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It's Howdy Doody Time.

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

The big issue among next year's U-S stamps is Early Television Memories, a set of 20 stamps 
that includes such programs as Howdy Doody, The Twilight Zone, the Honeymooners and--

"The Lone Ranger" show open
RUNS :05

Dave Failor, the man in charge of the U-S stamps program, says he watched all of them when 
he was child.

"I can related to ALL of them. They were a part of my childhood, and I think baby boomers 
around the country are going to be really excited about those stamps."
RUNS :07

But there are two important historic anniversaries next year: The bicentennials of Edgar 
Allan Poe and Abraham Lincoln. Poe will get a single stamp, Lincoln a set of 4. Only FOUR 
for one of our greatest presidents?

"We had thought about all sorts of things -- a pane of 20, five different formats, and all 
that -- but we really decided just to get back to the basics and just come up with four 
really great images."  :09

Other issues of note include statehood anniversaries for Oregon, Alaska and Hawaii...
Lighthouses affected by Hurricane Katrina...the Thanksgiving Day Parade...and Gary Cooper 
in the Legends of Hollywood series.

One change next year is that the wedding stamps will come out at the NEW rates, expected 
to go into effect in May. Failor says he heard about it last year when the wedding stamps 
weren't available in time for June weddings.

"There are people very passionate about it, and it was brought to our attention, so we 
just want to make sure we do the right thing."  :05

The Black Heritage stamp -- Anna Julia Cooper -- will be moved from February to after the 
rate change.

"If we issue one in June, it'll be available all the way through May of the next year, so 
for those Black Heritage celebrations in February of the next year, the stamp will be 
available."  :10

Not all of next year's stamps have been announced, Failor says...so we expect an 
announcement of a blockbuster issue

I'm Lloyd de Vries of The Virtual Stamp Club. For more on stamps and stamp collecting, 
visit virtual-stamp-club-dot-com.

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