The United Nations...Why Do They Issue Stamps? Part I Of II

Did you ever wonder why the United Nations is issuing stamps in the United States? The United Nations is the only organization in the world which is neither a country nor a territory that is permitted to issue postage stamps. Additionally, it is the only postal authority that can issue stamps in different currencies. They currently issue in US dollars, Austrian Euros formally shillings) and Swiss francs. The United Nations Postal Administration (UNPA) issues its stamps.

The UN stamps reflect the work of the world organization. Stamps issued have brought attention to human rights, the environment, endangered species, world problems and the concerns of the people of the world. Their stamps are a constant reminder of what the United Nations commitments and goals are globally. The UN issues stamps simultaneously at UN offices only. Offices are located in Geneva, Vienna and New York.

The idea that the United Nations should issue stamps was first brought up by the President of the United Nations General Assembly, Jose Arce, in 1947. He served as the ambassador from Argentina and was an avid philatelist. A subsequent agreement with the United States was reached in 1951. It was agreed that the stamps would be issued in US denominations and only be sold at United Nations Headquarters.

Please check back on Wednesday for the conclusion to this post.

The 1962 Canal Zone Stamp

The 1962 Canal Zone stamps printing error quickly made it a valuable stamp to collectors. The stamp was printed with the Thatcher Bridge Missing from the original stamp. The $20 million dollar Thatcher Bridge, is the first elevated bridge that connects the two sides of the Panama Canal. It is currently called the Bridge of the Americas.

There was a sheet of 200 stamps that was shipped to the Canal Zone Postal Administration. One lucky American, H.E. Harris, a stamp dealer, bought 50 stamps. There were 3 other panes of 50 stamps that were also purchased before the mistake of the missing bridge was discovered. Eventually two panes of 50 were donated to the National Postal Museum and the third pane was destroyed.

Upon learning of the printing error, The Canal Zone tried to print millions of stamps with the same error so that any value to the original stamps would be destroyed. Mr. Harris sued to have the stamp production stopped and as a result, there is now a law in place in the United States that would prevent such action if there is a misprinting of stamps. Good news for current and future stamp collectors!

So keep you eyes peeled for what would be another find of a lifetime!

American Motorcycles

Motorcycles are just about as American as apple pie is in our past and modern day culture. It is not surprising that the United States Postal Service celebrated American motorcycles with their very own stamps. Issued in 2006, there were 4 stamps sold in the set. Each stamp features digital illustrations.

The Cleveland (year 1918) depicts a single-cylinder motorcycle. It was built by the Cleveland Motorcycle Manufacturing Company of Cleveland, Ohio. The Cleveland was the most popular motorcycle in 1918. It could travel for 75 miles on one gallon of gas and was initially sold for $175.

The Indian (year 1940) was made by the Indian Motorcycle Company. The Indian is known as the “Four”, for the then new technology of having a four-cylinder engine. The design of its skirted fenders, which partially covered the wheels, became a trademark of Indian.

No motorcycle seems more American than the Harley-Davidson. Called the Electra-Glide, it was first manufactured in 1965. This It is considered to be the company’s most iconic motorcycle. It featured whitewall tires, tons of chrome, huge fenders, large saddlebags and a new electric starter.

The last stamp in the series represents the icon of 1970…the Chopper. The Chopper term came from the idea of chopping unnecessary parts from a motorcycle. Most choppers had a stretched frame and raised handlebars. Coppers of today are required to have safety features like turn signals and mirrors which did not occur on Choppers in 1970.

The United States - Year Of The Rat Stamp Part II Of II

In continuation to the post last Friday.

Each animal featured in the Chinese New Year calendar year are said to share characteristics with that humans born in those years. If you are born during the Year of the Rat, you are said to be a cleaver, ambitious, industrious and adaptable person. Millions of people around the world began celebrating the Year of the Rat in February.The stamp features festive red lanterns that represent the “Year of the Rat”. The color red is considered to be a symbol of luck. The lanterns are common decorations at Chinese celebrations, where they hang in rows. Kam Mak, is the art designer who is from New York City.

The following dates represent those people who are born in the Year of the Rat.

Feb. 18,1912 – Feb. 5, 1913 Feb. 5, 1924 – Jan. 24, 1925 Jan. 24, 1936 – Feb. 10, 1937 Feb. 10, 1948 – January 28, 1949 Jan. 28, 1960 – Feb. 14, 1961 Feb. 15, 1972 – Feb. 2, 1973 Feb. 2, 1984 – Feb. 19, 1985 Feb. 19, 1996 – Feb. 6, 1997

Famous people who are born in the Year of the Rat are: George Washington, Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother, Prince Charles, Claude Monet, Antonio Banderas, Hugh Grant, Doris Day, David Duchovny, Donna Summer, Samuel L. Jackson, Sean Penn and Olivia Newton-John.

The Year of the Rat ends on January 25, 2009.

The United States Year Of The Rat Stamp Part I Of II

Many countries have produced stamps for the “Year of the Rat” and the United States is no different. This stamp is the first in a new series for the United States Postal Service that will run consecutively each year from February 2008 through February 2019. The stamps that will be offered will depict each of the animals that are represented in the Chinese Lunar New Year calendar, over that twelve year span. The Year of the Rat celebrations began on February 7, 2008. The first stamp issued was released on February 8, 2008 and was dedicated in San Francisco, California.

According to Chinese legend, the animals raced across a river to determine their order in the yearly cycle. The rat went across the river on the back of a strong ox and cleverly jumped ahead to win the race at the last minute. Hence the reason that the rat is the first animal represented in the cycle. The start of the Lunar New Year is celebrated by 25 percent of the world’s population. The Lunar New Year is celebrated by Chinese, Vietnamese, Korean, Tibetan and Mongolian heritages worldwide. In the US, the New Year is often marked by parties and parades, just as the American New Year is celebrated.

Check back on Monday for the conclusion to this post.

The Mayday - Rescue At Sea Stamp Set New Release

The Royal Mail has just released a new stamp set that is sure to delight mariners worldwide. The Mayday – Rescue at Sea was released on March 13, 2008. The stamps mark the one hundred year adoption of the worldwide Morse Code distress signal at sea, the SOS, otherwise known as “. . . _ _ _ . . .”. The stamps feature the dots and dashes along the top and bottom edges.

The stamps were appropriately launched on board a Royal and National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) lifeboat thereby recognizing the importance of the RNLI’s marine search and rescue work. RNLI is a first class search and rescue service which aids in rescues off of England’s coast. It is not a government run agency. It is run strictly by volunteers who are dedicated to saving the lives of people who are in trouble at sea. They are a charity and rely on public finding to meet their financial needs. The RNLI is hoping to raise £20,000 in funding via the sale of
first day covers. The money raised will go towards the RNLI Memorial in Poole, England.

There are six stamps issued in this set with over 30 million stamps printed for distribution. Four of the stamps feature RNLI lifeboats and two of the stamps feature HM Coastguard helicopters.

Judy Garland Stamp Part II Of II

In conclusion to the post on Friday.

In 1935, Garland was signed to MGM Studios. Even though she proved to be a real money maker for the studio, she was considered to be the “ugly duckling” next to other actresses that she was working along side with (Ava Gardner, Lana Turner, and Elizabeth Taylor). Her girl next door look was something that she was always unhappy about. She wanted to be as glamorous as the other actresses. Studio Chief Louis Mayer referred to her as his “little hunchback”. Studio executives even went so far as to make her wear a rubberized disk to reshape her nose and portable caps on her teeth.

In 1939 Garland landed the roll that she is best known for, Dorothy in the Wizard of Oz. She will forever be remembered for signing “Over the Rainbow” with such precision and grace. Despite critical acclaim, the film did not make money until it was released to the public a second time.

Garland faced many struggles with financial instability and addictions throughout her adulthood. Studio executives often gave her and other stars both amphetamines and barbiturates to take before bed because they believed that they would perform better the next day. Sadly, she died of an accidental drug overdose on June 22, 1969 at the age of 47. Garland was married five times and had three children.

Judy Garland Stamp Part I Of II

The lovely Judy Garland has been memorialized on a United States Postage Stamp. The Unveiling of her commemorative stamp was on January 10, 2006 in New York City. It would have been Garland’s 84th birthday. This stamp is the 12th stamp issued for the “Legends of Hollywood” series.

The unveiling took place at Carnegie Hall, the same location where Garland’s performance of the 1961 “Judy at Carnegie Hall”. For her performance she received accolades for “the greatest night in show business history.” She later went on to win 5 Grammy Awards for her show.

This stamp is a beautiful portrait designed by artist Ethel Kessler from a portrait from Tim O’Brien. Judy Garland’s signature is on the bottom of the stamp and the selvage shows a picture of Garland in one of her most famous rolls, as Dorothy in the Wizard of Oz.

Judy Garland was born Frances Ethel Gumm on June 10, 1922. She worked in various show business venues for 45 of her 47 years. She began her career, at the age of 2, working with her sisters in vaudeville and continued her career in dramatic and musical roles. She made over a dozen albums and nearly 100 singles in her lifetime.

Check back on Monday for the conclusion to this post.

The AMBER Alert Stamp

The USPS is known for drawing attention to important social causes when they create stamps. Issued in 2006, the Amber Alert stamp was developed to honor a program dedicated to the rapid recovery of abducted children. AMBER stands for America’s Missing: Broadcast Emergency Response.

The program is named after Amber Hagerman. At the young age of nine years old, she was abducted and tragically murdered in Arlington, Texas. The program is set up for law enforcement officials to issue an “AMBER Alert” when they have information that a child has been abducted and is imminent danger of serious injury or death. Descriptions of the victim and the circumstances surrounding the disappearance are then forwarded to area television, text messaging systems, and radio stations. They will in turn activate their Emergency Alert System so that the general public is aware of the situation and can help by keeping a watchful eye and assisting law enforcement officials.

Since 2005, all 50 states are now participating in a national alert system that is coordinated by the United States Department of Justice. Canada has now set up a similar system. There are strict guidelines that must be followed before issuing an AMBER Alert. AMBER alerts have aided in the recovery of hundreds of children nationwide.

This stamp features an illustration of a happy mother and child embracing each other.

Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings Stamp

Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings, the Pulitzer Prize winning author of the classic tale “The Yearling” has been honored with a new commemorative postage stamp. Ceremonies were held at her restored home, the Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings Historical State Park, in Florida.

Marjorie Kinnan was born on August 8, 1896, in Washington, DC. She began her writing career at the very early age of 6 years old. She attended the University of Wisconsin and received a degree in English. She married Charles Rawlings in 1919 and worked in various locations around the country as a writer.

After receiving a small inheritance from her mother, they moved to Florida and purchased an orange grove. She loved the area so much that she filled notebooks about her experiences as well as those of her neighbor’s lives. She soon began writing stories about the local area that she now loved. Her stories were met with mixed reviews. One mother recognized her son in a story and threatened to whip Rawlings to death for writing about him.

In 1933, she and her husband divorced. In 1938 she wrote the beloved book The Yearling; a bittersweet story about a Florida boy and his pet deer. In 1939 she won the Pulitzer Prize for this popular book. Later in 1946, she was made famous when her book was made into a movie. She went on to publish two more books that were well received by the public.

Marjorie Rawlings died on December 14, 1953 of a cerebral hemorrhage.

The USPS Citizens' Stamp Advisory Committee

In 1957, the US Postal Service formed a committee called the Citizens’ Stamp Advisory Committee (CSAC). Each year the US Postal Service receives thousands of letters from American’s requesting a particular type of stamp to be issued. All stamp suggestions must meet specific criteria in order to be considered. Anyone can make a request.

The CSAC evaluates the merits of all stamp proposals. It is their goal to find subjects that are interesting and educational. The Committee works on behalf of the Postmaster General. The USPS strives to issue approximately twenty five new commemorative stamps, along with their new normal postal usage stamps, each year. The committee keeps all postal customers in mind while making their selections.

There are a maximum of 15 committee members who serve on the panel. They are appointed directly by the Postmaster General. Members have a wide range of backgrounds that provide historical, artistic, educational and professional expertise in the decision making process.

There is not any staff to support the Committee directly. The Postal Service Stamp Development helps provide services to the committee when necessary. They help process and respond to as many as 50,000 inquiries annually.

The Committee only meets four times per year. They review any new proposals. They do not allow any in-person requests to be heard. All proposals must be in writing. They also provide guidance on the artwork and design of stamp subjects before they are issued.

Help The Lone Ranger

Dawn Moore, the daughter of Clayton Moore needs the stamp collector publics help. She is in need of letters petitioning the United States Postal Service for a commemorative stamp to honor her father, the Lone Ranger.

She is hoping that by her efforts, along with the help of fans; that an announcement of the stamps acceptance would be made in 2008. This year marks the 75th anniversary of the beloved character. She has partnered with the families of other silver screen Western legends in an attempt to have a series made that would include such actors as Gene Autry and Roy Rogers.

The postal service requires stamp requests at least three years in advance of the desired release date. Ms. Moore began her stamp project in 2000. She is hoping for a release date in 2009, which will mark the 60th anniversary of the television show.

The Lone Ranger represents the patriotic fiber of the United States. His example of truth and justice and quiet humility for good deeds, still inspire both the young and old. His adventures have been made into a radio show, a television show, comic books, comic strips, books for children and adults, trading cards, records, toys and commercials, to name a few.

If you are interested in contributing a letter petitioning for a stamp for the Lone Ranger, send your letter to:

Citizen’s Stamp Advisory CommitteeStamp Development
US Postal Service
1735 North Lynn Street, Room 5013
Arlington, Virginia 22209-6432

Yoda Stamp Sheet Set

I remember seeing little Yoda in that swampy area when the movie was just released. He was a little bit scary to look at. He looked so strange that I thought he must have been a bad guy. The bad guy stigma was removed when I realized he was a Jedi warrior after all. To my delight, I found him quite a lovable character. Apparently I was not the only one to fall in love with this green guy with strange hair!

Once the United States Postal Service announced the Star Wars collectible stamps release information (March 28, 2007), they decided to have some fun with the general public. It was decided that people could vote on the character that they liked best of all. That character would then be memorialized with its very own commemorative stamp.

The votes were taken online over a two month period. The tiny Jedi Master Yoda won the contest. His individual stamp was released on October 25, 2007. The artist who designed the stamp was Drew Struzan. He was the poster artist for the Star Wars series as well as the entire Star Wars saga stamp set.

Surely these are some of the most fun stamps and anyone can own. Word is, that even non-stamp collectors have snatched these bad boys up! If you are interested in buying this Yoda sheet stamp set, visit http://www.stampcenter.com/.