Postage with the Mostage

Every country wants to be at the forefront of something. In Bhutan that something is cutting-edge postage stamps. The tiny Himalayan kingdom (or more accurately, the firm in Pittsburgh, Pa., that makes Bhutan's stamps) was the first to release 3-D stamps, steel stamps, scented stamps (way back in 1973), even stamps that could be played on a tiny record player. Now come the world's first CD-ROM stamps. Self-adhesive wrappers contain documentaries marking the 100th anniversary of Bhutan's monarchy and its shift toward parliamentary democracy. And at nearly 4 sq. in. (26 sq cm), these stamps aren't just pushing the envelope. They're hogging it.