news & notes An Out-Of-This-World Collectors’ Edition (NAPSA)—It was “Onesmall step for ‘man,one giantleap for mankind? when Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin walked on the Moon. Now,half a century after the first Moon landing, you can hold someofthe wonderofit all in your hand. with a set of commemorative stamps. In collaboration with the Smithsonian’s National Air and Space Museum, Philatelic Minthas developed collection consisting of 27 postage stamps issued from the CookIslands and the Kingdom. ofTonga.They're treated with blue phos- A great way to celebrate the 50th anniversary ofthe first Moon landing is with a stunning set of luminous commemorative stamps. phorink that glows under UV light. yourfamily for manyyears to come. Why Collect Stamps uniquestories to life for you and your learn about geography, biography, his- ‘Asthe world’slargest museum and research complex, Smithsonian brings family through officially licensed prod- Stamp collecting helpsthe collector uctslike these. ‘This stunninglimited-edition collection by Philatelic Mint comes with a presentation folderthat is 11 inchestall and 6.5 inches wide when closed and that opens to a breathtaking spread over 3 feet wide. What’ more, a limited numberofthe commemorative stampsfirst issuedin July tory, culture andart. Stamps are miniature gatewaysto the world. Howto Collect Stamps You don't have to buy expensive equipmentto enjoy stampcollection,but one essential rule to remember is that the condition of a stampis a very important consideration. Badly torn and mishandled stampsare not only unpleasant to the eye, they're worth next to noth- the event, picturing mission commander counterparts. Try to acquire the finest 1969 by the U.S. Postal Service to honor Neil Armstrong planting the US.flag on the lunar surface, are alsoavailable. Other Collections If getting the Moonisn’t enough, Philatelic Mint plans many othercollectionsofelegant, timeless stampsfeaturing scoresoffascinating topics. For example,there will be a set on the history of space, one featuring animals from the National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute, and many more. Subscriberswill get new sets of stamps from countries all over the world, on topics both familiar and new. In fact, Philatelic Mint is dedicated to bringingentertaining collections of stamps and related material to a grow- ingpublic of subscribers andcollectors. ‘The stamps can bea treasure for youand ing when compared to their undamaged possible specimensfor your collection. Becausetheir condition is so impor- tant (and stamps are onlybits of paper, after all), handle them with care—and perhapsa pairoftongs. Because stampsare small,it's often difficult to see all their minute detail with the naked eye. Magnifying glasses can help you not only see the design better but, in some instances, discover small details that distinguish one stamp from another. Sometimes, when stamps appearto bethe same,they’re not. Learn More Forfurtherfacts, a lookat the latest collections and information on how to subscribe, go to www.pmintstamps.com or mail to P.O. Box 3162, Sag Harbor, NY, 11963.
