Philosateleian Blog
Grab some 2-cent stamps
You may need a few 2¢ stamps early next year if the U.S. Postal Service gets its way.
USPS officials are asking the Postal Regulatory Commission to approve a rate hike that would go into effect on January 2, 2011. If the increase is approved, first-class letter rates will increase to 46 cents, with each additional ounce costing 18 cents. You’ll have to spend 30 cents to mail a postcard.
Prices to other countries could climb by 5–8 cents for the first ounce, depending on the destination.
The increases could cut the USPS’s massive deficit by $2.3 billion in the upcoming fiscal year.
Postage rate increases are technically limited to no more than the rate of inflation, but the PRC has the authority to approve higher increases like the ones requested as long as the USPS can demonstrate extraordinary need.
What do you as a stamp collector think of the proposed rate changes? Is the increase significant enough to even be on your radar?
Summertime slow for stamps
Summer is in full swing at least in this part of the world, and you may very well be spending more time outdoors than you are with your collection.
That’s how things look from here, at least, as Philosateleia has seen a drop in traffic over the past couple of months. I suspect that’s due to many of our usual visitors taking advantage of the opportunity to spend time outside with family and friends, and I can’t blame them. I’ve been enjoying it myself!
Is your stamp collection getting less attention than usual over the summer months? If so, where are you focusing your efforts when you do sit down with the stamps for a few minutes?
Summer 2010 update for The Philosateleian
After something of a sabbatical, I’m back with new stamp album pages for you to download! The Summer 2010 Supplement (496 KB, 11 files, 28 pages) for The Philosateleian U.S. Stamp Album is now available.
This update includes spaces for the latest regular postage issues, plus new pages for the U.S. Postal Agency in China overprinted issues of 1919 and 1922, which are included in The Philosateleian for the first time.
If you like The Philosateleian, don’t forget that there are several ways you can support the project. Happy collecting!
Thanks for the cash
Special thanks to reader James P. for his recent contribution to keep Philosateleia running. James joins several other supporters who have provided financial assistance to help cover Web hosting fees and the like.
Newspapers, periodicals, and postal notes
There’s exciting news for fans of The Philosateleian U.S. Stamp Album. The Philosateleian now contains pages for newspapers & periodicals stamps and postal note stamps.
You can download the new pages individually or as the Special 2010 Supplement (292 KB, 7 files, 16 pages).
You may notice the pages for newspapers & periodicals don’t include spaces for every single stamp that exists in that category. I intentionally omitted spaces for extraordinarily pricey varieties, just as I’ve done with the regular issue pages.
What back of book categories would you like me to tackle next?