SCOTT #3139 BENJAMIN FRANKLIN SOUVENIR SHEET

When the American Revolution began in 1775, Benjamin Franklin was the obvious choice to take over the country’s mail system.  That’s because he was previously the Colonies’ postmaster general for the Crown.  He was appointed as America’s first-ever postmaster general on July 26, 1775.  (We became the United States in 1776.)

As postmaster, Franklin was a dynamo – he standardized rates, surveyed mail routes, slashed delivery times between major cities by half, and more.  He even donated his $1,000 salary to relief for wounded Continental soldiers!  Franklin’s work in taking over the mail system was

US #3139 1997 Franklin Issue Honors 150 Years of U.S. Postage Stamps Faithful Reproduction of U.S. #1

rewarded in 1847 when he was pictured on the first official US postage stamp.  He’s been honored on countless stamps over the years – more than most former presidents…

 

UKRAINES WAR MESSAGE THROUGH STAMPS

On the first day of Russian’s invasion of Ukraine, the warship Moskva demanded the surrender of Ukranian soldiers on Snake Island.  Instead, they gave the middle finger to the Russian warship Moskva.  Their spunk inspired Ukraine and the rest of us.

Stamps have long been used for patriotic messaging.  Ukraine jumped on the opportunity and issued two stamps showing a soldier, standing on Snake Island, saying, “Russian warship, go f*** yourself.”  The stamps proved a brilliant move – they quickly sold out,

S Ukraine president, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, holding the new Snake Island stamps.

captured loads of media attention, and raised $135,000 for Ukraine’s Army.  

 

SCOTT #740 YOSEMITE 1 CENT

 

As you know, President Franklin Roosevelt was a stamp collector.  During his administration, he took it upon himself to work with the Post Office Department to help create and approve new stamps. 

As FDR was reviewing suggestions for the 1934 schedule, Secretary of the Interior Harold Ickes saw an opportunity to advertise the National Parks System.  Ickes felt many Americans were unaware the federal government had set aside large amounts of land for their enjoyment and for future generations.  At his suggestion,

US #740 – First stamp in the National Park Set

1934 had been declared National Parks Year.  Ickes now proposed the legacy of the national parks be portrayed on postage stamps, which FDR approved immediately.  Ten parks were chosen and the first stamp was issued on July 16, 1934, honoring Yosemite National Park.

SCOTT #QE4 SPECIAL HANDLING 25 CENT

 

On April 11, 1925, the first Special Handling stamp was issued.  And today marks the end of Special Handling service after nearly a century.

Special Handling stamps gave parcel post packages first-class mail service.  The USPS Act of February 1925 provided for a 25¢ fee that allowed fourth-class mail to receive the same service as first-class.  US #QE4 was issued a few months later.

Three years later, 10¢, 15¢, and 20¢ denominations were issued to cover the revised rates in 1928.

US #QE4

First U.S. Special Handling Stamp

SCOTT #120 DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE 24 CENT

Today’s the day in 1776 when the Second Continental Congress of the United States officially ratified the Declaration of Independence.  The meeting was held in Independence Hall (then the Pennsylvania State House) and led to the printing and distribution of copies to the public. 

Without the Declaration of Independence, the United States may never have existed, and neither would our stamps.  So on this July 4th, don’t forget to pause for a moment during your celebrations and remember the most important reason we still honor this holiday.

US #120 Sought-After 1869 Declaration of Independence Pictorial