New Stamps Feature Young Athletes in Action

Team sports for youngsters have become increasingly popular in the United States. Encouraging kids ages 6 to 17 to participate in athletic events, the U.S. Postal Service, in conjunction with the Amateur Athletic Union, has released four new 33-cent stamps showing young athletes in action. The sports depicted are football, soccer, baseball and basketball.

The AAU is one of the largest nonprofit volunteer sports organizations in the country. Divided into 57 district associations, the AAU sanctions more than 34 sports programs, 250 national championships and more than 10,000 local events each year.

The stamp designs emphasize the excitement of team play--a football player running with the ball and avoiding tacklers, two soccer players vying for possession of the ball, a familiar baseball scene of a batter waiting at home plate for an oncoming pitch and heated action on the court in a girls’ basketball game.

Bobby Dodd, president and CEO of the AAU, says, “Youth team sports encourage a healthy lifestyle, promote socialization and provide opportunities for children to learn cooperation and teamwork.�

The Stamp Fulfillment Services of the Postal Service offers first-day covers of the kids’ sports stamps postmarked with the official first day of issue cancellation. Call (800) STAMP-24.

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The Postal Service has added two new low-rate stamps to its program this year--a 10-cent definitive honoring Gen. Joseph Stillwell and a Pre-Sorted Standard stamp with no denomination listed. Both are for bulk mailings. Actually the denomination for the Pre-Sorted stamp is 10 cents as bulk mailers apply them to make up the amount needed.

The Stillwell offering features a portrait of Gen. Stillwell, who spent most of World War II as commander of the China-Burma-India area.

The Pre-Sorted stamp shows the stone lions in front of the New York City Public Library.

The Stillwell stamp will be released Aug. 24. The lions stamp will be issued Nov. 9.

The Stamp Fulfillment Services of the Postal Service will provide first-day covers. Call (800) STAMP-24.