From the Sarasota Herald Tribune 

Linn’s Stamp News reports that of the 661 items listed in the postal service’s Fall Philatelic Catalog, only 370, or 55%, are available from the USPS online store. The story in the September 11 print edition says that “some newer first day covers… and numerous definitive stamps” were unavailable online. The story also noted that recent high profile (and presumably high revenue earning) issues like the Comic Book Super Heroes and Art of Disney stamps had not made it to the online store for days after being issued.

Rachel Weingarten thought DYMO’s “nifty new LabelWriter Twin Turbo printer and postage system” might be just what her small business needed, but gave up on it after two hours struggling with the installation.

Web Stamps: A new printer tries - but fails - to take the hassle out of mailings.

There is a web site for every interest- who knew that there was one devoted to “space collectibles”? collectSPACE.com reports that yesterday’s decision by the International Astronomical Union to remove Pluto from the list of planets might make items that include the tiny “dwarf planet” more valuable. And one of those items is the set of ten ‘planet’ stamps issued by the USPS in 1991.

The Eleventh Circuit Court of Appeals in Atlanta last month upheld a lower court ruling that held that the USPS didn’t infringe the trademark of the International Stamp Art Company when it sold items depicting postage stamps. ISA had not claimed ownership of the stamp designs, but of the perforations surrounding them.

According to the National Law Journal, the court “found no evidence that the Postal Service intended to benefit from the good will associated with International Stamp’s mark. The court noted that the design was used only to identify images on the card as postage stamps and not to confuse consumers as to the source of the stamp art cards. As for the company’s claim that its idea had been stolen, the court said, ‘trademark law does not protect against misappropriation of business concepts.’”

Buckmasters, a hunting advocacy group, is asking members to complain to the Postmaster General and Congress about what it calls “anti-animal use rhetoric on postage stamps”.

“Anti-animal use”? Hard to say exactly what that’s supposed to mean, but the stamps themselves are pretty tame- and they don’t say anything about hunting. One shows a baby seal, the other a rooster.

I can hardly wait till someone starts selling a stamp that really does push a controversial message. (Or sues because their message is turned down by Zazzle or the USPS).

HSUS Launches Postage Stamp

The Stamp Collecting Round-Up notes the four stamp Ben Franklin commemorative set being issued, but the really cool thing in the story is the portrait of Franklin constructed entirely of stamps- 1,800 of them!

The Stamp Collecting Round-Up: Ben Franklin on stamps

The USPS recently issued wedding themed stamps- Richard Laurence Baron, an ‘ad guy’ from Houston suggests the next logical issue- the Divorce stamp!

Signalwriter: Stamped “Divorce”