Linn’s Stamp News, the major weekly news publication of U.S. philately, is now only available as a digital (online) product. In a “Philatelic Forward” lead article, editor-in-chief Jay Bigalke announced that issue No. 5000 [right], with a cover date of August 26, 2024, and which went online about two weeks earlier, was the last printed issue. Sister publication Scott Stamp Monthly, which only resumed as a separate publication last year, will continue to be available as a hard-copy (that is, a printed magazine), as well as digitally.
Amos Media CEO Rick Amos, in a memo to staffers quoted in Linn’s, attributed the decision to the shift in readership from print to online and to increasing costs, which Amos called “unsustainable.” He promised that Linn’s would continue to report philatelic news, although some Linn’s features may move to SSM. He also said that new options and features are being developed for the Linn’s website.
Take our polls asking Print subscribers if they will continue to subscribe.
There is currently no mention of the change on the non-subscription part of the website, other than the lack of a printed-copy option in subscriptions.
Linn’s had currently been producing some issues as digital-only while others were available in both formats.
Two quick polls for Linn’s subscribers. Please only vote if you are currently a Linn’s subscriber:
The costs of printing have been rising faster than the rate of inflation in recent years. In addition, for many years, U.S. postage rates for periodicals have discriminated against small publications. Add to this that the number of potential subscribers who won’t consider a digital publication is both older and more likely to shrink than the number who prefer or even expect digital publishing.
Off topic but can anyone please tell me what the story is with “Last Day of Sale” postmarks? Are they available? How would I obtain them?
Thank you very much VSC for any help.
It’s yet another sad necessity of change. High costs and shrinking audience equals no product.
Those of us who subscribed over the years can wax nostalgic over the excitement AND importance about reading all that Linn’s offered, from new issues and stamp tips to investigative stories, and detailed dives into foreign philately. When I was a teen, two MUST publications for me were Linn’s and Sports Illustrated, occasionally enhanced by The Sporting News. (I devoured them all.)
Those were great days. I learned a lot and will always appreciate the amazing coverage and diversity in Linn’s.
I can only hope that old and new collectors both support the digital version. Lately, Linn’s coverage has been top-notch. Kudos to the staff!
Jeff, the economics of print periodicals have continued to become more challenging (as you of all people know all too well). The only solution to remaining in print is to increase circulation. In U.S. philately, that may be a challenge. Perhaps if they offered an edition in Chinese or Hindi, they might open up new markets…