Mail Delivered 7-Days a Week Prior to 1912

The Washington Post reports, "In testimony before a Senate subcommittee Wednesday, Postmaster General John 'Jack' Potter said the post office may be forced to cut back to five-day delivery for the first time in the agency's history, citing rising costs and an ongoing decline in mail made worse by the global recession. The potential move, which would have to be approved by Congress and postal officials, could mean the elimination of mail on either Saturdays or Tuesdays, the system's slowest days, postal officials said."

Washington Post reporter Dan Eggen writes, "For much of its early history, the post office delivered mail seven days a week, including twice-a-day stops in some cities. The switch to six-day service came in 1912, when the agency eliminated Sunday delivery due to objections from Christian groups."

Shown above, 1912 Parcel Post stamp showing delivery vehicle.

For more on this story along with a video, click here.

First African American on U.S. Stamp

For Black History Month, the National Postal Museum has selected the 1940 Booker T, Washington stamp as its "Object of the Month."

The 10-cent stamp was the first stamp to honor an African-American. As part of the Famous Americans Series, Booker T. Washington(1856-1915)was honored as an educator.

In 1888, Washington was appointed as the first leader of the Tuskegee Institute, a teachers' college for blacks. By the time died in November, 1915, the Tuskegee Institute had an endowment of $1,945,000, a staff of almost 200, and a student population of 2000.

According to the museum's Web site, "In 1938, President Franklin D. Roosevelt, responding to numerous petitions from African-American supporters, recognized the timeliness of such a stamp and directed that Washington be considered for this important stamp series."

It goes on to say, "Enthusiasm for the Booker T. Washington stamp and its momentous significance for the African-American population prompted two official second day of issue ceremonies, events unprecedented in philatelic history—one in New York City and the other in Philadelphia."

Critics of the stamp said that the stamp should have been the regular first class rate of 3-cents so that more people would have seen it.

Booker T. Washington honored once again in 1956, the centennial of his birth, with first class rate stamp. Shown here, the stamp’s vignette features an image of a cabin similar to the one in which he was born.

To learn more about the Booker T. Washington stamp, click here.

Tom Hanks Spends a Fortune on Postage

The Times of India reports that, "Tom Hanks is so obsessed with his secret collection of typewriters that he doesn’t mind giving up a fortune to ship them from all corners of the world."

According to the paper, the Oscar winning actor has more than 100 manual, portable typewriters from the 1930s until they stopped making them.

Apparently Hanks’ hobby has also cost him a small fortune in postage. In the article Hanks is qouted as saying, "I bought a 5 dollars typewriter from Australia that cost me 85 dollar to ship."

No word if he uses stamps to mail the packages.

Shown above, a 2001 miniature sheet from Kyrgyzstan featuring Tom Hanks.

Tamper-proof Stamps

The UK's Mirror reports, "Tamper-proof stamps are to be issued to thwart fraudsters who peel off or soak old ones to reuse them."

According to an article by David Collins, "The new security Machin stamps have two sticky panels that tear if they're peeled off, and are printed on special paper with the words Royal Mail repeated - similar to security features used on bank notes to stop forgeries."

To read the entire article, click here.

The Pleasures of Stamp Collecting

An article that originally appeared in the New Zealand Stamp Collector, the official journal of the Royal Philatelic Society of New Zealand, was posted on the Philatelic Database Web site.

It deals with the pleasures of stamp collecting.

According to the author, D. J. Jarvis, "The Royal Philatelic Society was privileged recently to hear an interesting talk on stamp collecting as an investment. The speaker made the point that the acquisition of rare stamps, necessarily in perfect condition, solely for investment as a hedge against inflation is a joyless occupation from a collecting point of view - this notwithstanding its soundness as a financial policy.

"For most collectors the pleasures of seeing their treasures increase in value is tinged with chagrin as they see others which they covet being priced beyond their means."

To read the entire article, click here.

Shown above, The 1856 one-cent "Black on Magenta" of British Guiana which is regarded by many as the rarest stamp in the world.

On Collecting

An article by Tibor Fischer in Britain's Telegraph about French President Nicolas Sarkzy, who took up stamp collecting to relax, also has some thoughts on collecting in general.

Fischer writes, "Collecting is not about relaxing. Gardening is about relaxing. Painting is about relaxing. Listening to a Haydn string quartet is relaxing. Swapping lewd stories with your friends is relaxing."

He goes on to say, "Collecting is about more and more. Collecting is about stamping ruthlessly on the throats of your fellow collectors. Collecting is worrying constantly about the size and quality of your collection. Collecting is about waking up in the middle of the night with a scheme for acquisition. Collecting is about getting ahead. Being Number One. Collecting never ends.

"Collectors, in my experience – at least, serious collectors – are usually people who have a lot of time on their hands and who have little responsibility in their employment, hence the collection to provide a boost, indeed, salvation to their lives."

In defense of stamps, he does point out, "As many money-launderers and smugglers know, stamps are wonderful things. It's embarrassing to be sussed at an airport with an attaché case full of money, but no one's going to spot the 20 stamps in your wallet that are worth just as much."

To read the entire article, click here.

Maple Leafs' Coach Becomes Accidental Stamp Collector

Canada's National Post Web site reports Corey Hirsch, the goaltending coach for the Toronto Maple Leafs, has become a stamp collector of sorts because of one particular Swedish stamp.

Shown here, the 1995 stamp (SC #2114) features a young Peter Forsberg clinching the gold medal for Sweden at the 1994 Lillehammer Winter Olympics as the goaltender fails to stop him.

The goaltender pictured on the stamp is Hirsch. The 36-year-old father of three is quoted as saying, "I think I have about 10 of those stamps."

Hirsh says he can accept getting beaten by Forsberg. But being collected by philatelists all over the world is another matter.

To read the entire article, click here.

Women's History Month Exhibits

March is Women's History month and the National Postal Museum is celebrating with a new online exhibit - Women on Stamps: Part I.

According to a write up in the Postmark, the museum's electronic newsletter, "Since 1893, when the image of a woman first appeared on a US postage stamp, the United States has honored women for their many achievements. In fact, over 200 stamps represent women-from politicians and social activists to educators and artists to businesswomen and performers."

Women on Stamps: Part I is the first in a series of four featured collections to highlight the accomplishments of these women.

Subsequent Women on Stamps featured collections will discuss the 'pioneers' in aviation, business and science and feature influential women in literature, art and film.

There is also new feature in the museum's online resources section, "Women in the U.S. Postal System." Written by Abbey Teller and Christina Park, members of the museum's 2008 intern class, it features a history of female postal workers as well as a series of oral histories from recent and current employees.

Shown above, the first U.S. stamp honoring a woman - Queen Isabella of Spain.

To visit the Women on Stamps: Part I online exhibit, click here.

To visit Women in the U.S. Postal Service, click here.

‘Perfect’ Penny Black Sold at Auction

A “perfect example” of the world’s first postage stamp – a mint penny black – sold at auction for more than £20,000.

"The lot, which went under the hammer at Sotheby’s auction house in London, was expected to sell for between £10,000 and £12,000. The stamp, which dates back to 1840, fetched £20,625 – one of the highest prices achieved at auction for a single penny black," according to UK's Press and Journal.

To read more, click here.

Lions, Leopards, Unicorns & Dragons

Alison Bean of the British Postal Museum & Archive writes to say they have a new blog that focuses on postal history and stamps.

On the blog is a write-up about the Lions, Leopards, Unicorns & Dragons: The first “Regional” stamps exhibit which is closing April 4. The exhibition follows the creation and development - from original artwork and unadopted designs, through to the final issues - of Britain’s first regional stamps.

The stamps were issued in August and September 1958 although the idea for regional stamps had first been discussed shortly after the end of the Second World War. While the main feature on the stamps was still the portrait of the Queen by Dorothy Wilding, heraldic and floral emblems were used to distinguish stamps for the different regions.

Shown above, Scottish "Regional" stamp which shows Her Majesty framed by a pair of Crowned and Collared Unicorns (a heraldic beast unique to Scotland) supporting banners showing the Rampant Lion of Scotland and the Flag of St Andrew.

For more information, click here.