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Subject:

duck stamps

From:

Carol McCollough

Reply-To:

Carol McCollough

Date:

Wed, 6 Dec 2006 15:43:30 -0500

As an active stamp collector and birder I have found it increasingly difficult to 
purchase my duck stamps at smaller post offices (like where I live).  This is 
because the USPS now restricts these units to a certain dollar value of stamps 
in their inventory.  At $15 a pop, it's difficult for the small POs to justify 
holding them in inventory instead of postage.  These folks are also evaluated 
on how much stuff they sell, and what they mainly sell is postage.

I buy my duck stamps (yes, multiple, one for every vehicle and a clean copy of 
both types for my collection) every year from Blackwater NWR and the US 
Postal Service Providence Rhode Island Philatelic Center.  
www.usps.com/provdist/phcontact.htm   

Providence has both the self-adhesive and water-activated stamps (the ones 
you CAN'T get anywhere else except maybe Union Station) and do not charge 
a handling fee like the main USPS site does.  They accept credit cards, 
although you will want to telephone the first time you order because they 
accept orders only by e-mail, no secure server.  They will then keep your card 
on file.  You can also buy regular postage stamps there, and they stock all the 
cool commemorative stamps that you often will not be offered at your local 
post office.  (Check out the Florida Wetlands souvenir sheet with stamp 
picturing  white ibis, snail kite, sharp-tailed sparrow, bald eagle, flamingo, and 
2 others that I don't recall right now).  No pictures though.

Happy birding -
Carol McCollough
St. Michaels and Marion Station
phalarope AT dmv DOT com