SCOTT #3178 MARS PATHFINDER $3.00

It was July 4th, 1997 – were you (like me) camped wide-eyed in front of the TV watching never-before-seen views of the Martian landscape?  I’ll never forget it – the panoramic images were sent to us from an ancient flood plain on the surface of Mars.  (I remember wishing I was there, too.)  All these fantastic images were brought to us courtesy of the Mars Pathfinder spacecraft and robotic rover Sojourner.

The Pathfinder mission used the latest technology to place, for the first time, a lander and free-ranging robotic rover directly onto the surface of the planet.

US #3178 Largest U.S. Postage Stamp Ever Issued 1997 $3 Mars Pathfinder

Remember how NASA scientists used a parachute to slow the spacecraft as it entered the Martian atmosphere?  And all those giant airbags to cushion its landing.

 

SCOTT #F-1 REGISTRATION STAMP 10 CENT

 

On December 1, 1911, the US Post Office Department introduced the only registration stamp ever issued.  It prepaid registration fees and guaranteed special care and handling of a letter or package.  The stamp was valid towards the registration fee only, and could not be used as postage.

The new stamps were intended to simplify the registration process, but ended up confusing customers and postal clerks.  People mistook the stamp for regular postage.  As a result, further printing was discontinued in 1913, while the remaining stock was still used.  Though often overlooked by collectors, the expertly engraved US #F1 is one of the most beautifully designed Back-of-the-Book stamps!  .

US #F1

1911 U.S. 10¢ Registration Stamp Only Stamp Issued to Pay Registration Fee

SCOTT #C-20, C21, AND 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, Blue

US #C21 1937 U.S. 20¢ Transpacific, Green

US #C22

1937 U.S. 50¢ Transpacific, Carmine

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SCOTT #331 FRANKLIN 1 CENT & #332 WASHINGTON 2 CENT

 

The Third Bureau Issue, commonly called the “Washington-Franklins,” was issued in 1908.  It’s the result of the heaps of complaints made about the Second Bureau Issue…  Collectors, postal clerks, customers, art critics – even the press – didn’t like the stamps!  The ornate stamps were considered too fussy, with questionable designs, like nude figures on the 1¢ Franklin.  The US Post Office was up for the change.  

US #331 1908 U.S. 1¢ Franklin First in the Series of 1908-09

US #332

1908 U.S. 2¢ Washington Second in the Series of 1908-09

SCOTT #301 & #319 WASHINGTON 2 CENT

 

In 1902, the Series of 1902-03 replaced the outdated regular issues that were currently used.  Among this new series was #301, the 2¢ Washington “flag” stamp.  Collectors and experts were excited for the release when its design was first shown.  A New York newspaper even called it “the finest stamp ever produced.”  The original proofs were printed on quality paper in black ink, so the stamp design was beautiful and crisp.  But the actual stamps were printed on softer stamp paper in red ink, and the result was disappointing.  Many felt the overall design was too crowed and the portrait didn’t resemble Washington.

US #301 1903 U.S. Washington Flag Stamp Design Criticized After it Was Printed

US #319 1903 U.S. Washington Shield Stamp Deemed a Much Better Design Over #301 ¢

Scott #2869 & #2870 LEGENDS OF THE WEST 29 CENT

Correct Sheet US #2869 Pictures Bill Pickett – the correct person.   Error Sheet LEGENDS US #2870 Picturing the wrong person – Ben Pickett.

In January 1994, the USPS announced it was creating a set of 20 stamps titled “Legends of the West.”  One of the people to be featured was black rodeo star Bill Pickett.  Nobody expected this sheet to cause one of the biggest stamp stories in years… After the stamps were announced, a radio reporter phoned Frank Phillips Jr., great-grandson of Bill Pickett, and asked him about the stamp.  This was the first Phillips heard about the stamp, which was ironic.  For the last 14 years Phillips had written to the Citizens’ Stamp Advisory Committee suggesting that Bill Pickett should be honored on a stamp.  He was turned down every time.

Pleasantly surprised, Phillips went to his local post office, looked at the design and recognized it as Ben Pickett – Bill’s brother.  The stamp pictured the wrong man!  That was mistake #1. Phillips complained to the Postal Service, and Postmaster General Marvin Runyon issued an order to recall and destroy the error stamps.  But before the recall, 186 error sheets were sold by postal workers – before the official first day of issue.  This was mistake #2.  These error sheets were being resold for sums ranging from $3,000 to $15,000 each! Bill Pickett on the left (correct person), Ben Pickett on the right (printed on the error sheet.)

Weeks later, the USPS said 150,000 error sheets would be sold at face value by means of a mail-order lottery.  This unprecedented move was made with the permission of Phillips, Jr., so the Post Office could recover its printing cost and not lose money.  Sales were limited to one per household and the remaining stamps were destroyed.

 

SCOTT #C-18 BABY ZEPPELIN 50 CENT

On October 2, 1933, one of my favorite US stamps was issued in New York City – #C18.  Because its face value was much lower than the previous Zeppelin stamps (#C15-18), #C18 became known as “Baby Zepp.”

The Baby Zepp had a total of five First Days of Issue – one at each city the Graf Zeppelin stopped at from New York to Chicago.  Today, stamps have only one First Day of Issue, so this was quite unusual!  The stamp satisfied the 50¢

postage rate for mail traveling aboard the enormous airship.  It pictures the Zeppelin’s hangar in Germany on the right and the Federal Building at the Chicago World’s Fair on the left.

 

SCOTT #2155-58 HORSES 22 CENT

Today marks the start of National Stamp Collecting Month – an annual celebration that started October 1, 1981.

In 1985, the USPS issued its first stamps specifically for National Stamp Collecting Month, picturing different breeds of horses.  Since then, it has continued issuing stamps to celebrate National Stamp Collecting Month.  

US #2155-58

 

SCOTT #5702 NANCY REAGAN FOREVER STAMP

 

US #5702

Nancy Reagan

Issued: July 6

Commemorates the wife of our nation’s 40th president, Ronald Reagan.  She was an important part of one of the most critical presidencies of the 20th century.  The stamp’s artwork is based an official 1987 White House portrait by Aaron Shikler.  Stamp designed by Greg Breeding.

SCOTT #3168-72 MOVIE MONSTERS 32 CENT

 

One thing that couldn’t be beat when I was a kid was the rare treat of going to see a scary movie… the kind that raised the hair the back of your neck.  Who can forget sitting in the dark being scared to death by the bloodthirsty Dracula or the terrifying Mummy?  When I look at the Classic Movie Monsters stamps, I’m back there, reliving those thrills and chills.  Do you have the five most famous movie monsters of all time in your collection?    

US #3168-72

1991-95 WW II 50TH ANNIVERSARY SOUVENIR SHEETS

 

Five Stamp Sheetlets Bring WWII’s Story to Life
Historic U.S. Stamp Series Created Over Five Years…

US #2559/2981

1991-95 WWII 50th Anniversary Souvenir Sheets