ENCORE FOR BUGS; STAMP'S POPULARITY PROMPTS ORDER FOR 100 MILLION MORE.Byline: Dave McNary Daily News Staff Writer Initial sales of the groundbreaking Bugs Bunny stamp have hopped over expectations, prompting the U.S. Postal Service The U.S. Postal Service (USPS) processes and delivers mail to individuals and businesses within the United States. The service seeks to improve its performance through the development of efficient mail-handling systems and operates its own planning and engineering programs. to order an additional 100 million stamps to meet projected demand. Bugs, the icon of Burbank-based Warner Bros BROS Brothers BROS Benefits and Retirement Operations Section (King County, Washington) BROS Barnes and Richmond Operatic Society (London, UK) ., began his philatelic phi·lat·e·ly n. The collection and study of postage stamps, postmarks, and related materials; stamp collecting. [French philatélie : Greek phil-, philo-, philo- + Greek career May 22 with a printing of 265 million 32-cent stamps. The carrot-munching rabbit was selected following extensive market research as part of a program to encourage stamp collecting among children. ``Our supplies of the Bugs stamp have been drawn down very quickly,'' said U.S. Postal Service spokesman Barry Ziehl. ``We think a lot of people are buying them in order to save them.'' Some serious stamp collectors have lamented the stamp as reflecting what they see as the overcommercialization of the Postal Service postal service, arrangements made by a government for the transmission of letters, packages, and periodicals, and for related services. Early courier systems for government use were organized in the Persian Empire under Cyrus, in the Roman Empire, and in medieval , which is also selling more than 80 different Bugs gift items through its 30,000 post offices. Ziehl reported earrings, ties and T-shirts have been particularly popular. Postal officials projected earlier this year that sales of gifts and stamps that are saved will give it a $38 million profit, topping its $36 million record from earnings on the 29-cent Elvis stamp. Warner, which is also selling Bugs items through its 170 Studio Stores, receives license fees from the Postal Service's merchandise sales. A Studio Stores spokeswoman said the merchandise is selling ``extremely well.'' The additional printing is the first time a commemorative stamp A commemorative stamp is a postage stamp issued to honor or commemorate a place, event or person. Most postal services of the world issue several of these each year, often holding first day of issue ceremonies at locations connected with the subjects. has gone to a second printing since 1993 when the Postal Service ordered an additional 200 million Elvis Presley stamps after the initial run of 300 million. Elvis turned into the service's best-selling commemorative, followed by the 1995 Marilyn Monroe stamp at 400 million. Michael Laurence, editor of the weekly Linn's Stamp News Linn's Stamp News is the largest weekly newspaper for stamp collectors, boasting a paid circulation of nearly 45,000 (as of 2003). It is published by Amos Press, who also publish the Scott stamp catalogs. of Sidney, Ohio, said the success of the Bugs stamp does not surprise him but he and many subscribers continue to find the idea ``repugnant REPUGNANT. That which is contrary to something else; a repugnant condition is one contrary to the contract itself; as, if I grant you a house and lot in fee, upon condition that you shall not aliens, the condition is repugnant and void. Bac. Ab. Conditions, L. .'' ``Bugs had better be attracting new collectors, which I don't think he is, because he's certainly alienating old ones.'' Daffy Duck and Elmer Fudd may come next. The Postal Service is considering releasing as many as 13 other Looney Toons character stamps starting next year. CAPTION(S): Photo Photo: (Color) No caption (Bugs Bunny postage stamp) |
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