Download this report as an MP3 sound file.

A holiday surprise.

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

There may be a new holiday stamp of sorts at U-S post offices. Starting in early October,
the Postal Service began loading a holiday design into its Automated Postal Centers… for
the postage labels these self-service kiosks produce.

The labels say "FOREVER" on them, just like a stamp, and pay the postage rate for a letter,
just like a stamp.

They show a portion of the design for one of the new Christmas Carols stamps: The plate of
holiday cookies from the "Deck the Halls" stamp. Unlike the stamp, however, there's no
lyric from the song. There is, however, a code number that includes the date the label was
printed.

Not all post offices have these Automated Postal Centers, and not all of the A-P-C's have
the holiday design in them. Customers don't know until they purchase the postage labels.
One collector reports seeing a sign on a machine about the holiday design… but getting the
standard flag instead.

This is the sixth year that a holiday-themed label has been sold. Generally, they're
available through the end of the year. There are collectors who specialize in these
kiosk-vended labels, and they are listed in stamp catalogues as "computer vended postage."

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

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

Go to Report Index