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For broadcast on CBS Radio Network stations February 8-9, 2003:


Memorials and Opportunism.


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


When a major event happens, some collectors take envelopes to their local
post offices to have them canceled with the date of the event. These are
called "event covers" -- a cover in stamp collecting is an envelope. 


Some of these events are happy, such as presidential inaugurations or the
births of children. And some are tragedies, like assassinations -- or
crashes.


They're legitimate collectibles. 


Within hours of the space shuttle tragedy, there were Columbia accident
covers on eBay. 


Unlike some types of  memorabilia offered, prices remained reasonable, and
as far as we know, none was removed from sale by eBay....nor were there any
incidents of vigilante-ism -- trolls placing ridiculous bids, in order to
knock real bidders out of the auction, then refusing to pay.


But the nagging question for stamp collectors is...how soon after a tragedy
should items be offered for sale? Strike while the iron is hot? Or wait a
respectable amount of time?


And that's stamp collecting this week. 


I'm Lloyd de Vries, CBS News.


Special - Alternate Version! 


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