An 1877 cover from Finland franked with 10 32-penni stamps of the 1875-82 issue (Scott 23) will be offered during the March 18-19 international auction from Postiljonen. The franking is created from a strip of 10 that includes a gutter separating five vertical stamps on either end.

In my last column, I mentioned the new book I am researching and writing. One of the topics in the book is the history of the process of presorting mail to enable more efficient delivery. Starting Aug. 1, 1974, a series of pressure-sensitive package labels (PSPL) was introduced that made this sorting more effective.

Multi-talented entertainer Jackie Gleason was at ease on television, in movies, and even in the recording studio. He led the comedy ensemble cast of The Honeymooners and hosted his own variety shows.

A rare drop in postal prices will become effective Sunday, April 10, the United States Postal Service announced Feb. 25. The decrease, which results from the expiration of a temporary rate increase ordered in late 2013, had been widely anticipated. It will be only the third time that there has been “a general reduction in postage rates,” according to the Alliance of Nonprofit Mailers.

Great Britain’s Royal Mail honors six British humanitarians on stamps being issued March 15. The set of six includes three se-tenant (side-by-side) nondenominated, first-class stamps, and three se-tenant £1.33 stamps.

Dates have been revealed for six U.S. stamp issues, including four that will be placed on sale during the American Stamp Dealers Association's Fall Postage Stamp Show.

If there is a 2-year-old toddler in your life, you might create a future stamp collector by using stamps of Great Britain to play a game of identify the animals. Great Britain has issued more stamps depicting animals than you likely realize.

Dutch Country Auctions will be at World Stamp Show-NY 2016 with its U.S. and world stamps, covers and postcards. Learn more about the company.

Today’s mail lacks the character of the olden days, when an array of slogan cancellations graced each day’s incoming mail. Now it’s computer-printed facts about the origin and date of the mail. An example of the old-style cancellation is shown nearby: “Report Obscene Mail to Your Postmaster.” This cancellation is graphically cropped from a letter to a female college student in 1950.

“Washington at Prayer” is how the Scott catalog describes the design of the 1928 2¢ stamp commemorating the 150th anniversary of Washington’s encampment at Valley Forge, Pa. (Scott 645). I would posit that such an image would likely be ineligible for picturing on a U.S. stamp today; unless the U.S. Postal Service was willing to risk lawsuits.

March 5 was the grand opening date for the Grammy Museum at Delta State University in Cleveland, Miss. The 27,000-square-foot facility is being described as the world’s most technologically advanced music museum.

Born in Brooklyn, N.Y. on Feb. 25, 1920, Philip C. Habib is known as one of America's most successful diplomats, and was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 1982.

Lawrence Block, an acclaimed mystery writer and former Linn's Stamp News columnist, speaks with Oregon Live about Keller, the stamp collecting contract killer who has been featured in five books.

The Oregonian is reporting that the Senate Rules Committee last week approved a bill that will put the burden of paying for ballot-return postage solely on the state.

Earlier this week, the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation released a list of the top 10 most checked out non-fiction books at the Vancouver Public Library. We at Linn's Stamp News are honored to report that the Scott catalogs cracked the list.

Online voting is available for Linn's 2015 U.S. stamp popularity poll. In 2015, the United States Postal Service issued 100 face-different stamps and postal stationery items. It was the smallest annual total since the 60 produced by the USPS in 1990. However, the year’s count rises to 162 when it includes imperforates — stamps without die cuts — from uncut press sheets of conventionally issued stamps, which the USPS offers for sale on a limited basis at face value.

During a Feb. 23 telephone meeting, the board of the American Philatelic Research Library approved a new policy regarding the distribution of financial gifts, and also approved the five-year strategic plan recently accepted by the American Philatelic Society board.

The son of German immigrants, Honus Wagner joined the Pittsburgh Pirates in 1900 and led the team to a World Series championship in 1909. He also claimed eight National League batting titles.

For the revenue hungry United States Postal Service, they seemed like the perfect product. Produced with virtually no added costs, press sheets of imperforate self-adhesive stamps were hot sellers from the moment the first sheets went on sale in July 2012 with the issuance of the Major League Baseball All-Stars stamps. But barely four years later, sales of the sheets have become mired in controversy.

Great Britain’s Royal Mail issued six self-adhesive postage labels Feb. 17 picturing mail transportation over the centuries. Great Britain’s Royal Mail calls such labels “post & go.” The denominations or service inscriptions are printed at the time of purchase.