Busy year for stamps in 2004

Earlier we reviewed the first segment of the USPS schedule for 2004 — from January to May. Now the remainder — June to December of 2004. The first June issuance will hail the Summer Olympic Games to be held in Athens, Greece. It will feature a pane of 20 stamps portraying athletes in action. Another June stamp will commemorate the 300th anniversary of Harriton House in Bryn Mawr, Pa., in the Historic Preservation series.

The July stamp honors R. Buckminster Fuller, inventor, artist and philosopher on the 50th anniversary of his patent for the geodesic dome. Other stamps will later be added to the July list.

In August, a new stamp pays tribute to James Baldwin, one of Americas foremost writers and a leader in the civil rights movement. It is the 20th stamp in the Literary Arts series. Another August release marks the 50th anniversary of the USS Constellation, the last all-sail-powered warship built by the U.S. Navy and the last Civil War era naval vessel still afloat.

September will feature a pane of 10 stamps with photos of American Indian artifacts. The issuance will coincide with the opening of the National Museum of the American Indian at the National Mall in Washington. The sickle cell disease awareness stamp in September continues a tradition by the USPS of raising public awareness of health and social issues

October is the busiest month with a set of 15 cloudscape stamps; one hailing playwright/director Moss Hart; four featuring painted glass Christmas ornaments and new versions of the Kwanzaa and Hanukkah celebration stamps. Yes, 2004 is not only the "Lunar Year of the Monkey," it also will be a sweet year for candy hearts, humor for Dr. Seuss, music by Mancini, and athletes in action — a picturesque potpourri for everyone.

Call the Postal Service at 800-Stamp-24 for the latest information.