Book excerpt: Beginning with the first stamps released in 1847, The Postal Service Guide to U.S. Stamps covers over 4,000 stamps issued up to the present, and provides color illustrations of every stamp as well as detailed listings that include Scott catalog numbers, used and unused prices, dates of issues, and quantities issued when known. Every category of U.S. stamp is included—definitive, commemorative, airmail, duck stamps, stamped envelopes—all organized into easy-to-use, color-coded sections for quick access. Also featured in this philatelist's bible is a rundown of the current year's commemorative stamp program; advice on starting your own collection (from assessing the condition of your stamps to displaying your collection), and a complete resources section. This is the one book that no serious stamp collector should be without.