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Replies: 19 / Views: 5,534 |
Pillar Of The Community
United States
596 Posts |
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Hi, I sometimes bid on USPS Stamp Yearbooks on eBay and I was wondering if anyone would have a list of the face value of each yearbook by year. Most sellers don't list the face value of the stamps for the yearbooks, and it can be hard to find out the face values online. I thought maybe someone would have a list of the yearbook stamp face values by year that I could use as a reference. Any help would be greatly appreciated 
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Valued Member
United States
194 Posts |
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One thing you should be aware of is for many of the stamps USPS will cut right through the middle of the die cuts to provide the individual stamps. You are left with getting a number of damaged stamps. Can be especially costly when they do this to the higher valued ones in the high value packets. This is speaking from experience. |
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Pillar Of The Community

United States
1363 Posts |
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If the USPS provides the buyer with damaged stamps (e.g., clipped die-cuts), I believe the buyer has the right to return those stamps for a replacement (no refunds). Of course, if most of the yearbook packets contain damaged stamps, it could take several attempts to find a completely undamaged product. |
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Pillar Of The Community
United States
596 Posts |
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I was unaware that some of the stamps could be damaged. I have bought some of these yearbooks in the past and didn't have any problems, but it would be a disappointment to end up with some damaged stamps. |
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Pillar Of The Community
United States
615 Posts |
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I have been purchasing USPS Annual Yearbooks for about the last 40-45 years. Initially they were very simple folders/books purchased at a reasonable price (face value of stamps and a nominal charge for the folder/book). All the stamp issues in the earlier editions were pristine (mostly because the stamps were 'lickers' and commemoratives.) In the last 10-15 years the Yearbooks contained definitive, commemorative (inclusive of high value, but sans stationary items). The advent of self-adhesive has brought about issues with trimmed perfs, especially when provided booklet singles & at times booklet blocks. I try to resolve this by saving earlier purchases of the most likely to be issues of less than quality items in the Yearbook packs & swap them out. I've had pretty good luck in that effort. As for the value, the face values plus the nominal book costs still is a good buy from the USPS (although the number of annual stamp issues has dramatically increased the annual's cost from 1980 to 2017. (Sorry I wasn't able to provide a cost but some simple catalog review of the annual issues with a calculator would assist in the determination of face values. BTW in the beginning of the year book annual issuances the USPS was thinking of the item as an introduction to collecting & a convenient way for collector families to make a purchase at 'least expense' for gifts, thus helping the cause of bringing in new collectors to the fold. That is no longer the case given the almost $200 issues cost in recent years.  |
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Valued Member
United States
9 Posts |
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I remember receiving the 1968 USPO folder and stamps in 1968! Unfortunately, the adhesive used to attach the plastic strips disintegrated over the years. You can buy these for $40 or so on eBay or at stamp shows. I saw one recently in a $5 box at APS Annual Show. But, I agree on the more recent "yearbooks." The stamps are often trashed by scissors and tearing. Still, it's a fun collecting area if you are so inclined. |
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New Member
United States
2 Posts |
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I have always loved these and they are usually well done.
I ordered a 2017 yearbook which was supposed to come with 83 stamps - only came with 82 so I sent it back. Even though I couldn't figure out what was missing. I usually just got by the book but it'd be nice if there was a list somewhere. |
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Valued Member

United States
78 Posts |
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I don't remember where I got this from, so use at your own risk.
1972 $2.40 1973 $2.72 1974 $2.90 1975 $2.86 1976 $2.73 1977 $3.51 1978 $3.00 1979 $4.61 1980 $4.20 1981 $7.48 1982 $5.80 1983 $10.84 1984 $8.60 1985 $5.94 1986 $7.04 1987 $9.02 1988 $10.03 1989 $7.65 1990 $9.45 1991 $16.79 1992 $16.82 1993 $20.59 1994 $28.13 1995 $35.08 1996 $30.12 1997 $32.00 1998 $26.92 1999 $33.00 2000 $30.00 2001 $33.00 2002 $25.30 2003 $24.65 2004 $30.94 2005 $51.43 2006 $45 2007 $45 2008 $35 2009 $35 2010 $35
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Valued Member
459 Posts |
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gwanghoops: Thank you for the helpful information. A lot of these yearbooks sell for over FV. They must be in demand. |
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Valued Member

United States
78 Posts |
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Not sure if low % FV/retail == high demand. More like a profitability issue. Look at 2020 for $91 containing 51 stamps. Ouch.
They aren't a good deal even if collectors really need a year's commemoratives and can dispose of the book economically.
The only USPS commemorative set I ever bought to keep (not for postage) was 2014 for the die cut 4905c Circus stamp only. |
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Valued Member
459 Posts |
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Even a year's set of stamps without the book are selling for over FV. Can't think of any individual stamp(s) in the 1970's or 1980s for example that had mass market or collector appeal to where someone would pay a premium for the set. |
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New Member
United States
2 Posts |
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"I ordered a 2017 yearbook which was supposed to come with 83 stamps - only came with 82 so I sent it back. Even though I couldn't figure out what was missing. I usually just got by the book but it'd be nice if there was a list somewhere."
Just got my replacement on this and again I only got 82 stamps when it says 83. Are they counting the moon stamp as 2? |
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Pillar Of The Community
United States
1348 Posts |
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The yearbooks were my usual delivery method for commemoratives when I was still collecting new U.S. issues (until 2005). Since the stamps were going into my album, I didn't need the book and would have been happier to pay less to get the stamps without it. But the thing that I liked best about the yearbook sets was the inclusion of all the necessary odd-sized mounts, which would have cost me a fortune to buy separately. |
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Pillar Of The Community
United States
615 Posts |
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the 2017 issue has 107 stamps with 35 issues, do year? Check the Oscar dela Renta Sheet.. there is a portrait stamp of Oscar in the upper right of the panel or the US/Canada joint issue (2-stamps) |
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New Member
United States
3 Posts |
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Does anyone know what the first year the USPS started the Year Books? The oldest one I have is 1970. |
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Valued Member
United States
26 Posts |
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Replies: 19 / Views: 5,534 |
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