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For broadcast on CBS Radio Network Stations 
February 2-3, 2002:


Happy Birthday to Us.


The Stamp Collecting Report, I'm Lloyd de Vries.


This Friday, the U-S issues a Happy Birthday stamp. It's not 
anyone's birthday in particular, but the latest in what the 
Postal Service calls its "special" series -- stamps that 
commemorate a theme or an annual event. Past special stamps 
include Love and Christmas.


These special stamps stick around longer than regular 
commemoratives, and, when the rates go up, they're often 
reissued at the new prices.


Not all of the special stamps have been successful: Love, 
Hanukkah and Kwanzaa were, but Cinco de Mayo a few years ago 
was a disappointment. The jury is still out on the 
controversial Muslim Eid stamp.


The U-S issued two previous Happy Birthday stamps in the 1980s, 
but they were part of sets with other special occasion stamps, 
and you had to buy "Happy Anniversary" and "Love You Dad," too. 
Although we're writing fewer personal letters, we still send 
greeting cards by mail.


The stamp is being issued during a major stamp show in Riverside,
California.


And that's stamp collecting this week. 


I'm Lloyd de Vries, CBS News.

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