US POSTAL HISTORY BLOG

“Fellow citizens, I presume you all know who I am…I am humble Abraham Lincoln,” said the future President in a bid for election to the State Legislature of New Salem, Illinois. “I have been solicited by many friends to become a candidate for the legislature. My policies are short and sweet, like the old woman’s dance. I am in favor of a National Bank, I am in favor of the Internal improvement system, and a high protective tariff. These are my sentiments and political principles. If elected I shall be thankful; and if not, it will be all the same.” Continue reading

It’s not surprising to learn that there was trouble delivering the mail from the beginnings of the General Post Office in the 1700’s. What is surprising is that the ‘new’ U.S. Congress considered this a high priority on its agenda, and in 1777 created the position of Inspector of Dead Letters. In today’s politically correct parlance, these facilities have been renamed Mail Recovery Centers (MRC). Continue reading

On February 11, 2008, the United States Postal Service (USPS) announced an increase in postage rates. Along with other increases, the cost of a 1st class stamp will be raised to $0.42 on May 12th.While the most visible change is the 1-cent increase for First-Class Mail letters, the changes are broader and include prices that could save you real dollars when shipping packages:

The Postal Service is authorized by The Postal Accountability and Enhancement Act to adjust prices each May. The good news is that the Act also limits increases to be no more than inflation, as measured by the Consumer Price Index. That basically means that postal rates, at worst, can only stay at their current relative cost. As some increases may be below inflation, the average relative cost of postage will actually decline.

Now may be a good time to stock up on Forever Stamps. These 1st class stamps, currently priced at $0.41, may be used in place of the new $0.42 stamps. Generally, being able to buy something now that will have a higher value later is seen as in investment. More than 6 billion “forever” stamps have been sold since they were introduced last year. Read more about the Forever Stamp.

It’s still only February, but ‘spring’ is in the air…spring training that is…and the start of a new season of baseball.
 
It stands to reason that a subject as beloved as baseball has naturally become part of postal history. And unlike collectible baseball cards, collectible baseball stamps are generally inexpensive and easy to transport and store.
 
In 1939, U.S. Postmaster General James A. Farley proposed that a new 3-cent baseball commemorative stamp be issued to coincide with the opening of the Baseball Hall of Fame the same year. Surprisingly, a nationwide poll of collectors voted overwhelmingly against it. But stamp-collecting President Roosevelt vetoed their vote and spread the word through the nation’s sports pages that he wished “every boy in America” could get a first-day cover from the new issue. Continue reading

Recognizing an opportunity to spread the love for Valentine’s Day, the United States Post Office created a commemorative stamp series dedicated to love. The USPS issues new Love stamps annually with design featuring a wide range of subjects, including flowers, animals, cherubs and love letters, as well as abstract designs. The series, originally intended to be used for Valentine’s Day, has also been popular for wedding correspondence, and Mother’s Day and Father’s Day cards. Continue reading

Greetings, cover lovers…or as I like to think of you my fellow philatelic fanciers. I’m talking about the tens of millions of people throughout history and throughout the world who have contributed in large ways and small to the health and vitality of stamp collecting.
 
In her book, then-First Lady Hilary Clinton wrote ‘it takes a village’ to raise one child. And it takes a village – including Presidents, cachet designers, and ordinary citizens – to conceive, manufacture, and create cherished collections of stamps and covers. As a subscriber, you’re part of my ‘village’ and together we’re part of a global village made up of people of all ages, all genders, and all walks of life. Continue reading

Stamp design is a collaborative effort…even when the lead designer is the President of the United States. A case in point is FDR’s sketch for the 1933 Polar Stamp. As a favor to Rear Admiral Richard E. Byrd, the President designed a commemorative-size stamp. It showed the eastern coast of the United States and South America, western areas of Europe and Africa, and the routes of Byrd’s trans-Atlantic, North Pole and South Pole flights.

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You only need to take a quick look in your mailbox to know it’s that time of year again. Christmas is here, and the official USPS Christmas stamp is once again on the cover of holiday cards, letters, and packages. The 2007 USPS Christmas stamp is the newest entry in a long line of government-issued holiday collectibles.
 
The official Christmas stamp is a fine old tradition…but just how old is it? The answer really depends on how old you are. If you’re a baby boomer, the release of the first Christmas Stamp is a treasured childhood memory. So it can’t be that old…or can it? Yes it can. 
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The “Day of Infamy” speech is one of the best-known American political speeches of the 20th Century. It was delivered by to Congress and a stunned nation on December 8, 1941 by President Franklin Delano Roosevelt, often referred to as “The Stamp Collectors’ President.”
 
FDR was elected to the nation’s highest office in November 1932. His unprecedented four terms in the White House were marked with continuing political and economic crises. Yet despite the turmoil, the 32nd President of the United States, a lifelong stamp enthusiast, never lost touch with his hobby and found time to create original designs for several United States stamps issued while in office.

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Among the most popular of bygone times captured by event covers is the 1933 Century of Progress. From May 27 to November 1, 1933, the civilized world was focused upon 424 acres of land along the shore of Lake Michigan, edging Chicago. It was the one place on earth where you could see ‘tomorrow’…today. And people brought home a little piece of the future when they purchased colorful event covers and other printed souvenirs.

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