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.
 
The common thread: a love and appreciation for stamps, covers, and the history of mail.
 
As an educational hobby, stamp collecting can be enjoyed for a relatively modest cost, and provides a tangible, enjoyable introduction to history, geography, and biography for all collectors, regardless of age.
 
Historically speaking, the U.S. was a little slow on the trigger regarding a national postage stamp. Colonists…and after 1776, Americans…had been using paid mail for years. It was not until March 3, 1847, however, under President Abraham Lincoln that Congress finally provided for the issuance of stamps. Congress started small, with just two stamps.
 
The first was a five-cent issue that is reddish brown in color and features an image of Benjamin Franklin, the first U.S. postmaster general. The ten-cent issue is black and depicts George Washington. The history-making stamps were printed by Rawdon, Wright, Hatch and Edson and were issued July 1, 1847.
 
The Franklin and Washington stamps were offered for sale on July 1, 1847, in NYC, with Boston receiving stamps the following day and other cities thereafter. As with all U.S. stamps issued for the next decade, the stamps were printed on a single sheet and only a modest space between the images so they could be cut apart (imperforate). This made separating them cleanly, without tearing them quite a chore, and most Americans were careless when handling them.
 
Fortunately, stamps were already becoming a beloved collectible as can be seen in the beautifully preserved examples of the day. Thinking no doubt of future generations of stamp fanciers, philatelists of the time separated them with scissors, or tore them painstakingly to preserve their beauty and their value.
 
Before long, powerful stamp societies began to evolve and became affiliates of the American Philatelic Society. The APS was founded in 1886 (as the American Philatelic Association) and was the first national body of stamp collectors with worldwide membership.
 
So you see…it really DOES take a village.