SCOTT #C-20, #C-21, & #C-22 CHINA CLIPPER

 

On November 22, 1935, the China Clipper took flight from San Francisco.  It was the first-ever plane to carry airmail across the Pacific.  The huge seaplane landed in Manila a week later, completing its 8,000-mile journey across the world’s largest ocean.  And it delivered more than 110,000 pieces of mail!  

US #C20 1935 U.S. 25¢ Transpacific Airmail

US #C21 1937 U.S. 20¢ Transpacific Airmail

US #C22

1937 U.S. 50¢ Transpacific Airmail

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SCOTT #1282 LINCOLN 4 CENT

 

Hi Sheldon,

On November 19, 1965, the US Post Office issued the first stamp in the Prominent Americans Series – the 4¢ Lincoln.  These definitive stamps are some of the most popular ever issued.  While the 1954-61 Liberty Series focused largely on political figures, this new series honored people from all walks of life.

US #1282 1965 U.S. 4¢ Lincoln First Prominent Americans Stamp

SCOTT #1254-57 SE-TENANT X-MAS STAMP 5 CENT

On November 9, 1964, the US Post Office issued its first se-tenant.  Commonly called a “seten,” a se-tenant is two or more stamps with different designs (or denominations) printed together on the same sheet.  The name comes from the French phrase for “joined together.”

While US #1254-57 is considered America’s first seten, there have been attached stamps issued with different designs more than a century earlier.  They were four Postmasters’ Provisional stamps issued between 1845 and 1847.  There was the Baltimore Provisionals, the St. Louis Bears Provisionals, the Rhode Island Provisionals, and the Alexandria Provisionals.  However, they aren’t considered to be in the same category as postage stamps issued in 1847 and beyond.  

 

SCOTT #1205 CHRISTMAS 1962 4 CENT

On November 1, 1962, the US Post Office issued its first-ever Christmas stamp, starting a popular tradition that still continues today.  Other countries had issued Christmas stamps since 1898.  In 1962, the US Post Office received 1,000 letters asking for a Christmas-themed stamp.  After getting support from the Citizens Stamp Advisory Committee, it was finally created.  It became the first stamp in the new Contemporary Christmas Series. The Post Office predicted the stamps would be popular, so 350 million were printed – far more than any other new stamp at that time.  Even still, those 350 million stamps sold out fast.  The Bureau of Engraving and Printing had to produce more – reaching one billion by the end of the year.

US #1205

First U.S. Christmas Stamp Issued in 1962

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