HarperCollins Publishers and U.S. Postal Service Announce Joint Publishing Venture

Business Wire, April 20, 2000

Business Editors

NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)--April 20, 2000

HarperCollins Publishers and the United States Postal Service today announced they will launch a joint publishing venture in October 2000 with the publication of new and updated editions of the U.S. Postal Service Commemorative Stamp Yearbook and The Postal Service Guide To U.S. Stamps.

This is the first time these books - the only philatelic guides officially endorsed by the U.S. Postal Service - will be sold in bookstores. Previously these books were only available through the U.S. Postal service catalogs, website and post offices.

As part of the program, HarperCollins will also publish An American Postal Portrait in October 2000. Divided into six sections representing important historical eras, this illustrated history of the U.S. Postal Service offers a perspective on America's cultural and political history since the mid-19th century.

"We are thrilled to be working with the U.S. Postal Service to introduce this information to a broader audience through a creative, imaginative and exciting publishing program," said Jane Friedman, President and CEO of HarperCollins. "The U.S. Postal Service has a fascinating and rich heritage that has touched all of our lives...one that continues to evolve everyday. This program provides a way to share this history with people of all ages."

"As the overseer of our country's stamp program, the U.S. Postal Service is committed to increasing the availability of and access to many current and upcoming philatelic books produced for the enjoyment and education of all Americans," said James Tolbert, Executive Director of Stamp Services, U.S. Postal Service.

In addition, the program will be expanded over the next several years to include a series of children's titles and other books for serious and casual philatelists.

HarperCollins is one of the leading English-language publishers in the world and is part of News America Publishing Group, a division of News Corporation (NWS). Headquartered in New York, the company has publishing groups in the U.S., Canada, the U.K. and Australia. Its publishing groups include the HarperCollins General Books Group, HarperCollins Children's Books Group, Zondervan, HarperCollins UK, HarperCollins Canada and HarperCollins Australia. The HarperCollins General Books Group is made up of four operating divisions: HarperTrade, Morrow/Avon, HarperInformation and HarperSanFrancisco. You can visit HarperCollins Publishers on the Internet at http://www.harpercollins.com.