News about APNSS and plate number singles
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UPCOMING EVENTS
Always: Orders being taken for the 2024 edition of Hebert's Catalog of Plate Number Singles.
Price is $40 to non-members plus $8.38 for Media Mail delivery; or $36 to APNSS members, postpaid to U.S. addresses via Media Mail. Actual shipping to non-U.S. addresses.
Now: Renew your APNSS dues if your mailing label expiration date says May 2025 or earlier.
APNSS membership application forms will be available at the Midwest Stamp Dealers Association (MSDA) show alternating between Prospect Heights and Glen Ellyn, Illinois, northwest/west suburbs of Chicago, and in Countryside, a southwest suburb, as well as at Milwaukee, Wisconsin area shows. These shows are frequently attended by several dealers with good stock of classic and modern plate number material.
April 2025: Plate Numbers (APNSS newsletter) issue #2 for 2025
August 16-19, 2025: APNSS will have a booth at the APS stamp show in Schaumburg, Illinois (NW suburb of Chicago).
August 18, 2025: Requested date for APNSS membership meeting at Great American Stamp Show, Schaumburg, Illinois. Time to be announced when final. Members, guests and new members are invited to attend.
APRIL 2025
** NEW ** April 5: New plate numbers and new Scott numbers announced for 202r issues. Additional details on the New Issues - 2025 page.
** NEW ** April 1: Additional details for FE Oleomargarine and Butter Tax stamps added to the new Revenues - Oleomargarine page.
MARCH 2025
** NEW ** March 31: New images have been added for PNS of the Prominent Americans proofs held in the Smithsonian's National Postal Museum collection. Additional details on the Prominent Americans page.
** NEW ** March 30: New images have been added for PNS of the Postal Savings and War Savings proofs held in the Smithsonian's National Postal Museum collection. Additional details on the Postal Savings page.
** NEW ** March 29: New images have been added for PNS of the Tobacco Tax revenue stamp proofs held in the Smithsonian's National Postal Museum collection. Additional details on the Revenues - Tobacco page.
** NEW ** March 28: New images have been added for PNS of the Cigar Tax revenue stamp proofs held in the Smithsonian's National Postal Museum collection. Additional details on the Revenues - Cigars page.
** NEW ** March 27: New images have been added for PNS of the Snuff Tax revenue stamp proofs held in the Smithsonian's National Postal Museum collection. Additional details on the Revenues - Snuff page.
** NEW ** March 26: New images have been added for PNS of the Cigarette Tax revenue stamp proofs held in the Smithsonian's National Postal Museum collection. Additional details on the newly created Revenues - Cigarettes page.
** NEW ** March 25: New images have been added for PNS of the Stock Transfer Tax and Silver Tax revenue stamp proofs held in the Smithsonian's National Postal Museum collection. Additional details on the Revenues - Stock page.
** NEW ** March 24: New images have been added for PNS of the wine, beer and fermented malt liquor tax revenue stamp proofs held in the Smithsonian's National Postal Museum collection. Additional details on the Revenues - Alcohol page.
** NEW ** March 23: New images have been added for PNS of the 4¢ commemorative issues of the late 1950s. from proofs held in the Smithsonian's National Postal Museum collection. Additional details on the 4-cent Commemoratives page.
FEBRUARY 2025
February 28: Additional details and proof images added to the Prominent Americans page.
February 22: New images have been added for PNS images for back-of-the-book issues. Additional details for PS Postal Savings, S Savings and WS War Savings stamps on the the Postal Savings page. Additional details for TC Cigar tax, Cigarette tax and related issues on the new Revenues - Cigar page. Additional details for TF Tobacco stamps, Narcotics stamps and related issues on the redesigned Revenues - Tobacco page. Additional details for TE Snuff stamps on the new Revenues - Snuff page. Additional details on RE Wine stamps, REA Beer and Fermented Malt Beverage stamps, Bottle stamps, Warehouse Alcohol Transfer stamps, Lock Seals and related alcohol tax stamps on the Revenues - Alcohol page. Additional details for FE Oleomargarine and Butter Tax stamps added to the recently added Revenues - Oleomargarine page. Additional details for RF Playing Card stamps, RK/RL Customs Fee stamps and other unusual tax paid revenue issues on the Revenues - Other page.
February 16: John Himes of PNC3 reports the discovery of a new dummy/test coil stamp that was apparently put into use in 2016. It has been submitted to Scott for assignment of a new catalog number. Additional details on the Dummy and Test Stamps page.
JANUARY 2025
January 16: Additional details for FE Oleomargarine and Butter Tax stamps added to the new Revenues - Oleomargarine page.
January 15: As announced in Plate Numbers, election results for APNSS officers and directors. Juan Riera elected as president; Morgan Christian elected as vice president; Rick Burdsall re-elected as secretary and treasurer; Eric Chaulsett, James Cochrane and Steve Shulkin re-elected and Dan Ehrenfried and Chris Principe elected as directors at large. All terms run to December 2027.
January 10: APNSS attends the Wisconsin-Illinois Stateline stamp show in Kenosha, Wisconsin.
DECEMBER 2024
December 30: New images have been added for PNS images for back-of-the-book issues. Additional details for PS Postal Savings, S Savings and WS War Savings stamps on the the Postal Savings page. Additional details for TC Cigar tax, Cigarette tax and related issues on the new Revenues - Cigar page. Additional details for TF Tobacco stamps and related issues on the redesigned Revenues - Tobacco page. Additional details for TE Snuff stamps on the new Revenues - Snuff page. Additional details on RE Wine stamps, REA Beer and Fermented Malt Beverage stamps, Bottle stamps, Warehouse Alcohol Transfer stamps, Lock Seals and related alcohol tax stamps on the Revenues - Alcohol page. Additional details for RF Playing Card stamps, FE Oleomargarine Tax stamps and other unusual tax paid revenue issues on the Revenues - Other page.
December 1: Ballots are in the mail for election of APNSS officers and directors for three-year terms through Dec. 31, 2027.
NOVEMBER 2024
November 30: New images have been added for PNS of forerunners of Canal Zone Official stamps. Additional details on the Canal Zone page for overprints of U.S. stamps, and on the Canal Zone 2 page for examples on Canal Zone regular issues and airmail issues.
November 29: New images have been added for PNS of Lock Seals. Additional details on the Revenues - Alcohol page.
November 28: New images have been added for PNS of Tobacco Strip stamps. Additional details on the Revenues - Tobacco page.
November 11: APNSS member Andrew S. Kelley received the Walter W. Hopkinson Literature Award for the best article or series of articles appearing in United States Specialist in 2023. Additional info on the Publications page.
November 6: Dues notices for 2025 are in the mail for renewing your APNSS membership for 2025.
November 5: New images have been added for PNS of the 1962 "Sixth and a Half Bureau Series" issues, including PNS from proof sheets held in the Smithsonian's National Postal Museum collection. Additional details on the 1962 Series page.
November 3: New images have been added for PNS of the 1958-62 4¢ commemoratives, including PNS from proof sheets held in the Smithsonian's National Postal Museum collection. Additional details on the Four Cent Commemoratives page.
OCTOBER 2024
October 31: The October issue of Plate Numbers is in the mail or email inbox for all members.
October 31: New images have been added for PNS of the 1950s 3¢ commemoratives, including PNS from proof sheets held in the Smithsonian's National Postal Museum collection. Additional details on the 1950s Commemoratives page.
October 24: New images have been added for PNS of the 1940s commemoratives, including PNS from proof sheets held in the Smithsonian's National Postal Museum collection. Additional details on the 1940s Commemoratives page.
October 22: New images have been added for PNS of the 1898 First Bureau series proof sheets held in the Smithsonian's National Postal Museum collection. Additional details on the First Bureau page.
October 21: New images have been added for PNS of the Trans-Mississippi series proof sheets held in the Smithsonian's National Postal Museum collection. Additional details on the Trans-Mississippi page.
October 20: New images have been added for PNS of the Second Bureau series proof sheets held in the Smithsonian's National Postal Museum collection. Additional details on the Second Bureau page.
October 15: The $5 Floral Geometry stamp issued in 2022 has been reprinted. Plate number B2222 was assigned to the reprint. Foster Miller made the discovery and reported it to Linn's Stamp News, which made the announcement in the October 14, 2024 edition as well as online. Additional details on the New Issues - 2022 page.
October 14: New images have been added for PNS of the Pan-American Exposition proofs held in the Smithsonian's National Postal Museum collection. Additional details on the Pan-Americans page.
October 12: New images have been added for PNS of the Presidential Series proofs held in the Smithsonian's National Postal Museum collection. Additional details on the Prexy page.
October 10: New images have been added for PNS of the Famous American proof sheets held in the Smithsonian's National Postal Museum collection. Additional details on the Famous Americans page.
October 6: New plate numbers and new Scott numbers announced for 2024 issues. Additional details on the New Issues - 2024 page.
October 1: USPS announces that it does NOT plan a semi-annual first class rate increase for January 2025, and may not require one in July 2025. However, they have also said they plan to raise rates 5 times in the next 3 years, so this apparently is only an interruption in their semi-annual rate increase schedule. Stay tuned.
SEPTEMBER 2024
September 6: New plate numbers and new Scott numbers announced for 2024 issues, including for the low-denomination Flowers. Additional details on the New Issues - 2024 page.
AUGUST 2024
August 17: APNSS membership meeting, 3:00 PM Saturday at the APS show in Hartford. Rick Burdsall presented an updated version of "They Messed it Up How?" illustrating plate number assignment and execution goofs over the years.
August 15-18: APNSS hosts a booth at the APS Great American Stamp Show (GASS) in Hartford, Connecticut. Several APNSS members stopped by to visit and chat.
JULY 2024
July 27: New plate numbers and new Scott numbers announced for 2024 issues. While Scott has announced plate numbers for new commemoratives, they are still not available for the Flags coils and booklets and for the low-denomination Flowers. Additional details on the New Issues - 2024 page.
July 14: New USPS rate hike takes effect: 73¢ first class, up 5¢; 56¢ postcard rate, up 3¢, $1.65 global airmail rate, up 10¢. The Media Mail rate applicable for mailing the Hebert's Catalogue of Plate Number Singles increases from $7.83 to $8.38, up 55¢.
JUNE 2024
June 24: The June issue of Plate Numbers is in the mail or email inbox for all members.
June 23: New plate numbers and new Scott numbers announced for 2024 issues. Additional details on the New Issues - 2024 page.
MAY 2024
May 25: New plate numbers and new Scott numbers announced for 2024 issues. Additional details on the New Issues - 2024 page.
APRIL 2024
April 11: USPS proposes new rate hikes for July: 73¢ first class, up 5¢; 56¢ postcard rate, up 3¢, $1.65 global airmail rate, up 10¢.
April 8: New plate numbers and new Scott numbers announced for 2024 issues. Additional details on the New Issues - 2024 page.
MARCH 2024
March 21: The March issue of Plate Numbers is in the mail or email inbox for all members. This issue includes a mail auction of duck stamp plate number items. Closing date for bids is April 20. Tie bids go to the earliest postmark or email (dates reconciled for fairness).
March 19: New plate numbers and new Scott numbers announced for early 2024 issues. Additional details on the New Issues - 2024 page.
March 17: Scott REA99, the 33-1/3¢ or 1/3 barrel Beer stamp, Scott REA85 with 1914 surcharge, has been reported with plate number xx221. The discovery copy is shown on the Revenues - Alcohol page illustrating PNS examples of various wine, cordial and beer stamps.
FEBRUARY 2024
February 10: The (5¢) Patriotic Block reprint with plate number B222 has a wide 2023 date and has been assigned a major Scott number, 5756A. Additional details on the New Issues - 2023 page.
February 9: New plate numbers and new Scott numbers announced for early 2024 issues. Additional details on the New Issues - 2024 page.
JANUARY 2024
January 21: First class rate change to 68¢. The Media Mail rate applicable for mailing the Hebert's Catalogue of Plate Number Singles increases from $7.67 to $7.83.
In this spot, we used to have a link where you could sign up with a free service to have an email sent to you automatically whenever the APNSS web site was updated. The company that provided that service, ChangeDetection, has been absorbed by VisualPing. Now, rather than signing up on the site you want to monitor, you sign up directly with them and specify the url of the site you want to monitor. It's still free [as of December 2019], at least for a reasonable number of messages each month, so go to VisualPing.io and sign up for www.APNSS.org. Or choose another web monitoring service -- there are lots of them out there. But don't miss out when there's news about plate numbers!
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This page last updated April 6, 2025.

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