Crossword Puzzle Postage Stamp

The United States Postal Service issued the first ever commemorative postage stamp celebrating crossword puzzles. This adorable stamp was issued as part of the Celebrate the Century – 1910’s series on January 3, 1998. The Celebrate the Century series was the largest commemorative series ever issued by the USPS.

Crossword puzzles are wildly popular throughout the United States. They are the most popular word puzzle in the world. About 50 million people work crossword puzzles each day around the world. All newspapers in the country feature crossword puzzles in some section of the paper. These black and white grids can stump even the smartest of humans. Crossword puzzles are so popular, that they even have a day celebrating their existence…April 18th.

The first crossword puzzle was comprised by journalist Arthur Wynne. His first puzzle ran in the New York World on December 13, 1913. There are many types of puzzle to enjoy. The “Cryptic” crossword puzzles feature clues that are puzzles themselves. It’s no wonder that they can leave you scratching your head. The “Straight” or “Quick” puzzles have clues that are usually simple definitions for the answers. There are “Quiz” crosswords where the clues are in the form of questions. Some puzzles feature indirect clues where clues are taken metaphorically instead of literally. Originally, crossword puzzles were created by hand, but most today are created with the help of computer programs.

Regardless of your preference in puzzles, crossword puzzles will keep your brain sharp as a tack or cause you to pull your hair out in frustration!