Sociable Stamp Society

This is our blog for current stamp news and views of interest to the philatelist and beginner. Daily updates provide items on shows, new issues, events, what's selling, and timely facts.

Saturday, April 30, 2005

16083

Battle of Trafalgar Remembered
... A new set of stamps are to be issued in Alderney on 9th May to mark the 200th anniversary of the Battle of Trafalgar. ...Nelson

Canada Post issues Atlantic battle stamp
... Canada Post is issuing a stamp to commemorate the Battle of the Atlantic. About 4,400 Canadians died during the Second World War in the fight to keep the supply lines open between North America and Britain. ...atlantic

eBay Stamps and Covers by State
Search by State or US Territory :: An easy way to find stamps, FDC's, covers, postal history, Ducks, first flights, postmarks by US State or territory. ...by state

the lanai guy | 9:48 AM | 0 comments |

Wednesday, April 27, 2005

15c Statue of Liberty no.566

Israel Commemorate John Paul II
... Israel’s Philatelic Bureau is to issue a new stamp on 3rd May in order to honour the late Pope John Paul II. ...Israel

Canadian postal regulations tightened up
... New regulations from the Canadian postal service, Canada Post, mean that anyone wanting to send a parcel for business or personal reasons to the country will need to declare the contents. ...canada

Vanity Stamps Go Postal Again
...Congratulations to our friends at Stamps.com, who are poised to relaunch their fabulous personalized postage program thanks to a decision announced yesterday by the U.S. Postal Service. Lots of pictures of the offending postage that ended the program last time. ...smokinggun

the lanai guy | 10:19 AM | 0 comments |

Tuesday, April 26, 2005

XIV

U.S. Postal Service Seeks Customized Postage Vendors

Washington, D.C. – Personal photos on postage could return as early as next month as the Postal Service moves into the second phase of an extensive test of this popular product that debuted last year.

Customized postage allows a customer to personalize postage with pictures or images using PC Postage® technology. The United States Postal Service today began looking for qualified PC Postage® vendors able to produce customized postage to be used on First-Class Mail, Priority Mail and Express Mail for personal use only.

“We’re combining the trust people have in the Postal Service with the technology and efficiencies of the private sector to bring customized postage to our customers,” said Nicholas Barranca, Vice President of Product Development. “Customized postage allows us to make mail more valuable and more meaningful to people.”

Customized postage will have two parts: a customer-supplied image and a state-of-the-art secure bar code. All customized postage is compatible with the Postal Service’s automated mailing processing systems.

Like postage meters, PC Postage® facilitates customer access to postage payment and use of the mail. PC Postage® is not a stamp and the use of customized postage will not affect the Postal Service’s production or commitment to postage stamps, Barranca said.

Customized postage will be limited to personal use only during the one-year test. This is the second step in the Postal Service’s testing of the product to determine its appeal to customers and the value it may add to postal services.

To become an authorized PC Postage® provider, applicants must be able to prove the ability to generate high quality, computer-based postage or metered postage and demonstrate they routinely use secure encryption technology to protect postal revenue.

“We want to make sure that anyone we authorize has the ability to produce postage in an efficient way,” Barranca said. “While we continue to strive to meet the needs of our customers, we want to make sure that any product also meets our standards for quality and security.”

USPS will require vendors to produce a product that meets current postal regulations and conclusively prove that all images produced and services provided abide by all federal laws, including copyright laws.

Authorized vendors will determine pricing and are expected to price their products based on the value provided to the consumer. The Postal Service’s role is to authorize and monitor qualified providers.

The formal request for proposals from qualified vendors will be advertised in the Federal Register on April 27.

The year-long test is expected to last through May 2006. Vendors may begin offering PC Postage® within 20 days of being authorized by the United States Postal Service.

Geeeee, do you think that the USPS finally succumbed to a good idea?

Royal Mail Silent on Post Trains
After ending the Travelling Post Offices the Royal Mail may have learned that they are the best way to move the mails. ..trains

the lanai guy | 12:24 PM | 0 comments |