Download this report as an MP3 sound file.

For broadcast on CBS Radio Network stations December 11-12, 2004:

Attention To Detail

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

The Postal Service says it has four new non-religious Christmas stamps, each depicting 
an ornament with Santa Claus. Each is a different color -- purple, green, blue and red. 
But there are really at least SIXTEEN new stamps.

That's because they were issued in several different formats -- sheets, booklets and for 
A-T-M's. The stamps in each format are slightly different in size and shape. How the 
stamps are separated is different, too. Also, the frames around the stamps, representing 
wooden boxes, vary. Look carefully at the slats.

But wait - it gets better. Where the stamps are on the sheet ALSO affects the design of 
the frames.

Oh, and red and green Santas show up more often on the sheets than purple and blue.

While this makes some stamp collectors' heads ache, others are excited by the challenge 
of finding all the different varieties.

How many different Ornament stamps will YOU find on your holiday mail?

And that's Stamp Collecting this week. 

I'm Lloyd de Vries, CBS News. 

----------------------------------------------------------
Go to Previous Report
Go to Next Report 

Go to Report Index