additional postal collectibles

Most specialized and advanced collectors often turn to the following philatelic items for collecting, once they feel they have completed or completed as high a grade collection as they can afford: Plate Blocks of 4 or 6 unseparated stamps from a corner of a pane with the printing plate number in the margin, or selvage, of the pane; Copyright Blocks which feature the copyright symbol followed by "United States Postal Service" or "USPS" and the year in the margin of each pane of stamps. The USPS began copyrighting new stamp designs in 1978; Booklet Panes are panes with three or more of the same stamp. Booklet Pane collectors usually save entire panes; First Day Covers (FDC´s) are envelopes with new stamps that have been postmarked on the first day of sale at a city designated by the USPS; Souvenir Cards are issued as keepsakes of stamp and coin exhibitions. Although they can not be used for postage, some souvenir cards are available cancelled; Souvenir Programs from first day ceremonies are given to people who attend the cermonies for the issuance of the First Day Covers. These programs contain a list of participants and biographical or background information on the stamp subject and have the actual stamp(s)affixed and postmarked with the first day of issue cancellation; many collectors also enjoy the variety of postmarks available.