For broadcast on CBS Radio Network stations 
March 13-14, 1999:


Technology and Stamp Collecting


The Stamp Collecting Report, I'm Lloyd de Vries


Everyone's talking about the impact of the Internet on 
philately -- electronic mail, websites, auctions, 
discussion areas, and the rest -- but that's not all. 
Technology also is used to determine the authenticity of
stamps and envelopes -- chemical and spectrographic 
analysis of the papers and inks, and electronic imaging, 
looking for fakes or alterations.


Most stamp collecting magazines and newspapers now accept 
articles, press releases and illustrations via e-mail, 
cutting down on the time it takes to publish them.


Many collectors keep their inventory lists and want lists 
on computer, and we're even starting to see prospective 
buyers at shows pull out their Palm Pilots to see if they 
already own an item. Computers are also used to create 
custom album pages and display.


Computer scanners are another piece of equipment found in 
more and more stamp collecting dens, not just for exchanging 
pictures over the Internet, but also for record-keeping.


And that's stamp collecting this week. 

I'm Lloyd de Vries, CBS News. 

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