Only available in the Yearbook

[kacyds]

Received a flyer in the mail, stating that a Circus Souvenir Sheet will be included with the yearbook and only will be available if you purchase the 2014 Yearbook.   The yearbook also includes 90 stamps with mounts for only $64.95.




Here is a close up of the souvenir sheet from the USPS.com site...



Does anyone plan to purchase the 2014 yearbook?

[kacyds]

Here is the website if anyone is interested in purchasing one....

store.usps.com/store/browse/productDetailSingleSku.jsp?productId=S_991400

[Philatarium]

Interesting that they show the item is available for pre-order now. I had heard that Nov 10 was the first day for pre-order.

I have a feeling that this will get a footnote in Scott, rather than a full number, since it will not be available for purchase on its own from anywhere, including Kansas City.

I believe there's going to be an uncut press sheet available, which will not be that expensive since the face value is not that high. But, if what I've read is true, there will be a difference between the press sheet and the book version. The book version will have die cuts for both the entire souvenir sheet, plus the individual stamps that are part of it. If the USPS sticks to what it last publicly said, the press sheet will have the die cuts around the perimeter of the s/s, but not for the individual stamps.

Personally, this seems like such a racket, but that's just me.

[Philatarium]

Forgot to mention that there will be a FDC available for the individual sheet. (Not sure what the die cuts will be on that, but it will be cancelled anyway.)

[kacyds]

Now you tell me all of this after I have pre-ordered a hundred copies..... 1774739874

Was going to sell them and make millions.....

Guess I have to continue to work....

[khj]

I must say, it is an attractive souvenir sheet! I really wish USPS would issue more items such as this.

Whatever profit from increased sales of the yearbook the USPS was hoping to make, I'm sure will pale in comparison to the revenue loss from the drop in new US issue collectors because of this gimmick.

I know that Canada has done this in the past (special stamps only available as part of value-added items). However, Canada actually has had very very very attractive new issues in the past decade, so they can get away with it. But I have noticed that many of those "packaged" special issues only have relatively minor premiums later on at retail, and wholesale is often simply at face value or even less. Not a good choice for speculation. In general, history has shown that value-added items typically do not retain their original cost (in fact, not even close). But exceptions include some of the limited edition duck stamp items.