James Herriot, veterinarian and author, to be commemorated with new Philosateleian Post local post stamp
James Alfred Wight (1916–1995), a British veterinarian better known by his pen name, James Herriot, will be honored this fall with a special commemorative local post stamp from Philosateleian Post. The new stamp is scheduled to be issued on October 3, the 100th anniversary of Wight’s birth.
James Herriot
Wight, who worked as a veterinarian in England’s Yorkshire Dales beginning in 1940, gained international recognition for a series of books inspired by his experiences. His first two works were published in the United States in 1972 as a single volume titled All Creatures Great and Small.
“I discovered the James Herriot books at my local library as a child, and have read them over and over again since then,” says Kevin Blackston, proprietor of Philosateleian Post. “From the sorrowful tale of Herriot having to put down an elderly pensioner’s ailing dog to the hilarious account of Siegfried Farnon waging a losing battle against a cow’s gas-filled stomach, the stories take you through a range of emotions that few authors can evoke.
“I’ve enjoyed reading Mr. Wight’s stories with my wife and look forward to sharing them with my daughter as she gets older.”
The new stamp is based on two photographs. The World of James Herriot in Thirsk, North Yorkshire, provided the picture of James Herriot and a dog, while New Hampshire’s Scott Abbot provided the image of the Yorkshire landscape which makes up the design’s background. The images were used with their permission.
Technical Specifications
Format: sheets of 36 (6×6). Design size: 28×36 mm. Separation method: perforated 12. Adhesive: water-activated dry gum. Printing method: inkjet.
Philatelic Services
To receive a mint single of Philosateleian Post’s James Herriot stamp, or for first day cover service, send either $2 or a self-addressed stamped envelope and your request to:
Kevin Blackston
Philosateleian Post
PO Box 17544
San Antonio TX 78217-0544
United States of America
About Philosateleian Post
Founded in 2004, Philosateleian Post transports mail only from the proprietor’s home to the nearest mail receptacle or post office, and does not compete with any official mail service. For more information, please visit http://www.philosateleia.com/post/
Although I share excess covers and stamps with other collectors via the Philosateleian Post Horn’s monthly giveaway, I’m not used to being on the receiving end in a contest. Imagine my surprise, then, when I recently received a letter containing a $25 gift card from American Philatelic Society Executive Director Scott English!
If you receive the APS E-Newsletter, you may have noticed that there’s a monthly quiz on the content of The American Philatelist. I was one of a couple of dozen readers who answered all five questions in the June quiz correctly, and my name was apparently selected at random to receive the gift card. How cool!
If you’re an APS member but don’t normally read the member e-newsletter, take a moment to open it up. If nothing else, the quiz might send you back to the print magazine to find some bit of information you missed, and that is an excellent way to learn. And you never know—like me, you just might win something!
If you follow the Letter Writers Alliance blog, you may have noticed that Philosateleia got a mention in a recent blog post promoting new Letter Writers Alliance artistamps! I created the frames for the two stamps, and while I’m pleased with how both came out, the blue one is my favorite.
Letter Writers Alliance fantasy stamps
If you’re already a Letter Writers Alliance member, log in to the LWA downloads page and you can print a sheet of my fantasy stamps for yourself.
If you’re not a member, lifetime membership is only $5. Tell them Kevin from Philosateleia sent you.
If you’re on any charities’ mailing lists, you may have already seen a new stamp used on their soliciations. If you haven’t, you probably you will soon since a new stamp for nonprofit mailings went on sale in April. The simple design features the letters “USA” in blue, and a star in red.
“USA” nonprofit stamp
What do you think of it? My own feelings are mixed. It’s nice to see something new since it has been over five years since the ubiquitous art deco bird stamp was released, and I do favor the new design more than the old one. Although it’s very much text-based, it’s less displeasing than last year’s “From Me to You” stamp; I think the presence of the star and the curls on the tips of the letters help in that regard.
On the other hand, I kind of feel like we’re missing the opportunity for something more creative. For example, the simple “American Scenes” nonprofit stamps used before the art deco bird were in my opinion more visually interesting.
Sea Coast
We can only hope that the USPS in the future might return to that sort of approach for its nonprofit stamps.
