SCOTT #1254-57 CHRISTMAS 5 CENT FIRST SE-TENANT

    The 1964 Christmas stamps were the first American se-tenates! Se-tenate is a French term meaning, "to hold one another". This term is used to describe two or more attached stamps with different designs.


                                  

POST OFFICE MOTTO "NEITHER SNOW, NOR RAIN,NOR HEAT, ETC.

    You're probably familiar with the motto of the postal carrier, which is found inscribed on the New York City Main Post Office: "Neither snow, or rain, nor heat, nor gloom of night stays these couriers from the swift completion of their appointed rounds." The actual words were rendered by architect William Mitchell Kendall. However, he based the motto on words written by the Greek historian Herodotus back in the 4th-century B.C.
    Herodotus was speaking of the swift Persian messengers, who he said "travel with a velocity which nothing human can equal. Neither snow, nor rain, nor heat, nor darkness, are permitted to obstruct their speed."

SCOTT #1193 PROJECT MERCURY "FRIENDSHIP CAPSULE 7"

    The Project Mercury stamp was printed and distributed to 305 Post Offices in sealed pouches, long before John Glenn even left on his historic flight. On his safe return, February 20, 1962, at 3:30 p.m. . Postal headquarters ordered the pouches be opened. Within 1 1/2 hours, many offices sold out their entire stock.




                             

SCOTT #1139-44 AMERICAN CREDO SERIES 4 CENT

    Each stamp from this series features quotes from historically important Americans. The stamps are fashioned to resemble colonial currency. Also, symbols that relate to the statement are incorporated into the designs, as well as likeness of the author's signature. The first of the series contains a statement taken from Washington's farewell advice to America, specifically those who would be leading the government in the future. All of the credos are important facets of the uniquely American point of view.



                                

SCOTT #1127 NORTH AMERICAN TREATY ORGANIZATION 4 CENT

    NATO was formed in 1950. The purpose of the alliance was to provide a common military defense for all member nations against possible aggression from the former Soviet Union and other Eastern countries. Today, in addition to providing a cooperative defense against foreign aggression, the goals of NATO include developing international cooperation, crisis support, peacekeeping, and disaster relief.


                           

SCOTT #1083 NASSAU HALL 3 CENT

    In 1792, our nation's capitol moved to its current home in Washington, D.C. Before this time, it had been located in several places, including Nassau Hall.
    The oldest building on the Princeton University campus, in New Jersey, Nassau Hall served as the capitol for four months when the Congress of the Confederation met there in 1783.



                                

SCOTT #658-668 KANSAS OVERPRINTS 1 CENT TO 10 CENT

    Post Office hold-ups were common in Kansas during the 1920's. Robbers stole stamps and took them to other states to sell. In 1929, overprinted stamps were experimented with in hopes of making it more difficult for stolen stamps to be sold. However, the overprints were often refused as valid postage by unaware postal workers. The public complained, and once the existing supply was used, the trial program was stopped.



                              

SCOTT #617-19 LEXINGTON-CONCORD ISSUES

    Early one April morning in 1775, 50 ragged "minutemen" faced 1,000 red-coated British soldiers across the bridge at Lexington-a shot was fired. ergo "The Birth of Liberty", which is commemorated in the 2 cent stamp. The 1 cent stamps honors "Washington at Cambridge" and the 5 cent stamp honors the "Minute Men" who were the first 88 American colonist to die in the battle of freedom.


                       

SCOTT #614-616 HUGUENOT-WALLOON ISSUE

    Once again, fear and persecution drove people down to the sea. The Huguenots, French Protestants, came ashore at Mayport, Florida, in 1562. "Ill fated" best describes that settlement. It was destroyed by disease, Indians, and finally, the Spanish. The Walloons, French and Belgian Protestants, fared better. The Dutch West India Company engaged them in 1624 to settle "New Netherland" at Fort Orange, now the city of Albany.



                       

SCOTT #630 WHITE PLAINS 2 CENT

    A commemorative honoring the 150th anniversary of the Battle of White Plains was issued in 1926 in a 100 stamp sheet. Later that year, a special 25 stamp sheet, with a commemorative inscription in the sheet margin, was issued with the same design for the International Philatelic Exhibition - this was the first U.S. souvenir sheet.



                         

 

SCOTT #730 FORT DEARBORN 1 CENT

    Fort Dearborn was built near the mouth of the Chicago River in 1803, and is considered the founding settlement of Chicago. Soldiers from Fort Dearborn protected Americans living on the frontier from hostile Indians. The fort was destroyed in 1812.
    A replica complete with articles from the original fort was built for the 1933 Century of Progress International Exhibition.


                                   

SCOTT #1775-78 AMERICAN FOLK ART 15 CENT

    Toleware is an object of varnished or painted tin, or sometimes pewter, usually in the form of a decorative domestic item.  Popular in Europe and the U.S. in the 1800's, some of the world's best toleware was created in Pennsylvania.



                        

SCOTT #1827-30 CORAL REEFS 15 CENT

    Coral reefs are formed by small sea animals. In life, these animals give the coral it's color, and in death, their limestone shells create rock-life formations. It is in this fashion that coral reefs build up, and over time, grow.



                             

SCOTT #2016 JACKIE ROBINSON 20 CENT

    In 1947, Jackie Robinson broke the color barrier when he became the first African American to play major league baseball. He played his entire career for the Brooklyn Dodgers. With a .311 lifetime batting average, Rookie of the year and Most Valuable Player honors, Robinson was one of the best players in the majors in those years. This stamp is one of the Black Heritage series.