The 2008 edition of the Durland Standard Plate Number Catalog is in production. The USSS plans to introduce the book at the Society’s Annual Meeting at NOJEX in May of 2008. The exciting news is that the new Durland will be unlike any previous edition. In addition to an all-color presentation, we have changed the traditional two-column 6” x 9” format to a three-column 8½” x 11” format that will be available both perfect and spiral bound. The larger size will make the catalog easier to handle as the numbers of postage stamp and back of the book listings continue to grow.

All of the illustrations have been created in digital format that will produce high-quality printed images; and there will be lots more to see. In fact, the 2008 Durland will have over five times the number of illustrations than appeared in the last edition.

The new 2008 Durland is the most comprehensive research source for plate number information on United States postage, special service, revenue stamps and other back of the book stamps listed in the Scott Specialized Catalogue. The new edition will include plate number information for the last three years of new issues along with scores of previously unreported numbers for pre-Bureau and back of the book issues, which were introduced in the 1997. The catalog also includes plate number information on all Confederate issues, overprinted Possessions postage, Carriers, and WW II American Military Government stamps and is the most comprehensive reference for marginal markings.

New features in this edition include the listing of plate position diagrams and their locations on recent issues, and the plate numbers on a number of minor varieties. Non-postal commodity booklets are included, as well as a greatly expanded section of taxpaid revenues.

The 2008 Durland edition is the eighth produced by the USSS and its publication celebrates the 58th Anniversary of the introduction of the Standard Plate Number Catalog. The Sterling Stamp Co. published the first Plate Number Catalog, Vol. 1, in 1950 and in successive years through 1981. Clarence B. Durland himself initially edited the catalog with William Patten editing the later editions. In 1984, under the leadership of the late George Godin, the BIA began editing, publishing and expanding the coverage of stamps. The Society produced subsequent editions in 1986, 1990, 1994, 1997, 2000 and 2005. The new 2008 edition has been reformatted and digitized by Len Piszkiewicz and is edited by W. Wallace Cleland.

The Durland 2008 edition will be available for $25 perfect-bound and $27 spiral-bound. USSS members will receive discount pricing of $20 perfect-bound and $22 spiral-bound. Orders for delivery in June may be sent to USSS Executive Secretary, P.O. Box 6634, Katy, TX 77491-6634. Books can also be ordered online at the USSS website, www.usstamps.org. Online orders are only available for purchase with PayPal.