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USPS Souvenir Sheet

This is the USPS Souvenir Page on the Lacemaking Commerative Stamps, 8” x 10-5/8”, listing all the production people involved. Note the description of the Great Lakes Lace Group as “the largest and most active such organization in the United States”.  A block of 4 stamps is glued at the bottom of the sheet with “First Day of Issue” cancellation and postmark.

In 1988 the USPS started issuing page numbers for these. Numbers have been assigned for previous Souvenir Sheets, but I don't know the one for the Lacemaking stamps. It costs $39.95 to buy the book (2015 Postal Service Guide to U.S. Stamps, 42nd Edition) that would give that information.

It's a little strange, the b&w stamps at the top are part of the printing, and appear to be the older Photo Essay pictures. But the blue background shows through the holes. I wonder if these weren't actual earlier stamps (pre D-machine) mounted specifically for this sheet, although the image is smaller than the real ones at the bottom. The USPS would be the only ones who would have access to those, hence my speculation that it was printed by them. The stamps at the bottom are final issue.

The author of the text is unknown. The sheet is blue on the front, white on the back with no printing.

first posted 1/10/2009