Purgatory Post on August 30 issued the latest in its series of stamps celebrating the 50th anniversaries of various United States space missions. The pair of 3-sola stamps commemorate the 50th anniversary of Skylab 3; that mission lasted from July 28 until September 25, 1973.
One of the stamps pictures astronauts Owen Garriott, Jack Lousma, and Alan Bean along with the launch of their spacecraft. The other stamp pictures the Skylab station along with the Skylab III mission patch.
Purgatory Post 3-sola Skylab 3 stamps
You may notice the Skylab patch reads “Skylab II” rather than “Skylab III.” According to an insert included with the cover in which these stamps were mailed to me, “Miscommunication about the numbering system resulted in the mission badge reading ‘Skylab II.’” You would think we could at least number things correctly in the space age, but apparently not.
Skylab 3’s crew returned to earth after spending 59 consecutive days in space, which set a record at that time.
Mick’s Local Post issues stamp commemorating Rheinhart Kleiner
In March of this year, I shared the first stamp released by Mick’s Local Post of Portland, Oregon. Last week, I received a cover bearing a copy of Mick’s second local post stamp, a nondenominated design picturing the poet Rheinhart Kleiner (1893–1949).
Mick’s Local Post Rheinhart Kleiner stamp on cover
Kleiner is best known as a friend and correspondent of the writer H.P. Lovecraft, but Mick’s Local Post’s operator notes the longtime Brooklyn resident is also worthy of recognition for the “light, cheerful verse” in which he specialized.
Local post stamps are the perfect medium for this sort of subject matter: someone worthy of recognition, but not necessarily reaching the same heights of fame as those who garner “official” commemorative stamps, and of particular appeal to the issuer of the stamp.
This update includes spaces for all United States postage stamps issued since early June—I haven’t seen used copies of any of these just yet, but some must be out there—as well as this year’s federal hunting permit or “duck” stamp.
As always, I want to thank those who have supported my project over the years—and you for using my pages. Enjoy!
APDA business reply envelope features flowers, butterflies
Another week, another business reply envelope, this time from the American Parkinson Disease Association. This envelope has three roughly stamp-sized preprinted designs with simulated perforations; two of the designs picture flowers, and the other one butterflies.
American Parkinson Disease Association business reply envelope bearing three stamp-sized designs picturing flowers and butterflies
The imagery used in the faux stamp designs is fairly typical for this sort of envelope, but the simulated printed perforations do at least add a nice touch and lend a little bit to the illusion that the designs are actual stamps (even though we both know they’re not).
Alzheimer’s Association BRE uses vaguely holiday-themed designs
Nearly a month has passed since I last posted about a business reply envelope with preprinted faux stamp designs, but one was in a mailing from the Alzheimer’s Association that I found waiting today in my post office box.
The three stamp-sized designs picture leaves, berries, and acorns. I get the impression it’s all supposed to be of a vaguely fall and winter holiday theme.
Alzheimer’s Association business reply envelope bearing three stamp-sized designs picturing leaves, berries, and acorns
I also received a stack of other solicitations, several of which had nonprofit stamps on them, but nothing else of particular note about which to write. Maybe next week’s mail will bring something more interesting!
