 18-year-old Prince joined the Royal Navy as a ‘Special Entry’ Cadet, where he excelled in his training.

In July 1947 the engagement of Lieutenant Philip Mountbatten to Princess Elizabeth was announced, and four months later their wedding at Westminster Abbey was the first great State occasion since the end of World War II.

On the death of King George VI in February 1952, Prince Philip gave up his naval career to commit himself fully to establishing his role as consort to the new monarch.

In addition to supporting HM The Queen, Prince Philip became patron or president of some 800 organisations during his lifetime, including the Industrial Society, the National Playing Fields Association and the Royal Society for the Encouragement of Arts, Manufactures and Commerce. He was also President of the World Wildlife Fund UK, WWF International President and President Emeritus, Chancellor of Cambridge and Edinburgh Universities, and President of the International Equestrian Federation.

Founding The Duke of Edinburgh’s Award in 1956, HRH inspired and encouraged millions of young people around the world to learn new skills and develop their full potential.

In his spare time, Prince Philip pursued his interests in sports and adventure, becoming a qualified pilot, a keen sailor who competed regularly at the Cowes Regatta and an avid polo player. He also took up four-in-hand carriage-driving and represented Britain at several World and European championships.

An artistic individual, The Prince enjoyed painting landscapes and he was a keen collector of art. Prince Philip also played a vital role in helping to modernise the institution of the monarchy. In May 1961, he became the first member of the Royal Family to be interviewed on television. It was his suggestion that The Queen’s Gallery at Buckingham Palace should be built on the site of the chapel destroyed in an air raid in 1940 to display items from the Royal Collection to the public.

During more than half a century in the public eye, Prince Philip accompanied The Queen on more than 250 overseas tours and completed well over 20,000 official engagements. He successfully carved a niche that combined ceremonial and family duties, as the father of four children, with his own crowded itinerary.

The four portrait stamps presented in a miniature sheet, retails at £6.65. The stamps and a range of collectible products are available now to pre-order from www.royalmail.com/dukeofedinburgh.

The stamps will be available on general sale from 24 June 2021.

Tulino Is New USPS Deputy PMG

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[press release]
Douglas Tulino Appointed Deputy Postmaster General
Will report to Postmaster General and CEO Louis DeJoy

WASHINGTON, DC — The U.S. Postal Service announced today Douglas Tulino, a 41-year veteran of the service, has been appointed deputy postmaster general, reporting directly to Postmaster General and CEO Louis DeJoy.

The appointment is effective immediately. Tulino also becomes a member of the Postal Service’s Board of Governors and continues in his current role as chief human resources officer (CHRO).

Tulino assumes the deputy role as the Postal Service continues to implement “Delivering for America,” the 10-year plan unveiled on March 23 to restore service excellence and financial sustainability to one of America’s most treasured institutions and a vital part of the nation’s infrastructure.

As deputy postmaster general and CHRO, Tulino will ensure the organization’s culture, talent, labor relations and leadership development are such that they are all contributing to the successful implementation of the Delivering for America Plan. Tulino will also play a key leadership role in ongoing stakeholder outreach.

“As we have been sharing our vision for a more vibrant U.S. Postal Service, Doug has been a key player, providing thoughtful leadership as we have worked collaboratively with our stakeholders to advance our plans for growth, high performance, and financial sustainability,” DeJoy said. “His capacity for listening and problem-solving, as well as his deep knowledge of the opportunities and challenges before us, have earned him the trust of many. Now as deputy postmaster general and CHRO, he will play a pivotal role in ensuring the Postal Service has the culture, talent and stability necessary to become the high-performing service organization it aspires to be.”

Last November, Tulino became executive vice president and chief human resources officer (CHRO), overseeing all aspects of Human Resources for the Postal Service’s 644,000-member workforce. As deputy postmaster general, Tulino will continue to oversee Labor Relations, Humans Resource Management, Organizational Development, Compensation and Benefits, Learning and Development, Recruiting and Hiring and HR Technology. In addition, Tulino will serve as the sponsor of the Executive Diversity Council that is chaired by DeJoy.

In 2005, Tulino began more than fifteen years of service as Vice President, Labor Relations. In that role, he was responsible for overseeing contract negotiation, collective bargaining, grievance and arbitration administration and consultation with management associations, compensation, and benefits for EAS employees, and maintaining organizational compliance with employment-related statutory and regulatory mandates. Over that time, he earned the trust and respect of the leadership of our unions and management associations as they worked together during difficult times to achieve positive solutions and mutual successes.

Tulino started his Postal Service career as a management associate in 1980 in Chicago. He possesses a strong background in labor relations and human resources with more than 40 years of Postal Service experience. For 19 of those years, he obtained experience in positions in human resources, operations, and labor relations at every level of the field organizational structure.

Tulino holds a bachelor’s degree in business administration and industrial relations from Kent State University in Ohio. He was recognized with vice president awards in 2001, 2002, 2003 and 2004, the Board of Governors award in 2007, and the Postmaster General awards in 2014 and 2016.

Biographies of all the executive leadership of the U.S. Postal Service are available at about.usps.com/who/leadership/pmg-exec-leadership-team.htm

The Postal Service generally receives no tax dollars for operating expenses and relies on the sale of postage, products and services to fund its operations.

Queen Máxima’s 50th Birthday (Netherlands 2021)

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[press release] [click on the picture for a larger version] [translated by Google
Queen Máxima on Stamps in Honor of her 50th Birthday

The Hague, May 7, 2021 – May 17, Queen Máxima will celebrate her 50th birthday. Just like the 50th birthday of King Willem-Alexander, PostNL is publishing a special stamp sheetlet dedicated to this special day.

The stamp sheetlet Queen Máxima 50 years has a striking layout because the stamp with the black and white portrait of the Queen is twice the size of the stamps with the color photos. The stamps are intersected by narrow, kinked lines in the colors of the Dutch flag.

1971-2002-2013
Máxima Zorreguieta was born on May 17, 1971 in Buenos Aires, Argentina. In 2002 she married Prince Willem-Alexander. As the wife of King Willem-Alexander, Queen Máxima has been supporting the head of state in fulfilling his duties and his unifying, representative and encouraging role in society since 2013.

Involvement
Queen Máxima is a member of the Council of State and fulfills various other positions at home and abroad. Designer Maud van Rossum chose photographs of Queen Máxima for the stamps, which show her involvement in the various positions she holds. The color photos were taken by photographer Robin Utrecht, the black and white portrait is a private photo.

Small insight
The black and white photo caught the attention of Van Rossum during a TV speech by King Willem-Alexander from his office. Special permission was given to use the photo as a small insight into their private life. “It’s a beautiful image, very intimate,” says Van Rossum. “I don’t think a queen has ever been depicted like that on a stamp.”

Oranjehuis [House of Orange]
Stephan van den Eijnden, commercial director Mail of PostNL, is happy with the latest issue about a member of the Royal Family for several reasons. “It has again become a very beautiful sheet of stamps, with striking portraits of Queen Máxima in a fascinating design. Moreover, it is 170 years ago this year that the first stamp appeared in the Netherlands, then with a portrait of King Willem III. There is of course no other subject that is depicted so often on Dutch stamps as the Oranjehuis. We are very proud of that.”

Availability
The Queen Máxima 50 years stamp sheet has 5 different stamps with the denomination Netherlands 1, intended for mail up to and including 20 grams with a destination within the Netherlands. The stamps will be available from 17 May 2021 at the Bruna stores and via the PostNL website [direct link]. The stamps can also be ordered by telephone from the Collect Club customer service on telephone number 088 – 868 99 00. The period of validity is indefinite.