The Valley Of The Yosemite Postage Stamp

The beautiful Yosemite Valley was chosen by the United States Postal Service to be featured on a postage stamp this year. The stamp depicts a copy of the 1864 oil painting of the “Valley of the Yosemite” by Albert Bierstadt. This stamp is the 8th issuance in the American Treasures series. The American Treasures series showcases beautiful works of American fine arts and crafts.

Albert Bierstadt was a renowned artist of his time. He is best known for his large landscape paintings of the American West. This is not the only postage stamp that showcases a Bierstadt painting. In 1998, as part of the United States Postal Service’s Four Centuries of American Art series, commemorative stamps were issued for his “The Last of the Buffalo” painting as well.

Yosemite is located in the central Sierra Nevada in California. This National Historic Park boasts over 3.5 million visitors each year. Although Yosemite is 1189 square miles (about the size of Rhode Island), most visitors spend the majority of their visit in Yosemite Valley which is about 7 square miles. Yosemite is home to many species of plants and animals that can only be found at Yosemite. Its granite cliffs, waterfalls, Giant Sequoia’s, streams and wildlife continue to thrive and draw visitors from around the world each day.

Check out our website for more information on this beautiful stamp.

Hoover Dam Express Mail Stamp Part II Of II

In continuation to the post on Monday…

Lake Mead is the reservoir that is created behind the Dam. There are 8 to 10 million visitors who enjoy the lake and its surroundings each year. The Lake Mead National Recreation Area is the fifth busiest National Park in the United States.

Hoover Dam was named after Herbert Hoover, who was one of the key people who made sure that the dam was completed. Hoover began his quest prior to becoming president, but worked diligently on the project once he was in office. In 1932, Hoover lost his bid for re-election to Roosevelt. Much to many people’s dismay, Roosevelt’s new Secretary of
the Interior, Harold Ickes, decided to change the name of the dam to Boulder Dam. In 1945, Roosevelt died and Ickes retired. In 1947, California Congressman Jack Anderson introduced a bill that would change the name back to “Hoover Dam”. With almost unanimous support in the House and Senate, the original name was restored.

Here are some interesting facts about the Dam.

The concrete is still cooling some 73 years later. Hoover Dam became a National Historic Landmark in 1985. It was completed more 2 years ahead of schedule. There is enough concrete in the Dam to pave a two lane highway from New York to San Francisco. There are two lanes of traffic across the top of the Dam. Because of September 11th, a new bypass is being built to divert traffic away from the top of the Dam. It is expected to be completed in 2010. Currently about 13,000 to 16,000 people travel across the Dam each day. The bottom of the Dam has 660 feet of concrete.

Stamp Center has the Hoover Dam Express Mail Stamp available to purchase.

Hoover Dam Express Mail Stamp Part I Of II

The Hoover Dam is a fantastic National Historic Landmark. It is great to see that it has joined the ranks of other such landmarks that have been honored with a postage stamp issued by the United States Postal Service.

The Hoover Dam is located on the border of Arizona and Nevada on the Colorado River. It is an amazing structure that was completed in 1935. At the time, it was the largest dam ever built. As of today, it is the second largest. This structure provides electricity to surrounding states as well as California.

Boulder City, which was located in Nevada, was constructed as a city to house all of the workers who would spend years making the dam into reality. Once built, it was illegal to drink alcohol, gamble or engage in prostitution during the period of construction. It was not until 1969 that alcohol was sold in Boulder City. To this day, it is the only location in Nevada that does not allow any gambling.

The making of the Dam was crucial to families as the Great Depression was beginning and many people were out of work. At the time, there was no structure that had ever been constructed like the Hoover Dam. Engineers had their work cut out for them. It was estimated that the concrete would take 125 years to cure if left to its own devices. Special cooling coils were installed throughout the entire Dam to speed up the curing process.

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

Looney Tunes Postage Stamps

Some stamp collectors collect historical stamps, and some collect stamps from specific countries, while others choose to collect the more fun loving type of stamps. The great thing about stamp collecting is that there are so many different varieties of stamps available to choose from. That is why stamp collecting is enjoyed by so many people, from so many walks of life.

This Looney Tunes stamp set was issued in 1998 by the United States Postal Service. It features the always fun loving and definitely silly characters, Tweety Bird and Sylvester the Cat. This sheet of 10 self adhesive stamps was the second set in the series issued to commemorate Warner Brothers Cartoon Characters. The set was issued in two formats. There was a perforated and an imperforated type to choose from. With both formats, there is die-cutting between the nine stamps on the left hand side of the pane.

Other stamps in the series include Bugs Bunny, Daffy Duck, Wile E. Coyote and Roadrunner, and the Porky Pig stamp sets. Fitting enough, the Porky Pig was the last set issued and had printed on the pane “That’s All Folks!”

Stamp Center has adorable Looney Tune stamps available, below book cost, to add to your collection.

A Valuable Stamp That Had No Value Part II Of II

In continuation to the post on Monday….

The stamp could be used for sending a free inland letter or postcard on the day the shares of the Dutch Post would officially be introduced at The Amsterdam Stock Exchange. The translation of the words on the paper that the stamp was mounted onto were: “This postage stamp is worth 80 cents on the day that PTT Post will be quoted at the Stock Exchage. On that day this little jewel will be valid for inland letters and cards up to 20 grams. Here you are!”

On June 29, 1998, the PPT finally appeared in the stock market. The “O” postage was only good for that one days mailing. Oddly enough, the stamp was not widely used by the public. There was only a small amount that ended up circulating through the mail system. Perhaps with having to wait 5 months to use the stamp, many people lost their “free stamp”. Perhaps people only regarded the original catalog packet as a form of junk mail and threw them out.

It is estimated that there were around 3,750,000 stamps printed and mailed to patrons.

A Valuable Stamp That Had No Value Part I Of II

Here’s a fun and interesting story about a special little stamp from the Netherlands.
The Dutch postal service was owned by the government up until 1989. In 1989, PPT Netherland (Post, Telegraaf, Telefoon) became independent from the government. After a while, the decision was made to separate into two separate entities (mail and phone serves). It was also the intention to bring the postal service to the stock market. PPT Post soon became the first mail company in the world to be listed on any stock market.

In an effort to bring attention to this landmark event, officials decided to offer something special to their customers. It was customary for the Post to send a catalog out to all patrons each January showing what services were offered, as well as the respective costs involved. In January of 1998, the people of the Netherlands received a special gift from the Post.
Inside of their usual catalog there was a very nice stamp addition. The stamp was adorned with a picture of diamonds with a red velvet like background. The jewels were in the shape of a “zero” on the stamp.

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

13 Mile Woods Definitive Stamp

In May of 2008, the United States Postal Service issued a stamp that is part of the Scenic American Landscapes series. This 72 cent definitive stamp showcases the 13 Mile Woods which is located at the New Hampshire – Maine border. The 13 Mile Woods includes 9 miles of waterfront on the gorgeous Androscoggin River.

The Town of Errol, where the 13 Mile Woods is located, worked to acquire the land from the US Forest Service in order to conserve this beautiful forest. The area is filled with haunting beauty and features wildlife such as the red tailed hawks and white tailed deer. The land also features a rare forest flood plain, trout streams, and mature hardwood and softwood forests.

Many politicians in Washington hopped on board to help save this beautiful area from development as well. Besides conserving this lush land, the new Community Forest will offer the town of Errol, which has struggled financially in the past, with a recreational area for hiking, hunting, fishing, skiing and snowmobiling. New Hampshire is considered to be one of the best vacation destinations for families. The purchase of the 13 Mile Woods is sure to provide an economic boost to the area for years to come.

The Tiffany Lamp Postage Stamp

You too can own a Tiffany Lamp…one that can be put upon an envelope that is. In 2008, the United States Postal Service issued a 1 cent Definitive postage stamp that is sure to jazz up any piece of mail with great style.

This particular stamp depicts a Tiffany stained glass lampshade which showcases the grand Tiffany style this is loved around the world. The first Tiffany lamp was created in 1899. The record price for an original Tiffany Studios lamp at public sales will cost you over $8,000,000, if you can find one.

Louis Comfort Tiffany began his career as a painter. He then began to design stained glass windows while working for an interior design company in New York City. He quickly found use of left over glass pieces and began designing stained glass lampshades. His designs transformed what was considered Art Nouveau art in the United States and Europe.

This is not the first stamp honoring renowned glass creator Louis Comfort Tiffany. In 2007, a beautiful 41 cent postage stamp, with the image of one of his stained glass windows, was also produced. Many of his window creations still adorn churches and cathedrals around the east coast.

To purchase these Tiffany stamps as well as other fine stamps, click here.

Great Lakes Dunes Postage Stamps

The beautiful sand dunes that line portions of the five Great Lakes in the United States have been honored by the United States Postal Service. The stamps are the tenth installment by the USPS’s Nature of America educational series. Previous educational issues include the Sonoran Desert issued in 1999, the Pacific Coast Rain Forest in 2000, the Great Plains Prairie in 2001, the Longleaf Pine Forest in 2002, the Arctic Tundra in 2003, the Pacific Coral Reef in 2004, the Northeast Deciduous Forest in 2005, and the Southern Florida Wetlands in 2006 and Alpine Tundra issued in 2007. All of these stamps have shown just some of the amazing natural beauty that can be found in the United States.

One of the largest freshwater dune systems in the world can be found around all of our own Great Lakes. The bulk of the United States dunes can be found on the west Michigan shoreline. The dunes are a dynamic landscape that is formed when the shifting sand, wind and water work in perfect harmony. It is a playground for the young and old and should certainly be protected so that it can be enjoyed for years to come.

The Sleeping Bear Dunes in particular is showcased in this stamp collection. It receives its name by the site of the huge dune formation that resembles a sleeping bear. There are 27 different types of plant life, animals, birds and insects imbedded on the stamp sheet. The stamps show the diverse wildlife that effortlessly co-exists in the dunes.

The back of the stamp pane features a numbered key to the artwork with the corresponding list of both the scientific and common names for the 27 selected species. This makes a neat addition to any stamp collection. First day of issue postmarks are available for envelopes postmarked by December 3, 2008 from the USPS.

Interesting Information About Early Mail Service

Postal service has sure come a long way via a long bumpy road. Mail can be traced back centuries. The first envelopes were made of animal skins, vegetable parts and cloth. The Babylonians were known to bake thin sheets of clay with messages inside for their mail.

Great Britain can be credited with the idea of the first ever Postmark. It was called a “Bishop mark”, which was named after its inventor, Henry Bishop who was the Postmaster General in 1660. After fielding constant complaints from patrons about how long mail takes to be delivered, he came up with the postmark idea to show the receiver the date that it was received by the post office. Postmarks began in England in 1661. Each postmark consisted of a circle with a horizontal line running through it. The month was put in the upper half of the circle and the day was put in the bottom half. Most postmarks were placed on the backside of the envelopes and were always written in ink.

In the mid 1600’s, most letters were paid for by the receiver of the letter, not the sender. The front side of envelopes often contained very explicit instructions on where to drop the letter off so that correct delivery could be ensured.

The Fast Ocean Navigation Postage Stamp Part II Of II

In continuation to the post on Monday…

These stamps were by far the most artistic stamps ever produced by the United States Postal Service at that time. Because they had two colors, they required 2 trips through the printing press.

Several of the stamps featured the word “Fast” on them in the title. “Fast” signified how increased delivery speed of goods would help drive the slow economy. The stamps were available for sale for the duration of the World’s Fair in Buffalo, New York. The Exposition ran from May 1st through October 31, 1901. The Pan American Exposition showcased technical achievements and how that technology would benefit others living in the 20th century.

Interestingly, in December of 1899, there was wide speculation that the Pan American Exposition postage stamps would not come to fruition. The public and the philatelic communities were against having these stamps made. The main complaint was that the stamps would take up to much room on an envelope just as the Trans Mississippi Exposition and the Columbian Exposition stamps did before them. Both of these series were widely rejected because there were smaller stamps available to purchase at the same time.

Here’s one more bit of history for you. President McKinley was a huge supporter of the Pan American Exposition. While waiting in the receiving line at the exposition, he was shot 2 times by an assassin. He died 8 days later.

If you would like to purchase this amazing historical stamp or other great stamps for your collection, check out this site.

The Fast Ocean Navigation Postage Stamp Part I Of II

The Fast Ocean Navigation stamp was issued by the United States Postal Service on May 1, 1901. This 10 cent stamp featured the American Liner steamship called the St. Paul. The St. Paul was famous for being the first commercial ship to be commissioned as a warship during the Spanish-American War.

This stamp was part of the Pan American Exposition (World’s Fair) stamp series. They were the first United States postage stamps of the 20th Century to be issued. The stamps were listed as commemorative, but they were in fact a means of promoting the World’s Fair.

The series depicted 6 different stamps, which were all the modern forms of transportation at that time. There was the Steamship, The City of Alpena. The stamp was called the “Fast Lake Navigation” and had a denomination of 1 cent. The “Fast Express” portrayed the Empire State Express which was the railroads out of New York Central and Hudson River Railroads. It was issued with a 2 cent denomination. The 4 cent stamp features an electric automobile. It is called the “The Automobile”. The 5 cent stamp features the bridge at Niagara Falls. It was the
largest single span steel bridge at that time. It is called “The Bridge at Niagara Falls”. The “Canal Locks at Sault de Ste. Marie” stamp has an 8 cent denomination. This stamp illustrates the spirit of international co-operation.

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