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STAMP ANNOUNCEMENT 04-19

USS Constellation Stamp

The Postal ServiceTM will issue a 37-cent, USS Constellation commemorative stamp (Item 456700) in a pressure- sensitive adhesive (PSA) pane of 20 on June 30, 2004, in Baltimore, Maryland. The stamp, designed by Howard Paine of Delaplane, Virginia, and illustrated by Richard Schlecht of Arlington, Virginia, goes on sale nationwide July 1, 2004.

With the issuance of the USS Constellation, the Postal Service commemorates the 150th anniversary of the last all-sail-powered warship built by the U.S. Navy and the last Civil War era naval vessel still afloat. Built at Gosport Navy Yard (now the Norfolk Naval Shipyard) near Norfolk, Virginia, and launched on August 26, 1854, Constellation actively served the nation for nearly 100 years. Today, the ship is a floating museum anchored in Baltimore's Inner Harbor.

The stamp is a photo engraving based on a print in the collection of the U.S. Naval Historical Center. The print is believed to date to 1893.

How to Order First Day of Issue Postmark

Customers have 30 days to obtain the first day of issue postmark by mail. They may purchase new stamps at their local Post OfficeTM, by telephone at 800-STAMP-24, and at the Postal Store Web site at www.usps.com/shop. They

should affix the stamps to envelopes of their choice, address the envelopes (to themselves or others), and place them in a larger envelope addressed to:

USS CONSTELLATION COMMEMORATIVE STAMP
POSTMASTER
900 E FAYETTE ST
BALTIMORE MD 21233-9715

After applying the first day of issue postmark, the Postal Service will return the envelopes through the mail. There is no charge for the postmark. All orders must be postmarked by July 29, 2004.

How to Order First Day Covers

Stamp Fulfillment Services also offers first day covers for new stamp issues and Postal Service stationery items postmarked with the official first day of issue cancellation. Each item has an individual catalog number and is offered in the quarterly USA Philatelic catalog. Customers may request a free catalog by telephoning 800-STAMP-24 or writing to:

INFORMATION FULFILLMENT
DEPT 6270
US POSTAL SERVICE
PO BOX 219014
KANSAS CITY MO 64121-9014

Philatelic Products

There are no philatelic products for this stamp issue.

37-cent USS Constellation Commemorative Stamp, Item 456700

Stamp distribution offices (SDOs) will receive approximately one-third the standard automatic distribution quantity for a PSA sheet stamp. Distributions are rounded up to the nearest master carton size (40,000 stamps).

Initial Supply to Post Offices

SDOs will make a subsequent automatic distribution to Post Offices of one-fourth their standard automatic distribution quantity using PS Form 17, Stamp Requisition/Stamp Return. SDOs must not distribute stamps to Post Offices before June 24, 2004.

Philatelic Requirement

SDOs with authorized philatelic centers will receive an automatic distribution of these stamps in nine positions for subsequent distribution to each philatelic window.

Additional Supply

Post Offices requiring additional Item 456700 must requisition them from their designated SDO using PS Form 17. SDOs requiring additional stamps must order them from the appropriate accountable paper depository (APD) using PS Form 17.

For fulfilling supplemental orders from SDOs, the Chicago, Memphis, and New York APDs will each receive 1,120,000 additional stamps; the San Francisco APD will receive 1,000,000 additional stamps; and the Denver APD will receive 400,000 additional stamps.

Sales Policy

All Post Offices must acquire and maintain a supply of each new commemorative stamp as long as customer demand exists, until inventory is depleted, or until the stamp is officially withdrawn from sale. If supplies run low, Post Offices must reorder additional quantities using their normal ordering procedures.

- Stamp Services,
Government Relations, 5-27-04

STAMP ANNOUNCEMENT 04-20

Migratory Bird Hunting and Conservation Stamp

The $15 Migratory Bird Hunting and Conservation stamp for the 2004-2005 season goes on sale at Post OfficesTM nationwide July 1, 2004, and is valid through June 30, 2005. The U.S. Department of the Interior will formally issue the stamp at the National Postal Museum in Washington, DC, on July 1, 2004.

The Migratory Bird Hunting and Conservation stamp will be issued in two formats: (1) in the traditional water-activated gum (WAG) pane of 20 stamps (Item 332900), and (2) in a pressure-sensitive adhesive (PSA) single stamp (Item 332800). The stamp size in the PSA version is the same size as the WAG version and can be peeled from its carrier sheet. The carrier sheet is the size of U.S. paper currency and fits easily in cash drawers.

Postmasters should order enough of Items 332800 and 332900 to meet the expected demand for this item by stamp collectors, conservationists, and hunters.

Distribution

Post Offices

To allow postmasters to order the 2004-2005 Migratory Bird Hunting and Conservation stamps in quantities approximating customer demand, there is no minimum ordering quantity for either format. Postmasters should review their previous year's sales records to determine the appropriate number of the 2004-2005 Migratory Bird Hunting and Conservation stamps to requisition.

Postmasters must immediately send a separate PS Form 17, Stamp Requisition/Stamp Return, to their stamp distribution offices (SDOs) for enough Migratory Bird Hunting and Conservation stamps to last until April 28, 2005. Post Offices served by stamp service centers (SSCs) must follow their established ordering guidelines.

If the initial stamp supply is exhausted before April 28, 2005, postmasters must requisition additional quantities. Retail units with authorized philatelic centers should order both formats and have them available to meet philatelic demand. All postmasters/station managers must ensure that Migratory Bird Hunting and Conservation stamps are available to meet public demand.

Stamp Distribution Offices

SDOs will receive automatic distributions of both Item 332800 and Item 332900, Migratory Bird Hunting and Conservation stamps. Automatic distributions to SDOs are scheduled to begin May 13, 2004, and to end May 27, 2004. SDOs must not distribute stamps to Post Offices before June 23, 2004.

SDOs requiring additional gummed stamps (Item 332900) or additional self-adhesive stamps (Item 332800) must requisition them from designated accountable paper depository (APD) using PS Form 17, Stamp Requisition/Stamp Return.

Hunting Regulations Pamphlets

The U.S. Department of the Interior does not automatically distribute pamphlets on hunting regulations because migratory game bird laws vary by state. Direct all inquiries about hunting regulations to the state fish and wildlife agency or state department of natural resources. Do not forward inquiries to the federal U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

- Stamp Services,
Government Relations, 5-27-04

Pictorial Cancellations Announcement

As a community service, the Postal ServiceTM offers pictorial cancellations to commemorate local events celebrated in communities throughout the nation. A list of events for which pictorial cancellations are authorized appears below. If available, the sponsor of the pictorial cancellation appears in italics under the date. Also provided, as space permits, are illustrations of those cancellations that were reproducible and available at press time.

People attending these local events may obtain the cancellation in person at the temporary Post OfficeTM station established there. Those who cannot attend the event, but who wish to obtain the cancellation, may submit a mail order request. Pictorial cancellations are available only for the dates indicated, and requests must be postmarked no later than 30 days following the requested pictorial cancellation date.

All requests must include a stamped envelope or postcard bearing at least the minimum First-Class Mail® postage. Items submitted for cancellation may not include postage issued after the date of the requested cancellation. Such items will be returned unserviced.

Customers wishing to obtain a cancellation should affix stamps to any envelope or postcard of their choice, address the envelope or postcard to themselves or others,insert a card of postcard thickness in envelopes for sturdiness, and tuck in the flap. Place the envelope or postcard in a larger envelope and address it to: PICTORIAL CANCELLATIONS, followed by the NAME OF THE STATION,ADDRESS, CITY, STATE, ZIP+4® CODE, exactly as listed below (using all capitals and no punctuation, except thehyphen in the ZIP+4 code).

Customers can also send stamped envelopes and postcards without addresses for cancellation, as long as they supply a larger envelope with adequate postage and their return address. After applying the pictorial cancellation, the Postal Service returns the items (with or without addresses) under addressed protective cover.

- Stamp Services,
Government Relations, 5-27-04

Post Offices

Supply Management

PM REVISION

Revisions to Purchasing Manual Chapter 1

Effective immediately, the following sections of the Purchasing Manual have been revised:

• Section 1.6.5 has been rewritten and now directs readers to Handbook AS-353, Guide to Privacy and the Freedom of Information Act, and implements regulations in 39 CFR. Paragraph 1.6.5.c has been deleted because the subject is covered in Handbook AS-353.

• Section 1.6.6 has been rewritten to remove the discussion of systems of records and to state that contracts direct suppliers and subcontractors to comply with Postal ServiceTM requirements protecting the privacy of customer, employee, and other individual's information, as well as Postal Service information and records.