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For broadcast on CBS Radio Network stations November 15-16, 2003:

Tiny Differences, Big Challenge

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

Back in the early days of postage stamps, printing techniques were much more primitive 
and stamp designs were kept in use much longer....so there are many varieties of early 
U-S stamps. While at first glance two stamps may appear to be the same, a close 
examination may show that one is worth a few dollars....and the other is worth hundreds.

Then stamp production stabilized, helped by the consolidation of most printing in the 
Bureau of Engraving and Printing, which also produces our paper money.

Now...it's happening again. There are important differences in stamps that at first 
appear to be similar. Why?

The B-E-P has been replaced by private contractors....and, recently, the Postal Service 
dropped the contracts of some of THEM. The stamps they were producing were switched to 
other printers; that created variations in the designs and sizes.

Some collectors are upset about having to find all the different varieties....others 
view it as a challenge.

And that's stamp collecting this week. 

I'm Lloyd de Vries, CBS News. 

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