New stamps for new rates
January shipping rate increases; new stamps
The United States Postal Service decided to increase rates for some of its shipping products four months earlier than planned. The decision will boost Express Mail rates by an average of 5.7 percent and Priority Mail by 3.9 percent effective Jan. 18, 2009. According to a Postal Service spokesman, a new Express Mail stamp and a new Priority Mail stamp will be issued in January 2009.
U.S. stamps for The Simpsons
Cartoon Simpsons on U.S. stamps in 2009
Plans call for characters from the animated television show The Simpsons to appear on United States stamps in 2009, Linn’s has learned from multiple sources. The number of different stamps that will be issued and the formats in which they will appear are not known.
Canada's 2009 Hockey stamp
Canada Post to issue two stamps for centennial of the Montreal Canadiens
Two stamps will be issued by Canada Post for the 100th anniversary of the Montreal Canadiens professional hockey team, which falls on Dec. 4, 2009.
USPS first-day-of-sale postmark program
USPS first-day-of-sale postmark program growing slowly
The United States Postal Service's first-day-of-sale postmark program continues to grow slowly. Since the last update in Linn's Oct. 13 issue, only 24 new locations have been added to the list of post offices offering the first-day-of-sale postmark.
Imperial Russian collection auction
Specialized Imperial Russian collection to be auctioned Dec. 3
On Dec. 3, Cherrystone Auctions will offer the Leonard L. Tann collection of Imperial Russian, on the premises at 119 W. 57th St., in New York City. The auction includes stamps, covers, errors, varieties, proofs, essays and unissued stamps.