LIGHTHOUSES

 

Lighthouses are beautiful and historic landmarks, making them the perfect subject for stamps.  It’s no wonder they’re such a popular topic to collect!

The US Lighthouse Series began on April 26, 1990, and commemorates “the classic coastal sentinels that reflect our nation’s seafaring past.”  The first set of five stamps was issued to celebrate the US Lighthouse Service’s 200th anniversary.

It’s unusual to see a US stamp series issued over 31 years.  Originally planned as one 5-stamp set (#2470-74), the USPS kept issuing new lighthouse stamps because the public loved them.  Howard Koslow, the artist of the stamps, told me he loved painting the designs but was surprised by their popularity. 

US #2470/5625

OKLAHOMA LAND RUSH

Over 130 years ago, Congress agreed to open previously closed territory in Oklahoma to settlement.  The event took place on April 22, 1889, and is still considered to be one of the most famous land rushes.  Settlers who took part in this rush were given the nickname “Eighty-Niners” or “Sooners.”  They were responsible for developing the areas that later became Canadian, Cleveland, Kingfisher, Logan, Oklahoma, and Payne counties in Oklahoma.

Oklahoma Land Rush 100th anniversary postal card

The land offered for settlement in the Oklahoma Land Rush of 1889 was called the “Unassigned Lands” and originally belonged to Native American tribes.  This land was held by the federal government until the Indian Appropriations Act of 1889 was passed.  This act allowed President Benjamin Harrison to open two million acres to settlers.

 

Scott #C13-C-15 GRAF ZEPPLIN

Of the many reasons why we collectors treasure the 1930 Graf Zeppelin airmails, one is the history they tell.  US #C13-15 went on sale April 19, 1930.  They were issued to commemorate the Zeppelin’s first round-trip voyage between Europe and the Americas.  These famous stamps are artifacts from that exciting time in postal history. 

The Zeppelin airmails are also really scarce.  They were on sale for only five weeks, and very few sold.  All leftover stamps were destroyed!  And with the passage of almost a century, their

The historic Graf Zeppelin flying over New York City in 1928.  Click to enlarge.

scarceness has only increased.  Serious collectors around the world dream of owning them.

US #C13 1930 65¢ Zeppelin Over Atlantic Ocean

US #C14 1930 $1.30 Zeppelin Between Continents

US #C15 1930 $1.30 Zeppelin Passing Globe

 

INTERESTING BILLY THE KID STORY

 

Postal inspectors fight to ensure the safety, security, and integrity of US mail.  They investigate postal-related crimes like identity theft, postal robberies, burglaries, and more.

Did you know postal inspectors existed back in the old wild west era?  One even ran into the famous outlaw Billy the Kid in 1881 – the same year Billy was killed!  Here’s an excerpt from a dispatch mailed January 11, 1881, to Col. D.B. Parker, chief postal inspector of the Post Office Department:

US #1898A Stagecoach robberies were common in the Wild West

On my recent trip to New Mexico, I stopped at Santa Fe to learn as much as possible in regard to the mail robbers who had recently been arrested and their doings. William Bonney (alias, the Kid) is held for murder.  He is supposed to have killed some 11 men, but that is an exageration; four or five would be quite enough.  He is about 21 or 23 years of age, born in New York City, and a graduate of the streets. I think his principle business has been stealing cattle and raiding in Old Mexico, and there robbing stores and valuables from wealthy ranchmen.  He has probably done something in the line of stage robbing, but refuses to say anything about it, denying all knowledge of the business. Very truly yours, Robt. Cameron, Inspector

Postal I