Are you ready? The United States Postal Service new rates go into effect this weekend, January 8, 2006. If you are finding yourself unsure as to what the new rates are, then feel free to Click here for the USPS new rate grid. This will give you the entire skinny and you will know more than the normal .39-cent first class postage rate.

As part of the ongoing transition happening before the new rates go into effect, the USPS released a non-denominated stamp this week. The single stamp was issued in a pane of twenty on Tuesday January 3, 2006. The USPS plans a denominated .39-cent release of this stamp in March. It is described as you see it. “Two birds perched on a branch sharing a devoted gaze, with the space between them forming a heart.”

The Love stamps have been a popular issue in the past and previous issues have featured a wide variety of designs including abstracts, flowers, cherubs, hearts, and even the word “LOVE” itself.

On January 8, 2006, the first denominated stamps featuring the .39-cent rate will be issued in Washington D.C.. Seen below, this stamp will been available in coils of 3,000 and 10,000. It remains to be seen if we will end up several varieties to collect. So keep a sharp out!