STEVE LEVINE
Postal Stationery
and Stamps

 (LATE) AUGUST, 2010

HOW TO ORDER:
1.  DINOSAUR STYLE  If ordering Dinosaur Style (thru the mail), you can print out this sheet, then circle the price of what you want and mail it in with your payment.  PLEASE circle with a fine colored marker; any color will do.
2.  ONLINE  Sorry, this is not a full-function interactive website with a shopping cart and card processing ability.  It's Dinosaur-style; it only has listings.  Still, we can improvise!
     You can send me an e-mail and type out what you want and the price.
     OR, you can cut & paste the item with its description and price.
IF the item exists in several conditions or forms (such as f-vf or vf for stamps, or as Cut Squares or Full Corners) please indicate which you want.
     OR you can cut & paste large portions of the list and HIGHLIGHT whatever you want.  Green (the 00-80-00 shade for the techs out there) works well, as does Red (the FF-00-00 shade).
     I accept VISA, Master Card, and American Express.  I also accept PAY PAL, at my e-mail address of "slwarking@erols.com".
3.  PHONE  IF your order is relatively simple or if you have a few questions, you can phone me at 718-939-5788.  For me, "business hours" are flexible.  I'm usually in, and if I'm not, you get the answering machine.  Leave your #; I'll get back to you.

TERMS OF PURCHASE:  Items from this list may be combined with items from my other lists for a MINIMUM ORDER of $15.  ALL ORDERS will be shipped via Insured or Registered mail, for your protection.  Please add $2 for postage and insurance to all orders.  Smaller orders will carry private insurance and will have NO USPS markings.    There's no "handling" fee; just actual postage expenses.  This is for U.S. orders only.  Overseas shipments, please e-mail me in advance for shipping information.
     New York State Residents, please add the appropriate Sales tax.  VISA, Master Card and American Express are accepted: please include all information which appears in raised print, PLUS the 3 digit security code which appears on the back.  PayPal accepted.
          
        SATISFACTION IS GUARANTEED ON ALL ORDERS

Dear Friends & Collectors,

     FINALLY, THE TIME HAS COME!  The 2010 UPSS POSTAL CARD CATALOG is in my hands.  It's everything I expected it to be...and more.  I've also picked up some new issues...both Postal Cards and "Envelopes"...I put the term in quotation marks because the traditional envelope is getting morphed around a bit.  We now have letter sheets and large cardboard Priority/Express Mail envelopes...and even the regular envelopes are being made with self-seal flaps.
     I haven't made up my mind if I like this 21st Century hodge-podge or not; time will tell.  And now, without further ado, let's take a look at the UPSS Catalog!

2010 UPSS POSTAL CARD CATALOG

     This 2010 Edition of the UPSS Postal Card Catalog can truly be called a Catalog for the 21st Century.  It's a radical change from everything that's been published in the past.

     To begin with, the old 6"x9" format is gone; this is now a 9"x12" book.  The change was made because the Catalog was getting too thick.  Not only has the USPS been churning out cards like crazy, but also, new (mostly plate) varieties of the older issues are still being discovered, even after 50-100 years.  The new catalog -- at 250 pages -- is easier to handle.

     IF you prefer the LOOSELEAF to the HARDCOVER edition, here's a little more good news.  The looseleaf is now hole-punched for a standard 3-ring binder you can obtain in any stationery store.  In the past, there had been difficulty obtaining small binders.  Problem solved.

     The 2010 Catalog now has COLOR images.  This is one of the reasons it's expensive...but worth every penny of the cost.  Compare, for instance, the near-checkerboard look of the black & white UX13 on page 22 of the 2005 Catalog .... with the picture of the UX13 on page 11 of the 2010 Edition.
     This is especially useful when examining both color varieties and some surcharges.  The darker greens of the UX41 and UX42 vs. the lighter greens of the UX39 and UX40.  The "purple lozenge" variety of UXC3. 

     I'VE INCLUDED SEVERAL IMAGES OF PAGES FROM THE CATALOG AT THE BOTTOM OF THIS WEB PAGE.  WHEN YOU'VE SEEN THEM, YOU'LL KNOW WHY I'M EXCITED!

     Those are the large, obvious changes.  Now, I'll tell you about some of the smaller ones.

     The FORWARD - BASIC INFORMATION section has seen some work.  The introduction to Modern Postal Card Papers has been expanded and updated.  The 2005 Catalog ended Fluorescent coverage at UX132; the 2010 Catalog covers ALL card issues.  Examples of Paste-Ups have been added.  Some examples of Illustrated Advertising have been added.

     SECTION 6, the SPECIMEN section near the end of the catalog has been much expanded. 

     APPENDIX "A", EXPOSITION POSTAL CARDS, takes on an entirely new look with images in color.

     APPENDIX "B", EXPOSITION STATION AND SLOGAN POSTMARKS is unchanged...but there are now COMPLETELY NEW APPENDICES.

     THE NEW APPENDIX "C", COLORED and SEMI-FANCY CANCELS shows some examples and gives a checklist of the types of Cancels which exist.  Regrettably, there is no pricing guide, but that's understandable.  This is a complex area, more in the realm of Postal History than Postal Stationery, and frankly, I'd feel a bit uncomfortable trying to assign even a RANGE to these items.  This is work for a different kind of specialist.

     IN THE PAST, rate changes have brought about private surcharges.  These changes have either been "recognized"... or more correctly, tolerated... by local postal officials.  In past editions of the PC Catalog, these have been mentioned at various places throughout the catalog.  These issues have been consolidated into a NEW APPENDIX "D".

     There's a small APPENDIX "E" of U.S. Postal Cards overprinted for use in the Canal Zone, Cuba, the Philippines and Puerto Rico.

     LOCAL POST CARDS (2005 Section 7) have been moved to a NEW APPENDIX "F", with more illustrations.

     A NEW APPENDIX "G" is now the home for 2 Scott-listed items, the Postal Savings Cards of 1911.

     LAST, but FAR FROM LEAST, the NEW APPENDIX "H" is a REVERSE SUBJECT INDEX.  Now, if you have the name of the card, but not the number, you can find it here.

     That's all, Folks.  248 pages, the best Postal Card Catalog the UPSS has ever issued.

     PRICE IS $72.00 FOR THE HARDCOVER EDITION
     PRICE IS $60.00 FOR THE LOOSELEAF EDITION

    Now, I know the price is a little brutal; improvements PLUS inflation have added over $10 to the cost over the last edition.  So let me do a bit to ease the sting.
     POSTAGE and INSURANCE are FREE!...SHIPMENT WILL BE BY MEDIA MAIL, which will take several days, but it's really a lot faster than it used to be.
    
     One more point.  I have enough in stock to cover those of you who requested that I hold aside a copy for you, plus a few more.  I didn't OVER-stock, as I realize the price is hefty...and I can always order more from the UPSS.  It may, therefore, happen that I'll run out of stock, TEMPORARILY, and it may take a week for more copies to come in. 
     I apologize for any delay, but I'm just not psychologically UP for stocking an extra 30 catalogs and crossing my fingers, as I did in years past.

NEW ISSUES - CARDS AND ENVELOPES

COWBOYS OF THE SILVER SCREEN  A set of 4 picture postal cards, issued April 17, 2010.  Assigned Scott numbers UX597-600.  Picture above at top left. 
     PRICE FOR A SET OF 4 COWBOYS POSTAL CARDS IS $4.75
SCENIC AMERICAN LANDSCAPES  A set of 10 picture postal cards, issued April 20, 2010.  Assigned Scott numbers UX601-10.  Picture above at top right. 
     PRICE FOR A SET OF 10 LANDSCAPES POSTAL CARDS IS $12.50
$4.90 PRIORITY MAIL ENVELOPE - MACKINAC BRIDGE  A large, Priority Mail Envelope, issued January 4, 2010.  Assigned Scott number U674.  PARTIAL picture second row, left.
     PRICE FOR A MACKINAC BRIDGE PRIORITY MAIL ENVELOPE IS $10.00
GULF COAST LIGHTHOUSES LETTER SHEETS   A set of 5 letter sheets issued in July 2009 along with the Gulf Coast Lighthouses cards.  Assigned Scott numbers U669-73.  PARTIAL picture second row, right. 
     PRICE FOR A SET OF 5 GULF COAST  LIGHTHOUSE LETTER SHEETS IS $14.50
 SUNFLOWER LETTER SHEET  One letter sheet, issued in 2008.  Scott number U665.  No picture; just imagine a big sunflower.
     PRICE FOR A SUNFLOWER LETTER SHEETS IS $3.00

     NOTE:  The Lighthouse and Sunflower letter sheets are a trifle larger than the earlier "Garden Bouquet" (U657) sheet and require a larger mailer.  The $4.90 Priority Mail Envelope is worse.  If you could do me the favor of ordering ALL 3 at the same time, I could reduce the price a smidge.  The prices do factor in my using these larger, heavier mailers.

RECENT ENVELOPES  As you know, the USPS has been having a field day with new envelope issues.  They're used different manufacturers, issued them in both water-activated gum & self-stick format, and re-issued them with new "Recycled" logos and slogans.  "Availability" has been a bit spotty, as some of these issues were not available locally, and some were only available in "box" quantities.  Let me go on the record and state that 20 years from now some of these issues will be nearly impossible to find.

     FOR THE GENERAL COLLECTOR, what I'm about to offer you is perfect; for the specialist, it's just a piece of the puzzle.

     The 2 groups below were issued early this year.  They are re-issues of last year's envelopes, but with the new RECYCLED LOGO/SLOGAN on the back.

PACK #1 - SEABISCUIT PACK  OF 6 RE-ISSUE OF JANUARY 4, 2010
     Scott Number U668.  Scott probably won't issue a new number for this envelope.
     6 ENVELOPES, Sizes 12, 12 Window, 21, 21 Window, 23 and 23 window.  WATER-ACTIVATED GUM.  With the above "CRADLE TO CRADLE" logo on the back at the bottom of the envelope.
     PRICE FOR A SET OF 6 SEABISCUIT RE-ISSUED ENVELOPES IS $5.50

PACK #2 - SEABISCUIT/LIBERTY BELL PACK  RE-ISSUE OF JANUARY 4, 2010
     Scott Number U667 (Bell) and U668.  Scott probably won't issue new numbers for these envelopes.
      Here's what's in the pack:
1.  SEABISCUIT, SELF SEAL PACK.  All 6 sizes as above, with the C to C Logo on the back, but with self-seal flaps.
2.  LIBERTY BELL, WATER ACTIVATED GUM PACK.  All 6 sizes, with the C to C Logo on the back, water-activated flaps.
3.  LIBERTY BELL, SELF SEAL PACK.  All 6 sizes, with the C to C Logo on the back, self-seal flaps.
     PRICE FOR A PACK OF 18 SEABISCUIT/LIBERTY BELL RE-ISSUED ENVELOPES IS $17.50

     Before I move on to other items...as I was pricing these, something didn't quite add up; my prices seemed high for new issues....until I took a closer look.  Seems the USPS has increased the surcharge for envelopes...AND, there's an additional 10c per envelope surcharge for the self-seal flaps.
     I'm not getting rich on these; both you and I are walking around with targets on our backs, and the USPS has us in its crosshairs.

UO89, 33c OFFICIAL, OM-44 TYPE IV LOGO
     Near the end of the 33c rate period the USPS made some changes in the format of some envelopes.  The TAG bar was moved from the left to the right of the design, and a new logo was placed on the back.
     A more complete explanation can be found on page 263 of the UPSS 20th Century Envelope Catalog.
     The logos are shown at the left.  Type 3 at the top, Type 4 at the bottom.  These items were not available at the Philatelic Agency, and are scarce.  If you've been on my mailing list for awhile you know how seldom I offer these items.  I believe most of the current UPSS prices are low, as the UPSS Catalog was last issued in 2004, and pricing of varieties like these is usually conservative until enough time has passed to assure the editors that these are truly scarce.
     BY FAR, the scarcest of these "changeover" items are the Official Envelopes, as they are not available at local Post Offices.  The Official listings are peppered with varieties...back-flap message varieties, front-side "type" varieties, corner card varieties, and this...a Tag/Recycle Logo variety.
     UPSS Prices these at $125.00 (page 356)...as of 2004.  I have a few available; please phone or e-mail.

PRICE FOR THE UO89/AM-44 LOGO/TAG VARIETY IS $95.00

     I'm going to TERMINATE my interactive website, stevelevinestamps.com.  It was a good idea, but frankly, most of you aren't using it, and it's been draining too much of my time.  I'll be moving the TEXT website, slevine.com to that web address...and I'll be putting my time into improving and expanding it greatly.

     Many of you...and I...have been together a long time.  We're dinosaurs.  I resisted the new, "interactive" style a long time, preferring the old-style print format.  Maybe I was right; not all progress is for the better.

     If it's my destiny to be a dinosaur, then I'm going to be the best dinosaur I can.  That's a promise.

     Best Regards,

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PAGES FROM THE 2010 UPSS POSTAL CARD CATALOG!!