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Getting picky about pictorials.

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

The U-S Postal Service offers pictorial postmarks – cancels with special designs,
usually to commemorate an event or historical anniversary.

collectors from around the country will submit stamped envelopes to obtain these
postmarks. There's no charge, beyond paying postage both ways.

They don't cost the Postal Service much, either, and whatever is spent is probably
covered by the extra stamps purchased. They can be a fun addition to a collection -
IF they're done right.

And that's the problem: Lately, more and more of these pictorial postmarks are NOT
done right. The cancellation doesn't touch the stamp, or it's barely inked, or
crookedly slapped onto the envelope. I've even gotten some with fingerprints on them.

Sometimes the wrong postmark is applied. It's as if the postal clerks don't care.

Some collectors will re-submit their envelopes, with a note patiently explaining the
problem… only to get the new envelopes back with the exact same mistake!

It's no wonder many pictorial postmark collectors are giving up.

Yes, it's a free service, but if you're going to offer it, why not do it right the
first time?

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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