For broadcast on CBS Radio Network stations 
April 10-11, 1999:


A change in policy.


The Stamp Collecting Report, I'm Lloyd de Vries


After protests by the American Philatelic Society and 
others -- including this radio feature -- the U-S Postal 
Service has decided to end its limited distribution of 
some commemoratives. For the last year and change, any 
stamps the Postal People thought didn't have broad 
interest were only available at local post offices in 
certain areas. For instance, statehood issues only in 
those states.


Collectors protested, saying if a subject was important 
enough for a stamp, it was important enough for a 
NATIONAL stamp. The A-P-S also pointed out that many 
collectors buy and save the stamps they find at their 
post offices and on their mail...and limiting 
distribution was limiting sales. 


Last week, the Postal Service had a change of heart, 
citing collector complaints, and starting with the 
Ayn Rand stamp next week, the geographical limits are 
history.


THIS Friday, the U-S issues a Daffy Duck stamp, with 
a publicity stunt of some sort on Saturday in every 
Wal-Mart store in the country.

And that's stamp collecting this week. 

I'm Lloyd de Vries, CBS News. 

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