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Just 58 Designs in 2003 Commemorative Program

Carving down the commemorative stamp program, an initiative that U.S. Postal Service Executive Director of Stamp Services Cathy Caggiano announced one year ago, appears to be proceeding as planned.

The number of subjects in the 2003 commemorative stamp program - just 19 - has dropped 33 percent from an all-time high of 58 in 1999. Face-different issues total 58, the lowest figure in six years and a whopping 35 percent less than were issued this year.

Preliminary images for the 2003 commemorative program were unveiled on Thursday, Aug. 15, at an invitation-only meeting for the philatelic media held during Stampshow 2002 in Atlantic City, N.J.

All 2003 commemorative stamps will be self-adhesive, according to Stamp Services Manager Terry McCaffrey. He also confirmed that none will be engraved.

The only image provided to the hobby press was the 37¢ Korean War Veterans Memorial commemorative shown here.

On Oct. 10, artwork for the remaining 2003 commemorative stamps will be unveiled in Carlsbad, Calif.

The figures quoted above and listed below are based on a breakdown provided last year by McCaffrey, tallying the number of commemorative stamps released over the previous four years and planned for 2002 (which at that time included just one Greetings From America pane of 50 face-different designs denominated 34¢):

1998: 51 subjects, 166 designs 1999: 58 subjects, 183 designs 2000: 30 subjects, 147 designs 2001: 28 subjects, 78 designs 2002: 22 subjects, 118 designs

However, the number of designs for 2002 currently stands at 168, upped to include the newly announced 37¢ Greetings From America stamps.

There will also be a 2003 issue honoring the Purple Heart, the rumor of which was reported in the Aug. 26 Stamp Collector. However, the Postal Service has announced that it will be a definitive.