U.S. SEMI POSTALS

 

The first US semipostal stamp (sometimes called “charity” or “fundraising” stamps) was the 1998 Breast Cancer Research issue.  Since then, several have been issued to raise money for worthy causes like stopping family violence, saving vanishing species, and more.

A semipostal stamp’s price pays for the First-Class single-piece postage rate in effect at the time of purchase, plus an additional amount to fund causes that are in the national public’s interest.  By law, revenue from stamp sales (minus postage and Postal Service costs) gets sent directly to a selected executive agency or agencies. 

US #B7 2019 Healing PTSD Semipostal The latest US semipostal stamp – issued December 2, 2019.  More than 6.3 million Healing PTSD stamps have been sold, raising more than $638,000.  Plus 100% percent of the net amount raised was donated to the Department of Veterans Affairs to support those suffering from the disorder.  Artwork done by stamp artist Mark Laita.

US #B6 2017 Alzheimer’s Research Semipostal In 2017, the USPS announced a new 10-year semipostal stamp program, starting with this stamp.  It has the same design as the 2008 Alzheimer’s Awareness stamp (US #4358), but with the woman facing right, instead of left.  President Ronald Reagan declared November National Alzheimer’s Disease Awareness Month in 1983, so this stamp was issued in November.  More than 8 million were sold, raising more than $1.06 million towards medical research.

US #B4 2011 Save Vanishing Species Semipostal This semipostal was created to raise money for wildlife conservation.  It pictures an Amur tiger and benefits the Wildlife Without Borders program, which funds conservation efforts both inside and outside the US.  The program issues grants to five different multinational groups involved in protecting elephants, rhinoceros, tigers, marine turtles, and great apes.  More than 52 million have been sold, raising more than $5.8 million.

US #B3 2003 Stop Family Violence Semipostal This stamp was created after a Denver social worker reported a large number of battered women and abused children to the state of Colorado.  He suggested a semipostal be issued to put an end to family violence, leading to creation of this stamp.  In its three years, it raised over $3 million for the cause.  The stamp’s original design was to show a six-year-old girl named Monique Blias.  But after she drew her own picture of domestic violence, it led to a more impactful design.

US #B2 2002 Heroes of 2001 Semipostal Following the 9/11 terrorist attacks, many people wanted to help the families of emergency workers who were affected by responding to them.  This stamp was produced to raise money for these families.  During the two-plus years it was on sale, the stamp raised over $10 million!  Artwork features three firefighters raising a flag over the World Trade Center rubble.

US #B1 1998 Breast Cancer Research Semipostal First US semipostal stamp.  The Stamp Out Breast Cancer Act, signed into law in August of 1997, directed the Postal Service to create it.  Another Breast Cancer semipostal – US #B5 and imperf #B5a – was issued in 2014 with the same design.  More than 1.06 billion Breast Cancer Research stamps had been sold, raising over $91 million.

FIRST AIRMAIL FLIGHT 1918

 

On the morning of May 15, 1918, a crowd of several hundred gathered at Washington, DC’s Polo Grounds to witness history being made.  Army pilot Lt. George Boyle climbed inside a Curtiss “Jenny” airplane with bags containing 5,500 letters destined to fly on the first airmail route in US history.

As President Woodrow Wilson looked on with a crowd of dignitaries, mechanics tried to start Boyle’s plane.  )  The propeller turned but the engine wouldn’t start…  After four attempts, mechanics

Army Major Reuben Fleet stands in front of the “Jenny” plane shortly before take off.

checked the gas tank and realized the plane was out of fuel.  Furthermore, there was no gas on the field, so mechanics quickly siphoned fuel out of nearby planes.  Boyle flew off for his journey to Philadelphia at 11:46 a.m. – 45 minutes late and barely clearing nearby trees!  

scott #C-3 JENNY ERROR

On May 14, 1918, stamp collector William Robey discovered the world’s most famous stamp – the Inverted Jenny.

America’s first airmail stamp (US #C3) was rushed.  Engraving started May 4 and the stamps were printed just three days before release.  Because they were bi-colored, the sheets were printed twice, starting with the red frame.  Then, the stamp sheets were set aside to dry and later printed with the blue plate showing the airplane.  A single sheet made its way to the New York Avenue post office branch in Washington, DC.

An original 1918 Inverted Jenny stamp

On May 14, 1918, 29-year-old Robey withdrew $30 from his bank account – a figure equal to more than $1,500 in today’s wages – to purchase a full sheet of the new stamps.  When the unknowing clerk placed the sheet of inverted stamps on the counter, Robey said his “heart stood still. He noticed the error immeaditly.

 

SCOTT #C-1 FIRST U.S. AIR MAIL

 

On May 13th, 1918, just two days after President Woodrow Wilson signed an act allowing mail to be carried by airplane, the US Post Office Department released the world’s first airmail stamp.  To highlight the importance of the occasion – and to help postmasters differentiate the new stamp from regular issues – a bi-color design was created.  Two-color stamps were uncommon at the time.

The stamp was designed by Clair Aubrey Huston at the Bureau of Engraving and Printing.  Huston had trouble finding a photograph of the plane to model for the stamp’s design, as only 6 Curtiss Jenny planes in the world had been specially modified to carry mail.  In a stroke of luck, the very plane engraved onto the stamp (Jenny #38262) was chosen for the inaugural airmail flight!  

US #C3 1918 24¢ Curtiss Jenny, First U.S. Airmail Stamp

CIVIL WAR MONEY

 During the Civil War, coins disappeared from circulation.  People hoarded “hard money” and spent paper money.  Because almost no coins remained in circulation, it was a pain to make change for small purchases.

A solution came when New-York Tribune owner Horace Greeley suggested using postage stamps instead of small change.  Secretary of the Treasury Salmon Chase petitioned Congress to authorize Greeley’s idea.  On July 17, an act was passed allowing the Treasury to issue Postage Currency.  

WORLD'S FIRST ADHESIVE STAMP

 

The world’s first-ever adhesive postage stamp was issued in Great Britain 181 years ago and became valid May 6, 1840.  As the world’s first postage stamp, the Penny black is one of the most famous, desired, and historically significant stamps of all time.  …

#BLACK1xx

WHAT IS THE TERM 2 CENT RED?

The US commemorative stamps from the 1901 Pan-American issue to the 1932 Arbor Day issue represent a glorious period in philatelic history.  Many beautiful and noteworthy commemoratives were produced in these years, and the special issues reached new heights in design, color, detailed engraving, and subject significance.

These stamps are among the most widely collected stamps of this time period.  They were the first-class letter rate throughout the period (except for a 20-month emergency interval during WWI)…

US #295//717

 

2021 YEAR OF THE OX

This year, we found a mistake made on the 2021 Year of the Ox stamps!  The orange foil crowns on the top rows of Lunar New Year sheets are cut short.  You can still see the impression of the crown tips on the stamp from the pressure used to apply the foil.

Foil crown cut short on 2021 Lunar New Year stamp

The 2021 Year of the Ox oddity stamps is an unusual variety that’s a lot fun to collect – and won’t be around forever.

US #5556 2021 Year of the Ox Oddity Sheet with Missing Foils Variety in Top Row

 

FIRST WATERMARKED STAMPS SCOTT NUMBERS 264 TO 275

The first watermarked stamps were released in April of 1895.  The Bureau of Engraving and Printing (BEP) took over printing postage stamps from the American Bank Note Company in 1894.  The BEP took the original dies and plates of the 1894 series and made some improvements.  Watermarks were added for security, along with triangles in the corners to distinguish them from the 1894 stamps.

US #264-75 First-Ever Watermarked U.S. Stamps 1895 Bureau Issues – Set of 12 Features double-line “USPS” watermark.  The faint “USPS” watermark is a neat piece of history and fun to detect.