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The Bailar Blast

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

Many stamp collectors have expressed dismay at the increasing commercialization of the
U-S stamp program.

But few of the unhappy collectors carries the weight of Benjamin Bailar, a former
postmaster general. A serious stamp collector both before and after his tenure as C-E-O
of the Postal Service, he’s also a Harvard Business School graduate and has worked for
several major corporations.

According to Linn’s Stamp News, Bailar quit the Citizens Stamp Advisory Committee recently.
That’s the blue ribbon panel that suggests and advises on stamp subjects and designs. A
copy of his resignation letter obtained by the hobby newspaper said being on the committee
was no longer rewarding, and, in fact, it may be time to abolish the committee.

Stamps are supposed to promote what’s best about a country, he wrote, and most U-S stamp
these days aren’t doing that. Instead, the goal is to maximum revenue.

But he points out that stamps have never been, and never will be, a major source of revenue
for the Postal Service.

Bailar isn’t the first member of C-SAC, as it’s called, to express unhappiness in recent
years with the Committee’s role. But maybe this time the Postal Service will listen.

I'm Lloyd de Vries of The Virtual Stamp Club. For more on stamps and stamp collecting,
visit virtual-stamp-club-dot-com.

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