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For broadcast on CBS Radio Network stations 
January 20-21, 2001


Inaugurating a new president.


The Stamp Collecting Report, I'm Lloyd de Vries.


The U-S doesn't issue stamps for its new presidents. What 
the Postal Service DOES offer, however, are special 
cancellations. 


This year, there will be pictorial postmarks in Washington 
-- of course -- and Austin and Crawford, Texas, where 
Mr. Bush's ranch is. 


Many collectors use special decorated envelopes with these 
cancels to make what's called "inaugural covers." You also 
can buy such envelopes, with or without the cancels, from a 
number of mail order dealers, and the Postal Service will 
offer one, too, although it's more expensive.


There's no charge for the cancellations, other than making 
sure you have 34 cents in stamps on each envelope. In fact, 
you can pick stamps that relate to the new president -- 
perhaps John Adams and John Quincy Adams, or last year's 
White House stamp. Older U-S stamps are always valid for 
postage -- just make sure the total meets the current rate.


You'll find the addresses for these cancels at the Virtual 
Stamp Club-dot-com.


And that's stamp collecting this week. 

I'm Lloyd de Vries, CBS News.


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