Philately

U.S. Postage Stamps of 1960

December 23, 2010

It is that time of the year again when I look back at the commemorative postage stamps of 50-years ago.  This year we look at the stamps of 1960, a new decade.  Stamps issued then celebrated current events as well as 50th and 100th anniversaries. I also have a similar review of stamps from 1959, [...]

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U.S. Postage Stamps of 1959: A View from 50 Years Later

December 30, 2009

What We Commemorate Commemorative stamps memorialize recently-deceased presidents, mark important anniversaries, acknowledge national institutions, boast of engineering, scientific and artistic achievements and celebrate victory in war and in peace.  Historically, U.S. stamps have portrayed the country as we like to imagine it is, or was. If history is written by the victors, then that portion [...]

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July 20, 1969

July 19, 2009

Paul Calle (1928-) drew science fiction illustrations, including for now-legendary magazines like Galaxy Science Fiction and Amazing Stories. Then a funny thing happened. The science fiction became real. Sputnik launched in October, 1957. NASA was created in 1958. Glenn orbited the earth in 1962. The space race was on. In the Fall of 1962 NASA [...]

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Through two lenses

December 31, 2008

Last year at this time, I took a look at the US postage stamp commemorative issues of 1957. Now is time to look at the issues of 1958. Since these issues are themselves retrospective in nature — looking back at events at their 50, 100, 150 or 200 year anniversaries — we’re really look back [...]

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A Lick Back in Time

December 20, 2007

Updating a post from 2006, I’d like to take a look back at the commemorative stamp issues of 1957. What do we choose to remember, and how do we remember it? What was considered significant back in 1957, but is now forgotten? What icons have remained with us, and which have faded from view? First [...]

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Happy Thanksgiving

November 22, 2006

1920 was the 300th anniversary of the landing at Plymouth of the Puritan separatists. In commemoration of this tercentenary, three stamps were issued based on designs by the Bureau of Engraving and Printing’s chief designer, Clair Aubrey Huston. Let’s take a closer look. The 1-cent green “Mayflower” (Scott #548) was based on a photograph of [...]

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Happy Labor Day

September 3, 2006

Here you have Scott #1082, with a first day issue of exactly 50 years ago, September 3rd, 1956. The design is by Victor S. McCloskey, Jr. of the Bureau of Engraving and Printing based on a a small portion of a much larger mosaic, “Labor is Life” (also shown below) by the American artist Lumen [...]

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50 years ago

February 15, 2006

I find it interesting to take a look back at the commemorative stamps issued in 1956. What do we choose to remember, and how do we remember it? For example, 1956 was the 100th anniversary of the the birth of Booker T. Washington, a great leader in education and civil rights, founder of the Tuskegee [...]

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