Back Of Book

''Back of book'' stamps are uncommon stamps usually found in the backs of collector's guides. These can include airmail stamps, newspaper stamps, and stamps that a post office may be considering for a future printing. Collectors often focus on ''back of the book'' stamps because these pieces are rarer and require more skill to collect.What are some of the more prominent ''back of the book'' stamps? A ''semi-postal'' stamp is a stamp designed to help out charitable causes. The U.S. government releases semi-postal stamps to benefit the Red Cross, the March of Dimes, and other nonprofits with large national name recognition. (Not all the money that goes to these stamps gets funneled directly to the charitable organizations, however.) The government also releases duck stamps every year to benefit coastal wildlife.Another popular ''back of the book'' stamp is the postage due stamp. Mail carriers attach these stamps to letters which don't have enough postage to complete their routes. Since most postage due stamps never go into circulation, philatelists often have to go through back channels to find them.Finally, there are the essay stamps. These are stamps that the Postal Service may or may not publish in the coming printing sessions. In the 1990s, the U.S. Postal Service went directly to United States citizens by asking them vote on a stamp to honor the late king of rock-and-roll, Elvis Presley. The winning stamp design won by a landslide.