2023 U.S. ‘Stamp Yearbook’ available for purchase

Philatelic Foreword by Jay Bigalke

The United States Postal Service’s The 2023 Stamp Yearbook was launched early this year, well, actually right on time in October on the same day as the last stamp issue of the year (the Winter Woodland Animals set of four on Oct. 10).

I make the comment about this yearbook of U.S. stamps issued in 2023 being early because it has been years since the Postal Service’s yearbook appeared the same day as its last stamp. Deadlines must have been challenging for the team that put it together, but that seems to have improved.

Each year, my parents would get me this book for Christmas as my highlight gift. Because the Dec. 25 issue of Linn’s carries the Christmas date, I wanted to suggest the yearbook as a good gift for the holidays.

Based on the Postal Service’s description of the new yearbook, the stories in it seem to continue to focus more on the stamp design process as they have in recent yearbooks.

“This beautiful book details every stamp issued by the U.S. Postal Service in 2023. Read the stories of the people, places, and occasions that have inspired us as a country. Get an inside look at how the creative team worked to make the designs,” the USPS website said.

The yearbook includes 80 stamps and matching mounts from what the Postal Service calls its “collectible program,” or what collectors typically call commemoratives.

The yearbook sells for $96; an estimate of the face value of the stamps in it is around $52.80 at the current 66¢ forever stamp rate (mount cost not estimated). It is for sale on the USPS Postal Store website. The item number is 992320.

The Postal Service is also selling a separate packet of what it calls “mail use” and “high value” stamps that are not included with the yearbook. This mail-use packet is item No. 992304 at $38.95 (includes 46 stamps and mounts). The high-value packet is item No. 992306 at $51.95 (includes three stamps and mounts).

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