Text-Only "Makeup Rate" Stamp

Front:
Carrier of news and knowledge Instrument of trade and commerce This U.S. stamp, along with 25¢ of additional Promoter of mutual acquaintance Among men and nations and hence Of peace and goodwill Carrier of love and sympathy Massenger of Iriendship Consoler of the lonely Servant of the scattered family Enlargar of the public life U.S.postage, is equivalent to the 'F'stamp rate ASHING 22 1991 USA 25NGT JAN 20066 Inscriptions of the East and West Pavilions of the Post Office Washington, District of Columbia DC

Back:
TEXT-ONLY “MAKEUP RATE" STAMP First Day of Issue: January 22, 1991 First Issue Location: Washington, D.C. The stamp on this Maximum Card breaks new ground in an exciting era of philatelics. It was issued as part of the U.S. Postal Service's 1991 rate change to “makeup" additional postage. As such, it is the first of its kind, since it is non-denominated. Past rate changes have made it necessary for the user to use denominated stamps to- gether with the old rate stamps for the increase in postage. But the stamp goes beyond one “first;" it is also the first ever to incorporate the use of text only, bearing the words “This U.S. stamp, along with 25¢ of additional U.S. graphic elements are present on the stamp. Only the American Credo stamps of 1960 come close to this stamp, but even those stamps had some sort of graphic elements. It will be valid only if used with another stamp, having no phosphorescent tagging. Such tagging lets Post Office equipment verify the authenticity of a postage stamp. It preludes a bright future of stamp collecting, promising more innovation coupled with modern technology. No. 91-4 ©1991 The Maximum Card Collection A division of Unicover Corporation • Cheyenne, WY 82008-0007 ® Design for this Maximum Card by James A. Helzer