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Is it Trash or Treasure? And What's the Worth?
All over the news last week was one of those, "Wow, if only it were me" stories. It involved a woman in Louisiana who purchased a painting at a garage sale for $2. Admittedly, the painting isn't my cup of tea — sort of a cubist/…Read more.
Christmas/Holiday Traditions Continue on Through the Mail
If you dial the clock back to 1961, in the eyes of the U.S. Postal Service, Christmas didn't exist. That's because there was no official Christmas stamp until 1962. It was a modest little 4-cent stamp showing a wreath, two candles and the word …Read more.
Don't let Counterfeits Spoil the Holidays
For longer than I care to think about, at this time of year I begin offering suggestions for holiday-related gifts that collectors may enjoy. They usually range from quite inexpensive to "mortgage-the-home." Considering the economy, this …Read more.
Blind Ambition Celebrated and Possibly Rare
As a policy, I'd never suggest a way to profit from someone else's misfortune. Certainly, blindness is not only unfortunate, but those who have sight might consider it an absolute tragedy. Others, however, might have a different take. It's been …Read more.
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Wedding Mail Will Feature Familiar RingsDepending on how much mail you send, you may or may not know that postal rates are going up. As of May 11, the new rate for mailing a First-Class letter is 44 cents — up from 42 U.S. cents. A lot of people gripe about this even though the rate for mailing a letter in the United States is still small compared to other countries around the world. But, pennies do add up very quickly. In this, the traditional season of love and weddings, the opposite has traditionally been true. In the eternal hope that it will be a "once-in-a-lifetime experience," many people have tossed budgets aside and spend extravagant amounts on their or their children's nuptials. Be it elaborate gowns, cakes, venues or invitations, families have thrown caution to the wind and opened their wallets or vaults. That is until the economic downturn. People are now watching even wedding pennies. Not so long ago, when some would announce their wedding, they used stamps on the invites created by private companies printed with their picture. It's a neat idea, but those stamps come with a hefty premium for inclusion of the visual, printing, etc. Here's an alternative. Even with the current rate increase, brides and grooms in 2009 can still feature wedding-related images on their invites with two new stamps just issued by the Postal Service. The 44-cent First-Class stamps feature a photo of two wedding bands resting on a small white pillow united by a ribbon of white silk. A second, two-ounce 61-cent First-Class stamp (for heavier invites) showcases a three-tiered wedding cake topped with white flowers. In the past, other stamps have included themes of "Love," but these are entirely targeted for weddings. In addition to a nice wedding gift for a couple you may know, an affordable augmentation could be including an envelope of the stamp or stamps with a First Day of Issue cancel and the names of the bride and groom — all for just the cost of the stamps themselves. To obtain a First Day of Issue cancel, purchase the newly issued stamps at a local post office, affix one or both to the envelope of your choice, and send that inside of a separate mailing envelope to: Wedding Stamps, Postmaster, Special Cancellations, P.O. The Red Book One of the most frequent questions I'm asked is where to find data about the value of coins. With all that the Internet has to offer, curiously, such information is not readily available online. For 63 years, what's known in the numismatic hobby as "The Red Book" has been the premier resource for coin prices. Printed by Whitman Publishing, the Red Book's official name is, "Guide Book of United States Coins." The constantly referenced volume lists every recognized U.S. coin produced since the late-1700s (and many colonial issues minted prior by individual states) all the way up to those being produced today. Edited by coin legend Kenneth Bressett it has long been the "go to" source for collectors. Now in its 63rd edition, for the first time it's also being produced in a large-print format that is 45 percent larger than the regular edition. The nice part is that every photograph is also enlarged, and it includes all the content of the regular edition including prices, specifications and historical facts. ? Since its introduction in 1946, more than 22 million copies of the Red Book have been purchased, making it one of the best-selling nonfiction titles in U.S. history. The new 2010 Red Book is now available at all major bookstores and hobby shops nationwide as well as online at www.WhitmanBooks.com. For purists, in addition to the large print edition the regularly produced Red Book is also still available. One word of caution … the prices listed in the Red Book are those collectors can expect to pay when purchasing coins from a dealer. "Buy" prices dealers may offer are naturally a bit less. Still, it's one of the most available resources for a guide to the worth of a U.S. coin or entire collection. Editor's Note: A JPEG visual of the new Wedding Rings stamp and the cover of the 2010 "Red Book" has been sent with this column. To find out more about Peter Rexford and to read features by other Creators Syndicate writers and cartoonists, visit the Creators Syndicate Web page at www.creators.com. COPYRIGHT 2009 CREATORS SYNDICATE, INC.
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