Today’s #stampoftheday is a 7-cent stamp issued in 1871 that depicts Edwin Stanton (and his extensive beard which is partially obscured by the postmark on the stamp in my dad’s collection). Stanton was a well-known lawyer from Pennsylvania who argued several notable cases before the U.S. Supreme Court. Recognized as a rising star in Washington […]
Edwin Stanton and His Extensive Beard Read More »
Two offerings for today’s #stampoftheday which, as seems increasingly be the case, will take on digressions that will include 26,000 lightbulbs, the Grateful Dead, an unsuccessful effort to monopolize the American organ industry, 10,000 pairs of left shoes, and a flag blowing the wrong way in the wind, and “if only he were around,” a
The “ruptured duck” on May 9th’s #stampoftheday spurs a narrative that goes from honoring soldiers, to a mid-20th century film star, to Bluetooth and finally to Mel Brooks. Here goes…the stamp is a 3-cent stamp issued in 1946 “Honoring All Those Who Served” in World War II. It pictures the Honorable Discharge Emblem, surrounded by
Honorable Discharges, Ruptured Ducks, Bluetooth, Mel Brooks, and More Read More »
I was struggling to find a good #stampoftheday for today when I realized that May 8 is the 75th anniversary of V-E Day, the end of WW 2 in Europe. My father’s collection doesn’t include any of the stamps marking this, mainly because most of those stamps were issued after he stopped being an active
My Father Writes Home on VE Day Read More »
The #stampoftheday for May 7 is a 3-cent stamp from 1954 commemorates the 100th anniversary of the establishment of the Nebraska Territory. The image is based on the “The Sower,” a sculpture on top of the Nebraska State Capitol building. Created by sculptor Lee Lawrie, who worked with Nebraska philosophy professor Hartley Burr Alexander to
Nebraska and the Roots of the Civil War Read More »
The 1840 Penny Black, the world’s first adhesive postage stamp used in a public postal system, is today’s #stampoftheday. The stamp, which features a profile of Queen Victoria, was issued in Great Britain on May 1, 1840, but it was not valid for use until May 6, 1840. Before the stamp was issued, recipients, not
The 1840 Penny Black: The Stamp that Started It All Read More »
The main #stampoftheday for May 5 is the 3-cent 1956 stamp issued to emphasize the importance of wildlife conservation in America. The first of three stamps with a similar theme, it showcases wild turkeys and was issued at the convention of the Wisconsin Federation of Stamp Clubs, in Fond du Lac, Wisconsin. As many people
American Wildlife: Should the Wild Turkey Be Our National Bird? Read More »
The #stampoftheday for is a “souvenir sheet” consisting of four 3-cent stamps issued (actually re-issued) in conjunction with the Third International Philatelic Exhibition, held in New York City in May 1936. The stamps commemorate the Connecticut Tercentenary, the California Pacific Exposition, the Michigan Centennial, and the Texas Centennial. The first celebrated the 300th anniversary of
Several #stampoftheday offerings for the May 3, most notably a series of 3 stamps marking the 300th anniversary of the Jamestown colony, the first permanent English settlement in America, which was founded on May 13, 1607. The 2-cent stamp is an image of the group coming ashore. The 1-cent stamp honors John Smith who led
Coming to America (John Smith Not Eddie Murphy) Read More »
The thankfully short #stampoftheday for today is the 6-cent airmail envelope issued as part of the 1956 FIPEX, the giant stamp expo held in the then-new NYC Coliseum from April 28 to May 6. For a nice account of that event see http://www.ny2016.org/images/history/05_1956fipex.pdf.
Just What is FIPEX Anyway? Read More »