STAMP PROGRAMS
insights
1997 U.S. Stamp Program
Note: This is the final version of the Linn's 1997 U.S. Stamp Program.
Jan. 5, Year of the Ox. Single 32¢ commemorative stamp, pane of 20, SV, Honolulu, HI 96820; Linn's, Dec. 30, 1996, page 2; Feb. 3, pages 2 and 16; USPS order No. 443020 (block of four), 443040 (pane), 443061 (FDC); Scott 3120.
Jan. 24, Flag Over Porch. Two 32¢ self-adhesive stamps, red "1997," coil of 3,000, booklets of 15 and 30; BEP; FDC deadline April 24; Tucson, AZ 85726; Linn's, June 17, 1996, page 9; July 29, 1996, page 2; Aug. 19, 1996, page 9; Oct. 21, 1996, page 15; Nov. 4, 1996, page 2; Nov. 11, 1996, page 22; Dec. 30, 1996, page 2; Jan. 13, page 16; Jan. 27, page 3; March 17, page 20; Jan. 12, 1998, page 8; USPS order No. 796910 (strip of 25 with plate number), 796961 (FDC at 53¢), 798261 (FDC with Flag Over Porch, Mountain, Juke Box, at 83¢), 665600 (booklet of 15), 665700 (booklet of 30), 665761 (FDC of booklet stamp, at 53¢); Scott 2915D (coil), 2921b (pane of 5), 2921a (pane of 10).
Jan. 24, Juke Box. Single nondenominated (25¢) self-adhesive stamp for presorted-first-class-letter rate, rolls of 3,000, BEP; Tucson, AZ 85726; first-day cancel deadline April 24; Tucson, AZ 85726; Linn's, June 17, 1996, page 9; Nov. 4, 1996, page 2; Nov. 11, 1996, page 22; Dec. 30, 1996, page 2; Jan. 13, page 16; Jan. 27, page 3; USPS order No. 797510 (coil strip of 25), 797561 (FDC with one Juke Box and two Mountain stamps, at 56¢), 798261 (FDC with Flag Over Porch, Mountain and Juke Box, at 83¢); Scott 2912B.
Jan. 24, Mountain. Single nondenominated (5¢) self-adhesive stamp with liner for nonprofit rate, rolls of 3,000, BEP; Tucson, AZ 85726; first-day cancel deadline April 24; Tucson, AZ 85726; Linn's, Nov. 11, 1996, page 22; Dec. 30, 1996, page 2; Jan. 13, page 16; Jan. 27, page 3; USPS order No. 798210 (coil strip of 25), 797561 (FDC with one Juke Box and two Mountain stamps, at 56¢), 798261 (FDC with Flag Over Porch, Mountain and Juke Box, at 83¢); Scott 2904B.
Jan. 28, Benjamin O. Davis Sr. Single 32¢ commemorative self-adhesive stamp (Black Heritage series), BCA, pane of 20, Washington, DC 20066; Linn's Dec. 30, 1996, page 20; USPS order No. 441920 (block of four), 441940 (pane), 441961 (FDC); Scott 3121.
Feb. 1, Statue of Liberty. Pane of 20 and booklets of 15 and 30 32¢ self-adhesive stamps (two different die-cut gauges for the pane of 20 and the booklet of 30: 11 by 11 and 11.5 by 11.8), based on the 29¢ design issued in 1994, AV; San Diego, CA 92186-5530; first-day cancel deadline is May 1; Linn's, Oct. 21, 1996, page 16; Dec. 23, 1996, page 2; Jan. 27, page 12; Feb. 10, page 2; Feb. 24, page 1; April 28, page 2; July 28, page 1; Aug. 4, page 12; USPS order No. 667600 (pane of 20), 665800 (booklet of 15), 665900 (booklet of 30), 667661 (FDC at 53¢); Scott 3122 (single, gauge 11 by 11), 3122a (pane of 20), 3122b (pane of four), 3122c (pane of five plus label), 3122d (pane of six), BK259 (booklet of 15), BK260 (booklet of 30); 3122E (single, gauge 11.5 by 11.8), 3122Ef (pane of 20).
Feb. 4, Swans. Single 32¢ stamp and single 55¢ stamp (Love series), self-adhesive panes of 20, BCA, and eight different 20¢ Swans picture postal cards, set of 12 as three wrapped sheets of four, AP, Los Angeles, CA 90001, and nationwide; Linn's, Jan. 27, page 2; Feb. 10, page 1; March 3, page 9; March 17, page 11; USPS order No. 668000 (32¢ pane), 668061 (FDC at 53¢), 668100 (55¢ pane), 668161 (FDC at 76¢), 668066 (card set at $6.95); Scott 3123 (32¢), 3123a (pane of 20), 3124 (55¢), 3124a (pane of 20); UX279 (any single card, with separate unlettered sublistings for two sheets of four picture postal cards and eight single picture postal cards).
Feb. 18, Helping Children Learn. Single 32¢ self-adhesive commemorative stamp, pane of 20, AV, Washington, DC 20066 and nationwide; Linn's, Nov. 4, 1996, page 2; Feb. 10, page 1; Feb. 17, page 2; USPS order No. 442120 (block of four), 442140 (pane), 442161 (FDC at 53¢); Scott 3125.
March 3, Merian Botanical Prints. Four 32¢ definitive self-adhesive stamps (two designs) picturing work by Anna Maria Sibylla Merian, pane of 20 and booklet of 15, SV, Washington, DC 20066; Linn's, Oct. 21, 1996, page 3; Oct. 28, 1996, page 2; Feb. 3, page 10; USPS order No. 668300 (pane of 20), 668361 (FDC of random single from pane of 20 at 53¢), 668363 (set of two different FDCs, at $1.06), 668700 (booklet of 15), 668761 (FDC of random single from booklet of 15, at 53¢); 668763 (set of two FDCs); Scott 3126 (Citron from pane of 20), 3127 (Flowering Pineapple from pane of 20), 3127a (pane of 20), 3128 (Citron from booklet of 15), 3128a (sideways stamp), 3128b (pane of two each of 3128-29 and 3128a), 3129 (Flowering Pineapple from booklet of 15), 3129a (sideways stamp), 3129b (booklet pane of two each of 3128-29 and 3129a), BK261 (booklet of 15).
March 13, Stagecoach and Ship. Two se-tenant 32¢ commemorative stamps to publicize the Pacific 97 stamp exhibition of May 29-June 8 in San Francisco, Calif., BCA, pane of 16, New York, NY 10199; first-day cancel deadline extended to June 11; Linn's,Oct. 28, 1996, page 18; Nov. 18, 1996, page 2; Dec. 23, 1996, page 2; March 10, page 1; March 24, page 3; March 31, pages 18 and 19; April 21, page 10; April 28, page 1; May 19, page 1; USPS order No. 443220 (block of four), 443240 (pane), 443261 (FDC single, at 53¢), 443262 (FDC side-to-side pair, at 85¢), 443263 (set of two FDCs, at $1.06), 443264 (FDC top-bottom pair, at 85¢); 443284 (press sheet, at $30.72); Scott 3130 (Ship), 3131 (Stagecoach), 3131a (pair of 3130-31).
March 14, Linerless coils. Two experimental self-adhesive definitive coil stamps with no liner (backing): 32¢ Flag Over Porch, rolls of 100; nondenominated (25¢) Juke Box, rolls of 10,000 and 30,000; M, with printing and finishing by SV; New York, NY 10199; Flag stamps on sale at 17 northern Virginia post offices and by mail through the PFSC; Juke Box stamps on sale through the PFSC; Linn's, Nov. 11, 1996, page 9; March 10, page 1; March 17, page 18; March 31, page 12; April 21, page 16; USPS order No. 795900 (coil of 100 Porch in dispenser, at $32.25), 796000 (coil of 100, no dispenser, at $32), 795961 (FDC at 53¢), 795820 (Juke Box strip of seven with plate number), 795761 (FDC with two Juke Box, at 71¢); Scott 3132 (Juke Box), 3133 (Flag Over Porch).
Spring, American Kestrel. Single sheet stamp, new printing with low-gloss gum from plate combination 4444; previous issue of 1995 has shiny gum; Linn's, May 12, page 14; no USPS order number, a variety of Scott 2477.
April 17, Thornton Wilder. Single 32¢ commemorative stamp, pane of 20, AP, Hamden, CT 06511; Linn's, March 24, page 1; USPS order No. 443620 (block of four), 443640 (pane), 443661 (FDC); Scott 3134.
April 24, Raoul Wallenberg. Single 32¢ commemorative stamp honoring the Swedish diplomat and humanitarian, pane of 20, AP, Washington, DC 20066; Linn's, May 20, 1996, page 2; May 27, 1996, page 1; Feb. 10, page 2; April 21, page 1; May 12, pages 8 and 14; USPS order No. 443420 (block of four), 443440 (pane), 443461 (FDC); Scott 3135.
May, Flag Over Porch. New printing of 32¢ self-adhesive in pane of 20 with National Domestic Violence Hotline text; previous pane of 1995 had text for Stamps etc.; USPS order No. 667303 (pane);[44] Linn's June 9, page 12.
May 1, The World of Dinosaurs. Fifteen 32¢ commemorative stamps in pane of 15 showing two murals of supposed prehistoric scenes, AP, no plate numbers on pane, Grand Junction, CO 81501; Linn's, April 21, page 26; April 28, page 52; May 26, page 10; USPS order No. 552740 (pane of 15), 552762 (FDC of pane, at $6.80); Scott 3136 (pane), ceratosaurus (3136a), camptosaurus (b), camarasaurus (c), brachiosaurus (d), goniopholis (e), stegosaurus (f), allosaurus (g), opisthias (h), edmontonia (i), einiosaurus (j), daspletosaurus (k), paleosaniwa (l), corythosaurus (m), ornithomimus (n), parasaurolophus (o).
May 7, Shepard Hall. Single 20¢ postal card picturing building at the City College of New York (Historic Preservation series), New York, NY 10199; Linn's, Nov. 18, 1996, page 1; May 5, page 8; USPS order No. 228900, 228961 (FDC, at 30¢); Scott UX280.
May 22, Bugs Bunny. Two 32¢ commemorative self-adhesive stamps, die-cut and imperforate, pane of 10 (no plate number), and one picture postal card, booklet of 10, AV, Burbank, CA 91505; Linn's, June 3, 1996, page 1; Nov. 18, 1996, page 8; Dec. 23, 1996, page 1; March 31, pages 10 and 12; April 21, page 1; May 5, page 19; May 12, page 12; May 19, page 1; June 2, pages 16 and 51; June 16, pages 14 and 20; Aug. 11, page 8; Aug. 25, pages 2 and 18; Sept. 15, page 11; Oct. 6, page 9; Oct. 13, page 1; Nov. 3, page 1; Nov. 10, page 1; Nov. 17, page 8; Dec. 15, page 44; Dec. 29, page 16; Jan. 12, 1998, page 20; USPS order No. 558800 (pane), 558801 (sold out: pane with special die cut), 558861 (FDC, at 53¢ ); 558884 (sold out: top half of press sheet, at $19.20); 558886 (sold out: bottom half, at $19.20); 558866 (booklet of 10 picture postal cards, at $5.95); Scott 3137 (normal pane of 10), 3137a (single), 3137b (pane of nine 3137a), 3137c (pane of one 3137a), 3138 (pane of 10 with die cuts through backing and one imperforate), 3138a (mint single), 3138b (pane of nine 3138a), 3138c (pane of one imperforate), UX281 (postal card), UX281a (booklet).
May 29, Benjamin Franklin. Single 50¢ commemorative stamp, souvenir sheet of 12 (no plate number), BEP, San Francisco, CA 94188, sold only May 8-June 8; first-day-cancel deadline Aug. 27; see May 30 stamp for Linn's references; USPS order No. 557800 (pane only), 557862 (FDC pane at $7.20); Scott 3139 (souvenir sheet), 3139a (single).
May 30, George Washington. Single 60¢ commemorative stamp, souvenir sheet of 12 (no plate number), BEP, San Francisco, CA 94188, sold only May 8-June 8; first-day-cancel deadline Aug. 28; Linn's, Oct. 28, 1996, page 18; Feb. 10, page 1; Feb. 17, page 2; Feb. 24, page 4; March 3, page 2; March 10, page 1; March 17, page 9; April 21, page 2; May 26, pages 1 and 12; June 16, page 12; Sept. 29, page 1; Oct. 13, page 1; Nov. 3, page 2; Dec. 29, page 2; USPS order No. 557900 (pane), 557962 (FDC pane at $8.40); Scott 3140 (sheet), 3140a (single).
June?, Yellow Rose. New printing of 32¢ self-adhesive in pane of 20 with Stampers program text; 1996 pane has text for Tournament of Roses Parade; USPS order No. 668201 (pane); Linn's July 28, page 1; Aug. 18, page 19.
June?, Statue of Liberty. New printing of 32¢ self-adhesive in pane of 20 with National Domestic Violence Hotline text on back; previous pane of Feb. 1 had text for Stamps etc.catalog; USPS order No. 667601 (pane); Linn's July 28, page 1; Aug. 18, page 19.
June 2, Golden Gate Bridge. Single 20¢ postal card showing view of bridge and San Francisco from Marin County, San Francisco, CA 94188, at the Pacific 97 world philatelic exhibition; Linn's, Oct. 28, 1996, page 18; June 2, page 12; USPS order No. 228700, 228761 (first-day canceled card, at 30¢); Scott UX282.
June 2, Golden Gate Bridge at Sunset. Single 50¢ postal card showing bridge looking toward Marin County, San Francisco, CA 94188, at the Pacific 97 world philatelic exhibition; Linn's, Oct. 28, 1996, page 18; June 2, page 12; USPS order No. 228800, 228861 (first-day canceled card, at 60¢); Scott UX283.
June 4, Marshall Plan. Single 32¢ commemorative stamp, pane of 20, AP; Cambridge, MA 02139; Linn's, Dec. 16, 1996, page 1; Jan. 6, page 14; Jan. 13, page 1; Feb. 24, page 16; June 2, page 10; USPS order No. 442220 (block of four), 442240 (pane), 442261 (FDC); Scott 3141.
June 21, Canada Goose. Single $15 federal migratory waterfowl hunting and conservation stamp issued by the U.S. Department of the Interior, pane of 30, BEP; McLean, Va.; Linn's, Feb. 3, page 19; June 16, page 32; June 23, page 27; USPS order No. 332810, 332820 (plate block of four), 332840 (pane); Scott RW64.
July 19, Classic American Aircraft. Pane of 20 32¢ commemorative stamps, SV, Dayton, OH 45401; Linn's, Nov. 4, 1996, page 2; July 14, page 1; Sept. 29, page 9; USPS order No. 559740 (pane), 559762 (FDC of pane at $8.40), 559784 (uncut press sheet at $38.40); Scott 3142 (pane), Mustang (3142a), Model B (b), Cub (c), Vega (d), Alpha (e), B-10 (f), Corsair (g), Stratojet (h), GeeBee (i), Staggerwing (j), Flying Fortress (k), Stearman (l), Constellation (m), Lightning (n), Peashooter (o), Tri-Motor (p), DC-3 (q), Clipper (r), Jenny (s), Wildcat (t).
July 25, Legendary Football Coaches. Four 32¢ commemorative stamps (see also Aug. 5, 7, 8 and 16 listings) for Paul "Bear" Bryant (Scott 3143), Glenn "Pop" Warner (3144), Vince Lombardi (3145) and George Halas (3146), pane of 20 with all four designs, AP, Canton, OH 44711; Linn's, Oct. 21, 1996, page 18; Nov. 18, 1996, page 1; Nov. 25, 1996, page 1; Dec. 23, 1996, page 2; Jan. 20, page 1; March 10, page 8; June 9, page 16; July 21, page 10; Aug. 11, page 12; USPS order No. 442920 (block of four), 442940 (pane), 442963 (set of four FDCs at $2.12), 442962 (FDC with block at $1.49).
July 28, Classic American Dolls. Fifteen 32¢ commemorative stamps picturing historic dolls of the United States, pane of 15, AP, Anaheim, CA 92803; Linn's, Oct. 21, 1996, page 1; July 28, page 12; USPS order No. 442840 (pane), 442862 (FDC of pane at $6.80); Scott 3151 (pane), Alabama Baby and doll by Martha Chase (3151a), Columbian Doll (b), Johnny Gruelle's Raggedy Ann (c), doll by Martha Chase (d), American Child (e), Baby Coos (f), Plains Indian (g), doll by Izannah Walker (h), Babyland Rag (i), Scootles (j), doll by Ludwig Greiner (k), Betsy McCall (l), Percy Crosby's Skippy (m), Maggie Mix-up (n), dolls by Albert Schoenhut (o).
July 31, Humphrey Bogart. Single 32¢ commemorative stamp, Legends of Hollywood series, pane of 20 and uncut sheet of six panes, SV, Los Angeles, CA 90052; Linn's, Nov. 18, 1996, page 52; Dec. 30, 1996, page 1; Jan. 27, page 1; April 14, page 1; June 9, page 2; July 28, page 14; Aug. 4, page 2; Dec. 22, page 20; USPS order No. 442420 (block of four), 442440 (pane), 442461 (FDC), 442462 (FDC of pane at $8.40); 442484 (uncut press sheet at $38.40); Scott 3152.
Aug. 1, Yellow Rose. Single 32¢ self-adhesive coil stamp (same design as 1996 booklet stamp), BEP, Falls Church, VA 22046; Linn's, March 31, page 26; April 21, page 16; July 28, page 2; USPS order No. 775600 (coil of 100), 775661 (FDC); Scott 3054.
Aug. 5, Vince Lombardi. Single 32¢ commemorative stamp, pane of 20, AP, added red bar (see also July 25 listing), Green Bay, WI 54303; Linn's, Oct. 21, 1996, page 18; Nov. 18, 1996, page 1; Nov. 25, 1996, page 1; Dec. 23, 1996, page 2; Jan. 20, page 1; March 10, page 8; June 9, page 16; July 28, page 26; USPS order No. 444620 (block of four), 444640 (pane), 444661 (FDC at 53¢); Scott 3147 (red bar).
Aug. 7, Paul "Bear" Bryant. Single 32¢ commemorative stamp, pane of 20, AP, added red bar (see also July 25 and Aug. 5 listings), Tuscaloosa, AL 35401; USPS order No. 444520 (block of four), 444540 (pane), 444561 (FDC at 53¢); Scott 3148 (red bar).
Aug. 8, Glenn "Pop" Warner. Single 32¢ commemorative stamp, pane of 20, AP, added red bar (see also July 25 and Aug. 5 listings), Philadelphia, PA 19104; USPS order No. 444720 (block of four), 444740 (pane), 444761 (FDC at 53¢); Scott 3149 (red bar).
Aug. 16, George Halas. Single 32¢ commemorative stamp, pane of 20, AP, design with added red bar (see also July 25 and Aug. 5 listings), Chicago, IL 60607; USPS order No. 444820 (block of four), 444840 (pane), 444861 (FDC at 53¢); Scott 3150 (red bar).
Aug. 21, "The Stars and Stripes Forever!" Single 32¢ special stamp based on the march, pane of 50, BEP, Milwaukee, WI 53201; Linn's, Aug. 18, page 11; USPS order No. 550620 (block of four), 550640 (pane), 550661 (FDC); Scott 3153.
Sept. 7, Fort McHenry. Single 20¢ postal card, Baltimore, MD 21233; Linn's, Sept. 1, page 16; USPS order No. 228600, 228661 (FDC); Scott UX284.
Sept. 10, Opera Singers. Four 32¢ commemorative stamps for Lily Pons (Scott 3154), Richard Tucker (3155), Lawrence Tibbett (3156) and Rosa Ponselle (3157), Legends of American Music series, pane of 20, AP, New York, NY 10199; Linn's, Oct. 28, page 8; Sept. 8, page 12; USPS order No. 443120 (block of four), 443140 (pane); 443161 (random FDC), 443162 (FDC with four stamps, at $1.49), 443164 (set of four FDCs, at $2.21).
Sept. 12, Composers and Conductors. Eight 32¢ commemorative stamps for conductors Leopold Stokowski (Scott 3158), Arthur Fiedler (3159), George Szell (3160) and Eugene Ormandy (3161), and composers Samuel Barber (3162), Ferde Grofe (3163), Charles Ives (3164) and Louis Moreau Gottschalk (3165); pane of 20; AP; Cincinnati, OH 45234;Linn's, Oct. 28, 1996, page 8; July 28, page 1; Sept. 8, page 18; USPS order No. 442630 (block of eight), 442640 (pane), 442662 (FDC with eight stamps, at $2.77), 442663 (set of eight FDCs).
Sept. 15, Padre Felix Varela. Single 32¢ commemorative stamp, pane of 20, AP, Miami, FL 33152; Linn's, May 26, page 12; Aug. 11, page 1; Aug. 25, page 9; Sept. 8, page 26; Oct. 6, page 1; USPS order No. 444020 (block of four), 444040 (pane), 444061 (FDC); Scott 3166.
Sept. 18, Department of the Air Force. Single 32¢ commemorative stamp, pane of 20, AP, Washington, DC 20066 and nationwide; Linn's, Dec. 16, 1996, page 1; Dec. 23, 1996, page 1; Sept. 15, page 1; Oct. 6, pages 10 and 11; Oct. 20, page 1; USPS order No. 443520 (block of four), 443540 (pane), 443561 (FDC), 011002 (plastic decoder lens to view the scrambled letters in the stamp's printed image, at $4.95); Scott 3167.
Sept. 30, Classic Movie Monsters. Five 32¢ commemorative stamps and five 20¢ picture postal cards for Phantom of the Opera (Scott 3168, UX285), Dracula (3169, UX286), Frankenstein's Monster (3170, UX287), the Mummy (3171, UX288) and Wolf Man (3172, UX289), pane of 20, booklet of 20 cards (Scott UX289a), SV, Universal City, CA 91608; Linn's, Nov. 18, page 1; Sept. 22, page 1; Sept. 29, page 3; Oct. 20, page 1; USPS order No. 442520 (strip of five), 442540 (pane), 442562 (FDC with strip of five, at $1.60), 442563 (set of five FDCs, at $2.65) 442584 (uncut sheet of nine panes at $57.60), 011002 (plastic decoder lens to view the hidden images in the stamps, at $4.95) 442566 (booklet of 20 postal cards at $5.95).
Oct. 14, Supersonic Flight. Single 32¢ commemorative self-adhesive stamp, pane of 20, BCA, Edwards Air Force Base, CA 93523; Linn's, Nov. 4, 1996, page 2; Sept. 29, page 10; Nov. 17, page 1; USPS order No. 443320 (block of four), 443340 (pane of 20), 443361 (FDC); Scott 3173.
Oct. 18, Women in the Military. Single 32¢ commemorative stamp, pane of 20, BCA, Washington, DC 20066; Linn's, Sept. 22, page 1; Sept 29, page 11; Oct. 13, page 14; USPS order No. 444120 (block of four), 444140 (pane of 20), 444161 (FDC); Scott 3174.
Oct. 22, Kwanzaa. Single 32¢ stamp (Holiday Celebrations series), self-adhesive pane of 50, AV, Los Angeles, CA 90052; Linn's, Oct. 6, page 18; Oct. 13, page 2; Nov. 17, page 11; Dec. 15, page 2; Dec. 22, page 9; Dec. 29, page 9; Jan. 12, 1998, page 18; Jan. 26, 1998, page 12; USPS order No. 552120 (block of four), 552140 (pane), 552161 (FDC), 552184 (uncut press sheet of five panes arranged in a strip); Scott 3175.
Oct. 27, Madonna and Child. Single 32¢ self-adhesive stamp for the Christmas season, pane of 20, BEP, Washington, DC 20066; Linn's, Oct. 6, page 2; Oct. 20, page 8; USPS order number 667900 (pane of 20), 667961 (FDC at 53¢); Scott 3176, 3176a (pane).
Oct. 30, American Holly. Single 32¢ self-adhesive stamp for the Christmas season, replacing the Wreaths issue, pane of 20, booklets of 15 and 30 (no ATM pane), BCA, New York, NY 10199; Linn's, March 24, page 2; March 31, page 14; Oct. 20, page 8; USPS order No. 667800 (pane of 20), 667861 (FDC at 53¢), 668800 (booklet of 15), 668900 (booklet of 30); Scott 3177, 3177a (pane of 20), 3177b (pane of four from booklet), 3177c (pane of five plus label), 3177d (pane of six), BK264 (booklet of 15), BK 265 (booklet of 30).
November?, Hanukkah. New printing of the 32¢ Hanukkah stamp of 1996 with new tab-like die-cut in the backing paper; stamp design is same as 1996 issue and has "1996" year date; Linn's, Nov. 24, page 9; Dec. 8, page 9; Dec. 15, page 8 ; USPS order No. 508440 (pane of 20), 508420 (block of four).
Dec. 10, Mars Pathfinder. Single $3 stamp, pane of one (souvenir sheet format), SV, Pasadena, CA 91109; Linn's, Oct. 13, 1997, page 1; Nov. 24, page 11; Dec. 1, page 1; Dec. 29, page 24; Jan. 12, 1998, page 18; Jan. 19, 1998, page 1; USPS order No. 559800 (pane of one), 559884 (uncut press sheet at $54); 559861 (FDC at $3.21); Scott 3178.
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*Asterisks precede entries with new or changed information. New/changed information is presented in bold italics.
Stamp printing contractors are identified in the listings using the following abbreviations: AP (Ashton Potter USA Ltd.), CCL (CCL Label Inc.) and SSP (Sennett Security Products). Printing contractors for some earlier issues include AV (Avery Dennison), BEP (Bureau of Engraving and Printing), BCA (Banknote Corp. of America), GL (Guilford Gravure), and SS (Sterling Sommer).
Details of each issue listed in this program are given in the cited issues of Linn’s. Stamps are self-adhesive unless otherwise noted.
Mount Nos. refer to the appropriate ScottMount item number.
HOW TO ORDER STAMPS OR COVERS
Mail orders for mint stamps, uncut press sheets, postal stationery, and the Postal Service's uncacheted first-day covers (FDCs) should be sent to Stamp Fulfillment Services, Box 419636, Kansas City, MO 64141-6636. Postal Service supplied first-day covers are available only in certain formats. They usually cost the face value of the stamps affixed plus 24¢ per cover. The prices of some items, including first-day-canceled stationery, may vary. Orders should use USPS item numbers.
Stamp Fulfillment Services accepts credit card orders by telephone (800-782-6724) or fax (816-545-1212). Orders may be placed from countries other than the United States by calling 816-545-1000. An additional $5.20 shipping fee is added to standard shipping and handling charges for orders to be mailed to a foreign address.
New issues should be ordered no more than two weeks in advance of the date of issue.
Mail, phone or fax orders have a flat service charge of $1.30 for orders up to $50 if they include only prepackaged items, such as the minimum purchase of a block of four sheet stamps or a pane of definitive stamps. A fee of $2.10 is added for custom orders.
A detailed sales catalog called USA Philatelic lists the prepackaged formats. It is free on request from Information Fulfillment, Dept. 6270, U.S. Postal Service, Box 419014, Kansas City, MO 64141-6014. USA Philatelic listings include formats and USPS item numbers other than those listed here.
HOW TO ORDER FIRST-DAY CANCELS
The grace period for collectors to send covers for first-day cancels ends 60 days after a stamp’s issue date, unless stated otherwise in the listing.
Within the grace period, buy the stamp (or stationery item) at your local post office or philatelic center, affix it to an addressed envelope (postage must make up at least the first-class rate) and send under cover to Customer-Affixed Envelopes, Postmaster, (Name of City, State and ZIP code-9991 or the ZIP+4 code given). No remittance is required.
Most collectors use stamped, addressed return carrier envelopes or peelable return address labels that can be removed after the U.S. Postal Service returns the cover.
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Plate numbers. Multistamp issues require as a minimum a plate block with every stamp design represented at least once. Plate block formats are listed by Amos Media Co. in the Scott Specialized Catalogue of United States Stamps and Covers.
Stamp Fulfillment Services requires the purchase of a minimum number of stamps to obtain plate number markings. For stamps with face values of 1¢ to 50¢ the minimum purchase is a full pane.
For stamps with face values of 51¢ to $1.20 the minimum purchase is either a full pane or block per the catalog listing. For stamps with face values of $1.21 and up the minimum purchase is a block of four stamps. Plate numbers on most coil stamps may be obtained with a minimum purchase of 25 stamps. Stamp Fulfillment Services does not guarantee specific plate numbers.
If you collect U.S. new issues, you should own Linn’s U.S. Stamp Yearbooks. The 1983, 1984, 1985, 1986, 1987, 1988, 1990, 1991, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006 and 2010 yearbooks are sold individually. The 1989, 2007, 2008 and 2009 yearbooks are sold out. For additional information, or to order, visit www.amosadvantage.com, or telephone Amos Media Co. at 800-572-6885.
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