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.
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US #C22 |
1937 U.S. 50¢ Transpacific, Carmine |
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.
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US #332 |
1908 U.S. 2¢ Washington |
In 1902, the Series of 1902-03 replaced the outdated regular issues that were currently used.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.
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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… |
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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. |
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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¢
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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.
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US #2155-58
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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. |
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? 
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US #3168-72
Five Stamp Sheetlets Bring WWII’s Story to Life
Historic U.S. Stamp Series Created Over Five Years…
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US #2559/2981 |
1991-95 WWII 50th Anniversary Souvenir Sheets |
In
1871, the government established two separate classes of stamps –
Documentary and Proprietary, which made stamp production and accounting
easier. Documentary stamps, which paid the fees on a wide variety of
documents, would continue using the R-numbers already established, while
the new Proprietary stamps would be RB. The first RB Proprietary
stamps were issued September 2, 1871. Get the full story here.
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