Greetings from Linn's Stamp News — and welcome to our first monthly newsletter. In the stories and links below you will get a peek at the content of our weekly newspaper, along with new information presented here for the first time.

In this issue you will find a preview of the first United States stamp of 2009, a story about an intriguing new stamp from Iceland that has a connection to John Lennon, and details about a completely new U.S. postmark that you can begin collecting today.

We also have stamp information about the nation of Georgia, a close-up look at magnifying glasses, and stamp wallpaper for your computer desktop.

We'll share a new selection of stamp features with you each month. Feel free to pass the news along to fellow collectors by clicking the "Send to a friend" button.

Enjoy!

Jay Bigalke
Linn's Online Editor

First United States stamp of 2009 pictures living Alaskan musher

Living Alaskan musher DeeDee Jonrowe is pictured on the first United States stamp to be issued in 2009. The stamp is being issued Jan. 3 to celebrate Alaska's 50th anniversary of statehood. (More...)

Iceland stamp glows

The stamp honors the first anniversary of the Peace Tower dedicated to the memory of former Beatle John Lennon. Iceland Post issued the stamp on Lennon's birthday, Oct. 9. (More...)

Part of the fun of using computers and the Internet is sharing full-color images of stamps used as computer desktop wallpaper. This month's Linn's wallpaper features Frank Sinatra. (Click Here)

New first-day-of-sale postmark arrives; few post offices order the new postmark

The United States Postal Service began a new postmark program in July to encourage local post offices to promote the first day of issue of new U.S. stamps. (More...)

What are you looking at?

That's a question stamp collectors hear pretty regularly. It's also a question that many collectors like to ask each other.

Stamp collectors are frequently seen peering intently through a magnifying glass at a stamp. (More...)

Georgia on my mind

On Aug. 7, ongoing clashes between Georgian forces and those of the breakaway South Ossetian Republic erupted into open warfare. In response, Russian troops and tanks poured across the border of its southern neighbor.

The stamps of Georgia, an independent country once part of the Soviet Union, reflect its history and culture. (More...)